The Marshmallow test and Self-Control

 The marshmallow test is such a great self control test at a young age. The children are giving a marshmallow and are told if they would like another, they cannot eat it yet. I think this is such a great example of self-control because there is something sitting right in front of them and they need to control themselves to not eat it. We use self-control in our lives all the time and I think it is important for people to have strong self-control. Self-control takes a lot of mindfulness and willpower. Howard Rachlin explained self-control by using alcoholics as an example of how no self-control will lead to more drinking even if they know in the end the outcome will not make them feel better. I think it is interesting how self-control is in almost every situation such as drinking/smoking or simply eating a marshmallow, this proves that self-control is important for people of all ages. "People who lack self-control often give in to impulsive behavior and emotions as well. This means that they may make poor choices that harm themselves or others and react poorly when they don’t get what they want."

https://www.cornerstone.edu/blog-post/the-critical-importance-of-self-control-and-how-to-grow-in-it/

Too Much Pressure Can Impact Your Mental Health

When pressure becomes excessive in someone’s life, it can impact them negatively by causing them stress, anxiety, and unhappiness that if these feelings are prolonged they can experience burnout. Unfortunately, if an individual continues to experience constant stress that leads to burnout they can develop psychological, emotional, and behavioral problems because many of the negative effects were prolonged for too long. Now, there are ways to help yourself if you are experiencing an excessive amount of pressure. A way to help yourself when you are under pressure is by evaluating the situation and determining if it is worth all the stress it is causing you. One can question their self by questioning “is this issue fixable and if it is, is it worth fixing or is my mental health more important? Another way is planning ahead of time to see what fits in your schedule and what does not fit. Balance is a need not a want and I write this post because one can only imagine the amount of pressure Shackleton and his crew felt during the expedition. This link is whereyou caan determine if you are burning out: https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.G1BDuqDxmOWuXwUXYaxvVwAAAA?pid=ImgDet&rs=1

Book Report

The Power of Habit, written by Charles Duhigg is a novel that goes into deeper theory on how habit is formed,  how to create good and better habits and how people continue bad habits. The book contains open stories about Eugene Pauly, who was a man in his seventies who had part of his temporal lobe destroyed by encephalitis. The novel also goes into depth about what habits are and how they are formed. Lastly, the novel discusses the 'habit loop' which has three steps; The cue, the routine, and the reward. The main point of the novel was to change the bad habits into good habits. 

My favorite part of the novel was learning on how to create new habits. It is important to know that not all habits are bad, and it is important to learn good habits. This became my favorite part because it immediately got me engaged into the novel and was very education, so i was able to read and learn something new at the same time. I learned that you must find a cue to use to trigger the behavior you seek to make into the habit, this was also known as step one in the habit loop - the cue. Then, you must find a reward, known as step three - the reward. It was educational to learn about this, as well as i really enjoyed learning about the habit group. 

I feel that this book related to the class in many ways, however the topic rewards lecture stood out to me the most when relating this to the class. When creating a new habit, it is important to reward yourself - as well as when you are getting rid of a bad habit, it is important to reward yourself. In the reward lecture, it discusses reinforcers. The reinforcers are described as the increase of the likelihood of a behavior - as in when you are rewarding yourself when associated with a habit, it is increasing the likelihood of the habit continuing or discontinuing. 

I have realized habit comes in an everyday life whether we realize it or not, and unfortunately some of the habits are not good. Personally, I have realized one of my biggest habits is going on my phone before I go to bed, and I get sucked into many apps that cause me to stay up late. This habit has been affecting my sleep schedule and my tiredness level in the morning. To stop this habit, I have been deleting the apps on my phone after a certain time and i reward myself with an extra thirty minutes of sleep. 

Below is a video of a ted talk based on habits - it is very opening and has a lot of great information. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSZyzhi8C9o&t=404s

Endurance

 

Incentive Theory

 

Self-Control

 

Post 3 - The Truth Behind Psychoactive Drugs - Alcohol Abuse

 Psychoactive Drugs: "a drug or other substance that affects how the brain works and causes changes in mood, awareness, thoughts, feelings, or behavior." (Dictionary of Cancer Terms, n.d). These drugs can range from coffee, alcohol, nicotine, heroin, meth, cocaine, etc. In our world today, these drugs are some of the biggest issues our world faces; as they are extremely addicting, and are killing people on a daily basis. It is an estimated about of about twenty-one million Americans have at-least one addiction, and only ten percent of them receive treatment (Yerby, 2019). Alcohol is the most used psychoactive drug, and has led the worldwide cause of 5.3 percent of deaths, with an average of three hundred million people have an alcohol use disorder, and about thirty Americans die every day in an alcohol related car accident (Yerby, 2019). As these are just some of the very few examples of psychoactive drugs, I feel that it is extremely important to spread awareness on this drug, as it continues daily to take over our world. 

