As a young girl awakens during the early hours of the morning, a powerful sense of fear and despair overcomes her entire body. She is afraid. Fearful of the normal/everyday activities she will have to face. Sound familiar?  The amount of adolescents suffering from anxiety disorders has increased drastically during the past few years. A dangerous increase in materialism and lack of control seems to have pushed teens over the edge. Why is it that there is a significantly higher rate today than there was thirty years ago?

In a study led by Jean Twenge, author of “Generation Me” and an associate professor of psychology at San Diego State University, she utilized over 63,000 high school and college student’s past results of the Minnesota multi-phasic personality inventory. In doing so she found that eighty-five percent of college students fall above the mental illness norm of students in the 1940s. Many people believe that the rise is because of increasing materialistic views. Our society is wired to believe that objects control their fate, as well as the way they feel. It is believed that a cultural change has played a big role in increasing anxiety disorders. Twenge says that, “These results suggest that as American culture has increasingly valued extrinsic and self-centered goals such as money and status, while increasingly devaluing community, affiliation, and finding meaning in life, the mental health of American youth has suffered.” People have shifted away from “intrinsic” values and towards “extrinsic” values. For example, a majority of high school students would prefer a higher scoring grade (extrinsic value) rather than actually understanding the concepts (intrinsic value) they are being graded on. All that seems to matter to the majority of students is the number- the quantity over the quality. 

Our culture has become more focused on materials, rather than relationships. Bonds formed with others, in the end, are what ultimately help us get through situations. As a result of a deficiency in strong/stable relationships- students have reported that they feel isolated, lonely, misunderstood, unstable, and very emotional. They also have reported low self esteems, and dissatisfaction with the lives they are living. As adolescents are turning to materials for comfort and satisfaction, their anxiety increases. It is not a stable enough support system and it becomes addicting. The focus on materials has never been so strong until recent years.

Other sources believe that higher rates of anxiety today, comes from lack of control. Adolescents lives today seem to always be under the control of everyone else; other than themselves. They are constantly being instructed, and pushed into environments/situations that they do not want to be in. When people feel that they have limited to zero control over their future, they naturally become nervous. When this anxiety becomes powerful enough, it turns into depression. Allowing other people to control your life makes you feel hopeless, anxious, and depressed. A persons sense of control can be measured using the rotter’s scale. The rotter’s scale is a questionnaire constructed by Julien Rotter during the late 1950s. Each question allows you to choose an answer that either follows the belief of an internal locus of control (the individual has control), or the belief of an external locus of control (forces outside of the individual have control). Studies show that people who score towards having individual control (internal locus of control) live better lives, free of anxiety disorders.

Another part of feeling a sense of control of your life, is your ability to “free-play”.  Not allowing young adults to have time on their own, away from direct supervision and control, deprives them of being able to find themselves and learn how to take control of their lives. This is extremely unhealthy and damaging for young adults futures. An environment that does not allow much free play, yet teenagers spend a majority of their time in, is school. Psychologist Peter Gray says that, “Children today spend more hours per day, days per year, and years of their life in school than ever before. More weight is given to tests and grades than ever before. Outside of school children spend more time than ever before in settings where they are directed, protected, catered to, ranked, judged, and rewarded by adults. In all of these settings adults are in control, not children.” When students are attending school it is the teachers opinions and judgements that matter in the classroom, most of the time nothing that comes from the student will be acknowledged. A student could love the topic he chose for a paper, but if the teacher disagreed, the student would not write about it. Often times if students are given freedom they will educate themselves, and if it is something they enjoy- they will happily educate themselves. In a situation where they are given this freedom, they would have intrinsic (quality) values over extrinsic (quantity). Over time, control and supervision over young adults has increased dramatically causing a lack of self/control in adolescents, resulting in anxiety.

In doing research on this topic, I came up with my own hypotheses. Social conditioning as a contribution to mental illness is something that I believe is underrated. Social conditioning is a term that many of us are unaware of because we are unconsciously participating in it. It is the process of training individuals in society to have certain  beliefs, behaviors, desires, and emotional reactions, which are accepted by society. If you were to ask a kindergartner what they wanted to be when they grew up, they would say the craziest things and an adult would brush it off and tell them its not possible. Fast forward a few years and they have been conditioned to pursue something “realistic”. Another example is our societies emphasis on college. If one does not attend college they may be looked at in a negative way. What we don’ take the time to realize is that college is not for everyone. Some people don’t find happiness in scholarly education. Ultimately if you are following societies norms instead of creating your own life, you will begin to feel distressed and this could lead to depression.

The amount of adolescents suffering from anxiety disorders has increased an immense amount during the past few years.  The pressures of being a teenager have become more difficult and competitive than ever before. Subconsciously our actions have created an unhealthy society that values materials over everything, and conditions individuals to be a certain way. We may not notice how dangerous this is because it has become the norm, but if it continues future generations will face the consequences of our actions. If this way of life persists, in thirty more years there will be statistics showing a high increase in anxiety from today.

Sources:

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/MindMoodNews/todays-teens-anxious-depressed-paranoid/story?id=9281013

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/39335628/ns/health-mental_health/t/why-are-anxiety-disorders-among-women-rise/#.VmGqg9-rRsO

http://iameduard.com/socialconditioning/

http://www.personal.psu.edu/cfu1/2012%20Files/bisci_hero’s_journey.pdf

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/freedom-learn/201001/the-decline-play-and-rise-in-childrens-mental-disorders

As I scrolled through my Facebook news feed yesterday evening I saw an impressive picture of Justin Bieber shirtless, posted by none other than himself. I decided to click on the photograph to get a closer look, and instead of looking at his abs my attention drifted toward the intense comments. I was in complete awe as I read through two girls literally arguing with each other about who is more in love with Justin. In light of my fascination, I conducted some research on why it is that people are feeling “Bieber Fever.” More generally why people become obsessed with celebrities, I reference Bieber because he is a great example. In my studies I instantly came across the topic of celebrity worship syndrome. Celebrity worship syndrome is described as an obsessive and addictive disorder that involves intense involvement and fascination with a stranger celebrities life. Yes, this is a real disorder that is causing a lot of distress in adolescence and adults alike. Often times the symptoms are due to underlying psychological problems. 

Why do we care so much about celebrity lives, and when does it become a danger to ourselves? Stuart Fischoff, an emeritus professor of media psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles, says that following an alpha is wired in our DNA. We are programmed to “follow the leader”, as he said, so it is natural for us to feel influenced by those who are standing out. It is important to recognizing that all of us have an ability to be influenced by others, but not all of us are obsessed to the point that it becomes distressful to our lives. What this shows is that the issue in itself is not just our DNA, but rather how people react to it. In 2002 three researchers introduced the celebrity worship scale, which has since been modified to the celebrity attitudes scale. This scale can detect at which stage and dimension an individual is in, regarding their interest level in a famous person. The scale is widely used in differentiating a healthy interest from a psychotic obsession. The three dimensions are:

1. The entertainment-social dimension- the celebrity captures the persons attention and is entertaining
2. The intense-personal dimension- “He is my soulmate” The respondent begins to demonstrate obsessive and compulsive behaviors toward the celebrity. Their thoughts are consumed.
3. The borderline-pathological dimension- the person shows pathological behaviors such as worshipping the celebrity. When asked if they would complete something illegal at the celebrities request they answer yes without hesitation. An example of this is #cutsforbieber. While it was allegedly a hoax, some people who were already vulnerable to self harm took the act seriously.

