Discussion 2 : Incentives

Incentives play a fundamental role in shaping human behavior and decision-making across various aspects of life, from personal choices to business strategies and public policies. An incentive can be anything that motivates individuals or groups to take specific actions or behave in particular ways. These motivators can be positive or negative, tangible or intangible, and they influence our choices, preferences, and actions in profound ways. One of the most common types of incentives is the financial incentive. Monetary rewards, such as bonuses, commissions, or salary increases, serve as powerful motivators for employees to work harder, be more productive, and achieve organizational goals. Similarly, consumers are enticed by discounts, coupons, and cashback offers, encouraging them to make purchases and drive sales for businesses. Financial incentives are prevalent because they tap into a basic human desire for security, wealth, and material gains.

Beyond monetary rewards, non-financial incentives are equally impactful. Recognition and praise are powerful psychological incentives that can boost morale and increase individuals' sense of value within an organization. Being acknowledged for one's efforts and contributions fosters a positive work environment, encourages employee engagement, and ultimately leads to better performance and job satisfaction. In the realm of public policy, governments often use incentives to achieve specific objectives. Tax breaks and subsidies are examples of economic incentives that aim to promote certain industries or activities. Environmental policies may employ carbon credits and emissions trading as incentives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. Nudging is another form of policy incentive, which involves subtly altering the way choices are presented to individuals to encourage certain decisions, such as opting for healthier food choices or energy-efficient appliances.

Incentives also play a pivotal role in influencing consumer behavior. Loyalty programs, reward points, and frequent flyer miles are all examples of marketing incentives designed to encourage customer retention and increase brand loyalty. Free trials and money-back guarantees serve as risk-reduction incentives, enticing consumers to try new products and services with the assurance of a refund if not satisfied. In the educational context, incentives are leveraged to promote learning and academic achievement. Teachers may offer rewards like stickers or small prizes to motivate young students to complete assignments or participate in class. In higher education, scholarships, grants, and academic honors serve as incentives for students to excel in their studies and pursue knowledge. Moreover, incentives can create an "overjustification effect," where offering external rewards for tasks that individuals are already intrinsically motivated to do can diminish their internal motivation over time. Careful consideration and thoughtful design are necessary to strike a balance between external incentives and intrinsic motivation. In conclusion, incentives are powerful tools that influence human behavior and decision-making across various domains. From financial rewards in the workplace to non-financial motivators like recognition and praise, incentives shape our choices, actions, and attitudes. They are integral to organizational success, public policy, marketing strategies, education, and many other aspects of life. However, the careful design and evaluation of incentives are essential to ensure their effectiveness and avoid unintended consequences. By understanding the complexities of incentives, we can harness their potential to create positive change, encourage desired behaviors, and foster a more motivated and engaged society.

Discussion 3: Impulsivity

 

 Impulsivity refers to the tendency to act on immediate urges and desires without much forethought or consideration of potential consequences. It is a multidimensional trait that encompasses various aspects of human behavior, affecting decision-making, self-control, and emotional regulation. While some level of impulsivity is a normal and adaptive part of human nature, excessive impulsivity can lead to negative outcomes and challenges in various aspects of life. One aspect of impulsivity involves acting on impulses without adequately considering the potential risks or benefits of the actions. This can manifest in impulsive buying decisions, engaging in risky behaviors, or making snap judgments without gathering all the necessary information. In some cases, impulsivity may lead to regrettable choices or unintended consequences, as the focus is primarily on immediate gratification rather than long-term planning. Furthermore, impulsivity can interfere with goal-directed behavior and self-control. Individuals high in impulsivity may struggle to resist temptations and distractions, making it challenging to stay focused on tasks or adhere to long-term plans. This lack of self-control can impede academic or professional success and hinder personal growth and achievement. Impulsivity can also impact interpersonal relationships. People with impulsive tendencies may struggle to manage emotions effectively, leading to outbursts of anger or frustration. Their impulsive reactions can strain relationships, create misunderstandings, and contribute to conflict. Additionally, impulsivity in decision-making can lead to broken promises or commitments, eroding trust in personal and professional relationships.

