Criminal behaviour is a common area of interest amongst psychology students at Birmingham City University. Bobbie White, a regular name on The Psychological Perspective, is particularly interested in a phenomenon known as differential association. Here she gives her perspective…

To preface this blog, I want to talk a little about differential association. Such a theory suggests that crime is not only learned, but that it is learned through association with those who hold favourable views towards violating social norms (Newburn, 2017). Akers (1998) further suggests that associating with individuals who violate social or legal norms is a considerable factor in predicting delinquent behaviour (As cited in Laub and Sampson, 2001). It is thus thought that encouraging associations with peers who have more favourable societal attitudes will aid desistance in offenders (Gunnison, 2014). As such, when attempting to rehabilitate an offender it may be natural to discourage an individual from associating with unfavourable peers.  The potential benefits of this will vary from case to case and indeed as is the case with all interventions should be considered on an individual level. I, myself, do not wish to make an absolute statement on such a method that has so many moving pieces, as I am no expert. Indeed, I can conceive of more circumstances than not when such an exercise is key to supporting an individual’s desistance from future crime. 

Despite this, I feel that there is a level of blindsight that wider society has when it comes to practicing this. It is all too easy for us to say “Well they are a bad influence, stop associating with them” or “They’re going to get you in trouble”. Yes, perhaps they will but when considering crime and those who commit it, we are remiss to forget that acts and people do not occur in isolation. We are connected to our background and our society and who you see as ‘a bad influence’ may be the only person who was there to pull someone up at their lowest. The following is my own perspective of growing up in a deprived area rampant in crime… Perhaps it is different than you assumed.

The Stories You Don’t Hear 

Shows like Benefit Street and Jeremy Kyle have thrived on the public’s fascination with ‘Poverty Porn’. This notion that poor people on benefits are a spectacle to be watched and exposed. If this blog entry feels biased, it’s because it is. I grew up in an underprivileged area of Birmingham and the cast of ‘characters’ shown on programmes like that were similar to people I have loved and known as neighbours. These shows often show the elements of poverty that make those with money stare at with shock, horror and a near masochistic amusement. This is done all whilst concealing another side to growing up underprivileged.   

Compassion. 

When you grow up with very little, sharing is the assumption. If you feel the pit of hunger in your stomach, there is a neighbour or an ‘aunt’ ready to pull you in and insist that you eat up before you go back out. This aunt or uncle won’t share your blood, but what does something like that matter? That aunt was a teenage mother the same as your own. That uncle a man who had a fight with your dad once, only to later help him out in need. Mentions of previous fallouts to be met with ‘ Naw, he’s alright he is’. These people share no blood relation to you, but they are aunts and uncles nevertheless and always ready to fight for you, to stand in your corner. Going to court and you need a suit? There’s an uncle for that. New mom and need a break? There’s an aunt to take your child for the night, or to come help clean your house. If you find yourself fighting with family, storming out of your home with tears streaking down your face and voice hoarse from screaming, there is always a place you can go. A household willing to take you in. An aunt calling your mother to let her know you’re ‘alright’ and that keeping you for the night is ‘never a problem’. You will be welcome to stay there until the ache calms and the tears settle. If your car won’t start in the morning, you can bet that there is a neighbour who will open it up and spend hours fixing it for you. Often offering money for such an act is met with indignation. No matter how much time spent fixing it, or how difficult the task, offering a monetary reward can be seen as crass. The act was not done for reward. It was done because often that person knows what it’s like to need help and to not have it.  

“ You’re a guest, don’t be silly” Is a phrase I have heard more than once, but not from those of my background. This is because when you have nothing, anyone you welcome in is not a guest. They are, in some ways, family even if but for a small amount of time. I think nothing of making myself at home when at a friend’s from my background, and this is because I know we were both raised in a way that encourages such action. Of course, this also means there’s no slacking. 

“Can I have some water?”
“Sure, you know where the cups are, get me some whilst you’re at it.” 

If you see dinner being made for you, you come and help. If you can’t cook, you clean. If you can’t clean, you set the table. This level of familiarity is often there with all guests. If you don’t trust someone, the likelihood of them being brought into your home isn’t high. If you do trust someone, if that person is family in ways not involving blood, there is no part of your life that is denied to them.  To many this way of living must be strange. Not waiting on a guest hand and foot is a social faux pa worthy of distaste, but to those growing up how I did it is a statement. Guests are welcomed for only a short period. Guests knock on the door and await entry. To family however, the door is always open and the welcome always warm.  

Not all of my experiences have been positive. I have watched and seen acts of violence that other’s only know of from movies. I have seen knuckles bruised, obscenities shouted and noses red and twisted. I have felt relief that that was all that came to pass. That this time only hands and fists were thrown. I will not excuse this behaviour, but I refuse for this to be all that others think of when they think of poverty.  

So, the next time you see deprivation and poverty, the next time you see a show where the ‘characters’ make you feel rage because you feel they don’t pull their weight, just remember there is a side you do not see. A welcome you have not felt, but should you need it, should you ever find yourself without anything and in need of kindness… You would find it. 