There are different aspects that play a role into ones susceptibility to CWS. One of which is personality. Irritability, impulsivity, and moodiness are often characteristics that increase ones chance of being affected by an obsession. Young teenagers are more likely to be affected because they are in a developmental period of their identity. The celebrity may help them identify with themselves in an easier way. They are being influenced by that persons views, and lifestyle, and acknowledging them as their own. Recognizing that pathology can be a cause of the syndrome and not just a response is critical. Those who poses the genetics for a pathological mental illness are often triggered by their celebrity of interest. It becomes an outlet for their problems and the underlying disorder is clouded.

Dr. John Maltby of the University of Leicester, generated numerous studies on a wide sample of people and found that there is a strong correlation between CWS and poor mental health on UK participants such as: high anxiety, high stress, and more depression. He also found a correlation specifically with poor body image through studies conducted on adolescence. This does not come as a surprise to me. The media promotes thin and unhealthy eating habits like crazy. In my opinion, and quite obviously, if someone wants to be thin they are going to identify with a celebrity who resembles that. It also relates back to the fact that adolescence are in their developing stages. Celebrities are projecting their eating habits and body types onto adolescence and they are embracing those behaviors in order to look like them. Or projecting their desire into becoming obsessed with someone they want to look like. In summarizing his research Maltby found that in data from about 3,000 people only about one percent showed obsessional tendencies. Overall CW shows comorbidity with certain personality and mood disorders. While it often does not reach a concerning level, when it does it can be frightening. It is at this level that stalkers and impersonators arise. 

I would have been much more content with the studies I cited if I was provided more of a background with them. But because they are not making shocking claims, I am confident in their findings. Although all of the studies and articles I researched gave a plethora of information about the “disorder”, I would be interested to find out what proven treatment methods are useful. In my opinion, if CW is so comorbid with mood and personality disorders, anti depressants and SSRIs would be worth trying. If someone is exhibiting symptoms of the three divisions, it would be helpful to take them to a specialist rather than overlooking it as just a crush. Their behaviors pose threats to their development and lives. If someone is putting so much attention and effort into another’s life rather than their own, they will begin to deteriorate emotionally. They will show higher levels of anxiety, depression, and stress. I also wonder if someone is at the borderline-pathological stage if they would be at risk for narcissistic personality disorder or dissociative identity disorder. If they are so consumed by another’s life can they reach a point where they believe they are that person? These are all questions I invite you to explore in comments. There is a boundary between healthy love and pathological obsession toward celebrities. If it becomes serious it can cause many depressive  and dangerous symptoms.

Sources:

http://www.livescience.com/18649-oscar-psychology-celebrity-worship.html

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3960781/

http://www.foxnews.com/story/2006/03/04/when-celebrity-worship-leads-to-mental-problems.html

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/in-excess/201307/celebrity-worship-syndrome

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/08/cutting-for-bieber-twitter-hoax-4chan_n_2426802.html

Love is a driving factor in our lives. It keeps us going, and is the reason why we seek companionship.  If you are lucky enough to have loved someone, you know that there is an intense and undeniable change in yourself while experiencing initial stages. Even if you have not directly experienced romantic relations, judging from the dramas we see on television we know that there has ought to be something serious going on there. So, what exactly is occurring in someone while they are falling in love? How does it impact our brains, and how can we be sure that we are in love? Love is a  powerful emotion that can be triggered by numerous factors such as body language, scent, sexuality, evolution, genetics. It actiates certain neurotransmitters to modify our moods and behaviors. This distinct brain activity can make it obvious to both the individual and outsiders that they have the “love bug.”

Often times love is associated with our hearts, but the truth is that it is caused by our brains. The association of love and our hearts comes from the physical reaction of the feel good chemicals being released by our brains. The real action is happening in the synapses of our brain where neurotransmitters are released. In a study done by Stephanie Ortigue of Syracuse University, analysis on past brain research studies showed that love impacts twelve different areas of the brain to work together and create a response. The areas of the brain being utilized were detected when the participants simply took a glimpse at their “mr. right” or “mrs wrong.” This study also discovered evidence of the brain releasing euphoria inducing chemicals after that glimpse. Psychology today provided me with a deeper understanding of the chemicals involved. Dopamine created in the adrenal glands enhances the release of testosterone and causes happiness, excitement, sexual desire, as well as fuels aggressive behaviors such as giving him a call to go on a date. After the initial dopamine, norepinephrine release leads to focused attention. This is why people can’t take their mind off of their significant other, or remember every little detail of their movie date night. After the release of these positive neurotransmitters, the reward system is triggered and a cycle begins. Different neurotransmitters are associated with different stages of love, just as there are very different reactions for the different kinds of love. Despite all of the differences in ways that people love they are all going through the same brain processes. Ironically, these processes are similar to drug addictions!

I would be very interested in conducting a study on the impact of love on drug addicts and observing the results. All of the euphoric brain functions that occur as a response to simple actions done by a significant other are extremely similar to the effects of addictive substances. They both tap into the rewards system and often times trigger neurotransmitters such as dopamine. Given this fact I wonder whether falling in love can increase one’s capability to rehabilitate and act as a substitution. I also wonder whether or not love can predict ones drug behaviors. If one is genetically inclined to addictive behaviors, but are being kept grounded by a loved one will they never access that part of their genetics? In order to conduct this study I think that I would sample members of a rehabilitation center and generate a prospective study done monitoring their potential relapses in correlation to their relationships. I could also survey them on their experiences with drugs. Asking questions such as have you ever been in love? Did it produce a stronger impact than drugs? The other question I posed would be much harder to analyze because if someone never accesses their addiction due to love, they may not ever know it was present.

