My senior year of high school I took honors physics and honestly probably couldn’t have struggled more. However, we wrote weekly articles on how physics was present in our everyday lives or in places that we observed. I used to figure skate for years and one day the movie ice princess came on and I was listening to the breakdown of the main characters explanation of how figure skating is physics, so I decided to try and understand it for myself. Figuring Skating is a sport that requires a large amount of precision.

Physics plays a large role in both large and small aspects of this sport. On a minimal level when a skater jumps into the air, it is the force of gravity that is pulling her back down onto the ice. Forces and energy are big components that factor into the success of a skaters routine and abilities. In preparation for a jump a skater will begin to glide on the ice and pick up speed.”A fundamental law of physics holds that momentum is always conserved, meaning that unless some outside force enters a system, its total momentum must stay constant”, meaning that the skater will continue to build and hold on to the speed she is picking up while skating. This skating is a form of kinetic energy and is used to propel the skater into the air so she is able to execute a flawless jump. The third law of newton explains this as well by saying that for every force, there is a force pair: each force has a pair force that is equal in size and opposite in direction. In this situation there is an equal amount of force between her skate and the ice beneath it propelling the skater to go upwards. This type of preparation can also be used for a spin.

Another aspect of a spin however is that keeping your limbs closer into your body allows for less air resistance, and enables the skater to spin faster and have more control. This aspect is explained by momentum,”which is basically how much force it would take to stop a moving object” (Moskowitz), because “with her arms outstretched her mass is distributed over a greater space” (Moskowitz), causing her overall momentum to decrease. This then segues how friction plays a role in figure skating. When a skater prepares to stop on the ice, he/she begins to firmly press down her skate on the ice.  Friction is “a force that resists when two objects slide against each other, dissipating their energy of motion. Friction arises because the molecules on both surfaces bond with one another, and resist when the surfaces try to move away and break the bonds”(Moskowitz).This can be explained by Newton’s first law of inertia stating that a object in motion will stay in motion, unless an outside force is exerted on it. The force she exerts creates friction between the ice and the blade of the skate, making the skater come to a stop. Ice has less friction than “a wooden floor”(Moskowitz), but it still does have some friction because “it would be impossible to skate if there wasn’t any”(Moskowitz).

Another way skaters lessen air resistance is to wear outfits that are aerodynamic. Which ultimately improves their performance. “Dresses are carefully tailored to a skater’s body and must be functional for triple axels and double toe loops”(Muther).These costumes, are tailored to fit the skater and the sport as any other uniform would for any other sport. The designers take into account the movement that will take place and how the outfit can best compliment the skater in feasibility first and style second.  As someone who figure skated for 9 years and dance for 12, I can understand the importances of a wearable and performance ready costumes that do not inhibit, but enable you to have full range of motion, be aerodynamic, and ultimately feel like you are wearing a second layer or skin. Kristi Yamaguchi, 1992 Olympic Gold medalist stated how as a skater “You want to be aerodynamic. You don’t want anything weighing you down, distracting you, or getting in the way”(Muther).

Works Cited:

Addiction is caused by a dopamine response in the brain, “so whether it is alcohol, cocaine, marijuana, or whatever you have in you”(Walker), the dopamine response triggers pleasure and and creates a “reward circuit- having pleasurable associations with a particular substance, making you feel compelled to ‘reward’ ourselves by seeking it again”(Walker).

Many people have talked about how alcoholism is genetic and how other various addictions, such as drugs or other vices can also have a genetic component that makes it very difficult for a person to let go of their addiction or prevent themselves from becoming addicted to something in the first place. There has also been mention of one gene that is “the addiction gene” that can cause people to have or be more susceptible to having an addiction. That statement is false and has no scientific basis. Yes, there is a genetic component to addiction, but “like most other diseases, addiction vulnerability is a very complex trait”(Univ. of Utah). In addition, there are also many other factors that can contribute to a person’s vulnerability to addiction “Including both inherited and environmental factors”(Univ. of Utah). An article in Nature, states how “Joni Rutter, director of the Division of Basic Neuroscience and Behavioral Research at the US National Institute on Drug Abuse in Bethesda, Maryland, says that regardless of the drug involved, “about 50% of the risk is genetic, within a range of about 40–60%.”)”(Walker). Rutter also goes on to reiterate how genetics are one one aspect of addiction as I mentioned previously.