Below is a link to an overview of psychoactive drugs for more information.

https://youtu.be/icD3l5bhhKY

References - 

NCI Dictionary of Cancer terms. National Cancer Institute. (n.d.). Retrieved July 26, 2022, from https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/psychoactive-substance 

Yerby, N. (2019, June 24). Addiction statistics. Addiction Center. Retrieved July 26, 2022, from https://www.addictioncenter.com/addiction/addiction-statistics/ 

https://www.apsintl.org/post/what-is-a-psychoactive-substance

Post 2 - The Many Details Behind Food Neophobia

 Food neophobia is known as the the tendency to avoid many foods, and prefer to stick to familiar foods they are more comfortable with. It is said that for women, genetics are the main factor in causing food neophobia, whilst for men, environmental factors are more likely to cause it (Rousseau, 2016). Between the ages of two-nine, children who experience this phobia eat fewer fruits and fewer vegetables, both variety and quantity. However, if the child is introduced to a new food before the phobia begins, they are more likely to eat the food. (Rousseau, 2016). 

While food neophobia is highly common in children, it can also be shown in come cases in adults. This can be caused from adults who restrict their diet to new similar products and refuse to eat any new food items (Rehm, n.d). However, the adult will then suffer from deficiencies and often from social exclusion(Rehm, n.d). 

The below link is a youtube video from ABC News, this gives a great insight into more details about food neophobia. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPhZoN4vaj4

References - 

Rehm, C. (n.d.). Food neophobia. alimentarium. Retrieved July 26, 2022, from https://www.alimentarium.org/en/knowledge/food-neophobia-0 

Rousseau, N. (2016, November 9). What is food neophobia? Fondation Louis Bonduelle. Retrieved July 26, 2022, from https://www.fondation-louisbonduelle.org/en/getting-kids-to-like-vegetables/what-is-food-neophobia/ 

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195666307003716

Book Report- The Willpower Instinct by Kelly McGonigal

     The Willpower Instinct by Dr. Kelly McGonigal was a very inspiring book to read and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. The purpose of this book was to be able to help people from all over gain self-control and learn how to gain the willpower to live the lives they want. McGonigal begins by getting her readers to think about failure and the reasons why failure happens. It is overall important to recognize our failures as humans and figure out exactly what we are doing wrong, owning up to it and not placing blame elsewhere other than ourselves. McGonigal then breaks down willpower into three main categories known as the “I won’t”, “I will”, and the “I want” categories. Willpower can be defined as the ability to use self-control when needed, which is an instinct that we have developed as humans. The “I won’t” category is when you resist doing something that is not good for you. The “I will” category is when you delay gratification to help you reach your goals and get your reward at a later time. The “I want” category refers to long-term goals and their importance. With the author's breakdown of willpower, it appears that the “I want” category is very important when it comes to being successful in the long term.

    McGonigal also discussed how humans have an alternate version of the “fight or flight” response known as the “pause-and-plan response”. McGonigal described how this response can be triggered when facing what is known as a willpower challenge, which is anything that challenges you in reaching your long-term goals. McGonigal then describes how this response then allows you to pause and reflect on the decisions you making by shifting your attention to inner conflicts, therefore giving you a buffer to make the better decision. Overall, this is known as the biological willpower instinct and it has the potential to grow and change. Although time this becomes harder to do and therefore it’s important that we eat healthy foods, meditate, exercise regularly, get quality/adequate sleep every night, and to also surround ourselves with others that have strong willpower as well. Overall this book is not about changing your life for a short period of time, it is about how to change/improve your lifestyle. It's about how we can become a better version of ourselves and make changes in our lives that lead us to happiness.