So with all of these unconscious brain functions occurring how can we be sure and recognize that we are in love. We can do this by simply observing our behaviors that are due to our brain functions. Live science provides thirteen scientifically proven tell tale signs you’re falling in love. When falling in love people have a tendency to think that the person of interest is extremely special and unique. This could come as a result of the increased norepinephrine impacting attention and focus zeroing in on one person. So when you hear your friends go on and on bragging about him/her/any other way one sexually identifies themselves it is the norepinephrine talking. When you begin to see your friends drifting away and obsessing over that one person, it is due to decreased levels of serotonin. Live science says that people in love have reported that they spend more than 85 percent of their day thinking about their loved one. To put things into perspective OCD is treated with serotonin-reuptake inhibitors. Amongst many other exciting and positive effects, I neglect to inform you that there is also often the potential to lose the spark. After these temporary brain changes, love can either evolve into an attachment or fade away. If you are experiencing any of the effects mentioned, you are falling in love!

christianitymalaysia.com

Love is a beautiful and intense feeling that occurs as a result of our powerful brains. Different sections of our brain cause the release of neurotransmitters associated with euphoria. Many of the brain chemicals and effects associated with love, are also associated with addiction and substance abuse. Because of this I question whether or not a study could show a correlation with love and rehabilitation. There are many tell tale signs showing falling in love that come as result to chemicals such as dopamine and serotonin. Although we often send heart emojis to show our love for others, we really should be sending brains.

Other unlisted sources:

Why We Fall in Love: The Science of Love

It is a rainy Sunday night. I am swaddled up in an oversized furry blanket and staring, like a zombie, into the soft glow of lights that project from my living room television. The episode I was tuned into suddenly ends, and none other than Netflix’s infamous “15 seconds until the next episode begins” screen pops up. My emotions are running, and my anxiety is high, I allow the seconds to run. I’ll be honest this went on for a few hours, but there is no serious harm in watching a little too much TV right? WRONG.  Binge watching (watching between two and six episodes in one sitting) has become a sort of social phenomena. A Netflix survey published around the holidays two years ago, found that 61 percent of 1,500 respondents admit to devouring TV regularly. This study does not even take into account response bias, or nonresponse bias. We can assume that some people may have felt embarrassed to answer truthfully, or that some didn’t even take the time to answer. What if that 61% was even larger! We find ourselves striking up conversations with strangers by asking what Netflix shows and seasons they are watching, it can consume someone. Sadly, I must inform you that numerous studies show that binge-watching television has negative effects beyond our belief. Some of these effects include: obesity, loneliness, depression, and insomnia.

hercampus.com

Avid binge-watching is a form of hiding negative emotions, leading to many mental health consequences. A recent longitudinal study completed at the sleep disorders and research center, monitored the correlation between stressful events and sleeping on a sample of community members who were considered “good sleepers”. The study found that binge watching increased participants risk of insomnia by four percent. I think that this study is particularly valid because it utilized previously “good sleepers”, and demonstrated the change of pattern that occurred from the stress of a show. This could be due to the arousing nature of a television show. Often times television is watched before bed Cliffhangers cause anxious feelings that can last a while, which in turn could be stifling ones ability to fall sleep. Just like any addiction if you attempt to burry yourself beneath it through compulsive behaviors, you will always come out feeling worse.  It is shocking to think that something as seemingly harmless as television shows could have similar causes and effects as an alcohol or drug addiction. In a different study lead by Yoon Hi Sung, findings show that those who felt the most depressed also had the highest tendency to binge-watch TV shows. The randomized research study surveyed over 300 adults and asked them to answer questions relating to loneliness and levels of depression. They aligned these answers with their TV habits and reached a conclusion. Those who answered positively to feeling depressed and lonely, showed higher rates of binge watching. The only problem I have with this study is its failure to consider confounding variables. It does not take into account genetics, or other life hardships but the correlation is still enough to raise concern.

Aside from mental health, there is also the danger of physical health problems. In a survey study done by the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study, the findings are horrifying. The study which is centered around a 12,000 participant survey asked questions about general health, hours spent watching TV, smoking, diet, etc. They then took these answers and applied them to an actuarial table, modifying it to fit answers pertaining to smoking and other negative habits. The study concluded by saying that every hour spent on television after the age of 25, reduced the participants life expectancy by 22 minutes. This is a massive claim. I find it difficult to believe based on the use of a table and survey, instead. The thought of my life decreasing based off of evidence from a survey is concerning. I see it as a soft end point, requiring further assessment due to its lack of relation. Separately,  a prospective study done in 2003 monitoring 50,000 middle aged women for six years, found that for every hour of TV watched it increased the viewers chance of becoming obese by about 23 percent. These findings do not come as a surprise to me. Sitting motionless on a couch is quite obviously not going to help one lose weight, instead it actually slows the viewers metabolism and circulation. There is also the association of food with movies and television. Viewers are likely to carelessly snack while binge watching television. The mental and physical health effects are overwhelmingly negative. Although all the effects are not immediate, they do cause long term damage. You will not become obese at the very moment you are watching Game of Thrones.

So, now that you know the negative effects that accompany binge-watching TV why would you continue to do it? Robert F. Potter, PhD, director of the Institute for Communication Research at Indiana University says that we are much more susceptible to binge watching on Netflix because the company, as well as the writers want us to. Netflix makes it so easy to watch for hours on end because of the way it is formatted. Once an episode ends, the next one comes on within seconds. Once the show comes on the viewer is instantly hooked, it is nearly impossible to turn off at that point. Potter mentions that, “Our brain is hard-wired to monitor changes in our environment as a survival mechanism, so it’s hard for us to tear our eyes away.” Writers structure their shows with cliffhangers at the end, grabbing our attention and leaving us anxiously awaiting the next episode. Cliffhangers can generate acute stress and produce excess CRH hormone. The release of this hormone causes the body to remain energized and alert, making it harder to fall asleep. When you can’t fall asleep, and aren’t tired, it is just an excuse to watch more tv and indulge in the vicious cycle. Aside from evolution, completing an episode is often viewed as an accomplishment to our brain. Just as completing an assignment is an accomplishment, it does not immediately differentiate between which actions are productive and which are not. This completion triggers the reward system in our brains activating serotonin and dopamine. Dopamine is an attention seeker- it always wants to be present. The release of dopamine encourages us to keep watching and therefore continue to create dopamine, much like the involvement of dopamine in a drug addiction. Serotonin could also be accessed by the bright lights emitted from the TV or computer screen.

Binge watching television is a phenomena that is becoming largely accepted due to companies such as Netflix and Hulu. While it is a seemingly harmless and enjoyable activity, numerous studies are showing the dark side. There is now evidence supporting increased levels of depression, obesity, and insomnia. Although some of the studies done are not perfect, we can not ignore their conclusions. So, will you let those 15 seconds run?

nuskool.com

Walk into any college party (or bar) on a Saturday night and I guarantee the sophisticated scenery of “hook-ups” will surround you. As you push through the crowd to reach your friends, you may attempt to avoid contact with two drunken “lovers”. Rest assured you will not be able to escape it, because it will be everywhere. You will witness these make out sessions in the back rooms, in a closet, against a windowsill, on the dance floor, and even perched on an elevated surface for all to see. Hookup culture is a term that is sweeping the nation. According to a study done by the institute for American values, ninety-one percent of college women are willing to testify that “hook-up culture” defines their campus. This study was done over a period of 18 months, studying the values and attitudes of today’s college women regarding sexuality. With monogamy becoming a foreign term to millennials, society is starting to ask why? Hookup culture seems to have trumped dating. On one hand this cultural revolution has our society feeling excited and awakened. On the other hand it is leaving our generation feeling regretful, lonely, sick, and ultimately unsatisfied. Could this be due to the simple facts about the way, and environment, millennials were brought up?

