Black CEOs and the Teddy Bear Effect

This study I found was published in Newsweek about how racial characteristics make a difference for Fortune 500 companies. Mainly, white men were characterized as more aggressive and mean looking while the black men were characterized as cherubic and gentle looking. "The most likely interpretation of the results is that facial cues of warmth and nonthreateningness "mitigate feelings of anger, envy, or resentment among Whites who might otherwise feel threatened by powerful Black males." This study just shows how this country is still not race-blind. There has never been a "threatening" looking black male according to the study, but what defines a threatening black man? A strong face (not cherubic), broad shoulders, being very tall? Which any of these a white man can be. Hopefully, one day a person's facial characterisitics will not be the barrier of being on top of a Fortune 500 company.

Protesters’ secret: they’re out there because it makes them happier

The article I found was about the positive effects of activism. It reads, "Activists are dissatisfied with the drift of the times and outraged at the misdeeds of their ideological enemies. But they are also; it turns out, enjoying their lives more than the rest of us." Many may believe political activists are just looking to start trouble, but this is something that they truly believe in. All people want to make a difference and have a sense of empowerment and activists meet these psychological needs. Many protesters' also go to these rallies with people they enjoy being around each other and share a common passion. It's nice to have people to talk to that understand and share your views I can see how activists are happy people. They article also talked about the need of belonging to a group which the correlated to church and religion. As protestors feel like they're making a difference and part of a large cause church goers feel similar. Going to church and surrounding yourself with people that share the same beliefs fulfills the need to belong and the feeling of being part of something larger than yourself. To confirm these observations researchers Kasser and Klar performed a study on college students who were activists and non-activists. The activists tend to be happier, more optimistic, and more sociable people. I believe the finding are interesting and make a lot of sense as to why these protestors are happier people.
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2009/10/11/protesters_secret_theyre_out_there_because_it_makes_them_happier/?page=1

Depression Ups Internet Addiction

This article is about children that are depressed, have ADHD or a social phobia are more likely to become addicted to the internet. The article reads, “Internet addiction is usually characterized with symptoms such as spending a lot of time online, an inability to cut back on usage, a preoccupation with online activities, and symptoms of withdrawal such as anxiety, boredom, or irritability after a few days of not going online.” I feel that children with the disposition of having these psychological problems are more at risk, but in today’s society this can happen to anyone. Everyone relies so heavily on technology and computers that it’s hard not to get addicted. If education hasn’t started relying so heavily on the use of computers maybe a lot of these children wouldn’t have these problems. Personally, I’m always on the computer for one class or another so it gets even harder as we get older to not use a computer less often. This problem is also similar to problems big corporate workers are having with their blackberry; constantly checking emails to the point where they lose sleep and have other psychological problems. Being that these children are more likely to be addicted to the computer then it should be up to the parents to control computer time and hopefully this will help.

Facebook & GPA's

In Chatanooga, Tennessee three students from Covenant College conducted a study on the amount of time spent on facebook affects a GPA. They discovered that students use facebook more are also associated with higher levels of anxiety, anger, depression and impulsivity. The effects of social networking have a negative affects on personalities and development and this experiment discovered them. Social networking, like facebook, and advancement in technology shows how impersonal relationships develop and the affect of these. In the article the three students believed that not only students use facebook but is becoming increasingly popular among adults so these finds make it even more important. I believe this study is almost similar to study like the impact of media. When people are constantly exposed to images of skinny celebrities it results in low self-esteem, bad body-image, and so on. I also believe peers compare themselves in this similar matter based on wall posts and pictures. Overall, the less often people use facebook the better off they are.

September 21, 2009

The article I found is about a 72 year old study that has followed the lives of 278 Harvard graduates. The studies of these graduates are based medical tests and detailed questionnaires about their marriage, happiness, etc. The man who has led the study for the past 42 years is psychiatrist George Vallaint, now 74. He documents for each individual a variety of factors including sickness, divorces, and deaths. An important part of his study is realizing that life isunpredictable. For instance, a man who was happy and sociable at the beginning of the study has also had a share of setbacks and depression. From these types of problems four ways of facing them emerges: psychotic adaptations, immature adaptations, neurotic defenses, and mature adaptations. The most common is neurotic defenses which includes repression and dissociation. But the “key to happiness” is mature adaptation which means to find proper outlets for feelings. I believe that if Vallaint included women in the study it would have probably produced the same results. Also, this study consists of predominantly white, middle-upper class men and results could have varied if additional races and classes were included.