Finally to finish this post off and to clarify,  I am by no means saying that we should not discourage contact with criminal peers or social circles when necessary. I am trying to highlight the monumental weight that comes with such an action and the support that an individual may need if they are to do this. If we see ‘criminal peers’ as  simply ‘bad’ and ignore the impact they have had on an individual’s life, than we risk being flippant and dismissive when working to help an individual make more positive choices going forward. Indeed, from an individual’s perspective, these circles who may not encourage ‘good’ behaviour, may also be the ones who offered care and compassion when an individual had nothing. Furthermore, often we as society greet those with a criminal record with coldness. We turn our backs instead of our cheeks and demand a better standard of behaviour before offering warmth. I do not envy those who are in the position of helping others reform themselves, because this is a monumental task. You cannot change society alone. You cannot undo the past, or isolate only the best elements of others. In spite of all you cannot do, there is something you can do – show empathy and consideration for those with experiences you have not had.  Consider life from another perspective and the hardships that may come from being encouraged to leave behind those from your past. 

For those of you who enjoy poetry, I encourage you to listen to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dg4x8vjbuA4. As you can see many of the experiences and feelings he expresses are also those shown throughout this post. This poem has always meant the world to me because it was one of the first pieces of media I came across that showed both sides to poverty and deprivation. 

– Bobbie White, Department of Psychology, Birmingham City University

Science communication is important in academia, but also vital in the wider community. An especially valuable way to share knowledge is with children – to educate, inspire and improve understanding of complex issues.

Bloggers in training Grace and Mason recently tried their hand at book reviewing (with a little help from their parents) for The Psychological Perspective. 

Anything you can do, I can do by Stacey A. Bedwell & Isabelle Butcher

Reviewed by Laura Gee & Grace

Josh and Amy are best friends. Amy has hemiplegia, but she doesn’t let it get in the way of having fun. Join Josh as he learns all about hemiplegia and what it means for Amy. Anything you can do, I can do is a children’s picture book exploring hemiplegia from a child’s perspective. The aim of the story is to help children understand what it means to have hemiplegia themselves, as well as understanding the needs and abilities of siblings and friends with hemiplegia.

We had both never heard of hemiplegia before, so it was really interesting to find out what it was, how it is caused and how it affects the body! The doctor section was really interesting, explaining about hemiplegia and what can be used to help treat the condition.

It was lovely to see that Amy can still have fun and enjoys swimming, not letting her disability hold her back. I feel this shows children that you can give anything go, you may surprise yourself!

Grace really enjoyed reading this aloud and said “it was very inspirational and will teach children to be more accepting of people with disabilities. Also, that it doesn’t matter what happens to you, you can be brave and conquer the world!”

We both feel this would be a great book to have in primary schools to teach children about hemiplegia but also what it is like to have a disability. It would be especially good for a child with hemiplegia as they could use this book to explain to people about their condition.

We thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

How does my brain work? By Stacey A. Bedwell 

Reviewed by Laura Fogarty & Mason

An adventurous little girl discovers amazing things about what her brain is, what it looks like, how it works and what it is made up of. As she journeys through different areas of the brain and learns the importance of neurons, she learns fascinating facts about brain biology. An exciting introduction to neuroscience.

My little boy and myself started reading How does my brain work? during lockdown as part of science for home-schooling. At first, I had a little doubt because the brain is such a complex part of the body, but instantly my son loved Brian the brain. The illustrations are colourful and easy to understand, and the information is informative but so easy for my 6-year-old to grasp. 

From learning about neurons to different lobes, my son has really begun to understand the importance of the brain and can now name some parts independently. I think the thing most enjoyed was that the pictures represented the information, so it made it fun and my son was able to demonstrate on his own tongue for example taste receptors and draw his own images copying what was in the book. 

One of the things the book has really helped with is understanding emotions and why we have them, especially during the pandemic, something that is really difficult to explain to a young child. I found the book was a conversation starter for really important topics. Overall, this book has been amazing and we will continue to use it over time. 

Comments from Mason: I really like this book because Brian the brain came to life and helped us all the way through. My best part was the tunnel (he means MRI) and learning lots about the brain that I didn’t know before. 

For more on science communication with children:

Inspiring young minds, running an interactive workshop for children. By Stacey Bedwell & Isabelle Butcher

Anything you can do, I can do. Video by Isabelle Butcher, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester

Anything you can do, I can do and How does my brain work? are available from Amazon, Blackwells and Barnes & Noble

Before the Christmas break, The Psychological Perspective asked Birmingham City University Psychology students to ‘blog their Christmas’. Charlotte Hiller did just that, by sharing what a Christmas spent alone was like for her…

Christmas is a funny time of year for me. Growing up as a Jewish child in a predominantly Christian area, I was always aware that it was not really a festival for us. Although I participated in the musical sides of numerous concerts, carol services and shows, I never quite had a place in those settings.

As Chanukah runs on the lunar calendar, it hops around November-December, and so it was rare for the 8 days of celebration to fall into the Christmas holidays. Although Christmas wasn’t our celebration, it was a time for us to get together, and like most of the country, sit down to turkey, Christmas crackers and the presents we would have exchanged over Chanukah had we have been together during that time period.