When scientists are looking for these “addiction genes”, they are looking for a “biological difference”(Univ. of Utah) that alters a person’s ability on whether or not they would be able to resist addiction. This is no easy process either since “not every addict will carry the same gene”(Univ. of Utah) and not every person who has an “addiction gene”(Univ. of Utah) will become an addict. However, it is made clear by Dr. Mohamad in an article published about his findings in an ABC News article because “Babies of alcoholics adopted into non-drinking homes have almost the same odds(9 times as likely) of alcoholism as they would if they’d stayed with their birth parents”(Lombardi). Although, one could dispute the fact that being “9 times a likely” to develop a drinking problem is a relative risk because the absolute risk is not being stated; the detrimental health, lifestyle, and overall difficulties that could result from an addiction are worth taking seriously. However, the fact that these babies have a higher risk just due to being born into alcoholic parents, and not even being raised by them, suggests that there is a genetic component at play controlling part of the outcome.

As far as environmental factors go, there are many that can contribute to make an individual more susceptible to having an addiction. For instance, “a recent CNN medical segment [“Teenage binge drinkers are more likely to become adult alcoholics” 6/16/04″] reported that a study had found that teen binge drinking was linked to an increased risk for alcoholism by 3.81%”.  The study also concluded upon further analysis that the sooner an individual tries a sip or have “even a small drink…could [result in] a problem later on in life”(alcohol news). In addition Dr. Muhammad explained how parents who condone their children to drink or do drugs with them or who allow them to do so in the house are sending a message of false safety and that “getting high or drunk is a smart idea”(Lombardi). It is also important to note that environmental factors can be solely responsible in specific cases for triggering a relapse of a person’s addiction. For example, if a sober person is around drugs or alcohol like they once were when they were using, this can trigger the genetic factors to once again come in play and make it that much harder for a person to resist their chosen vice.

High school and college students are impressionable and are still trying to find themselves. College especially is associated as a time for experimentation and because of this, more environmental risks can at their respective schools can cause them to fall on the slippery slope to addiction. In a study done in 2005, analyzing “2,000 college students at 400 different schools”, from 1993 to 2005, the number of drinkers had not increased, but the “intensity”(CASA Columbia) of overall drinking had “jumped sharply: binge drinking rose by 16%, people who drank 10 or more time in a month rose by 25%, getting drunk at least 3 times a month rose by 26%, and lastly going from drank to getting drunk rose by 21%”(CASA Columbia). Lastly, “marijuana use more than doubled”(columbia) and use of harder drugs such as “cocaine and heroine rose by 52%”(CASA Columbia). Even more shocking is the fact that these numbers, especially those relating to marijuana usage have most likely increased since the drug has become legal in certain states.

The combination of genetic and environmental factors are what cause people to have a difficult time steering clear of addiction or not suffering from its detrimental effects repeatedly after attempts to become sober. The role of genetics in addiction is not anything to be taken lightly and should not be discounted by an individual thinking that this will not make them more vulnerable. In addition, being aware of how your “home, family, school, and friends”(National Institute Drug Abuse) can affect your decision making when it comes to drugs, alcohol, or other vices should also be taken into consideration. Anyone is vulnerable to addiction and some more so due to increased genetic and environmental factors, as college students it is important for each of us to keep that in mind when making smart and safe decisions.

