Obesity and Friends

Obesity is a hot topic in psychology today, especially in Human Growth and Development. In this course, we discuss the relationship between chubby babies and overweight children, and then as we continue our journey "from the womb to the tomb," we touch on obesity in adolescence and adulthood. What causes it? What are the consequences? What can be done to curb this growing problem?


In class, we examine the role of genetics (is there a fat gene?), parents as role models, the media, sedentary lifestyles, fast food, video games, and just plain laziness as possible causes. Last week a new study revealed that friends have more of an impact on obesity than anything else, including family. If your friends are weight conscious, you will be too. If they exercise and watch their calories and fat grams, you will do the same. This is true even when friends are geographically separated. On the other hand, if friends follow their steak and potatoes meal with dessert, you'll probably do the same...and you won't do anything to burn off those calories.

What do you think? Do you think there's some truth to this study?

Adaptation Level Principle

Everything’s relative. While reading Friday’s State newspaper, I was impressed by a short article about students in Guinea. In fact, it was so brief that I probably would have missed it entirely except for the almost surreal looking photograph of people sitting under what appeared to be streetlights. Turns out they were students who had come to the airport in order to read.

Apparently there are about 10 million people who live in Guinea, and only about 1/5 of them have electricity. Consequently, the young people who are fortunate enough to go to school and who are serious about their studies flock to the airport to study at night. Why? Because that’s where the lights are. I stared at the picture for a few moments because it was both weird AND wonderful. Around and behind the readers was complete darkness, but shining down on their books was the gauzy glow of the street lamps. It crossed my mind that their books and their minds were both being illuminated. As a teacher and avid reader, I found this picture and the story it told absolutely wonderful.

The reason the adaptation level principle came to mind is because we talked about it in Human Relations while we were discussing happiness. Apparently, we think we'll be happy as soon as we get____ or have _____. You fill in the blanks for yourself with whatever it is that you think will make you happy. And guess what? When we get the dream job, meet the love of our lives, or buy that cool car, we are happy...at least for a short time. Then we grow accustomed to it and start dreaming and thinking again about what else it would take to really make us happy.

I thought about this principle when looking at this photograph because here in America we have so much that we've become somewhat jaded. When's the last time that you went to an airport to read? I've had students who lose electricity in their homes and therefore can't/don't study for tests or fulfill other assignments, and yet in Guinea these young people are so thrilled at the opportunity that the lights provide that they come there every night.

Just Do It!

When interviewed about the things they might have regretted about their lives, one of the things that middle aged and older adults report is that they most regret the things they DID NOT DO. Even if they failed miserably or got rejected, they were happier to have tried and not succeeded than to have stood on the sidelines shaking with anxiety and fear. What are your reactions to this? Do you agree or disagree? Are there some things that you're thinking about doing but are letting your apprehensions hold you back? Are there situations when you DID do something and feel great about it?

Ripple Effects

This morning in PSY 103 we discussed that sometimes the ripple effect from changes in our lives are more stressful than the actual change itself. For instance, death of a loved one is painful and stressful, but so are the ripples that come from the event. For starters, there are insurance and estate challenges. Then there's the issue of what to do with the loved one's belongings...and how to handle the mail that continues to arrive, sometimes months and years after the person dies. As another example, having a baby join the family is a positive change that also has its ripple effects. Actually, any big change has them, and I'm hoping that you'll share an example.

Cognitive Appraisal

When I first learned of Martin Seligman's cognitive appraisal system as a means of coping with stress, I knew immediately that it was a workable model. As a review for those who may have been daydreaming in class, there are three steps: primary appraisal, secondary appraisal, and reappraisal. In primary appraisal a person decides whether or not a person, situation, or event is stressful or not...and whether it's potentially harmful, positive, or neutral. In secondary appraisal, the individual decides whether or not she can cope and HOW (what method or strategy). Reappraisal takes place after a period of time and basically involves asking, "Is this working?" If not, then the person needs to begin the process anew.

Now that you've been reminded of the steps, please share a situation in which you think this model might help you OR a situation in which you wish you had applied it.

"The choices we make when we're young cast a long shadow on our futures." That's a paraphrased quote I often use in Human Growth and Development as we study young adulthood. The purpose is to encourage students to consider how the decisions and behaviors of their 20s and 30s might affect the quality of their middle and later adult years. Does anyone have any ideas to share...or perhaps a personal experience that changed the course of your life?

The "E" Word

We’re beginning our study of young and middle adulthood in Human Growth and Development, and yesterday the “E” word (exercise) was mentioned several times. No matter what the study, who conducted it, who the participants were, or where it took place, research validates the importance of exercise in successful aging…and in overall health.

Yesterday we talked about the social, physical, emotional, and cognitive development of humans and agreed that exercise could benefit a person in all four domains. And it doesn’t have to be triathlon training to be beneficial. Just thirty minutes of moderate exercise four times a week can aid in weight control, increase confidence, decrease anxiety and depression, improve cardiovascular fitness, clarify problems, and so forth.

Is there anybody out there who can think of disadvantages to exercise? If so, let’s hear them. If not, then please share reasons why you think more people are not jumping on the exercise bandwagon.