I want to say that Christmas was enjoyable as a child – but stuffing almost 40 people into 1 house over 3 or so days is not something I found easy to manage. I hated the noise levels, and the inescapable family members determined to have conversations that you would rather not have. Most of all, I hated family concert times with a passion! Our family has always had music at the centre of it, and although for many this sounds like an idealised way of life, for me it proved traumatic. We may have had a family string orchestra – but we also had a narcissist running the show, and Christmas was a particularly uncomfortable time when the claws inevitably came out. Rather than just a few people’s criticism, it would turn into a family affair – and so Christmas for me became a time I dreaded rather then looked forward to! Although some presents were exchanged, I inevitably fell into the category of a black sheep in the family, and this was partly expressed through being the only child not to receive a gift that year, or purely ridiculous gifts (my favourite being three odd socks!)

As I grew older, I found ways of managing these gatherings, and over the last few years things have improved somewhat. I have learned how to make excuses to shut myself away for some much-needed quiet time, and how to avoid too many uncomfortable conversations with my aunts, uncles and grandparents. I have also been too unwell to take part in the traditional family concerts, and so I almost feel privileged to finally have an excuse not to join in!

This time last year, I had just had major life-saving neurosurgery. I had to endure 6 weeks at my parents’ house which was more than a little awkward, and a number of unexpected house calls from very judgmental family who each made sure they knew my surgery had been a stupid idea. I was routinely being lectured on how I was refusing to work, or not taking the dog out on walks 3 times a day (even though I was only 2 weeks past surgery and could barely stay on my feet for more than a few minutes without fainting). I wanted nothing more than to escape back to my own house – to the tranquillity and safety of a place I am allowed to care for myself in a way that felt truly helpful and positive.

This year however, I am realising that although Christmas at home was unpleasant – the prospect of Christmas alone is even harder to manage.

I would love to sit here and say I’m going to relish the idea of being alone for the entire Christmas break, but having spent this year shielding, I was strangely looking forward to having a small family gathering. The prospect of being alone to cope with memories and grief is more than a little bit daunting – and although it’s what I have always wanted, it feels different this year. Perhaps it’s the fact it has not been by choice, or maybe it’s because I have started building some fragile bridges with family since surgery. Either way, the result is the same – Christmas this year is paralyzingly scary.

So far my flatmate has been away for a week, and my carer who had agreed to work for me over Christmas has dropped out (making things even harder to cope with) – I am really starting to realise that although I may be introverted by nature, I need people around me at least some of the time to stay content and keep depression at bay.

I will however survive this Christmas and make it into the new year. I am doing my best to put positive practices into place for myself and have arranged a somewhat precarious safety net just in case I need it. I am also learning to reach out more to those around me – so in reality, although this experience will be tough to get through, it may also teach me more about how to cope on my own.

It will also give me the time and space to finally begin to grieve for the loss of my best friend Riya who sadly passed away almost 6 years ago on New Year’s Eve. I have tried my hardest to avoid facing up to the level of pain losing her has given me, but this year, I am facing it weather I like it or not. She is in my mind constantly as the reminders of this time of year come so sharply into focus. At home, my grief was not allowed – but up here I can’t even begin to avoid it. I have made the decision to try and ride this wave, and to allow myself to feel the feelings I have had buried for years. She deserves that.

So my Christmas day will look different to most peoples; Rather than sitting around the table with friends or family, my dog and I will be decorating the first pair of pointe shoes I owned – because these are what reminds me most of Riya. They bring with them so many funny and positive memories – mostly of ninja impressions over the ballet barre, silly faces and of being loved and accepted. There won’t be any turkey or crackers, but there will be half a ton of glitter, paint and the rest of my art studio to lean on – and probably a few tears to boot.

I know this is far from a cheery post, but I wanted to tell others that are alone this Christmas that its ok to feel. Its ok to be sad, frustrated or angry. Its ok to look after yourself in any way you need. Living through Covid is far from pleasant – but we can use this as a way to learn new survival techniques, and even how to be just a little more compassionate to the parts of us that feel scared or lonely. Reach out to people if you can, spend some time on a hobby – you are worth more to those around you then you will ever realise, and any way of getting through this is worth fighting for.

– Charlotte Hiller, Psychology student at Birmingham City University

“Ew! Why would you have that as a pet?”

This is a comment I have heard on more than one occasion when I speak about my rats. Now to many, a rat is an animal synonymous with dirt, death and disease. To myself and many others these furry animals are nothing less than family akin to a pet dog or cat. I admit, I have to hold my tongue when I find out that these same people own a hamster or gerbil. A moment of self-indulgence here to note that unlike the beforementioned pets, rats very rarely bite. As social animals, biting cage mates or owners is not in their best interest. All this to say, I have never forgiven my friend’s hamster for biting me that once.  

 Whilst this love of rats as pets is something I stand by strongly; I know that changing minds on this front is no easy task and indeed it is not the main purpose of this blog entry. I could sit and explain how my rats run to their cage door when they see me wake up, or how they tug at my clothes as I walk past in order to get my attention. I could wax lyrically about how unlike most animals I have known, when sick these little creatures want comfort and to curl up with their owners. I could even tell you, much perhaps to your disbelief, how rats love to play with you and will chase you around and chitter happily as you scratch their belly. I could say all this, but to most it wouldn’t make a difference.