Works Cited:

Walker, Regina. “So, Is Addiction Genetic? Or Not? | The Fix.” The Fix. 1 Sept. 2015. Web. 4 Dec. 2015. <https://www.thefix.com/Genetics-addiction-connection-regina-walker0901>

“Genes and Addiction.” Genes and Addiction. University of Utah. Web. 4 Dec. 2015. <http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/addiction/genes/>

Lombardi, Lisa. “Is Drug Addiction Genetic?” ABC News. ABC News Network, 25 Sept. 2014. Web. 4 Dec. 2015. <http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/drug-addiction-genetic/story?id=25728024#5>

“Underage Drinking, the Statistics and the Solutions.” Underage Drinking, the Statistics and the Solutions. George Mason University. Web. 4 Dec. 2015.

<http://alcoholnews.org/Underage%20drinking.html >

“Drug Abuse and Addiction.” Drug Abuse and Addiction. National Institute Drug Abuse. Web. 4 Dec. 2015. <http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/drug-abuse-addiction>

“Wasting the Best and the Brightest: Substance Abuse at America’s Colleges and Universities.” CASAColumbia. 1 Mar. 2007. Web. 4 Dec. 2015.

<http://www.casacolumbia.org/addiction-research/reports/wasting-best-brightest-substance-abuse-americas-colleges-universitys>

In a multitude of movies and tv shows, everyone has heard the words “You’re getting sleepy”, and seen the other person be “hypnotized” and made to do something because their mind is being controlled by another individual. In present times this theory has been applied to helping those who are unable to quit a bad habit such as smoking for example. “Hypnotherapy or medical hypnosis” has been known to be a “controversial treatment for physical and psychiatric ailments”(Beattie-Moss). This treatment has been tested and experimented since the 18th century. Since then, many scientists have gone back and forth trying to prove and disprove the ability of putting patients into the so called “trace like state for healing purposes” (Beattie-Moss).

Illustration depicting a sign with a hypnotherapy concept.

Hypnotherapy has been used as a tool by certain therapists believing in its healing ability to help patients “break negative patterns of behavior, as with mass habit-control programs”(How Stuff Works). Hypnotherapy does this by releasing“deep and entrenched personal problems…addressing phobias…bringing underlying problems up to the conscience level”(How Stuff Works). This area of hypnosis has been a tool that has been utilized by law enforcement to “fill in details of a case” that a witness believes they cannot recall. In addition, both medical professionals and spiritual leaders profess how they believe hypnotherapy to aid and in some cases cure subjects for their illness, ailment, or an addiction that is hindering them. In terms of evidence however, most is purely anecdotal forcing a lot of the studies relating to this topic to be inconclusive or not strong enough of a verdict to eliminate the possibility that chance is controlling the outcome of the study.

Melissa Beattie-Moss, wrote an article for Penn State in regards to the credibility of this theory. In her article, she details how a psychology professor at Penn State, William Ray researched “hypnosis as a tool to better understand the brain, including its response to pain” through the use of a “variety of EEG studies”(Beattie-Moss). Ray detailed his findings stating  “In the 1950s, reliable measures of hypnotizability were developed, which allowed this research field to gain validity. We’ve seen more than 12,000 articles on hypnosis published since then in medical and psychological journals. Today, there’s general agreement that hypnosis can be an important part of treatment for some conditions, including phobias, addictions and chronic pain”(Beattie-Moss). In today’s society many experimental studies have been performed on the effectiveness of hypnosis on weight loss and smoking, being as those two issues seem to be plaguing the largest amount of people.

A recent study was conducted to look at the difference in the effectiveness of one’s ability to quit smoking by means of hypnosis. The study took 93 females and 93 males and used a combination of “hypnosis and aversion treatments”(Empowerment). After the conclusion of experiment, the subjects were brought in for a “3-month follow up” and at this examination it was clear that “86% of men and 87% of women” were able to quit smoking. This study along with 632 others were accumulated to conduct a meta-analysis on the “71,806 smokers who reported” on their ability to either quit or not. In conclusion those who conducted the analysis stated that use of hypnosis was “more than 2 times greater than self-care methods(books and support groups) and nicotine gum, and 3 times greater than physician intervention)” (Empowerment). These studies along with a multitude of others, reiterate the similar finding that hypnotherapy does have a positive impact in enabling those struggling in their lives to break strong addictive behaviors such as smoking, and can help them with other emotional, mental, and physical issues.