    My favorite part of the book is when McGonigal discusses the topic of rewards and how our brains react to them. In which she discusses how the idea of being rewarded is often more sought after than an actual reward. During this part of the book, McGonigal talks about studies that were conducted on comparing the dopamine levels of people when they were thinking about being rewarded versus when they were actually receiving the reward. In which it was found that those who were thinking about being rewarded had higher levels of dopamine than those who were actually being rewarded. This often occurs when it comes to dieting and exercising. People often use the idea of a rest day/cheat day as motivation to keep them in their healthy routine throughout the week. The idea of what they are gonna eat, and what they will do during that time instead of exercising releases a significant amount of dopamine and happiness. Therefore the idea of just one singular day or moment of eating unhealthy has motivated a person for six days during the week. Then when they reach their “cheat day” they often feel guilty or unsatisfied after they are done and therefore their brains don't release as much dopamine as before. On the other hand, despite the fact that this may not exactly match McGonigal’s idea of how the thought of a reward can provide more satisfaction than an actual reward itself, there is an important connection I see between this idea and the book Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage. During this journey, the men of the Endurance crew used their thoughts of reaching land and being rescued as their main form of motivation. Therefore, the men of the  Endurance crew used the idea of a reward to get them through the extreme challenges they faced during their journey in the arctic. Throughout the book, their biggest motivation, drive, and desire were to reach civilization and get rescued. This idea and the thoughts they keep alive in their minds about what they would do when they finally reached land truly kept these men strong and fighting each and every day to reach their goal. Despite all the cold nights, dirty clothes, rotting sleeping bags, hunger, and frostbite, these men used this idea of a reward to drive them through and survive until the day Shackleton would rescue the last of his crew on Elephant Island. Although the day of reaching land may have been extremely rewarding, just imagine how much motivation was created with just the thought of something that at so many points seemed so hopeless! It is absolutely truly inspiring what these men went through.

    Overall, The Willpower Instinct by Dr. Kelly McGonigal was a truly great book to read and was extremely motivational. It truly helps you become more self-aware by looking deeply into your own thoughts, and feelings, and in turn, becoming more realistic with your goal setting and reaching. Willpower is also extremely important for society as a whole as well. As we as individuals become stronger and more aware of ourselves we can extend outwards to the community to help others in need. There are so many things within our society that need to be improved and with the strength and ability obtain with willpower we can positively impact the community as well.

McGonigal, K. (2012). The willpower instinct: How self-control works, why it matters, and what you can do to get more of it. Avery. 

Enjoy this clip of an interview with the author Kelly McGonigal about willpower!!!

to veg or not to veg?

 Albert Einstein once said “ Nothing will benefit human health and increase the chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.” The vegetarian/vegan lifestyle wasn't always a common option for people to choose. In today’s world, it has become much more commonplace and welcoming because of the various beneficial factors that are involved with it. Vegetarians have acquired a variety of different stereotypes over the years and many of these ideologies and narratives are false. The impact of animal agriculture has had a tremendous effect on our environment. All of the protein necessary for life can be acquired through plants, contrary to a popular misconception that the only way to receive the daily dietary needs for protein is through eating animals.  

There are many different reasons for one to become a vegetarian. Whether it be for the financial aspect, global preservation or for reasons of morality the vegetarian diet can benefit everyone. The main goal is to teach others that animal cruelty is wrong, and together as a whole we can change the environment just by eating green. One question at hand is does a vegetarian lifestyle really have an impact on the world? Are the nutritional benefits really as profound as some scientists and dieticians have claimed? 

All over the world people misinterpret what a vegetarian/vegan lifestyle may be. Vegetarians and Vegans are characterized to appear a certain way. All throughout life there are stereotypes and judgments made subconsciously and this applies to vegans as wells. However, stereotyping can be extremely negative because it’s important to be able to understand the world around us with clarity and without prejudice. For example some people believe vegetarians/vegans have a protein deficiency. This common misconception is false, there are many ways a vegetarian/vegan can get a blanched protein diet and still acquire all the nutrients required for a daily balance diet. It’s all about the balance and how one embraces complementary protein combinationsnThere are several long term effects of a vegetarian diet that are beneficial. The main causes of mortality in the US are diet affiliated. However, vegetarians and vegans have lower risk of many chronic diseases according to the Accend program. Which is also known as All Accreditation For Education In Nutrition And Dietetics. I have been a vegetarian since I was about 8 years old and love my diet and feel like in the long term it has many benefits with my health as well.

  Krpan, H. (2020). To veg or not to veg? The impact of framing on vegetarian food choice. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 67, 101391–. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2020.101391

Post 3- Why Are Fatty Foods Desirable?