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As much as I adore the idea of everyone suddenly loving these creatures as pets, that isn’t the purpose of this small piece of writing. Instead, I hope to change thoughts regarding rats more subtly, encouraging a healthy appreciation for their scientific contribution. What has surprised me most about fellow psychology students, is the apparent lack of respect we have for these animals who have lent their lives to our betterment. Indeed, in the world of cognitive and biological psychology rats have been at the forefront of medical and psychological research, being experimented on in order for us as humans to understand and help those with various ailments. From Parkinson’s to Addiction, rats have been invaluable in furthering our knowledge and expanding treatment regimes.  Many drug-based therapies we have, have first been tested on animal models. Often lesions are used in various areas of rat brains in order to correlate behaviour to neuroanatomy. Whilst I am not trying to engage in a debate regarding animal experimentation, I feel it is important here to lay my own beliefs out in full, to avoid bias. I believe that testing on animals is as of yet unavoidable. It is a necessary evil that leaves a bad taste in my mouth, but often leads to immense good for humanity. In line with this belief, I believe that the least we can do is show these animals the respect and care they deserve.  

This is why I have always found it hard to see sneers and winces from those in the field of psychology when rats are mentioned as pets. Much like the rest of society there is a lot of stigma associated with the animal. As students and professionals in this field, however, we cannot claim ignorance to the contribution that rats have made to the world. That is why I’m going to ask something small of you. Spend some time thinking about the good rats have done in the world. More than that, if willing learn about their behaviour. I think you will find a newfound respect for these animals, whether it be due to the empathy they display for others or because of their surprising level of intelligence. Whilst I can only hope that the world at wide learns to love the mighty rattus norvegicus domestica, I am instead willing to settle for my peers to consider rats in a new, more respectful and grateful light.

– Bobbie White, Birmingham City University graduate

For more on the importance of animals in psychological research: 

Why research using animals is important in psychology. Stacey A. Bedwell argues the case. 

The importance of animals in neuroscience research

Making a decision about the next three years of your life, if you want to pursue higher education, what you want to study and where you want to study, can be a little overwhelming for prospective students. Similarly, the start of a university degree can be confusing and a big change from what students are used to. Dr Emma McDonald shares what it’s like to study psychology at Birmingham City University….

We understand choosing which University to go to is a big decision. Here at Birmingham City University, we have number undergraduate Psychology courses to make sure there is a course for everyone. The best please to see up-to-date information about the courses is the BCU website https://www.bcu.ac.uk/courses

You will be working with specialist lecturers and researchers throughout your degree here at BCU. You can find out more about the Psychology staff here https://www.bcu.ac.uk/social-sciences/about-us/staff/psychology

Below are some Frequently Asked Questions 

We also ask students to follow us on social media so they can posit questions if they are not answered here! Twitter: @BCU_Psychology or @BCUSocSciences

What does a typical academic year look like?

• The academic year is broken up into three semesters; you will have compulsory teaching and assessment weeks that you have to attend in Semester 1 and 2. Just like at school, you cannot miss compulsory teaching and assessment weeks e.g. take holidays. We are aware that sometimes missing sessions is unavoidable e.g. illness, if that is the case you are required to report your absence to the university. The dates are published on the university website here: https://www.bcu.ac.uk/student-info/types-of-study/term-dates
• For students joining the degree, ‘Welcome Week’ is a compulsory teaching week. Semester 3 takes place over the summer and is used for students that need to re-sit assessments or take assessments later due to extenuating circumstances. 

What does the timetable look like?

• Typically, you are timetabled for up to 12 hours per week of contact time. For each module this will involve a lecture, a seminar or workshop and online activities. There are other modes of delivery for face-to-face and online teaching that are used as well. You are also expected to complete independent study for each module.
• You will be expected to attend all of your timetabled face-to-face sessions. Timetabled sessions typically run between 9am and 7pm, Monday to Friday. Your attendance is monitored for all timetabled sessions and you have to report your absence if you miss a session.  
• In addition to the teaching sessions, you will have personal tutorials and optional seminars and workshops put on by services like the Centre for Academic Success https://www.bcu.ac.uk/about-us/education-development-service/centre-for-academic-success-student. 

What reading should I do to prepare for the degree?

• If you have not studied psychology before, we would recommend reading a general psychology textbook. If you want to buy a book, a good book is “The Psychology Book”  which you can often get for between £5-£10. A free alternative is “Psychology: An Introduction”, which is on this website.
• There are also free online courses you can do to learn about Psychology. A good example is https://www.psychboost.com/ which creates free, engaging, and interactive content for A-Level Psychology students. You may also want to look at https://www.coursera.org/ for free online programs. 
• One of the big changes at degree level study is reading textbooks is no longer enough, you will need to read with published research articles in academic journals as well. A good way to start preparing for university is by reading journal articles. You can access many scientific journals for free online e.g. Frontiers in Psychology, but with so many, it can be overwhelming. We recommend you start by reading the BPS Research Digest which is a blog summarising new research in psychology.  The Research Digest has done this for hundreds of articles; we recommend you find some that interest you, read the digest and then see if you can access the full article through the link at the end of the digest summary. 
• Another way to prepare for the degree is to read study skills books; there are lots of different books available, look out for ones that are aimed at psychology students. We have found that “The student’s guide to studying psychology” and “Studying Psychology” are good examples. 
• Please note the above is not a reading list for the degree course, this is solely recommendations for reading before you start. 

