http://www.watoday.com.au/opinion/cleanliness-really-is-close-to-godliness-20091031-hqn9.html
Experiments have proven that people are fairer and more generous in clean-smellling environments compared to behaviors in plain-scented rooms by comparing them to rooms treated with squirts of Windex. The different experiments made were interesting, testing interest in volunteer work, a trust game seeing how much money one would return, donating money. I agree the cleanliness has an effect of our mentality and how we feel in general so results like this linking cleanliness with positive behaviors does not surprise me. I would be interested in knowing where they got these participants from and if there is an element of chance that those in the clean room that were more giving and charitable were just more charitable kind people to begin with.
It is interesting to contemplate the effects of our olfactory senses on brain functioning. Although research in this article says that subjects who washed their hands before making moral judgments were more forgiving than those who didn't, in my opinion your moral compass is a part of your inner being and I wouldn't expect results to be much different due to cleanliness because I feel like morals are engrained as part of your being based on your social experiences, not a sensory trigger.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Study Breaks
http://scienceblogs.com/cognitivedaily/2009/11/whats_the_best_way_to_take_a_s.php?utm_source=networkbanner&utm_medium=link
This article is by two students of the University of Chicago which is an extremely prestigious college. They explain how studying is the core part of their experience there and say they didn't have "parties" but had "study breaks". They questioned and wondered about what the most effective study break would be to clear up your mind and refocus the mind between study sessions.
They introduce an idea called "attention restoration theory" or ART which waas also discussed similarly in Willaim James's 1892 psychology textbook. It calims that walking in the woods can help you refocus your thoughts and it is the natural world and interacting with nature that engages your attention in a bottom- up fashion, bu features of the environment that are appealing. The artificial world demands active attention, similar to the energy we require for studying, in order to prevent getting hurt or just getting through daily activities. Marc Berman, John Jonides and Stephen Kaplan wanted to attempt measuring the effect of ART.
They paid 28 student volunteers to do a backwards digit-span task and after 14 tests were elected to take an hour long walk to see if their scores would improve the second time around. The nature walkers' scores rose to significance and city walkers rose only a little bit, displaying the effectiveness of being exposed to nature to refocus attention. Since University of Chicago is restricted from nature, Gary Felsten decided to put murals on emply windowless lounges of natural scenes. 200 students who rated the lounges for various qualities thought by the ART to be "restorative", giving a sense of "being away", "fascination", and comfort and ease therefore being successful.
It makes sense that images can be just as likely to help refocus the mind due to our knowledge in psychology. While these students could not find a natural environment to break in due to the location in such a huge city, the images/murals were just as effective. Visually stimulating images have always been able to change our mindsets and have power over our psychology. I think about the color yellow and how it is tied to memory, so post its, highlighters and other study objects are commonly of the yellow color. Studies like this help me appreciate the study of psychology because there is much to be learned about improving our lives in many different aspects from the knowledge we have of psychology. I also believe that while the visuals can be restorative and calming, actually being out in nature directly is more effective.
This article is by two students of the University of Chicago which is an extremely prestigious college. They explain how studying is the core part of their experience there and say they didn't have "parties" but had "study breaks". They questioned and wondered about what the most effective study break would be to clear up your mind and refocus the mind between study sessions.
They introduce an idea called "attention restoration theory" or ART which waas also discussed similarly in Willaim James's 1892 psychology textbook. It calims that walking in the woods can help you refocus your thoughts and it is the natural world and interacting with nature that engages your attention in a bottom- up fashion, bu features of the environment that are appealing. The artificial world demands active attention, similar to the energy we require for studying, in order to prevent getting hurt or just getting through daily activities. Marc Berman, John Jonides and Stephen Kaplan wanted to attempt measuring the effect of ART.
They paid 28 student volunteers to do a backwards digit-span task and after 14 tests were elected to take an hour long walk to see if their scores would improve the second time around. The nature walkers' scores rose to significance and city walkers rose only a little bit, displaying the effectiveness of being exposed to nature to refocus attention. Since University of Chicago is restricted from nature, Gary Felsten decided to put murals on emply windowless lounges of natural scenes. 200 students who rated the lounges for various qualities thought by the ART to be "restorative", giving a sense of "being away", "fascination", and comfort and ease therefore being successful.
It makes sense that images can be just as likely to help refocus the mind due to our knowledge in psychology. While these students could not find a natural environment to break in due to the location in such a huge city, the images/murals were just as effective. Visually stimulating images have always been able to change our mindsets and have power over our psychology. I think about the color yellow and how it is tied to memory, so post its, highlighters and other study objects are commonly of the yellow color. Studies like this help me appreciate the study of psychology because there is much to be learned about improving our lives in many different aspects from the knowledge we have of psychology. I also believe that while the visuals can be restorative and calming, actually being out in nature directly is more effective.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Fort Hood gunman
http://www.jsonline.com/news/69441347.html
This article is about the investigation of possible motives of Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, a liscenced army psychiatrist who is the alleged Fort Hood gunman who out of nowhere opened fire killing 13 people and wounding at least 30 others in the deadliest-ever mass shooting on a U.S. military installation. One question that comes to mind hearing about such a tragedy is why would a member of the military who had been trusted with helping others achieve a healthier mental state allegedly shoot his comrades?