     Fat has become an extremely desirable component in our everyday diets. Fatty foods tend to get people's attention as they release strong enticing smells as they cook, along with the satisfying feeling that we get after eating them. The main reason that humans find fatty foods so desirable and have for so many years is simply due to evolution. A long time ago humans had to work hard to find or cultivate their food. Oftentimes food was the main concern for our ancestors for many years. Therefore during these times, fatty foods were extremely important to their survival. Fatty foods are a great source of energy and the human body digests fat a lot slower than carbohydrates or proteins. Fat also provides a more significant amount of calories per serving, providing 9.4 calories per gram, in comparison to carbohydrates and proteins, providing 4 calories per gram. Thus, fat becomes a desirable component of the human diet for survival.

    Today, as a result of our evolution we humans are now wired to crave and prefer fatty foods because they provide us with high amounts of energy. Also, due to evolution, the human body has learned to hold on to and store fat for hard times when food is scarce. Although in a society like today where many people have access to food at all times, this makes it harder for people to stay healthy. Thus, it is important that we practice self-control and monitor what we eat and exercise to stay healthy, so we don't gain large amounts of unnecessary fats. Another important way to stay healthy is to replace bad fats with good fats, like avocado, nuts, and salmon!

Brie Zeltner, T. P. D. (2010, April 4). Humans are genetically hard-wired to prefer fat and sugar: Fighting fat. cleveland. Retrieved July 24, 2022, from https://www.cleveland.com/fighting-fat/2010/04/humans_are_genetically_hard-wired_to_prefer_fat_and_sugar.html#:~:text=%22Humans%20are%20evolutionarily%20wired%20to,University%20Hospitals%20Case%20Medical%20Center. 

Why do fatty foods taste so good?: Human world. EarthSky. (2017, January 19). Retrieved July 24, 2022, from https://earthsky.org/human-world/why-do-fatty-foods-taste-so-good 2/#:~:text=From%20the%20perspective%20of%20hungry,us%20feel%20relaxed%20and%20content. 

Growth Mindset

  Having a whats called growth mindset can be very beneficial to your mind. A growth mindset is when you welcome adversity, challenges, and use failure as motivation to grow rather than letting it define you as a person. My high school soccer coach always used to tell us how important having a growth mindset is when it comes to sports and life. As a program we had 3 teams freshman, Jv, and varsity. My coach would put kids on teams based on athleticism, fitness, and skill but would engrain in our heads that if you do not like where your placed, then having a growth mindset will help you succeed, which it did for me. Benefits of having a growth mindset in everyday life include help with mental illness, relationships, higher confidence, and many more. It may sound hard to just get into that mindset, but if you really want something in life you have to take the lows way more than the highs because the challenges and rejections we face will teach us something every time. See your challenges as opportunities and don't seek approval from others to make it easier to get into that mindset.  

Mate Selection IN 2022

 In this time and age, access to social media comes with its pros and cons. One of the cons being a façade of only the good in ones life. A false reality that is construed by ones timeline or feed. Social media content has moved from innocent family photos to explicit and self absorbed pictures of oneself and their belongings. From vacation pictures to house tours, everything is built around bragging. Now, in the context of mate value which is "one person’s characteristics that makes him or her desirable to another person as a partner", physical attractiveness has always been apart of deciding that value (Berg,2022). But, I believe there is another factor that has overpowered that, and that is money and wealth. So many women are willing to put looks aside if their potential mate has a lot of money to offer. Placing wealth as the main factor in mate value above all else. Social medias role in this is controversial but, the fact is this. The average American spends 2 hours and 6 minutes daily on social media, that is 14 hours a week spent scrolling (Broadband,2022). With these facts it is hard to believe that a correlation between the two is nonexistent.

Average daily time spent on social media (latest 2022 data). BroadbandSearch.net. (n.d.). Retrieved July 24, 2022, from https://www.broadbandsearch.net/blog/average-daily-time-on-social-media#:~:text=North%20America%3A%202%20hours%20and,1%20hour%20and%2015%20minutes

Post 2- Willpower

   Willpower can be defined as an ability to control oneself or resist instant gratification to be able to attain long-term goals. Other terms for willpower include self-control, self-discipline, and determination. Overall willpower plays an important role in various aspects of life. It is very important in goal setting and reaching and can even be an indicator of intelligence. The psychologist Walter Mischel conducted a study known as the Marshmellow test. During this study, he studied the correlation between willpower and future success. This study was conducted using preschool-aged children, who were brought into a room with a table that had a bowl of marshmallows on it. The children were instructed that they could either eat one marshmallow now or wait 15 minutes and they then could get two marshmallows. The children who waited 15 minutes to receive the two marshmallows showed what is known as delayed gratification, in which they were able to wait a longer period of time in order to receive a higher reward. Years later the children were followed into their adolescence and researchers determined that the children who had waited the 15 minutes for the marshmallows showed higher levels of self-esteem, higher SAT scores, were able to manage their stress more effectively, and were better performing students. Overall this demonstrates how the children that had the willpower to wait the extra time for a higher reward had the willpower to become successful in school as well.

