Knowing that I'd meet my PSY 201 classes for the first time, I wanted to do a little "research" on topics in psychology that exist in the "real world." Between 6:00 and 6:25 this morning, I read these blogs about the following:
A woman who declared today to be the first day of her fast. She weighs 267 pounds and is apparently ready to take extreme measures to trim down.
Another woman who wrote several entries about breast implants (why she decided to get them, how her recovery is going, and how thrilled she is with the results).
Yet another woman who is grieving over the death of her 20-something-year-old son. Currently his ashes are in a box on the dining room, and she's open to suggestions about what to do with them.
A 37 year old man who is "re-beginning" college and is anxious and fearful about the experience. He's afraid that he's the oldest freshman in the United States.
A teen (couldn't tell whether it was a male or female) who feels that his or her parents are total losers.
A young woman (teenager) who's disgusted by the old geezers (40 year olds) who have asked her to be friends on facebook.
How, in your opinion, do these examples relate to the science of behavior and mental processes? Choose one, some, or all to discuss; better yet, share one of your own.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Sunday, August 12, 2007
That E Word Again
In Human Growth and Development, we discuss exercise at every stage of the lifespan except perhaps infancy. It seems especially important now as the obesity issue continues to grow (didn't intend that pun but could think of no better verb). In The State newspaper this week, a study again reported that 30 minutes of exercise five days a week is sufficient to keep a person in reasonably good health. If that's impossible, then try three or four days for 20 minutes. If that's not possible, then the article suggests that you check your pulse to make sure you're alive. Pretty amusing, huh?
Why do you think more people don't exercise despite all the evidence pointing to its positive results. Not only can moderate exercise help with weight control, but it can also help work out emotional kinks, relieve stress, enhance cognition, and build confidence.
So what' s your opinion? Why don't more people head for the gym, fitness center, or local track? Also, if exercise has helped you, please share how...and perhaps offer a tip on getting us started.
Why do you think more people don't exercise despite all the evidence pointing to its positive results. Not only can moderate exercise help with weight control, but it can also help work out emotional kinks, relieve stress, enhance cognition, and build confidence.
So what' s your opinion? Why don't more people head for the gym, fitness center, or local track? Also, if exercise has helped you, please share how...and perhaps offer a tip on getting us started.
Thursday, August 9, 2007
No More Headaches
Have you read about the German woman who, after being plagued for over five decades with a pencil lodged in her brain, has now had it safely removed? When she was four years old, she fell , and the 3.15 inch long pencil went through her cheek into her brain. Her words: "It bored right through the skin and disappeared into my head...It hurt like crazy." Ouch.
51 years later, technology enabled a doctor to locate and remove the pencil...or most of it. Looks like now perhaps the woman's headaches and nosebleeds will cease, or at least diminish in number and severity. I'm astounded by these remarkable events--that she lived with a pencil in her brain for 51 years and that her doctor was able to remove it successfully.
Is anyone out there as awed by this situation as I am?
51 years later, technology enabled a doctor to locate and remove the pencil...or most of it. Looks like now perhaps the woman's headaches and nosebleeds will cease, or at least diminish in number and severity. I'm astounded by these remarkable events--that she lived with a pencil in her brain for 51 years and that her doctor was able to remove it successfully.
Is anyone out there as awed by this situation as I am?
Grandmother's Pink iPod
One of the fun things about teaching Human Growth and Development is that we get to discuss the many changes that occur during a person’s life. “Life” (in this course) begins at conception and ends at death, so the social, emotional, spiritual, cognitive, and physical changes are numerous. When we add societal influences into the mix, things really get interesting.
This morning, for example, I read an article in The State about seniors and technology. While many of them might still think of a blackberry as a cobbler ingredient, others know better. In fact, the number of Americans 65 and older using the Internet went up 160 percent from 2000 to 2007, according to a Pew Internet and American Life Project. They email family and friends, listen to music on iPods, conduct online research, write books, use digital cameras, play video games, shop, read blogs, produce home slide shows, and burn DVDs.
What I LOVE about this article is that it reaffirms that growth, change, and development can happen at any stage of life I’m hoping someone will respond to this posting with an instance of an older adult who has embraced technology in some way. Another question to consider might be how technology can change seniors’ lives.
This morning, for example, I read an article in The State about seniors and technology. While many of them might still think of a blackberry as a cobbler ingredient, others know better. In fact, the number of Americans 65 and older using the Internet went up 160 percent from 2000 to 2007, according to a Pew Internet and American Life Project. They email family and friends, listen to music on iPods, conduct online research, write books, use digital cameras, play video games, shop, read blogs, produce home slide shows, and burn DVDs.
What I LOVE about this article is that it reaffirms that growth, change, and development can happen at any stage of life I’m hoping someone will respond to this posting with an instance of an older adult who has embraced technology in some way. Another question to consider might be how technology can change seniors’ lives.
TV and Relativity
There's been a recent study on the effect of Baby Einstein videos on children. It looks to be supportive of the view that children under 2 years of age should not view any TV.
This is not likely to sit well with many parents that park their children in front of the TV every week, albeit "educational" videos or not. The research is slowly mounting that TV and young children may not be a good combination. Particularly for young children who are likely negotiating through some important critical periods for language development. Looks like we might want to grab the old reliable Dr. Suess and other children's books instead of the remote.