Hasan was scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan to work with a unit present there as part of behavioral health support and although the exact dates were not set, the idea of his first deployment may have caused him great strife and anxiety. Some reactions question whether or not Hasan could have been a part of a terrorist plot that might justify moving his case into the federal criminal courts under U.S. anti-terrorism laws but the House of Armed Services committee has to first examine his physical and mental health.
Although the process will take very long until some conclusion is found in terms of Hasan's future, some very important psychological aspects are brought up in examining this situation. It has to be determined how much responsibility somebody has over their psychological health and that nobody, even the psychiatrists themselves, are free from psychological pain or strife. Perhaps he grew afflicted due to the nature of his work and that constantly being surrounded by patients dealing with wartime inflicted stress and in turn was burdened himself. I think an important thing to learn from this situation is that the institution as a whole needs to create some sort of stress preparation for those involved in the army. We often hear about post traumatic stress disorder and issues that result from being put in high stress situations but it is inevitable that if involved in the war you are going to be in such scenarios. This is why a program preparing soldiers for future stress may make them stronger against the psychological effects and hopefully promote better health for them. Although this situation is isolated, does not happen frequently and can't be assumed it will happen again- there is a lesson of change and preparation to be learned from it as well as seeing how important psychological health is.
This article is about the investigation of possible motives of Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, a liscenced army psychiatrist who is the alleged Fort Hood gunman who out of nowhere opened fire killing 13 people and wounding at least 30 others in the deadliest-ever mass shooting on a U.S. military installation. One question that comes to mind hearing about such a tragedy is why would a member of the military who had been trusted with helping others achieve a healthier mental state allegedly shoot his comrades?
Hasan was scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan to work with a unit present there as part of behavioral health support and although the exact dates were not set, the idea of his first deployment may have caused him great strife and anxiety. Some reactions question whether or not Hasan could have been a part of a terrorist plot that might justify moving his case into the federal criminal courts under U.S. anti-terrorism laws but the House of Armed Services committee has to first examine his physical and mental health.
Although the process will take very long until some conclusion is found in terms of Hasan's future, some very important psychological aspects are brought up in examining this situation. It has to be determined how much responsibility somebody has over their psychological health and that nobody, even the psychiatrists themselves, are free from psychological pain or strife. Perhaps he grew afflicted due to the nature of his work and that constantly being surrounded by patients dealing with wartime inflicted stress and in turn was burdened himself. I think an important thing to learn from this situation is that the institution as a whole needs to create some sort of stress preparation for those involved in the army. We often hear about post traumatic stress disorder and issues that result from being put in high stress situations but it is inevitable that if involved in the war you are going to be in such scenarios. This is why a program preparing soldiers for future stress may make them stronger against the psychological effects and hopefully promote better health for them. Although this situation is isolated, does not happen frequently and can't be assumed it will happen again- there is a lesson of change and preparation to be learned from it as well as seeing how important psychological health is.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
6 year old rare schizophrenic case
http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-schizophrenia29-2009jun29,0,4834892.story
This article is about a young girl Jani Schofield, age 6 who suffers from the mental illness schizophrenia. This case was especially intriguing to me because it was not only disheartening and concerning but extremely rare. Dr. Gotay explains "ninety-five percent of the time they are awake these kids are actively hallucinating" which is completely shocking and I cannot even begin to fathom how such a life is tolerable. The article explains that only "about 1% of adults have schizophrenia; most become ill in their late teens or 20s. Approximately one in 10 will commit suicide". As most schizophrenic cases' have an onset around the age 18, and such a small percentage of adults suffer from it, the uniqueness of Jani's case is more so astounding. Taking antipsychotic medicines constantly throughout the day to suppress the hallucinations of this young girl is one of the burdens that have to be faced. My heart goes out to the extremely courageous parents of the young girl as their lives have been especially inflicted with the illness Jani seems to be born with. The tantrums she has must be extremely difficult to deal with and the article specifies that the parents have even experienced fear during certain times that they have escalated.
One thing that puzzled me about this case was that Jani as an infant would only get 4 hours of sleep total, in spurts of 20 minute naps, as normal infants need 14-16. In knowing the necessity for sleep and mental rest and the consequences of the lack of it I wonder how much of a negative effect the lack of sleep has on her illness- if sleeping less perpetuates the illness? I was also interested in the family history for mental illness and wondered about a possible predisposition to the illness.