    More so, according to research, it is also believed that the benefits of willpower are also important in adulthood as well. Especially when it comes to the use of drugs and alcohol. Research shows that people with higher rates of willpower and self-control are less likely to have substance abuse problems and more likely to have fewer mental health problems. Despite some controversy on whether or not willpower can be strengthened, researchers were able to find that willpower and self-control were skills that can be learned and strengthened. It is believed that in order to strengthen willpower it is important to exercise your willpower. Another important thing to do to strengthen willpower is to get enough sleep and also meditate. It is found that mediation is very beneficial in strengthening willpower. Lastly, it is also important to avoid temptations in order to increase willpower and self-control. A good way to avoid temptations is to remove them from your life or eyesight, it will get you to focus on other more important things.

Cherry, K. (2021, April 28). More willpower in your life could make you more successful. Verywell Mind. Retrieved July 19, 2022, from https://www.verywellmind.com/willpower-101-the-psychology-of-self-control-2795041 

https://youtu.be/Cp8MMeVBAQs

Post 1- The Resilience of Sir Ernest Shackleton and His Crew

     The book Endurance by Alfred Lansing was an incredible story to read about. While reading the book the thing that stood out to me the most was the unbreakable resilience of Shackleton and his crew. The men were constantly being faced with severe weather, starvation, health concerns, and the loss of hope. Many of the men were constantly suffering from frostbite and even one of the crew members named Blackborrow had to have his foot amputated. It was truly humbling to read their story and know that they all made it out alive despite all the challenges that they faced.

    Overall, I believe that the most impressive journey that was made by Shackleton and a part of his crew was the voyage from Elephant Island to South Georgia, the whaling station in an attempt to rescue his crew left on Elephant Island. This voyage was around eight hundred miles long and they had to travel through the Drake passage which was extremely dangerous and known for its treacherous waters. The men during this voyage endured horrible conditions, they had to share a limited amount of sleeping bags that were rotting from being constantly sprayed with seawater and the only way to get to these sleeping bags was for the men to crawl on the rock-covered floor of the boat. There was no such thing as anything or anyone being dry. When the men finally reached land, they found themselves on the opposite side of the island. Shackleton then had to make the journey by foot across the island to the whaling station to finally receive help. During this trip, they hiked to exhaustion in freezing temperatures with the bare minimum of supplies for them to make it through. When they finally reached the whaling station, Shackleton still had to fight to be able to reach his men and thankfully he was eventually able to. Overall, the conditions and hardship these men faced were horrible and the resilience they faced during this expedition was truly incredible and inspiring.

Ernest Shackleton's Antarctic voyage. (n.d.). Encyclopædia Britannica. photograph. Retrieved July 19,2022, from

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ernest-Henry-Shackleton#/media/1/537482/229300. 

How to problem solve with meditation and minfulness

Meditation can make you enter a place of joy and peacefulness. We as human beings tend to always be moving and sometimes forget about our health and well-being in the process of being so busy. Meditation and mindfulness reduce stress and have a great impact on anxiety and depression. Mindfulness focuses mainly on your breathing and one part of the body. It makes you completely focused and able to feel a sensation of being relaxed. When meditating, all of an individual's distractions and stress should be released and let go of. It should be a sense of relief and make you feel calmer. This began over 4500 years ago, however it is just now being shown awareness. If meditation was taught in schools, society as a whole would not be perfect, but it would indeed be a step toward a better world. Solutions to problem-solving could begin with meditation as the first step. Parents and schools worldwide should instill meditation and mindfulness in their children/students daily. In one of my classes, we practiced mindfulness and many individuals took it as a joke, but for me, it was something I always looked forward to because I know no matter how bad my morning was I would have a place to release some of that stress healthily and positively. 

College Students and Caffeine Dependence

 If you set food on a college campus, chances are you will see students walking by gripping iced coffees.  If you look a little further, you might find a number of coffee sellers and even energy drink vending machines.  Though “the recommended amount of caffeine is less than 200-300 mg per day… many college students…consume closer to 400-500 mg” (Villanova).  One Bang energy drink contains 300 mg of caffeine (Bang), and one large Dunkin iced coffee contains 396 mg of caffeine (caffeineinformer.com).  Even if one does their best to avoid consuming caffeine, classes, clubs, labs, homework, and jobs all take their toll, and sometimes a coffee or energy drink seems like the only option to power through it all.  

