Depression

Depression

THE SILVA METHOD AND SOME OF IT S APPLICATIONS

This research was done to measure the influence of the Silva Method in personality factors amongst University professors.

SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY AUTONOMOUS UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF MEXICO TOLUCA. EDO. DE MEXICO, MEXICO.

1980

PSYCHOLOGY DPT.AUTONOMOUS UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF MEXICO

with the collaboration of: Pilar Usanos Tamayo Psy.D.

TRANSLATION: Martha C. Saldana

The purpose of this work was to study the effects of Silva Method on the following variables: Hypochondriasis, depression, hysteria, psychopathic deviation, masculinity-femininity, paranoia, psychasthenia, schizophrenia, hypomania, and social introversion.

A group of 39 professors of the School of Dentistry of the Autonomous University of the State of Mexico who attended a SMC course at the same University, were the research subjects. Of this total, 20 were females and 19, males.

As means to detect personality changes in the aforementioned variables, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) was administered before and after the Silva course. The compared results of the two sets of MMPIs indicate a favorable effect of Silva on people who practice it.

PRELIMINARY INFORMATION

The variables that constitute the clinical scale of the MMPI and that were taken into consideration for the purpose of this research are: ([A$).38=BGLQV[ ejoty~^ _A$).38=BGLQV[ ejoty~^[(

1. Hypochondriasis (Hs): The opposite of this variable would be health. It evaluates the extent of abnormal concern on an individual for his own bodily functions.

2. Depression (D): Measures the symptom or syndrome clinically known as depression. High scale points indicate discouragement along with feelings of uselessness, an inability to show an average optimism regarding the future, lack of self confidence, penchant to worry.

3. Hysteria (Hi): Subjects with high scale points are prone to undergo episodes or fits of weakness, fainting... Hysterical people are more psychologically inmature than any other group.

4. Psychopathic deviation (Dp): Evaluates the absence of deeply-felt emotional response, and social disregard.

5. Masculinity-femininity (Mf): High scale points indicate deviation towards the basic interests of the opposite sex.

6. Paranoia (Pa): Characterized by persecution delirium, susceptibility, suspicion, hypersensibility.

7. Psychasthenia (Pt): Includes phobias: that is, all sorts of illogical fears regarding certain things or situations.

8. Schizophrenia (Es): Characterized by unusual and strange thoughts and behaviors (Separation between subjective life and reality).

9. Hypomania (Ma): This scale measures the personality factor of people with a marked overproduction of thoughts and actions.

10. Social introversion (Si): This scale seeks to evaluate the tendency to isolate from social contact (Withdrawn, shy, isolated).A brief description of the validating scales of the MMPI follows:

a. Question mark (?): The value of this scale affects the meaning of the other scales. When it is very high, it invalidates them.

b. Sincerity (L): It enables the evaluation of the degree to which subjects tries to falsify his answers, selecting the ones that put him in a more favorable social position.

c. Validity punctuation (F): (Statistical concept) Used to estimate the guarantee deserved by the whole set of answers provided by the subject.

d. Correcting factor (K): Basically used as a correcting variable to increase the discriminative power of some clinical scales of the questionnaire (It is a measure of the subject s attitude towards the examination).

DISUSSION AND IMPORTANT OBSERVATIONS

Modern man lives under constant pressure to adapt himself to a changing and ever demanding environment. Thi effort results in stress and an unnecessary loss of nervous energy, with their collaterals: inadequate use of mental faculties, unsatisfactory mental and physical health, gradual diminution of the joy of living, and rambling self-confidence.

Instead of resorting to drugs to relieve this condition, there are alternative methods through which the human being can, on his own, create better conditions for himself through an intelligent administration of energy. These methods and techniques have in common a certain revaluation of spirituality as means to achieve a full and happier life. Our hypothesis is that Silva Mind Control is one of such methods.

Among the research studies that have been conducted to examine the physiological and psychological benefits obtained with the practice of Silva Method techniques, the following can be cited:

The Hallahan report (1972), prepared by George De Sau, Ed. D., Director of Educational Research, Silva Mind Control International.