Huffington post

Hookups, or “brief uncommitted sexual encounters between individuals who are not romantic partners or dating each other” (american psychological association), has become a way of life for many 18-30 year olds. Although sexual flings began to emerge in the 1920s, the terminology of hooking up is quite new. For example, yesterday my friend and I were eating dinner with my parents when my mom asked “are you girls going to hookup with Jenny over this break?”. My friend and I turned to each other and laughed, hooking up in their time meant something totally different. Today, APA data suggests that between 60 and 80 percent of North American college students have had a hook-up experience, or sexual encounter. Of those hookups, a majority are experienced under the influence of alcohol. According to the media education foundation study, on average women consume four drinks prior to sex and men consume six. We are well aware that alcohol often leaves us acting in ways that we will soon come to regret or feel negatively about. In a qualitative study done on 187 participants asking them to report their feelings after a typical hookup, 35 percent reported feeling regretful or disappointed, 11 percent confused, and 5 percent uncomfortable. These statistics show that a little over half of the responses were negative feelings.

Aside from feelings, sexual encounters carry many physical dangers that are all too real to be ignored. Sex carries the possibility of sexually transmitted diseases, sexual violence, and pregnancy. Three MAJOR potential life changers that are shockingly being brushed off. Whether this be due to the heat of the moment, or the alcohol, in a study done on college students nearly half of them claimed they were not concerned about contracting a disease. In addition to disease, rape as well as pressured sex are more common than one would think.

Hookup is not the only term that has changed from generation to generation. Dating is now a term used to describe two people who are already in a relationship. Dating is much less common than hooking up. The term dating used to be self explanatory, it was a person who was going on dates with varying numbers of other people. Nowadays dates are often said to come after a hookup and are a signal of relationship interest, although relationships rarely bloom from a hookup. Interestingly enough, while the participants in an IAV study suggest that both members involved in a physical encounter “don’t necessarily expect anything further” 63 percent of women claim that they would like to find their husband in college. This statistic shows a major contradiction to the definition of a hookup, as well as a persons goals. I can completely contest to this statement, being a college student myself. I am constantly hearing of how much those around me long for attention but cannot seem to find a boyfriend. As they continue to throw themselves into “hooking-up” with the hopes of developing something more, they are pushing away from their goal more and more. With not even a text during the day from their “lover”, they find themselves feeling rejected and sad. Studies show that boys, on the other hand, are perfectly content with having multiple partners for the sole purpose of sex. While this may be true, in my opinion this research study fails to recognize the possibility of response bias. Men may be lying during studies about their opinions on hookup culture due to the stereotype associated with men’s sexuality. If they do not fall into the norm, they may be considered gay which unfortunately some people hold negative connotations with.

So, if a majority of us ladies’ true intentions lie in a romantic future, why is it that the rates of sexual encounters on college campuses are continuously increasing? Despite the negative feelings, STDs, and rape possibilities we continue to immerse ourselves in a hookup culture. I believe that it all springs from our generational upbringing. In doing hours upon hours of millennial research, I discovered many interesting facts about our upbringing that may have large impacts on our behaviors today. We grew up in a society where technology was rising. We were/are surrounded by computers, instant messaging, video games, cell phones, internet, apple products, and increasingly shocking inventions. Because of technology, we have become accustomed to instant gratification and we will not have it any other way. According to a survey by the career center at California State University, Fullerton, and Spectrum Knowledge, a research and training firm in Cerritos, California nearly three quarters of the respondents agree to needing instant gratification. Being that this blog will most likely be read by millennials, take a second to think. Think about how impatient you get when a webpage wont load, or when your friend is taking too long to answer a text. We want something, and we seek a response almost immediately. We are also known as the trophy society. By trophy society I mean that everyone needs to be rewarded and praised by an outside source in order to feel achieved. We were that soccer team that received a ribbon even if we lost. Both of these tendencies of millennials could play a huge role in our concerning sexual behaviors.

Maybe the reason that our generation is considered a hookup culture is because sex allows us to feel happy, relieved, and appreciated in the short term. We want to feel a sense of appreciation, and just flat out feel good. Although hooking up has proven not to be a long term deal, it provides the attention and satisfaction we need momentarily. There is no denying that when someone wants something they seek out to get it, it is part of how we are wired. Technology has made that very easy for us. It seems that now this materialistic view is spilling into sexuality. For some people sex can be an easy and quick fix to life’s frustrations. According to a study done by the media education foundation, numerous women even admitted that, “The pleasure that girls receive from hooking up isn’t, like, physical.” With a societal shift in views on sexual activity, I cannot help but wonder how large of a role technology and “trophies” play.

Soruces:

http://www.apa.org/monitor/2013/02/ce-corner.aspx

https://www.mediaed.org/assets/products/244/studyguide_244.pdf

http://www.thetrophykids.com/articles/have_it_now.html

http://www.americanvalues.org/search/item.php?id=18

Have you ever suffered through a long week of exams and felt the need to reward yourself with alcohol on the weekend? Did you ever complete a really intense workout session in which afterwards you allowed yourself to eat a candy bar? These are both examples of moral licensing in the most obvious of forms. Moral licensing effect is a term that not many of us are familiar with. It demonstrates our capability to compensate our good behavior with not so good behavior. It is a common act amongst humanity that challenges our will power and stifles our progress in life. Often times we take large strides forward in life, creating a positive self image, just to turn back around. In the examples I provided, the person is clearly demonstrating licensing effects; but often times it is not so easy to identify. In many cases a person will very subtly demonstrate this form of exchanging the “good” with the “bad”. More specifically, numerous studies show a correlation between donating to charity and self-licensing. A lot of evidence points to donation causing a decrease in good deeds, as well as past good deeds causing a decrease in charitable donations.

pinterest.com

Donating to charity is one of the most widely appreciated acts in America. If someone donates to charity, not only does it create a better world, but it also causes a positive self image. With the holiday season coming up, you can be sure to see a plethora of opportunities to participate in charitable cases. It is one of the most popular times of the year to give to others less fortunate. In a study done by the center of philanthropy at Indiana University, they found that 42.7 percent of those surveyed gave more during the holidays then the rest of the year. While I believe this study may fail to identify respondent bias, or lack of honesty due to the protection of one’s self image, it does seem to ring true as we look around us during the winter season. Charitable giving is extremely common during the holiday season, but what follows the act may surprise you.