Unfortunately, this can lead to caffeine dependence.  Trying to stop drinking caffeine can impact grades and mood.  According to the National Institute of Health, symptoms of caffeine addiction include headache, fatigue, decreased energy/activeness, decreased alertness, drowsiness, decreased contentedness, depressed mood, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and feeling foggy/not clear headed. “(Sajadi et al. 2022).  Students must balance their health with their need for productivity.  

Here about it from students themselves!

Bang® Energy Drinks 12 pack: 16 ounces with coq10 & super creatine. Bang Energy. (n.d.). Retrieved July 16, 2022, from https://bangenergy.com/shop/bang-12-pack/?attribute_pa_flavor=wyldin-watermelon

Caffeine - final - villanova. (n.d.). Retrieved July 16, 2022, from https://www1.villanova.edu/content/dam/villanova/studentlife/documents/Nutrition/Caffeine%20-%20Final.pdf

Dunkin' donuts coffee caffeine content guide. Caffeine Informer. (n.d.). Retrieved July 16, 2022, from https://www.caffeineinformer.com/complete-guide-to-dunkin-donuts-caffeine-content 

Sajadi-Ernazarova KR, Anderson J, Dhakal A, et al. Caffeine Withdrawal. [Updated 2022 Apr 30]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430790/

Self Control and Unhealthy Food Relationships

Research shows that almost 50% of Americans report having an unhealthy relationship with food. This stems from the lack of self-control in individuals minds particularly when it comes to eating. It is hard to tell yourself no because we live for satisfaction, the euphoric aura of biting into that cheeseburger. Another reason we battle with self control is our mind frame. Many Americans live in the now, meaning we do not think about the future, just the day to day. This, as one can assume causes people to make bad decisions because they do not think or worry about the consequences. One solution I have for this dilemma is to prevent this form of thinking to begin with and it starts in elementary schools. Our education system must enforce and preach the benefits of self control on food and every other area of life. 

Positivity

 On their journey, hope kept Shackleton’s men going for a very long time.  They were positive about their upcoming adventures, and that things would get better (Lansing). Remaining positive is extremely powerful.  According to IE University, “A positive mindset is the breeding ground for creativity, expansive and visionary thinking, empathy, cooperation, and connection” (Villas-Boas, 2022). It can also be used beyond coping.  In fact, “studies have shown that resonant leaders connect and activate one part of the brain, while dissonant leaders, who send out negative emotions, activate another part of the brain” (Villas-Boas, 2022).  Furthermore, positivity can have an impact on health.   In one study, “People with a family history of heart disease who also had a positive outlook were one-third less likely to have a heart attack or other cardiovascular event within five to 25 years than those with a more negative outlook.” (John Hopkins Medicine, 2021).  Positivity can be used in daily life, in the workplace, to guide us through tough times, and to improve our relationships.  

Here, Kevin Hart shares his views on positive thinking, and how it has gotten him far. 

    

The brain is powerful.  As shown in the video below, mind over matter is extremely valid.  

Lastly, this clip shows how easy it can be to change one's levels of positivity, and how big the impact of that can be.  Though it seems harmless in a game of basketball, it teaches a valuable lesson about the real world.  Even the most confident and talented can be impacted by negative feedback, making all-around positivity even more important. 

          Lansing, A. (2015). Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible voyage (anniversary). Basic Books.

The power of positive thinking. Johns Hopkins Medicine. (2021, November 1). Retrieved July 12, 2022, from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-power-of-positive-thinking 

Villas-Boas, B. A. G. (2022, February 1). Positivity is not magic. it's science. IE Insights. Retrieved July 12, 2022, from https://www.ie.edu/insights/articles/positivity-is-not-magic-its-science/ 

Post 1 - The Way Procrastination effects Self-Control & Solutions

When it comes to self control, procrastination takes a large role in how managed our self control is. Procrastination is known as "to put off intentionally and habitually" (Merriam-Webster, n.d). In the current world we live in, procrastination takes a large role in peoples daily lives; work, time management, chores, daily tasks, etc. It is very known to be "a threat to your professional productivity" (Brief, 2019).  The main question to be asking here is why? even on tasks that people are excited for, there is still procrastination happening. So it is clear that no matter what the case is, there will always be procrastination. 