Read the article here: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1650352,00.html
This is not likely to sit well with many parents that park their children in front of the TV every week, albeit "educational" videos or not. The research is slowly mounting that TV and young children may not be a good combination. Particularly for young children who are likely negotiating through some important critical periods for language development. Looks like we might want to grab the old reliable Dr. Suess and other children's books instead of the remote.
Read the article here: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1650352,00.html
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Resilient Children
I just got through reading this great book entitled The Crystal Castle by Jeannette Walls. A I read it, I not only thought of what a great book this would be for anyone interested in Human Growth and Development but also of a concept known as the resilient child.
The book is an autobiographical account of the author and her siblings as they struggled (understatement) through their many challenges including poverty, neglect, alcoholism, and a set of eccentric parents. The Walls children were resourceful, intelligent, and “scrappy” as they endured the many privations and humiliations of their young lives. Amazingly, they all triumphed and are now successful adults.
How can this be? While pondering this, I kept thinking of the parents and their great love for their children. Despite their personal inadequacies, the love for their four children was strong and evident, and it occurred to me that LOVE was the X factor (or one of them). This morning as I was perusing my new edition to Pierce Howard’s The Owner’s Manual to the Brain, I was reminded of the resilient child. Howard lists two factors, the first being the child’s relationships with prosocial adults, whether they are in the immediate family or not. The second factor is the possession of good intellectual functioning, including problem solving ability and language comprehension and vocabulary. The Walls children fit these criteria perfectly.
I love it when I can see a real life application of a psychological principle. I’m hoping that someone will share an example of a resilient child or perhaps just offer an opinion or observation on the subject.
The book is an autobiographical account of the author and her siblings as they struggled (understatement) through their many challenges including poverty, neglect, alcoholism, and a set of eccentric parents. The Walls children were resourceful, intelligent, and “scrappy” as they endured the many privations and humiliations of their young lives. Amazingly, they all triumphed and are now successful adults.
How can this be? While pondering this, I kept thinking of the parents and their great love for their children. Despite their personal inadequacies, the love for their four children was strong and evident, and it occurred to me that LOVE was the X factor (or one of them). This morning as I was perusing my new edition to Pierce Howard’s The Owner’s Manual to the Brain, I was reminded of the resilient child. Howard lists two factors, the first being the child’s relationships with prosocial adults, whether they are in the immediate family or not. The second factor is the possession of good intellectual functioning, including problem solving ability and language comprehension and vocabulary. The Walls children fit these criteria perfectly.
I love it when I can see a real life application of a psychological principle. I’m hoping that someone will share an example of a resilient child or perhaps just offer an opinion or observation on the subject.
Friday, August 3, 2007
Where was/is Dad?
I decided to go ahead and post something about this tragic event since it brings to light several topics we discuss in Human Growth and Development.
Everyone is abuzz with talk about the woman who left her small children in a hot car while she went to work. The children were later found dead in trash bags beneath their kitchen sink, bathed and dressed by their mother. Apparently, she was afraid to lose her job and had no one to help her with the care of her children. No one.
Caught in what psychologists call an avoidance/avoidance conflict, she chose work over the children. Or did she choose work because of the children? Being the only breadwinner, Shawn and Triniti depended on their mother for sustenance. I’m not condoning her actions by any stretch of the imagination. I’m just saying that I can sense the agonizing decision that she had to make, wistfully hoping that the children would be waiting for her when her workday was over.
This issue brings to light many social issues, one being deadbeat dads. Where was the father of these babies? Isn’t he responsible too? So many times fingers are pointed at the unfit, neglectful mother while the father of these little ones isn’t even mentioned. In our society, four of ten children are born to single mothers, and many people seem fine with that. Huh??? I just don’t get it. Call me old-fashioned, but I know from experience, observation, and tons of research that children fare better with both parents around to raise them, to tag team.
What are the answers? I don’t know. Indeed, how many of us would have helped this young woman with her children that day or any day? Even as I write this, there are thousands of mothers and children who need us. What are we doing…that is, what are we doing besides talking about the issue?
Everyone is abuzz with talk about the woman who left her small children in a hot car while she went to work. The children were later found dead in trash bags beneath their kitchen sink, bathed and dressed by their mother. Apparently, she was afraid to lose her job and had no one to help her with the care of her children. No one.
Caught in what psychologists call an avoidance/avoidance conflict, she chose work over the children. Or did she choose work because of the children? Being the only breadwinner, Shawn and Triniti depended on their mother for sustenance. I’m not condoning her actions by any stretch of the imagination. I’m just saying that I can sense the agonizing decision that she had to make, wistfully hoping that the children would be waiting for her when her workday was over.
This issue brings to light many social issues, one being deadbeat dads. Where was the father of these babies? Isn’t he responsible too? So many times fingers are pointed at the unfit, neglectful mother while the father of these little ones isn’t even mentioned. In our society, four of ten children are born to single mothers, and many people seem fine with that. Huh??? I just don’t get it. Call me old-fashioned, but I know from experience, observation, and tons of research that children fare better with both parents around to raise them, to tag team.
What are the answers? I don’t know. Indeed, how many of us would have helped this young woman with her children that day or any day? Even as I write this, there are thousands of mothers and children who need us. What are we doing…that is, what are we doing besides talking about the issue?
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