Moral licensing is ironically most evident in charity related actions. While donating this upcoming holiday (and in general) could change a person’s life, you might want to be aware of your actions afterward. In a recent study led by psychologist Marijin Meijers, after donating to a large fundraiser participants were significantly less likely to contribute to eco-friendly acts in the Netherlands. Meijers says that after doing something seen as moral, you are more likely to provide yourself with a license to act worse. In a 2013 study published in the journal energy policy, people were assigned to provide feedback about their water usage. While they did end up using less water, they increased their electricity usage. In another study completed at Stanford University, one group of participants were asked to write a short story about themselves using positive trait words while the other group was asked to use morally negative trait words. Concluding the study, participants were given money and asked if they would like to donate some of their pay to charity. The findings showed that those who wrote positively about themselves, were less likely to donate. With a fresh mindset of a positive self image, they did not feel the need to do more good.

While each of these studies provide a lot of strong evidence, they fail to recognize the effect that awareness can have. In each of these studies, the participants were provided the opportunity to either donate or not. Respondent bias can definitely play a role in each of these studies. In my opinion, participants may be wary to say no due to the fear of being judged. I think that the topic of moral licensing would be much better proven if the participants were blinded in some form. Although this may be difficult to do, and I am certainly not a scientist, something similar to John Quinones’ “what would you do” could show people’s true morals. In other words, simply doing an observational study on street walkers in NYC. Will someone be more likely to stop and donate twice to the salvation army, or just once? I have firsthand witnessed self licensing as a THON canner. Often times when I approach someone with my wide smile and speech about pediatric cancer, they will respond in an impolite tone by saying “I already donate money to other cancer foundations.” Some feel that donating to other foundations justifies not giving up the dollar in their pocket while waiting outside of a wealthy mall. Another flaw I see in these studies is their reliance on money. Not every good person in the world has enough money to donate. It would be interesting to see a study on moral licensing done not centered around donations, but rather around kind acts such as returning someones lost animal or possession. In doing this study it would also be beneficial to compare the results of poorer people’s self licensing with those who are richer.

Self licensing is a form in which we subtly, and sometimes selfishly, justify our actions. We sometimes workout to lose weight just to end up re-eating the calories we lost, all to reward ourselves. Self-licensing threatens our will power in just that way. We may say we are going to change but the minute we do, whether it be by making a donation or studying hard, we follow it up with a worse action such as not focusing on other charity foundations or drinking alcohol to relieve the stress of homework. While self licensing is a normal part of being human, it will come in different forms for everyone. I believe it may vary from person to person based on inherent personality traits and morals. Many studies show strong evidence pointing to the existence of moral licensing in correlation to charity, but a lot fail to consider many variables. I would also like to mention that the effects of donation on licensing are small. Like everything in life there will be a dark side and a good side, donating (or lack of) does not necessarily mean you will then be a bad person.

Have any girls ever experienced a heart break and resorted to Taylor Swift songs? Have guys ever completed the best workout in the world because of the pump up songs blasting through their headphones? Remember the dreadful days when we all played an instrument in elementary school against our will?  Music affects each and every one of us on a daily basis, but no one truly knows what occurs in the brain during the event of listening. Music impacts us positively in ways we do not imagine. It improves and benefits individuals and society, it can also positively impact our health, our moods, and our stamina. Any and all music listeners should tune in, as well as those who feel skeptical. I personally have been practicing and trained in vocals since a young age. I have learned so much about who I am, as well as built my character through this art. Singing allows me to release stress and replace it with happiness. If you aspire to improve your health in simple and positive ways, music may be the answer. Both listening and practicing can cause enormous changes in a person that will improve their life forever.

Music truly matters, listening to a song strongly effects various parts of the brain in unique ways. A health journalist, Adam Ramsay, says “There are studies showing that areas responsible for aspects, such as memory and vision, can ‘light up’ in response to music.” The first main impact is this, listening to music proves to change our moods. Music correlates with the reward system of the brain. Two other stimuli, Food and light, cause a reaction in this part of the brain. Listening to pleasurable music, whatever genre it may be, triggers the release of dopamine (researchers at McGill). Our moods vary, but music’s ability to boost our sadness or happiness always remains the same. If one feels sad, a somber song will only increase the level of sadness. If one feels happy, “pump up” music will make them ecstatic. Another impact of music involves endurance, listening to “up beat” music actually increases speed. Music can help increase endurance by as much as 15 percent, the perception of effort during exercise lowers, and energy efficiency increases (Brunel University). If you are looking to gain motivation at the gym, music does the trick. The third impact of listening to music relates to the effect on one’s health. Frequently, studies show that music can help lower heart rate, blood pressure, help relieve pain and anxiety, and improve a person’s quality of life. It also improves the lives of those affected by mental illnesses. As Dr. Williamson says, “’It can give them a sense of control back, as well as creating a calm personal atmosphere and blocking out some of the disturbances around the patient.” The final positive impact I will be mentioning is the ability of music to improve one’s focus. Music allows the cerebral cortex to increase the speed of beta waves therefore, allowing people to be better equipped to concentrate. All should participate musically in society, it brings people together and binds nervous systems. Health, focus, endurance, and moods become positively altered through listening to some tunes.

Practicing music whether you play an instrument or sing, incredibly impacts your mind and body. For example, music possesses the ability to put people in trance states. These “trance states” allow the mind to enter an altered state of consciousness in which ecstatic singing and dancing may be involved. If you ever held the title of a performer or seen an outstanding performance, you should recognize this state. You are transported to a place/ state of mind that allows you to truly feel and perform the music. Some describe it as existing in a trance. Active engagement with music sharpens the brain’s early encoding of linguistic sound. Speech makes  use of structural auditory patterns. Musical training develops skills which enhance perception of these patterns. Eight year old children with just eight weeks of musical training showed improvement in perceptual cognition compared with non trained children. For this reason, in elementary school we all took that tedious recorder class, and in middle school the principle forced us to choose an instrument and learn it. Well, we can all thank administration now! Most likely being musically trained aided in our intelligence and brain development. Perceptual cognition holds importance because it is critical in developing successful reading. On top of intellectual development, it also aids in social development and health. Practicing music carries the ability to slow things down for patients with diseases like turrets. If you suffer from a disease such as this, getting caught up in our high speed society and your own personal struggles commonly occurs, music will decrease symptoms and slow things down. Practicing music has major effects on health, social and intellectual development, trance states, and symptoms.

For those of you who completely disagree that music positively impacts society, there is an argument for that as well. Music is a very broad topic, and people question whether or not something such as rap is benefiting our society. While some argue otherwise, some people believe music impacts the youth of our society in a way that causes violence and sadness.  If you listen to “happy” music, you easily turn your mood cheerful. It improves brain development, blood pressure, heart, and respiratory rates. This shows true through the effects of Music therapy. If none of this proved true, there would be no reason to build an entire profession around the position. If you think about what kind of music a majority of our youth listens to, the first thing that comes to your mind most likely avoids gospel music or classical music, but you think of rap and pop. Main stream music possesses a history of portraying sex, violence, drugs, and other things that media should not be advocating to teenagers. Just as I said earlier, the words and sounds that you input into your ears have an output much similar. That being said, if a person inputs rough sounds (harsh beats and profound words, curse words) relating to negatively associated topics, they most likely put out similar behavior and/or begin to feel sad. Music decreases academic performance, turns bad moods worse, results in mental disorders,  influences vulnerable teenagers’ decisions, and much more. For example, previous studies have shown that teens who listen to heavy metal sometimes show relation to substance abuse, mental disorders, suicide, or risk-taking behaviors during their adolescence. Teens are the future of our society, how they act and feel impacts all of the generations to come.