The American Psychological Association, explains how hypnosis “can create a highly relaxed state of inner concentration and focused attention for patients, and the technique can be tailored to different treatment methods, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy”(American Psychological Association).  Since the mid to late 19th century, hypnosis was utilized in many fields and forms as a means of controlling a person’s pain, such as army surgeons during the civil war before performing amputations on patients.(American Psychological Association). Therefore, even more “recent studies have confirmed its effectiveness as a tool to reduce pain.” (American Psychological Association). Hypnotherapy in this case is scene to extend to the physical sense by allowing a patient to be relieved from a tremendous amount of pain. Guy H. Montgomery, PhD, has tested his hypnosis theory by conducting an experiment on the “effectiveness of a 15-minute pre-surgery hypnosis session”(American Psychological Association). in a “clinical trial with 200 breast cancer patients”. His findings, published in the Journal of National Cancer Institute in 2007, explain how patients receiving the treatment “reported less post-surgical pain, nausea, fatigue, and discomfort…also the hospital saved $772 per patient…due to reduced surgical time [by way of] less of the analgesic lidocaine and sedative”(American Psychological Association).

“Understanding the exact mechanism behind hypnosis may require decoding the workings of the unconscious mind. While it may be near-impossible to arrive at that knowledge”(Beattie-Moss) strides have been made to utilize hypnosis as a tool to better many lives. Hypnotherapy has been gaining scientific backing since the early 18th century and continues to prove its effectiveness in the majority of studies it is used in. The positive momentum behind this controversial therapy suggests that this is not the end of its popularity, and that it will only continue to be tested and utilized by many.

Works Cited:

For the past few years, I have been a person that regularly checks my “Daily Horoscope App” for a fun little activity within my day. I never put a lot of stock in their sayings, however my best friend is an avid horoscope reader and believer. She likes how they can “predict” the happenings of her day and have been a fun source of information for her when she is curious about why something is happening. My best friend Andrea and I have the same birthday, so we by default have the same astrology sign, so naturally we have compared our days with the horoscopes we receive and we have realized that usually they apply to one of us more than the other depending on the day, or are so general that we try and fit the app’s predictions to correlate with what is currently happening in our lives. This inconsistency prompted me to consider whether or not astrology had any scientific backing, or if it was just something made up.

Pedro Braganca, a write for the website Livescience makes the clarification that “The science behind astrology may have its roots in astronomy but don’t confuse these two disciplines”(Braganca). Braganca goes on to explain how the “position of the stars in the sky”(Braganca), is the representation of astronomy, but the “determination of their alignment” (Braganca) and how a person perceives the significance of their alignment does not have any backing in science or actual astronomy. The interpretation of the alignment is how astrology is defined and where our horoscopes come from. One gets his or her “sign” from where the sun aligns with a particular constellation on the day of their birth according to Braganca. However, the characteristics that are associated with a person’s personality and characteristics that people usually attribute to a specific sign are not proven by astrology, they are simply interpretations that have been repeated over time and are now associated and descriptions of a person based on when they were born and which sign they fall into.

The University of California, Berkeley developed a worksheet for students to go though and determine whether or not astrology truly has a scientific backing or not. It begins with a basic definition of what Astrology’s “basic premise” is, and states that is is based on the understanding that  “heavenly bodies — the sun, moon, planets, and constellations — have influence over or are correlated with earthly events”(Berkeley). It then forces one to try and understand or justify how these “heavenly bodies” are able to predict, foreshadow, and foretell events that will happen in the future though a scientific explanation. The worksheet then addresses one of the main criticisms of astrology, the ability of one’s horoscope to he so “generalized” and vaguely worded that it could have many multiple meanings and be made to fit any person’s daily life (Berkeley).This aspect of astrology makes it almost impossible to test if astrology truly can accurately predict anything since people manipulate their horoscopes to fit their situation. Minimal tests have been executed, but Berkeley details that “In the few cases where astrology has been used to generate testable expectations and the results were examined in a careful study, the evidence did not support the validity of astrological ideas” (Berkeley). Due to the lack of supporting evidence, inability to do a large amount of tests, and variety of interpretations, it is hard to place scientific backing in the validity of astrology.