How much studying will I have to do?

• If you are studying full-time you should think of your degree as a full-time job, so at least 40 hours per week should be spent studying. This includes attending classes. This is a really useful tool that you can use to determine if you have enough time to study http://studentsuccess.ie/toolbox/tool2/#/.
• Unlike school, most of your time will be spent completing independent study, which means that you will be using your notes from teaching and set reading to do more in-depth research and wider reading on important topics. As an independent learner, you will need to determine what you need to do more in-depth research and reading on. 
• You should use your study time to pursue topics of interest that do not necessarily fit into a traditional academic curriculum related to your career goals.
• We strongly recommend students get fully involved in university life around studying. Developing extra skills employers want, plus a network of university friends and future BCU graduates is vital. This means our student’s graduate knowing the right information, skills and people. The BCU Student union is great https://www.bcusu.com/.

What Job can I go into with a Psychology degree? 

• Psychology is a flexible degree, what you learn will be relevant in any workplace or career. Wherever you work you will be working with people, if you work on your own you still have to work with yourself. Our psychology degree aims to foster transferable skills that will set graduates up for life. 
• The British psychological society have some research that looks at the career of psychology graduates: https://www.bps.org.uk/sites/www.bps.org.uk/files/News/News%20-%20Files/Careers%20destination%20survey.pdf

• Many of our students want to become psychologists. If you are thinking of becoming a psychologist we recommend you look at the BPS careers website for more guidance  https://careers.bps.org.uk/.  

• The Psychology Student Employability guide by Advanced HE provides a psychology specific overview covering such topics as where psychology graduates work within and outside psychology, emerging areas of work, the job market and includes activities to help you explore interests, skills preferences and values. https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/knowledge-hub/psychology-student-employability-guide

How does BCU compare to other universities on student satisfaction?

• You can see all the statistics on this official government website https://discoveruni.gov.uk/, and you can also compare universities. You will see we score highly compared to many other universities around the country. 
• We are always working on improving satisfaction, for example, each year the students have course representatives who represent the year group and meet with staff regularly to feedback both positive points and ideas for improvements. This is just one way are continually looking at improving our students’ experience at BCU. You can learn more about student voice a BCU on the student union website https://www.bcusu.com/student-voice/

Open Days and Applicant Visitor Days.

• The information about the BCU open days are available on https://www.bcu.ac.uk/student-info/open-days. For information on where to apply, click here. Once you have done so, you will receive an invite to one of our Applicant taster Days.

What is an applicant taster day?

Our Applicant Visitor Days are designed to relieve the stress of decision making and to enlighten you on what we have to offer you as one of our students. It is a chance for you to get to know us better and to place you in a good position to make a decision about studying with us and your future. https://www.bcu.ac.uk/student-info/how-to-apply/after-you-apply/applicant-taster-days

– Dr. Emma McDonald, Teaching Focussed Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Birmingham City University

Taking on a placement during a degree can be daunting, even when it’s planned for months and you are staying in the same city. One psychology student grasped an opportunity that came her way, moving to Somerset at a moments notice, and she doesn’t regret a thing. Sarah Hay shared her placement experience…

In August 2019 I was getting prepared to return to BCU for my final year of undergraduate study, when I suddenly saw an opportunity for a placement starting in September. I applied on a whim, not believing anything would come from it. Around 2 weeks later I found out that I’d been successful in my application and would be moving to Somerset within a month – mixed emotions doesn’t even cover it. I was ecstatic that I had been successful, but very nervous to leave my friends in Birmingham and move to an area I had never been to before.

Moving to a new county and not knowing anyone locally was tough – especially when lockdown hit! I felt extremely isolated, but the amazing people I met both in and outside of work supported me. I’ll always be grateful to them for being there for me.

I worked in the Somerset Team for Early Psychosis (STEP) for 11 months as an honorary assistant psychologist, shadowing excellent practitioners and specialists within the field. Psychosis is generally described as a loss of contact with reality, e.g. hallucinations and delusions, but symptoms vary in individuals and can change over time. Not only were the team enthusiastic and driven to achieve the best care for the service users, they were also so kind and welcoming to me – and my never-ending questions.

The role was varied with a good mix of clinical shadowing, as well as office-based paperwork. One of my first jobs when starting with the team was working on collating and submitting data for the National Clinical Audit of Psychosis (NCAP). Not the most exciting job, but was a great way to learn how to navigate the computer system and patient records. I was able to observe assessments, psychiatry appointments, mental health nursing appointments and many more.  I also ran online social groups during lockdown, such as a quiz and music group – in an attempt to reduce feelings of isolation. Furthermore, I took part in fundraising and awareness raising, specifically for an amazing project the team are embarking on in 2021 – The Voyage of Recovery, a 6-day sailing voyage with the Cirdan Sailing Trust. This involved a colleague and I hesitantly taking part in a radio interview to discuss the voyage, as well as promoting it on twitter (@STEPsomersetft).

Overall, the placement was tough – no doubt. The nature of the job, as well as wanting to produce a high standard work had me physically and mentally tired. But, it was so worth it. All jobs have their low points, but these were completely outweighed by the positives. Whether it was running a social group session which was well received, a service user beginning to trust and open up to you, or receiving some positive feedback. 