This article is about a young girl Jani Schofield, age 6 who suffers from the mental illness schizophrenia. This case was especially intriguing to me because it was not only disheartening and concerning but extremely rare. Dr. Gotay explains "ninety-five percent of the time they are awake these kids are actively hallucinating" which is completely shocking and I cannot even begin to fathom how such a life is tolerable. The article explains that only "about 1% of adults have schizophrenia; most become ill in their late teens or 20s. Approximately one in 10 will commit suicide". As most schizophrenic cases' have an onset around the age 18, and such a small percentage of adults suffer from it, the uniqueness of Jani's case is more so astounding. Taking antipsychotic medicines constantly throughout the day to suppress the hallucinations of this young girl is one of the burdens that have to be faced. My heart goes out to the extremely courageous parents of the young girl as their lives have been especially inflicted with the illness Jani seems to be born with. The tantrums she has must be extremely difficult to deal with and the article specifies that the parents have even experienced fear during certain times that they have escalated.
One thing that puzzled me about this case was that Jani as an infant would only get 4 hours of sleep total, in spurts of 20 minute naps, as normal infants need 14-16. In knowing the necessity for sleep and mental rest and the consequences of the lack of it I wonder how much of a negative effect the lack of sleep has on her illness- if sleeping less perpetuates the illness? I was also interested in the family history for mental illness and wondered about a possible predisposition to the illness.
Performance and Perception
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091006134823.htm#
This article suggests that research shows a connection between sports related performance and perception during the action. The article says perception relates to specific areas of success and failures and through research, finds that athletes report their targets are bigger on days they play well and smaller on bad days. This means that when being successful in their sport related goal (making a field goal is used as an example), the object being aimed for appeared/was perceived to be bigger than it in actuality is. The study done according to this article affirms that performance influences perception.
Students who missed because they kicked the ball too short judged the goal to be taller which supports the theory of self serving bias. The "perceived size of the goal posts after kicking was positively correlated with kicking performance" for both successful and failed attempts to complete the field goal. The article states that many researchers are resistant to such a claim, sticking to the idea that perception is only about information received by the eye, explaining that the goal post size should not change based on the physiological aspects of our bodies alone. While I can agree with the idea that the way we see things is an optical function, I can understand the perspective and side with the research that proves otherwise- that perception is about more than just the optical system. The power of the mind and psychology cannot be undermined and as research supports, the way we perceive things is a cognitive function as well as a physical one. Bias causal inference encourages us to think of different reasons or excuses for our actions or the way things turn out, which may play a great role in this perception/action theory that supports the power of the cognitive function.
From personal experience, I think about when I have gotten a bad grade on a test back and instead of taking responsbility for it, I claim that maybe the teacher's test was too hard or that they are difficult graders. When I do well on an assignment or test, I always think it is attributed to my hard work and is something I deserve. I think in the scenario of sports accomplishment or failure this kind of mental process may be strong enough to affect the way something we optically receive is processed, resulting in a different way of looking at things. Personally, playing tennis, I understand and can reason with this idea. As the goal for tennis is to keep the ball within the court lines using your muscle memory for good placement, I can think about the way I perceive a play in which my ball either goes in or out. If I consistantly don't make the mistake of hitting the ball out, in my mind I perceive that the court lines are wider or longer than they actually are. So while I have not participated in a formal experiment nor research, I can support this idea that action/performance is positively correlated to perception through my own experiences.
This article suggests that research shows a connection between sports related performance and perception during the action. The article says perception relates to specific areas of success and failures and through research, finds that athletes report their targets are bigger on days they play well and smaller on bad days. This means that when being successful in their sport related goal (making a field goal is used as an example), the object being aimed for appeared/was perceived to be bigger than it in actuality is. The study done according to this article affirms that performance influences perception.
Students who missed because they kicked the ball too short judged the goal to be taller which supports the theory of self serving bias. The "perceived size of the goal posts after kicking was positively correlated with kicking performance" for both successful and failed attempts to complete the field goal. The article states that many researchers are resistant to such a claim, sticking to the idea that perception is only about information received by the eye, explaining that the goal post size should not change based on the physiological aspects of our bodies alone. While I can agree with the idea that the way we see things is an optical function, I can understand the perspective and side with the research that proves otherwise- that perception is about more than just the optical system. The power of the mind and psychology cannot be undermined and as research supports, the way we perceive things is a cognitive function as well as a physical one. Bias causal inference encourages us to think of different reasons or excuses for our actions or the way things turn out, which may play a great role in this perception/action theory that supports the power of the cognitive function.