Despite these last two strong stances in opposition to the factuality of astrology as a science, the online website astrologer, is dedicated to informing people about the truth and science behind one’s horoscope and zodiac sign. It details that astrology is unique and displays “problems being tested using the scientific method” for reasons such as “its difficulty to obtain accurate objective data, isolating the huge number of variables, replicating each person’s unique conditions, and lack of hard statistics” (Astrologer.com). They claim that these shortcomings make it difficult to perform sufficient tests and conclude accurate evidence, which allows scientists to dismiss its value. Thus, leaving people to only see the “flawed tests and experiments” conducted in the past, which does not allow the public to understand that one can truly put stock in their horoscope and look to it as a form of guidance from the “heavenly bodies”.  

In conclusion, despite the complaints of those who believe that astrology has true meaning and scientific backing, I find it hard to dismiss astrology’s inability to be proven through the scientific method and lack of legitimate testing. Astronomy is a true science that explains the placement of everything in our solar system and alignment of planets, stars, and constellations; however it does not explain the implications or interpretations one gathers from the alignment or placement of the “heavenly bodies”. Due to this important distinction I find it almost impossible for astrology to truly be a science and be able to honestly predict events or a person’s characteristics.

Works Cited:

Astrology: Is it scientific? (n.d.). Retrieved November 15, 2015, from http://undsci.berkeley.edu/article/astrology_checklist  

Braganca, P. (2007, October 23). Astrology: Why Your Zodiac Sign and Horoscope Are Wrong. Retrieved November 15, 2015, from http://www.livescience.com/4667-astrological-sign.html   

Why it is unacceptable to dismiss astrology as rubbish. (n.d.). Retrieved November 15, 2015, from http://www.astrologer.com/tests/basisofastrology.htm

When introducing myself to people and telling them that I am from Los Angeles, I always get asked the same two questions a large percentage of the time; “why did I come here?, and am I ready for the winter?” After getting asked that questions so many times and hearing repeatedly how I am “going to die” during the winter, or maybe even the fall due to the unfamiliar drop in temperatures. I began to think about how sick I will probably get of the cold and snow, and how I will desperately miss my 60 degree winters. While thinking about this I started to actually get a little homesick and sad which led me to further researching whether or not weather depression is actually a real illness. Seasonal Affective Disorder, is ironically known by its more common acronym “SAD”. Which “According to Dr. Joseph V. Pace, Chief of Psychiatry at the Alaska VA Medical Center, SAD is defined as “recurring depression with seasonal onset and remission.” (Hans) Dr. Pace details how in places where it is dark for a good portion of the year, for instance, where he resides in Alaska, that their lack of sun can have a negative effect on one’s mood; “low vitamin D levels…can correlate with depression”.

Some have nicknamed this form of depression with the term “Winter Blues”, disvalued by Dr. Pace in his article, there are many symptoms that can be attributed to this “mood disorder” (Hans) such as; “increased appetite, weight gain, sleep loss, decreased energy and lack of motivation” (Hans). The cold weather invites one to not leave their comfortable, warm, and often solitude surroundings, which lulls them into a depressed state of hibernation for the winter. Coming here from California, I wondered if my lack of winter tolerance would hinder me in obvious ways such as leaving me freezing when it was 50 degrees outside when everyone else was contemplating wearing a short sleeve shirt. However, I never thought about how it would detract from my want to go out and see my friends, go to class, and opt to eat the easy mac in my room rather than venture to the commons for a salad. The more and more I began to think about my life come winter and research what provokes Seasonal Affective Disorder, began to wonder that if the areas of the U.S. that were hit hardest during the winter had a significant amount of the population plagued by this disorder.