Anyone with the opportunity to do a placement, I couldn’t recommend it highly enough.  I have gained so much experience, learnt more about who I am and what I would like to do with my life. 

If you get a chance to work with the STEP team, go for it. I promise you won’t regret it…

– Sarah Hay, psychology student at Birmingham City University.

Graduating in 2020 was strange. Not only were graduation ceremonies held virtually, taking the next step, either into employment or postgraduate study has been difficult for many due to the economic effects of Covid-19. The world was also facing an economic crisis back in 2008 when psychology lecturers Silvio Aldrovandi and Stacey Bedwell found themselves on the job market. They shared their experience…

I completed my degree in Psychology without a clear plan of what I wanted to do next. I thought I might want to try to become a clinical psychologist, I thought about counselling and other roles in mental health. What I was sure of, was that I wanted to work with clinical populations. You might have noticed this is not what I ended up doing. I changed my mind, and that’s ok. 

I must have applied to hundreds of roles, starting months before I actually finished university. I graduated from Bangor University (University of Wales, Bangor back then!) in July 2008 without the graduate level role lined up that I thought I would have. There was a global economic crash that year, everyone I knew was struggling. Graduation came and went, I was living back in my teenage bedroom and applying for jobs had become a full-time job in itself. Gaining employment in the midst of a recession was not plain sailing. By September I had started a job in healthcare, not exactly what I wanted, but I took the attitude that it would give me experience for the competitive roles I was more interested in. I worked as a support worker for people with spinal cord and brain injuries. I had also decided I wanted to do an MSc in Clinical Psychology by this point, and gained a place on a course at Bangor beginning in September 2009. I’m still not sure if it was the lack of employment opportunities during the recession that pushed me to postgraduate study, but I’m glad either way, because it got me to where I am today. 

Knowing I had the MSc to go to in a year took the pressure off I had given myself in terms of getting the right job. I worked hard to save money from my healthcare job until January, then took the opportunity to travel. I went backpacking in southern Africa and volunteered at a monkey sanctuary,  visited friends abroad and took a £1 megabus to Paris. For the rest of that year I worked various healthcare roles and continued in a similar position with NHS Wales during my masters studies. I also spent some time tutoring, babysitting and working on the bar at Edgbaston cricket ground. Working in healthcare taught me one very important lesson, that I did not want a career working with clinical populations (I wanted to work in a bar even less). Lucky for me, I fell in love with research during my masters and went on to do a PhD and postdoc in neurobiology, which ultimately led me to becoming a lecturer at BCU. I do sometimes wonder how the outcome would have been completely different if I had easily walked into what I thought I wanted when I was 21.

– Stacey Bedwell, Lecturer in Psychology at Birmingham City University 

One evening in Autumn 2008, as I was watching on the news staff leaving buildings whilst holding cardboard boxes, the gravity of the financial crisis finally dawned on me. Although I had been reading about the increasing instability, I had not considered in depth how it may have impacted on me. At that time, I was in my final year of my PhD in Psychology and, amidst data analyses and writing up, I had started considering my next steps. I wanted to stay in academia: I loved teaching and research and I had been enjoying being part of a collegiate and friendly environment. I knew that competition was fierce and in fact it had been increasing already for years prior to the 2008 economic crash. In 2009 I thus realised that I had to pursue my goal by trying out via different avenues: I applied for short-term contracts at the institution I was at the time, I submitted an external funding application and contributed to a second, collaborative, application, and applied for fixed-term and permanent positions at other institutions. In terms of the latter, as I tend to organise and store information in a systematic manner, I can still access today the number of applications I made, and the many rejections I received. I experienced it all, from not being shortlisted to being invited for interviews where I quickly sensed it was not going be successful – to concluding an interview and feeling optimistic, only to be told after a few days I had not got the job. I can still access all my application documents, and I can easily appraise how I got better at applying for positions and more effectively presenting my skills and showing awareness of the institutional context I was applying to. Indeed, to be able to work in academia all I needed was a single ‘yes’! Securing that ‘yes’ in 2009 was an electrifying experience. In fact, as I write to you today, I managed to secure a second ‘yes’ in 2013, which now allows me to be proud member of the Department of Psychology at Birmingham City University.

– Silvio Aldrovandi, Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Birmingham City University 

The Covid-19 pandemic, lockdown and social distancing has had an effect on us all. However, not everyone’s experience has been the same. Charlotte explains why lockdown has been a positive time for her…

This summer has been a particularly eye opening summer for the majority of the population. All of a sudden, people found the world horrifically scary, isolating and lonely. Many struggled with feeling adrift from society, losing their purpose and struggling to retain some sense of normality amid such an unpredictable time.

I like to think that in this one scenario in which I have had the upper hand.

My life over the last 6 years has been pretty much what many have experienced during lockdown. 6 years ago, my active and fulfilling musical career went up in smoke when my low-lying chronic pain and fatigue suddenly exploded into a never-ending cascade of medical conditions and limiting disabilities. I went from managing a full-time music degree, dancing 16 hours a week and regular voluntary and paid work to struggling to leave the house in a matter of weeks. It is a period of time I will never forget, because it was then that I truly learned what it was to be seen as a useless burden on society.