Mind Control and Personality (1980), conducted by Pilar Usanos Tamayo, Psy, D., in the School of Psychology of the Complutense University of Madrid, Spain.

The Albuquerque and Trinity University (1970 and 1972, respectively) conducted by George DeSau Ed.D and by J. Bremner and F. Moritz; the work presented by O. Carl Simonton, MD. and Stephanie Simonton of the University of California; The Ottawa Project (1975), by David A. Wallace, Head of the Community Service Department of the city of Ottawa, Michigan; and many others conducted under the supervision of J. W. Hahn, Ph. D., Director of Research, Silva International, Clancy D. McKenzie, MD., and Lance S. Wright, MD. which have been reproduced under permission by the Institute of Psychorientology, Inc.,

RESULTS

A. FEMALES

1. Pre-test (Before Silva)

Nbr. of subjects: 20.

Average age: 25 yrs., 3 mos.

(The interpretation of points requires the 50 percentile mark to be taken into consideration. The closer the points get to this figure, the higher the self-improvement in the corresponding personality traits or factors.

RESULTS

A. FEMALES

2. Post-test (After Silva)

Nbr. of subjects: 20.

Average age: 26 yrs., 6 mos.

The interpretation of points requires the 50 percentile mark to be taken into consideration. The closer the points get to this figure, the higher the self-improvement in the corresponding personality traits of factors.

RESULTS

A. FEMALES

3. Pre-test and Post-test (Before and after Silva)

The interpretation of points requires the 50 percentile mark to be taken into consideration. Pre-test results are indicated in a hyphened line, and Post-test in a continued line. The closer the points get to the 50 mark, the higher the self-improvement in the corresponding personality traits or factors.

RESULTS

B. MALES

1. Pre-test (Before Silva)

Nbr. of subjects: 19.

Average age: 28 yrs., 7 mos.

MMPI

The interpretation of points requires the 50 percentile mark to be taken into consideration. The closer the pints get to this figure, the higher the self-improvement in the corresponding personality traits or factors.

RESULTS

B. MALES

2. Post-test (After Silva)

Nbr. of subjects: 19.

Average age: 27 rs., 5 mos.

MMPI

The interpretation of points requires the 50 percentile mark to be taken into consideration. The closer the points get to this figure, the higher self-improvement in the corresponding personality traits or factors.

RESULTS

B. MALES

3. Pre-test and Post-test (Before and after Silva)

MMPI

The interpretation of points requires the 50 percentile mark to be taken into consideration. Pre-test results are indicated in a hyphened line, and post-test in a continued line. The closer the points get to the 50 mark, the higher the self-improvement in the corresponding personality traits or factors.

CONCLUSIONS

The conclusions of this study should be interpreted as approximative data, referred exclusively to personality changes in the subjects of this research. Nonetheless, some positive changes in behavior shown in the validity scales are worth mentioning:

1) A higher index of sincerity in the post-test (after Silva) answers, and

2) An increase in the validity index after Silva (post-test), possibly due to more reasonable and apropos answers. In general, subjects reflected after Silva a trend towards the normal median, with a decrease in extreme scale point, and the statistical median as well.It can be concluded that the Silva Method motivated a positive change in the subjects, along the following lines:

1. A feeling of healthiness, with less physical discomfort of possible organic origin. (As shown in the graphs, the subject s "improvement" is reflected in an approximation to the 50 percentile mark).

2. An increase in self-confidence, feeling more optimistic and useful.

3. A certain advance in the process of psychological maturity.

4. More acceptance and integration to social conventions.

5. A decrease in susceptibility, fear and apprehensions.

6. Higher acceptance of reality.

7. A disposition towards extroversion, becoming more open and sociable.

ABSTRACT

The MMPI was administered to a group of 39 professors of the School of Dentistry of the Autonomous University of the State of Mexico before and after taking the Silva course. Former studies report positive personality changes in people who practice the Silva Method. Our res