In an article written for boundless.com, it is stated that “Although experts were initially skeptical, this condition is now recognized as a common disorder, with its prevalence in the U.S. ranging from 1.4 percent in Florida to 9.7 percent in New Hampshire” (Boundless). The lack of “natural light” that one is exposed to on the east versus the west coast, is substantially less due to the fact that where I am from in Southern California, it is typically 75 degrees and sunny for majority of the year, whereas here in State College the season of winter engulfs the area for a many months. In addition to looking at the differences between the extensiveness of SAD in more sunny and dreary places, I looked at how my findings correlated with suicide rates in places severely impacted by winter. CBS news created a list of the “Top 10 states with the highest and lowest suicide rates”(CBS News), and after looking at the list, I found a correlation between states with the highest suicide rates having some of the worst winters. For example, in addition to being the largest state, Alaska, has one of the highest suicide rates in the country. “In 2007, for every 100,000 Alaskans, 21.8 died by suicide”(CBS News).  With 6 months of darkness per year, Alaska is a state that perfectly exemplifies the conditions in which one would begin to suffer from SAD.

For those suffering from this mood disorder, there are many ways in which one can get back to feeling normal. For instance, New York Times journalist Richard A. Friedman M.D. cited Dr. Rosenthal’s; “a professor of clinical psychiatry at the Georgetown Medical School”(citation); findings in his book “Winter Blues”(Friedman) to acknowledge that “Light is a nutrient of sorts for these patients”(Friedman). Having bright and/or natural light exposure early in the day can work to cure patients. In addition to light therapy, other additional treatments include melatonin sentiments and antidepressants. Overall, Seasonal Affective Disorder is a serious mood disorder that has side effects ranging from weight gain to suicide. Thus, through my research I think that “winter depression” is truly a serious issue harming many people.

Works Cited:

Boundless. “Seasonal Affective Disorder and Jet Lag.” Boundless Anatomy and Physiology. Boundless, 21 Jul. 2015. Web. 5 Sep. 2015 <https://www.boundless.com/physiology/textbooks/boundless-anatomy-and-physiology-textbook/the-endocrine-system-16/endocrine-system-diseases-disorders-and-clinical-cases-163/seasonal-affective-disorder-and-jet-lag-817-8611/ >

Friedman, Richard. “Brought on by Darkness, Disorder Needs Light.”The New York Times. The New York Times, 18 Dec. 2007. Web. 5 Sept. 2015.<http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/18/health/18mind.html?_r=0>

Petersen, Hans. “Mental Health.” Mentalhealth.va.gov. 25 Jan. 2011. Web. 5 Sept. 2015. <http://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/featurearticle_jan25sad.asp >

“20 States With the Highest Suicide Rates.” CBSNews. CBS Interactive. Web. 5 Sept. 2015. <http://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/suicide-20-states-with-highest-rates/22/ >

Everyday one experiences things that are pleasurable or pleasing to  their senses, but why does one have a preference for one thing or person over another?  What arouses us to like certain people or things, and how do we develop this understanding of what or who we like and/or are attracted to? After examining different viewpoints and analyzing my experiences, my hypothesis is as follows, that the dopamine levels in our brain that control the feeling of pleasure we get are affected and influenced by our perception of what others will think and how they will perceive what we find pleasurable. In an article written about Paul Bloom, a Psychology and Cognitive Science professor at Yale University, the writer Ted O’Callahan detailed his theories about how we decide what is pleasurable to us and came to the conclusion that “It’s easy to miss the complexity that underlies pleasure”(O’Callahan). According to Bloom’s book, How Pleasure Works, “Pleasure is affected by deeper factors, including what the person thinks about the true essence of what he or she is getting pleasure from”(O’Callahan). After reading over O’Callahan’s article on Bloom’s research, I was prompted to consider how our perception of the world around us and our experiences play a role in how we feel the arousal of pleasure.