Over the coming years I lost friends, I lost my ability to work, to get around without a powerchair, and struggled daily with never feeling like I could give enough to society to make my life worth living. My family relationships broke down, and I had no option but to try to both figure out my newly changed capabilities in life and find a new place within society.

I got used to the lack of contact, the isolation and the nagging sense of missing out on every important moment. I adapted. When dancing became impossible, I took up horse-riding. When horse-riding became life threatening, I finally threw myself head first into art. For me, art was my way to communicate, to vent and to explore my inner most feelings. I had no expectations thrust upon me, and I could feel truly free.

The best thing for me about art is that I could do it however I was feeling. Classes were a great start, but even as I became too unwell to attend, I could still lie in bed with my art journal and keep on developing my new found understanding of all the uncertainties my life had thrown at me. Even just days after major neurosurgery before Christmas, I spent weeks with my journal, both in hospital and out. It is and always will be my lifeline.

I mention the above because lockdown for me has actually been a positive experience. For the first time in 6 years, I have no longer been on the outside of life. People have reached out far more; the world has actually become more accessible for me and others in similar positions. Not only that, but we have already developed the survival skills needed to endure this type of isolation. For the first time I could use these skills to help other people who were struggling – I finally had a purpose.

So, whilst many were quite understandably struggling, I put my energy to good use, and began running some art sessions online for children who were struggling to cope. We not only made some greatly imaginative artwork, but we also found strategies to help with their worries, and positive ways to manage the stress of such a sudden change to their environment. I was able to engage remotely via Zoom which meant for the first time since becoming unwell I was able to do the thing that I love most of all – I was able to help.

Alongside my own sessions, I have been using wheelchair dance classes as a form of rehab – 3 times a week via zoom. I have taken part in parties I wouldn’t have gotten to, in quizzes and games nights. I have chatted to more people over the last 3 months then I have in the entire 6 years I have been unwell. My world has truly opened up for the better.

If there is one thing I hope this will teach the world, it is that we are easily able to use technology to include those of us in society that are otherwise excluded. Perhaps able-bodied people will learn to make online content alongside content in the real world, and to think about ways we can form stronger inclusive communities. 

On a personal level, it has taught me that I am not a burden on society. I have so much to offer, and perhaps using technology, I will be able to work more easily in a field I would enjoy. I may not be able to cope with a conventional 9-5 job, but perhaps I could manage a few hours running therapy sessions via video calls once I get the qualifications behind me.

The changes on campus to the ways of teaching will benefit me no end. I am able to study even on days I can’t cope with leaving the house, and in this I will miss far less then I have done in previous years. For me, lockdown has been unimaginably positive.

I really hope that those of you who are struggling keep reaching out, and together we can build an online community just as vibrant as the community we have on campus.

– Charlotte Hiller, Psychology student at Birmingham City University 

Zulahkah is a psychology student at Birmingham City University. Over the next couple of weeks, she will be returning to campus along with the rest of her course mates. However, since March 2020 when the UK went into Lockdown, things have been a bit different. Zulahkah shared her summer experience, whilst living through the Covid-19 pandemic…

When the Covid-19 pandemic initially began, I was planning to travel abroad for a week in April, until lockdown was imposed. It was a shame that myself and my family didn’t get the chance to visit Paris, but we ended up visiting in August instead. Throughout the lockdown period, myself and my family managed fine with continuous updates from my cousin, who worked on the Covid ward at Queen Elizabeth hospital in Birmingham. We were keeping safe and following government guidelines. Not being able to see family was the hardest part of lockdown, but we managed through FaceTime. 

In April we entered the month of Ramadan, which this year enjoyed discovering myself as a person during this time. We went for daily walks along the canals for at least 2/3 hours a day. Sometimes we got lost, but it was all part of the adventure. Even though we weren’t allowed to go to the mosque, we continued our night prayers at home as a family and managed to do everything we would if things were normal. When it was Eid it was sad that we didn’t get to go to the mosques but when they did open, I was so overwhelmed by feelings. I felt like i was finally home and where i was supposed to be. I felt complete, it’s hard to explain. 

The rest of lockdown was ok when family was allowed to visit.  We went to the butterfly farm on the train. The train was surprisingly very empty and we managed to get there and back perfectly fine. In Stratford upon Avon it was raining, but the inside the farm it was absolutely boiling! 

A few weeks later we finally got the all the clear to go Paris, but Paris ended up being on the quarantine list for when we got back. We were really reluctant on going at first, I was more scared for the children than anything else. We left on Monday morning and took the Euro Tunnel to France.  We spent the whole first day exploring Paris. On the second day, we visited Disneyland. It was very different from the first time I went. This time there was no hugging characters, no parades or fireworks, which was a shame. We went on literally every single ride. We had our face coverings on and sanitised our hands before and after every ride. They had hand sanitiser everywhere. We ate some Mickey Mouse shaped pizza which tasted amazing and ended the day on a boat cruise in Frontier Land. Disneyland amazing, everyone should defiantly visit!

On the final day we went on a tour and went to this absolutely beautiful mosque. Its literally one of the most beautiful mosques i have ever seen! The three days went so fast, i would love to stay there forever! We all got a Covid-19 test a week after isolating on our return, and we were negative. Alhamdulillah, the news made Paris look like it was out of control but it was actually perfectly normal. 