Music surrounds each and every one of us on a daily basis. Whether we are shopping in a store to some background tunes, or blasting pump up music through our headphones while running on the treadmill, music affects society regularly. While music commonly surrounds us, the question is, does music have a positive or negative impact on humanity? Although music has shown to be harmful in some ways, it shows to be even more beneficial. It makes differences in peoples lives regarding health and much more. All the information proves music helps, so will you turn up the volume for the radio?

Hydraulic fracturing is defined as “a process used in nine out of 10 natural gas wells in the United States, where millions of gallons of water, sand and chemicals are pumped underground to break apart the rock and release the gas.” Gasland is a 2010 documentary written and directed by Josh Fox in which the concept of Hydraulic fracturing is explained thoroughly.  Although “fracking” seems to be a clever way to produce the natural gas that is necessary to our lives, it is producing more harm than good. We need natural gases in order to heat our homes and meet the United States’ energy demand.  After watching some of the documentary, Gasland, I felt heavily impacted and saw that Hydraulic Fracturing has harmed the members of numerous communities, even causing them chronic illness. While the demand for natural gas remains consistent, many people are wondering if there is a better way to produce it.

You may be wondering what the big deal about fracking is. For now, it just seems like a distant and random concept. The truth is, according to your location it may be impacting your life everyday. The chemicals produced during the process are dangerous and even fatal. This connection begins with drinking water. When you sit down at a restaurant for a nice meal and order a water, the last thing you should be worrying about is becoming ill. Unfortunately it is a truth. The EPA recently released a report, showing that fracking had heavily contaminated Wyoming waters. This primary report sparked a lot of interest in our nation. Leading to these discoveries: Pennsylvania waters were polluted with methane, and New York state waters showed levels of radiation well above federal expectations. This information is shocking. Applying these studies and realizing that according to the wilderness society there are twenty-nine states participating in fracking in one form or another, is frightening. Aside from our water, fracking is polluting our air. Two of the necessities we need daily to survive may be killing us. According to a study done in Colorado, fracking was taking place a mere 150 feet of neighborhoods; exposing nearby residents to the future possibility of experiencing fatal illnesses such as leukemia. The study found chemicals such as xylene, ethylbenzene and toluene. Beyond our air and water, according to the wilderness society and many studies, fracking has also proven to impact global warming, wildlife, birth defects and earthquakes.

You may be wondering, if fracking is so dangerous why hasn’t the government done anything about it? Profit. The few states that have implemented rules,  have loopholes within them, allowing the government to continue making profit out of being “one of the leading producers of natural gas”. There are small ways in which the public can make a difference. You can make alliances with larger companies, signing protests and supporting the cause. Companies such as Earthjustice defended communities in NY, in 2014 the states court ruled that Middlefield and Dryden could use local zoning laws to ban heavy industry. The fracking industry is beginning to see its end thanks to passion filled people and companies.

Check out this video to further understand the concept

As I go through the list of all of the things I have to do today I am extremely overwhelmed. I am just beginning to scratch the surface of what the rest of this semester will look like and I am not even a business student! It is starting to get cold outside and I can not help but allow my mind to skip ahead toward finals week, imagining the sense of entrapment I am going to feel. The first thing I think of after picturing all of the future hardships that come along with state college in the wintertime, is a vacation. Who would not want to be whisked away on a tropical getaway after all of this? I am already beginning to hear the whispers, mumbles, and sighs of people saying; “I need a vacation” . A huge chunk of sophomores involved in greek life are in the midst of finalizing their spring break trips to exotic places such as Miami, Puerto Rico, and the most infamous of all Puerto Vallarta. If you are not a sophomore then maybe you are beginning to prepare for your semester abroad: France, Spain, Italia? Lastly, if you are not participating in either of these exciting events, than maybe you are looking forward to snuggling up over winter break without an academic care in the world. Why is it that we long for vacations, or temporary breaks from our realities? Why do we feel that we absolutely need them? This is because we do. Studies have proven that vacations can increase our health, creativity, job performance, happiness, and overall well being.

America the, “no vacation- nation” or the land of “the vanishing vacation”, is becoming infamous for its lack of legally sanctioned vacation time and overworked employees. The typical American worker gets a mere two to three weeks off out of an entire year, much less than the norm for other countries. Even with an average two to three weeks off, none of those weeks are required by the law. Joe Robinson, writer for National Geographic, says that, “Australians get four weeks off by law, Europeans four or five weeks… Six weeks is norm in Holland, seven is not a bulletin in Sweden and Germany. Even the Japanese have two weeks. We have zero.” Aside from the government’s policies, our nations employees are entirely workaholics. They are known to create their own unhealthy schedules and working habits based off of the schema that has been put into place by our society regarding “laziness”. A Pawloski of CNN says that on average of only 57% of American workers utilize the time off that they are entitled to. Compare that to 89% of workers in France and this becomes a concerning matter. Many Americans are fearful to be absent because of the potential for losing their job, having a changed life realization, or coming off as careless. What they are failing to realize is that there is room for relaxation even in a competitive and demanding economy. John de Graaf, the national coordinator for Take Back Your Time, a group that researches the effects of overwork, noted that the US came in fourth in the world economic forum’s 2010-2011 ranking, while Sweden came in second- a country that legally requires their workers to take a minimum of five weeks off.

Why does vacation matter in the first place, you might ask. To put it into perspective it is basically the same thing as asking why being happy and healthy is important. Researchers in the Netherlands sought out to measure the impact of vacation on overall happiness. They studied over 1,530 dutch adults of whom took time off during a 32 week study period. The results showed that the happiness level was extremely high, the highest, during the act of planning the trip. The happiness boost that came as a result of anticipating the event lasted for eight whole weeks. Happiness is just one of the many forms of physiological health that vacations can bring. Often times when people go on vacation they unintentionally have life epiphanies, they stir up the darkness within. It is very easy to settle into a routine and never question it or look back, failing to step out of you comfort zone. Simply stepping out of your normal schedule can highlight your current lifestyle by allowing you to have a better understanding of your life calling. Adam Galinsky, professor at NorthWestern, compares this process to a time when a friend offers advice. He says, “his or her suggestions are often more creative than what you would have decided for yourself — scientific studies have confirmed this. That’s because your friend has psychological distance from the situation at hand. When you’re in the middle of a problem, it’s sometimes hard to untangle yourself from it to think about    it clearly.” The personal achievement and joy that could come out of a vacation is amazing. Along with physiological benefits, there are also physical benefits. Robinson says that an annual holiday can cut the risk of heart attack in men by 30 percent and in women by 50 percent. Vacations also have shown to cure burnout, improve self-esteem, reduce ones loneliness and increase self-actualization. Not a bad bargain at all. You get a refreshing break and feel like a healthy new person afterward.