There are many physiological reasons that one may be stuck in procrastination, these include the following - (Brief, 2019):

 - A fear of failure 

- Is it worth the effort?

- Avoiding an uncomfortable situation

- Overloaded and overextended

- Don't know how to prioritize 

- Being a perfectionist

- Simply not interested 

- Lack of time management skills

- Cannot get started

All of the listed above items then take a role on self control, because unfortunately procrastination is entirely self control - example of not putting enough time for a certain task, so it never gets done. However, if I managed my time more, and made room I would not have to procrastinate on that certain task.  There are many solutions to procrastination, and this will allow more self control with the following tips:

- Setting a certain amount time aside, ex: 10 minutes a day to complete that certain task. Understand your own energy patterns, know when you are at your lowest and highest. Take breaks, give yourself moments to yourself. Another tip to stop procrastination is a reward when the task is complete. (Brief, 2019)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4x7MkLDGnu8

Citations - 

Brief. (2019, July 15). How does procrastination affect time management? Medium. Retrieved July 11, 2022, from https://medium.com/@go_brief/how-does-procrastination-affect-time-management-fcaf6f0ea715 

Garratt, S. (2022, July 5). Stop procrastinating: 17 strategies to get back into action. The Creative Life. Retrieved July 11, 2022, from https://thecreativelife.net/stop-procrastinating/ 

Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Procrastinate. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved July 11, 2022, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/procrastinate

Self Control and Addiction

 The topics of self control and addiction often go hand in hand.  Self control can be defined as “the ability to control one’s impulses when faced with challenges or temptations” (Science Direct, 2019).  A question is raised: do people become addicts due to lack of self control, or does addiction to something reduce self control and therefore make it difficult to quit?  UCLA found that “drug addiction is responsible for decreased impulse control while at the same time increasing the addict's desire to take more drugs” (UCLA).  Furthermore, while poor impulse control can lead to the initial taking of substances, it is also shown that ``A person develops a complete loss of control over their behavior” and/or “A person develops a decreased ability to control cravings for pleasure” (mentalhelp.net).  The following video proposes that looking beyond our current thoughts regarding self control could be very beneficial. 

Why don't they just stop? addiction and the loss of Control. Mental Help Why Dont They Just Stop Addiction and the Loss of Control Comments. (n.d.). Retrieved July 10, 2022, from https://www.mentalhelp.net/addiction/why-cant-they-stop/

Which comes First: Addiction or impaired impulse control? Which Comes First: Addiction Or Impaired Impulse Control? | Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior. (n.d.). Retrieved July 10, 2022, from https://www.semel.ucla.edu/dual-diagnosis-program/News_and_Resources/Which_Comes_First_First_Addiction_Or_Impaired_Impulse_Control

Willems, Y. E., Boesen, N., Li, J., Finkenauer, C., & Bartels, M. (2019, February 26). The heritability of self-control: A meta-analysis. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. Retrieved July 10, 2022, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149763418307905

Fear Conditioning Post #1

 Fear Conditioning 

                        Fear conditioning is a form of classical conditioning. It is the mechanism we learn to fear people, objects, places, and events that are aversive such as an electric shock. In evolution, this form of associative fear learning plays a critical role in our survival from future threats. An example of this type of conditioning is the Little Albert study. Little Albert, an eleven-month-old infant baby used in John Watson and Rayner's 1920 study. Like many babies, Albert naturally feared deafening noises but had no aversion to white rats. Watson and Rayner presented him with a white rat, and when he touched it, they struck a hammer against a steel bar just behind his head. After seven repetitions of seeing the rat and hearing the frightening noise, Albert burst into tears at the mere sight of the rat. In conclusion, Albert showed some generalization of his learned fear response; he would cry at the sight of objects that resembled the white rat, such as a white coat or a white dog.  

For mediating fear learning, a brain area must satisfy two basic requirements. First, it must get input from the sensory systems that are processing the potentially dangerous stimuli, such as the visual system for a light or the tactile system for a shock. Second, it must project to the brain regions known to control fear responses. Using these criteria, researchers identified the amygdala as a critical region for fear conditioning. The amygdala is a small, almond-shaped cluster of nuclei set deep in the temporal lobe that seems ideally positioned as the locus of fear learning. It receives input through its lateral nucleus from cortical areas and the thalamus, a critical sensory relay station within the brain. It sends output via its central nucleus to various brain regions that mediate fear responses, such as the hypothalamus.