Two weeks ago we went to Manchester, to a few sneaker stores and a lot of food places. We ate some steak at this bbq place; it was so fun to catch up with my cousins who i hadn’t seen in almost a year because of the pandemic. I also launched my business on instagram @self_care_packages. I make care packages; it is mainly targeted at those suffering from a mental illness. It’s a little something to give a boost to their day. We also bought a bouncy castle and I held a few auctions on my charity page @_.helpthe_homeless to raise some money for orphans and Yemen. I just finished an auction to raise some money for homemade food for the homeless. My friend also made some cards to raise money for the Yemen crisis. There is so much more i could write about but I’ll just let the pictures do the talking. 

– Zulahkah Bibi, Psychology student at Birmingham City University 

I don’t really know about you guys – but about a week before I officially started life as a University student, I was absolutely terrified. Going into university was, for me, something I never felt I could prepare enough for, which is something I think I had only ever felt way back when I was transitioning from primary to secondary school. If you’re feeling the same way I felt; I’d really suggest that you give this post a read, because I know this is 100% the type of thing that would have helped my anxiety out loads a year ago.

When I first started into my regular timetable at BCU, I can remember being taken away on how much of a change it was from Secondary school. The timetables that I had were so much more spaced out – and it seemed like there was a much larger responsibility on me to go to my classes. Both of these things are more than true – but it’s not at all something that should be worrying. As you go through the year, it becomes a lot easier to adapt to the timetables that you have, and honestly – the gap that you have between certain classes can be an absolute blessing. For example, I really like working out – and since (during my first semester) every Monday I had a 3-hour break between classes, I would use that time to go to the gym, have lunch with friends, and study for an hour until my next class. If you plan your days right – even days where you have a dreaded 9am are more than easy to handle.

Speaking of studying though – something I also think I was a bit too worried about was the increased focus on independent study every university expects. It seems very daunting to be spending more time studying per week than you do in actual classes, especially since a lot of assignments aren’t exam-based and it’s hard to figure out how to study for them.  Here’s the thing though – while it seems hard, if you are doing something you are passionate about, it honestly comes as second nature. When I was making a presentation for my contemporary issues class, I made sure to pick a topic that I was already super interested in that also fit the briefing we were given for the project. It meant that, while I was studying for that class, a lot of the things I was reading were both interesting to me and were specific to what I needed to study up on – and frankly, it made my project super fun! As everyone reading this post is probably interested in Psychology (after all – you are doing a degree in it!) you have a really unique advantage in that most topics surrounding Psychology aren’t really boring. Even if they are, Psychology is so interconnected that, if you think enough about it, you’ll be more than able to connect a boring topic to something you’re interested in. With that in mind, studying becomes more of a hobby than a chore.

As for what you need to study up on? Well, that’s very class-by-class. In some subjects, your textbooks sort of give you the core elements to what you need to know, while in others – you may be completely reliant on the likes of Google Scholar to find studies relating to what is needed. Don’t worry about this as much in first year since your lecturers are there to guide you, but my personal advice is to use as many resources as you feel comfortable with for every subject. 

I talked about exams earlier, which are also certainly something I worried a lot about entering BCU. What I will say on this is that the exams you faced at your last stage of education are, in all likelihood, 100% different to what you should expect at university. For a start, some modules don’t have a final exam, but might have a final essay, presentation, or even poster depending on the subject. As this is a science, it’s also to be expected that you’ll be dealing with lab reports and research proposals as final assignments too. This isn’t anything to worry about though. Every module’s final assignment has been chosen for a reason, and to ensure fairness a lot of the time there are multiple parts of your final assignment. For example, in my Psychopathology module last semester, I had a combination of an essay to write about on a disorder of my choosing alongside a set of quizzes that I was allowed to take any time before a select deadline. Planning is everything for any module, so if you set out a battle plan on how you want to prepare and execute your assignment, you’ll be more than able to get as much as you want to give into your modules. This being said – make sure you are putting the effort in, because the effort you put in now can and will pay off when you’re looking for opportunities within the university later, something I’m very keen to talk about now.

So, onto opportunities. How and what can you expect from BCU? Well, in my experience at the very least, the how can be both through expected and unexpected routes, and the what can be pretty much anything, within reason of course. I’ll talk about my experiences more on the opportunities I’ve had as a BCU student on a later blog, however what I will say for now is that this is a university designed to empower students. I know that sounds very “promo-ad campaign” of me, but it’s more than true. We have both tutors that are set up to allow as much face-to-face time as needed alongside entire projects meant to give real research and employment opportunities to students that will allow them to succeed in life. Getting a career in Psychology can be very difficult, but if you’re willing to put in the effort like I have, BCU is more than happy to give back. And with the amount of support you receive from all members of staff, it both looks AND feels that way, which is something a lot of my friends in other universities wouldn’t be able to say.

I’ve written quite a bit here, and if you’ve read through all of this a hearty congratulations to you, but before I go I want to end on a few words. University life can seem extremely daunting, as can studying Psychology, and I’ve only really covered a few fears I had entering university, but frankly – you don’t have anything to worry about. BCU is a genuinely amazing place to experience the academic side of University – and while coming here might seem scary at first, in about a month’s time, you won’t even remember half of the fears you first had. 

– Luke McCombe, undergraduate psychology student at Birmingham City University.