The positive impacts a small vacation can have outweigh any excuses for not taking them. Even if someone is not financially equipped to take a full blown vacation, they can easily take a day at home to relax, or just a short weekend getaway. America needs to be in touch with its workers and become more stricter when it comes to vacation days, the benefits it will have stretch toward not only the individual but society as well.

Weight. A term that many Americans, especially young girls, struggle with everyday. Somewhere in history the ideal body image for an American, became one that is virtually impossible to achieve. According to a buzzfeed video displaying ideal body types throughout history, in modern society it is ideal to: have a flat stomach, look “healthy skinny”, have boobs and a butt, and possess a thigh gap. This is a lot to ask! As a result of this one-hundred twenty pound super model phenomenon, awful things are happening to beautiful people. A lot of people are un-naturally receiving plastic surgery, and the rate of eating disorders are rising. Being a college student I hear people bash on themselves all the time. On nights out I have even heard people say that they had not eaten anything all day just so they could consume the calories that make up alcohol. This is extremely concerning to me, and got me thinking. If weight loss was easy everyone would be happy, but it is not. There are so many different ads and companies that claim to help you reach your goals, but how do you know which are reliable? How does one lose weight in a healthy way? Well, I will tell you that coming to college at a striking one hundred twenty pounds made me feel invincible. I thought I was going to be immune from the freshman fifteen, since I had been thin my whole life. Needless to say… I was not and here I am as a sophomore researching ways to lose weight without starving myself.

Before you can get your physical self in shape, it is important to be mentally in shape. As Pamela Peeke, author of Fit to Live states, “you need to cut the mental fat, and that will lead to cutting the waistline fat.” People always speak of the “power of the mind” and “thinking positive”, so of course if one is negatively obsessing over their body, changes won’t be made. Your body is a reflection of your mind. Often times people eat out of boredom or sadness. So if you began to change your behaviors, attitudes, and have a more relaxed and hopeful state of mind rather than obsessing negatively would you see results? The answer is yes. Frederickson, a positive psychology researcher at the University of North Carolina, conducted an experiment in which her results proved that when experiencing positive emotions you see more possibilities and future in your own life. This research could be applied to the possibility of a healthier body. A large mental block to weight loss is impatience. Often times people expect to see results fast, and that is not the way it works, it takes time and effort. If someone is losing over one to two pounds a week it is usually loss of lean tissue which slows down your metabolism. People need to get out of the instant gratification mentality. Other than being more patient, there are many ways to change your mindset that can be helpful. I am going to provide five mental tricks, with the help of webMDs studies, that may aid you in your journey:

1. Simply imagine yourself eating! In 2010 Carnegie Mellon researchers conducted a study in which participants who visualized themselves eating 30 M&Ms before indulging in a bowl of the candies, ate less M&Ms than two other groups who imagined eating less or no M&Ms.
2. Picture yourself thin. Take time to look at old pictures (if you were thin in the past) or just close your eyes and envision what you would like to look like.
3. Be realistic. Allow yourself to cheat and enjoy the foods you love, as long as you are doing it in moderation. If you do not allow yourself these few meals a week (once or twice) you will gain the weight right back and not to mention be miserable! Studies show that because of your bodies level of leptin, a protein, constant dieting will lead to energy deficits. Don’t worry your cheat meal, aka a calorie explosion, can come to the rescue and maintain your energy.
4. Mentally plan for these cheat meals! Judith S. Beck, Ph.D., president of the Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy in Philadelphia and clinical associate professor of psychology in psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania, says that “It’s easier to resist cravings during the day if you know you are going to have your favorite food that night.” Designate a time for your indulgences.
5. According to an anonymous weight watchers coach, you must eat slower. Distract your mind by eating with friends so that you are not only focusing on the meal. The slower you eat the quicker you were feel full and the more likely you are to not finish your meal. Take some time to put the fork down and drink some water or chat.

Aside from the powers of your mind, a large part of weight loss is the physical aspect. According to Pritkin’s the least effective way to lose weight is diet only, effective is exercise only, and the most effective is total lifestyle change: proper diet, moderate exercise, support, and sleep. In a study published in Obesity Reviews, they found that when people exercise but keep their food habits constant, their metabolic rate actually goes down. How do you know where to turn to for guidance with your total lifestyle change? According to pritkin’s longevity center, some of the big brands that tend to show positive results include: weight watchers, pritkins, and jenny craig. There are ways to tell if a weight loss program will not be worth your time or money. According to pritkins, a few red flags include: promises of quick weight loss, diet excluding food groups, before and after pictures, unusually affordable, and proof solely based on testimonials.

If you are struggling with you weight and/ or body image I hope that this blog helped you in some way. Changing your mindset and making small lifestyle changes can make a major difference. I also would like to note that I am not encouraging that people aim for the one hundred twenty pound weight I discussed before. Everyone is beautiful, no matter what size, and I am writing this only to encourage personal excellence and health. If you are uncomfortable, you do have a choice to make a change. Good Luck!

Mediumship and psychics. Two of the most controversial “professions” of all time. As I searched for the definition of a medium, nothing came up. The only definitions I was able to muster were those of “psychic mediums”, but do those two words really belong together? Many think not. There is in fact a difference between a psychic and a medium. Psychics are people who claim they have multiple supernatural talents. With the use of their intuitive power, they claim to be clairvoyants (people who see into the past, present and future). Some psychics even claim to move objects with their minds. On the other hand, mediums believe that they can communicate with the deadand relay these conversations to the living. A majority of religions believe that some form of an afterlife exists, making it easier for us to believe in mediums over psychics. As my mother always says, “Only God can tell you your future!” Mediums have become a large phenomenon in American culture. Society and media have become obsessed with the idea of communicating with the dead. According to the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, about 1 in 7 Americans met with a psychic or fortune teller in 2009. So, is all the hype worth it? Can mediumship and/or psychics be proved through science?

Researcher Andrew Newberg, director of research at the Nyrna Brind Center of integrative medicine at Thomas Jefferson University, conducted an experiment in which he administered a variety of brain scans to “mediums”. His findings suggests those with more expertise often experienced a drop in focus, self-awareness and consciousness. The brain scans were administered during a period of psychographic writing, a time when the deceased take control of the mediums bodily functions and begin to write messages. The findings showed that experienced psychographers demonstrated lower levels of activity in the brain’s frontal lobe, right pre-central gyrus, and left anterior cingulate. All of these areas are linked with reasoning, movement and problem solving. This proves to us that there was a complete absence of focus and consciousness. Psychographers also experienced less activity in the left hippocampus, which controls emotions. Newberg states that, we typically would expect the brain to be extremely active during a task like writing, but during these trances we find the complete opposite. This experiment consists of some exciting data that leads us to think, maybe mediums are telling the truth!