              

                    Please put this in your YouTube search engine : https://youtu.be/9hBfnXACsOI

                Example of a fear condition: exam anxiety :

                                            

                                     Put this in your YouTube search engine:   https://youtu.be/D64TZ-wcLCY

Exam Anxiety: The Science of Learning and Fear

                                

Citations:

Pamela Li, M. S. (2022, June 28). Fear conditioning: Classical examples in psychology. Parenting For Brain. Retrieved July 7, 2022, from https://www.parentingforbrain.com/fear-conditioning.

Schaffhausen, J., Fitzgerald, A. M. L., & Author: (2016, November 29). Fear conditioning: How the brain learns about danger. Brain Connection. Retrieved July 7, 2022, from https://brainconnection.brainhq.com/2005/08/26/fear-conditioning-how-the-brain-learns-about-danger/

The Pros and Cons of CBD Vape Pens Post #3

 

    The Pros and Cons of CBD Vape Pens 

       Cannabis e-liquid, also known as CBD vape juice, is still a controversial formula; however, it is considered a convenient way to consume CBD. The beneficial aspect of vaping CBD liquid is that it does not produce a hallucinogenic effect and can deliver the medicinal properties of marijuana. Unfortunately, as with all things in life, vaping CBD juice does present certain drawbacks, such as addiction.

Pros:

#1: The Health Benefits 

CBD is most well-known for the medicinal benefits of its marijuana components. Research has shown that this product can reduce the pain suffered by patients with degenerative diseases, arthritis, and even some types of cancer. Moreover, CBD oil can assist in alleviating the effects of anxiety, depression, and stress. One way to consume CBD oil is by using CBD vape pens, which are a faster alternative with high bio-availability.

#2: Fast Absorbing Liquid 

Another popular reason CBD liquid has increased in popularity is the effects felt after consumption. After the oil has been used in a vape pen, the individual will immediately begin to feel its effects. Typically, these effects include relaxation and calm throughout the body. The substance is also sent to the lungs and absorbed into the bloodstream. When in the bloodstream, the user begins to experience the effects of CBD, and the quick absorption can reduce pain or anxiety attacks.

#3: Convenient And Discreet 

One of the most significant advantages of using a CBD vape pen is discretion and convenience. As the device is portable, you can inhale the juice anywhere in almost all areas, and all you need is a vape pen and juice to enjoy the act of vaping. Moreover, based on the increased popularity of vaping, people are unlikely to question the type of substance being inhaled and why you are using it.

Vaping CBD liquid does not produce strong odors, unlike traditional marijuana cigarettes, and electronic cigarettes use a vapor without any associated smoke. While most people choose to vape indoors, you must check the state law regarding illegal vaping in public places.

 Cannabidiol (CBD) is a compound derived from cannabis. Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD does not produce a high. People use CBD in a wide variety of ways for its potential therapeutic effects:  

Trusted Sources may include:

• pain relief
• anti-inflammation
• anti-anxiety
• seizure and epilepsy treatment

Cons: 

#1: The Health Risks 

Just as there are health benefits to vaping CBD oil, it is vital to be cautious regarding the amount of liquid being vaped simultaneously. If you have a pre-existing health condition, particularly a respiratory condition, inhaling CBD oil can result in coughing and nausea; this is particularly true in cases where a person over-inhales the liquid.

 CBD oil extract is often too thick for vaporizers, so thinning agents are used to thin the formula. The most common agents are polyethylene glycol and propylene glycol, and when they reach high temperatures, the thinners break down into carcinogenic compounds. The research found that vaping even small amounts of these compounds can result in respiratory complications, including asthma and allergic reactions.

#2: Addiction To CBD Vaping 

While doctors and researchers have noted CBD oils as not having addictive qualities and being used to cure addiction, the CBD vaping act is an addictive behavior. Research has found that most users will become preoccupied with the act as it is convenient, discrete, and more straightforward than traditional smoking methods.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4_l-klxqCQ : 

Vaping: what people are getting wrong | The Economist

CBD Vape Pens - Pros & cons of vaping CBD Oil: Medicinal Cannabis. Medicinal Cannabis | Encouraging widespread knowledge of nature's most effective medicine. (2019, August 7). Retrieved July 9, 2022, from https://www.medicinal-cannabis.org/pros-and-cons-to-using-cbd-vape-pens/

MediLexicon International. (n.d.). Vaping CBD: Pens and oils for pain, depression and anxiety. Medical News Today. Retrieved July 9, 2022, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/vaping-cbd#cbd