Bloom uses the example of Wine experts and how when they are not given all the information, rely on only what they are told to come to the conclusion on whether or not they like or dislike the wine they are tasting. When told they were drinking an expensive bottle of wine they raved over its flavor and richness, the experts “rated” the bottle “as worth drinking”, but when the label was switched to a “lesser quality brand”(O’Callahan) few rated the wine with the same esteem. Our sense of perception of how good a product should be or how attractive someone is, is often affected by our experiences and the opinions of those around us. When brainstorming blog ideas, I received a picture from my best friend in a group chat of 10 girls. It was of a boy that she had recently begun seeing and wanted to know our opinion. That text message prompted me to examine when I had done the same thing or something similar regarding other decisions I had made about my likes and dislikes.This forced me to realize that it is more than possible that some of the things I find pleasing, people I like, or activities I find pleasurable are not unaffected by the bias of those around me.

An article in Time Magazine by Maia Szalavits examines and explains David J. Linden’s understanding of “How our brains make fatty foods, orgasm, exercise, marijuana, generosity, learning, and gambling feel so good”(Szalavitz) in his book The Compass of Pleasure. Linden discusses the correlation between dopamine,pleasure, and addiction; which steers away from Bloom’s sociological and psychological theories on pleasure. Szalavits further explains how “Dopamine actually is what underlies the feeling of pleasure because we also know that if you ask people to report on about how much pleasure they’re getting from eating [or other pleasurable experiences] it matches the [level] of dopamine response”(Szalavitz). Linden’s understanding of pleasure points to how “the role of dopamine” in our brain decides what we find pleasing, which includes “both liking and wanting”(Szalavitz) what we feel we do. He also examines how painful things can be viewed as “pleasurable” in our minds, i.e. “chili peppers-lots of people enjoy then and they are a little painful”(Szalavitz). I believe this is why we get gratification or pleasure from pleasing others. There is a parallel between the pain of eating a chilli pepper and shaping our idea of pleasure based on what someone else prefers. We are giving up what we truly pleasure which can be seen as painful, to experience the enjoyment of making someone else feel good or pleased.

There are numerous factors which affect and determine what we find pleasurable and shape our preferences. After self reflecting on my own life and reading the research of both Bloom and Linden, I believe that what we truly find pleasurable depends upon whether we are thinking about what we like or what we want, and how our experiences and the opinions of others have influenced our preferences and desires. Once we know what we would like or want to happen, then our pleasure is aroused by the coming events which are reflected by the dopamine levels in our brain.

Work Cited:

O’Callahan, Ted. “Why Do We like What We Like?” Yale Insights. 7 Feb. 2013. Web. 10 Sept. 2015. <http://insights.som.yale.edu/insights/why-do-we-what-we>.

Szalavitz, Maia. “Q&A: How Pleasure Works | TIME.com.” Time. Time, 26 Aug. 2011. Web. 18 Sept. 2015. <http://healthland.time.com/2011/08/26/mind-reading-how-pleasure-works/>

Hi everyone my name is Amanda Vigil and I am from Los Angeles, California. I am currently a freshman in the school of communications and am thinking about majoring in PR.

I decided to take this class because science was definitely not one of my favorite subjects in high school. When reading the course description for this class I like how it touched on my different topics and was geared towards people who were not going to go into the sciences for a career.

I am not entertaining the idea of majoring in one of the sciences because I have never felt a strong passion for them the way I have in my english classes. However, I definitely am more excited for this science class and to see what topics we will discuss than I ever have been previously.

Below I attached a picture of the boat my group and I made for our physics regatta last year and a brief video. We were given as much cardboard as we needed and 5 rolls of tape to make a boat that would fit 5 people, float, and sail from one end of the pool to the other without falling apart. Inside are the paddles we made as well.