From personal experience, I think about when I have gotten a bad grade on a test back and instead of taking responsbility for it, I claim that maybe the teacher's test was too hard or that they are difficult graders. When I do well on an assignment or test, I always think it is attributed to my hard work and is something I deserve. I think in the scenario of sports accomplishment or failure this kind of mental process may be strong enough to affect the way something we optically receive is processed, resulting in a different way of looking at things. Personally, playing tennis, I understand and can reason with this idea. As the goal for tennis is to keep the ball within the court lines using your muscle memory for good placement, I can think about the way I perceive a play in which my ball either goes in or out. If I consistantly don't make the mistake of hitting the ball out, in my mind I perceive that the court lines are wider or longer than they actually are. So while I have not participated in a formal experiment nor research, I can support this idea that action/performance is positively correlated to perception through my own experiences.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Why the Rich Are so Cold
http://blogs.wsj.com/wealth/2009/09/18/why-the-rich-are-so-cold/
This article explains the influence money has on both emotional and physical pain. Specific studies conducted conclude that handling money is correlated with self-confidence in social situations and reduces sensitivity to physical pain.
Upon reading the title of the article, "Why the Rich are so Cold", my initial reaction and expected hypothesis would have been that wealth/money does create emotional stability that would yield results that handling money increases self confidence. My initial reasoning has to do with the idea that in our culture/society, money equates with power and since power offers a sense of security, those who possess would be more emotionally stoic. In terms of the reduced sensitivity to pain, I would think this is unreasonable assumption to make and I was surprised that the research proved this true.
In one test of the correlation between money and physical pain, subjects had to, "count out a stack of $100 dollar bills and then immerse their hands in hot water (109 degrees). Those who handled the money reported less pain than those who handled slips of blank paper." I would be interested to know more about this experiment. My assumption is that while counting money right before putting their hands in hot water might not have caused them pain because perhaps they were still feeling the effects of the endorphins/joy from the money counting/security experience, that maybe these subjects felt pain shortly after, when the reality of the situation had set in. I guess this sort of experimentation plays into the idea of "mind over matter", which inspires me to think and wonder about the extent of the influence and power of our thoughts and psychology. How much of our mental attitude affects what we feel and how we perceive and experience the world?
Personally, I can agree with the money dulling emotional pain aspect but not so much the physical aspect. I believe that we are in control of our emotions to a great extent and therefore the security one may feel from handling money is reasonable, but physical pain involves chemical and electric messages from an external stimulus whose effects I would assume would not be able to be altered merely from the comfort of handling money. In my experience with wealthy people who seem happy, the happiness seems to be superficial and fleeting and therefore I would not consider this happiness to actually be real. The object of money I believe can provide happiness and security through providing material goods that people enjoy and like to have but I do not believe money can really provide lasting happiness.
And a side note... I thought this quote was funny from the writer: "I don’t know about the pain part. Money can certainly buy some good prescription pain killers."
This article explains the influence money has on both emotional and physical pain. Specific studies conducted conclude that handling money is correlated with self-confidence in social situations and reduces sensitivity to physical pain.
Upon reading the title of the article, "Why the Rich are so Cold", my initial reaction and expected hypothesis would have been that wealth/money does create emotional stability that would yield results that handling money increases self confidence. My initial reasoning has to do with the idea that in our culture/society, money equates with power and since power offers a sense of security, those who possess would be more emotionally stoic. In terms of the reduced sensitivity to pain, I would think this is unreasonable assumption to make and I was surprised that the research proved this true.
In one test of the correlation between money and physical pain, subjects had to, "count out a stack of $100 dollar bills and then immerse their hands in hot water (109 degrees). Those who handled the money reported less pain than those who handled slips of blank paper." I would be interested to know more about this experiment. My assumption is that while counting money right before putting their hands in hot water might not have caused them pain because perhaps they were still feeling the effects of the endorphins/joy from the money counting/security experience, that maybe these subjects felt pain shortly after, when the reality of the situation had set in. I guess this sort of experimentation plays into the idea of "mind over matter", which inspires me to think and wonder about the extent of the influence and power of our thoughts and psychology. How much of our mental attitude affects what we feel and how we perceive and experience the world?
Personally, I can agree with the money dulling emotional pain aspect but not so much the physical aspect. I believe that we are in control of our emotions to a great extent and therefore the security one may feel from handling money is reasonable, but physical pain involves chemical and electric messages from an external stimulus whose effects I would assume would not be able to be altered merely from the comfort of handling money. In my experience with wealthy people who seem happy, the happiness seems to be superficial and fleeting and therefore I would not consider this happiness to actually be real. The object of money I believe can provide happiness and security through providing material goods that people enjoy and like to have but I do not believe money can really provide lasting happiness.
And a side note... I thought this quote was funny from the writer: "I don’t know about the pain part. Money can certainly buy some good prescription pain killers."
Monday, September 14, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)