Former Harvard professor Diane Hennacy Powell examines supernatural characteristics in her new book titled, The ESP Enigma: The Scientific Case for Psychic Phenomena. Hennacy states that “Experiments have shown that most psychic experiences occur when our sensory organs are muted, like when we’re dreaming or having a near-death experience.” An example of this could be dated all the way back to Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln is said to have dreamt of walking around the white house asking around to figure out what was going on, people responded saying “The president is dead.”, he then proceeded to see his corpse. He had this vivid dream exactly ten days before he was assassinated. 

Not all of us average folk experience such eccentric dreams. Scientists say, genetics are likely behind it. They have not yet found a gene, but because of the strong belief of psychics that “it runs in the fam” they are simply just waiting to make the discovery. Other people more prone to these psychic abilities are those with autism and people who have experienced head traumas.

Although science has some strong evidence, there are many cases in which mediums work proves unreliable. An example of this was the JREF experiment. Scientists recently put a popular psychic medium’s, Patricia Putt, talent to the test. If she passed this series of rigorous scientific tests she would claim a cash prize from the James Randi Educational foundation. Although Putt is a well known and respected medium, to everyones surprise she did not pass these tests. She later on stated that there were way too many obstacles in the way, restraining her clients from being open-minded and therefore not allowing the spirits to come through.

Can mediumship and psychics abilities be proven through science. The answer is, no one really knows. There have been many experiments to try and test this theory, and results have come back both positive and negative. Maybe it is something we do not need the answer to. Maybe we will not find out until our time on this earth is up, and we are on the other side of it. Mediums provide a lot of people with comfort and closure. Maybe they are not accurate 100% of the time, but they are definitely brightening a few peoples lives everyday. So do you really want to know the answer, or is it unimportant?

Check out this video of Theresa Caputo, one of the world’s most famous mediums, in action

        Mental illness, a somber word that remains hidden beneath the stigma that accompanies it.  The DSM-5 (encyclopedia of disorders and classifying them) lists approximately 297 mental disorders, two of the most prevalent are anxiety and depression. These disorders have a major impact on the affected person’s life, sometimes even resulting in suicide. With modern medicine and knowledge of brain functions, psychologists are slowly beginning to discover ways in which patients can get well, and recover from these life threatening disorders. Recently a new approach, neurofeedback, has been brought to the public’s attention. Neurofeedback utilizes technology, partnered with our knowledge of brain waves, in order to train our brains to fight against depression, ADHD, anxiety disorders, and so much more. The process and results are intriguing and impressive. If you are struggling with a disorder, listen up because nerurofeedback could help you.

      Before I get into explaining the process of neurofeedback itself, I want to provide you with a brief background on brain waves. Betawaves are the brainwaves of our conscious mind, involving analytical and logical thinking. High frequency beta is often seen in people with anxiety disorders. Alpha brainwaves are noticed when we are in a state of total relaxation, an example being daydreaming. Theta waves are seen during meditation, REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, and creative states. Theta represents our subconsciousness, spirituality, creativity, and suppressed thoughts. Lastly, there are delta brainwaves. Delta brainwaves are made up of our complete unconscious; representing intuition, curiosity, and an inexplainable radar. All of these waves can be categorized according to their frequencies. Brainwaves are fascinating activities that tend to make up both hemispheres of our brains. These waves are providing us with insight regarding the biology behind mental health.

      Neurofeedback, or EEG biofeedback, is a relatively new technique that focuses on one’s ability to train themselves to directly affect their brain functions. The technique operates on self-regulation, allowing the patient to gradually learn to regulate their own brainwave patterns without medication, or even additional therapy. Typically a patient will have a session once a week with a professional guide. The session starts by applying electrodes to the patients scalp, just like they would do to your chest during a heart scan. Signals from the electrodes are sent to a computer in which they are processed. Important brainwave frequencies that are picked up on are then morphed into images and sounds that the patient is aware of. These images and sounds are displayed in the form of a video game. This “video game” is live, so the person is seeing exactly what is going on in their brain as they are thinking certain thoughts, feeling calm, or feeling anxious. While playing the video game the main goal is to lower certain frequencies while raising others (lower beta and increase theta). Although this may sound extremely complex and virtually impossible (pun intended), a lot of patients are able to master their disorder through repetitive training.

      Although neurofeedback is currently being used throughout the world, there have been numerous instances in which scientists have argued against spending the money (which is a lot). Skeptic Barry Beyerstein argues that the correlation between the brain waves and mood does not prove its causation. If this were true, all of the work put into neurofeedback would be pointless. Research also shows that ones ability to improve from the process could be a result of their belief in the technology, this holds overlapping concepts with the placebo effect. While these claims against it may be true, neurofeedback is producing positive results. According to psych central only 20 percent of patients receive no benefit. In the grand scheme of things 20 percent is nothing, because just like anything else not everyone is going to have the same outcome. Cognitive therapy is praised by many, but there are also large amounts of people who will say that it is pointless. A lot of the results in the mental health field depend on the patient and their willingness to grow from the situation. Neurofeedback is a technological accomplishment that has advanced the improvement of mental illnesses, I can only hope it will continue to heal.

Lastly, for my visual learners, check out this video to further understand the process

Hello! My name is Mandy Quinones and I am from Westchester, NY. I’m going to tell you all a short story about how I ended up in this class. Last semester, as a freshman, I took a religious studies course and absolutely loved it. I was extremely fascinated by all of the topics we discussed. I felt that the class had actual worth, rather than just being a Gen ed for which I would memorize and then forget everything. Being that I loved my world religions class so much I decided to sign up for a jewish studies class. Last Tuesday during “sylly” week I arrived to this class excited and ready to learn. 10 minutes into the class I was on my phone pressing the drop button on elion. The class consisted of 8 students all of which were graduating seniors… I am a sophomore. Although I am always up for a challenge the class seemed all too intimidating for me to take purely out of interest. After dropping the course I went online to try and search for a class to replace it. I absolutely hate science so the last thing I thought I would be picking up was another GN course. When I think of science I think of hideous words like: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and so on. Although I always put my best efforts into these subjects and do well, I always leave the class feeling the same exact way I started them. They left me feeling empty. Absolutely no information was obtained, or would be used in my future… so what was the point after all? I stumbled upon this course and decided it would be worth my time.

I am not a science major for all of the reasons described above but I am involved in the social sciences, I am a psych major and hope to be working as a child psychologist! I am taking this class because I believe it will get me thinking in a different way. I enjoy thinking about topics in many different perspectives, I would hate to go through life with a single perspective (my own). I am curious to discuss topics such as “how to get a nobel prize”, and “are males toxic”

A picture is a worth a thousand words. I like pizza.  

here is a link to a really interesting ted talk about the schema behind depression and mental illness in general. It’ll make you think!