Various factors contribute to impulsivity, including genetic predispositions, neurological differences, and environmental influences. Certain mental health conditions, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and borderline personality disorder (BPD), are associated with higher levels of impulsivity. Additionally, substance abuse and impulsive behaviors can become interconnected, leading to a destructive cycle of self-destructive actions. Managing impulsivity involves developing self-awareness and practicing self-regulation strategies. Mindfulness techniques, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and other therapeutic interventions can help individuals recognize their impulsive tendencies, identify triggers, and learn healthier coping mechanisms. Time management skills and setting clear, achievable goals can also aid in curbing impulsive decision-making. While impulsivity can pose challenges, it is essential to recognize that it also has positive aspects. Spontaneity and creativity are often linked to some level of impulsivity, driving innovation and adaptability. Moreover, quick decision-making can be advantageous in certain situations, such as responding to emergencies or seizing opportunities.

In conclusion, impulsivity is a multifaceted trait that influences various aspects of human behavior and decision-making. It can be both beneficial and problematic, depending on the context and degree of impulsivity. Recognizing and understanding impulsive tendencies are essential in navigating its potential pitfalls and harnessing its positive aspects. By developing self-awareness and employing effective self-regulation strategies, individuals can strike a balance between spontaneity and thoughtful decision-making, fostering personal growth, and well-being.

Ahmed Book Report

In journalist, Charles Duhigg’s book The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business, he explains the foundations of the tterm “habit”. While the book is separated into 3 parts, it explains the habits of individuals, successful companies, and organizations, as well as of society. There are 3 key steps that take to create a habit and keeping that in mind it could benefit a person whether it be an internal or external profit. Once these steps are remembered and properly understood, they can be of great value. The first step of the habit loop is the cue, which is when a person decides to take an action or has been pushed to take action through external measures. The second step is the routine, in which a behavior must cycle through to influence the course of action. The last step is the reward, similar to its name, which is the end goal of the action that makes it valuable. Once these steps are established at a good consistency, it will be easier to form the habit and become accustomed to our brains.

While reading the text, the part that really stood out to me was the story of Lisa Allen, a participant in the research on how habits appear on a neurological level. Her life consisted of smoking, drinking, debt, and struggles with obesity. She was processing her divorce as her husband was cheating on her with another woman. She shares her five stages of grief in an empathetic manner which forced me to be hooked on not only her story but the book itself. She changes her life in such a manner that 4 years after her divorce, she became a whole new person. She had quit smoking and drinking, was out of debt as she had been working consistently for over 3 years, and had lost 60 pounds. At 34 years old, she decided to change her life completely and accomplished her goal. Her story reminds me of the self-control topic of our class. Self-control is learning to resist certain temptations and impulsive choices. 

According to Howard Rachlin, many people lack self-control as they would rather have immediate gratification than a better reward in the future. In Allen’s case, after struggling for a while she quit smoking and drinking for a greater reward in the future. Similar to Allen, many people go through major events in their lives that can cause them to go into a depressive state. With the help and knowledge of the habit loop, individuals can help to create better habits and lifestyles for themselves to get out of that state. Creating better habits could help the world become a better place to live in.

Youtube video about The Power of Habit

Grit book report

    The book that I chose for my book report is Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth. The book explains how grit is about the combination of perseverance and passion. What makes people who have grit different than those who don’t is that they have determination and direction. Duckworth talks about studies in which she makes people take the grit scale test and from that she is able to differentiate people into two groups; one who have grit and the other who don’t. The book gives many ways to grow grit. Instead of success being determined by talent, it is determined by grit. Passion and perseverance are more important for success rather than talent. People with grit have these assets in common: interest, practice, purpose, and hope. Duckworth says that grit is something that you can grow. It is not something that people either have or don’t. The four components can be achieved by learning them. 

         My favorite part of the book was when Duckworth talked about goal hierarchy. I thought that it very interesting to read about the low-level, mid-level and top-level goals in a hierarchy. The lower-level goals are flexible and are short term goals. The lower-level goal moves you toward the higher-level goals. The highest-level goal is the ultimate goal with the most importance. It is what the lower-level goals help lead up to. The top-level goal is the end while the lower-level goals serve as means to ends. The goal hierarchy relates to the book Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing. The highest-level goal of Shackleton and his crew was to survive after the ship was crushed. The lower-level goals consisted of finding things to eat to ultimately reach their top-level goal of surviving. 

         Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance is related to the Incentives google slides. In the book, it talks about how Carol Dweck performed a study on middle school kids who were “helpless” when it came to their studies. Carol split the students among two groups. One group being the success only program while the other group was the attribution retaining program. In the success only program, the students were praised for completing math problems no matter the number of questions that they had completed. In the attribution retaining program, the students were told that they did not solve enough math problems and how they should try harder. All of the students from both groups were then given math problems consisting of both hard and easy questions. The students in the success only program gave up on the hard questions as they had before and the students in the attribution retaining program tried harder when they got to the difficult questions. The students in the attribution retaining program saw failure as a reason to work harder on the difficult questions rather than thinking that they lacked the skills to succeed. This example from the book relates to the incentives google slides. The students in the attribution retaining program showed intrinsic motivation because of their effort. The questions were hard, but they did not give up because solving them would give them a sense of accomplishment.  

Grit is a motivational book and the information obtained from the book can be used in everyday life for students. Many students may have low motivation and may think that they can’t be successful. This book shows that success is not based off of talent. It is based off of grit. Not only that, but grit can also be developed. You can learn how to achieve grit and succeed in life. This book will teach students that success is based off of having passion and perseverance. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H14bBuluwB8

This is a video that I enjoyed watching about grit. 

This is a good definition about what grit is. 

 

References:

Duckworth, A. (2018). Grit: The power of passion and perseverance. Collins. 

Gabby. (n.d.). Dance builds grit. Elite Dance Academy. https://elitedanceacademy.net/dance-builds-grit/ 

Discussion Post #3: Drugs

 It is evident that drugs can change behavior and that drug addiction consumes many lives. We learned about the several types of psychoactive drugs: caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, opiates, cannabis, and cocaine. Alcohol and opiates can cause people to feel calm and relaxed. However, as most of us know the disadvantages of alcohol and opiates are poor coordination, slurred speech, and slow breathing. Cannabis is another widely used drug that causes relaxation and alters memory.

To focus on opiates specifically, I had previous knowledge of the detrimental effects of opioids because I found out that a family member of mine was using them. There are many causes of opioid addiction. It could be from prescription drug use, childhood neglect or abuse, genetics, family history of substance abuse, living in poverty, etc. Many people become addicted to opioids due to being prescribed them for an injury. In the past, this was more of an issue due to doctors prescribing them more often, but this problem is still very prevalent today. People with opioid addiction often experience shame and guilt, as with any other addiction. It can strain the relationships with those around you, and cause individuals to blame themselves for the state they are in.

With any drug, there can be withdrawal effects, the unpleasant results that follow with refraining from any use of the drug that they were once physically dependent on. Common symptoms of drug withdrawal can be nausea, vomiting, headaches, depression, anxiety, or irritability. Withdrawal is not the same for every person and can exhibit several consequences. However, I chose this topic because it is so important to be mindful of others struggling with addiction. Addiction to drugs can be life-threatening and negatively impacts millions of people all over the world. 

Below is a video that illustrates a great example of what drugs and addiction can do to our bodies.

 In my own life, I witnessed the profound impact of self-control and the lack thereof through my uncle's struggle with alcohol. He battled with alcoholism for years, and despite his strong desire to quit, the absence of effective self-control mechanisms made it incredibly difficult for him. His initial experiments with alcohol were casual, but as time went on, he lost the ability to moderate his consumption. He would often promise to cut back or quit, only to find himself trapped in a cycle of relapse.

My uncle's journey highlighted the consequences of lacking self-control, particularly in the realm of substance abuse. It showed the importance of seeking help, building a support system, and developing coping strategies. While he ultimately lost his battle with alcohol, his experience served as a stark reminder of the power that substances can hold over an individual and the vital role that self-control plays in navigating these challenges. It reinforced my belief in the significance of education, awareness, and compassionate intervention when it comes to helping those who are struggling with substance misuse.

Positive and Negative Reinforcement

Positive reinforcement involves the introduction of a favorable stimulus or reward to strengthen a desired behavior.  On the other hand, negative reinforcement entails the removal or avoidance of an unpleasant stimulus as a means to encourage a particular behavior. During my high school years, I found myself struggling with advanced mathematics. The subject matter was challenging, and I often felt overwhelmed. One semester, I had a teacher who employed a mix of positive and negative reinforcement to motivate students. For positive reinforcement, she introduced a system where we could earn "math bucks" for completing assignments, actively participating in class, and helping peers. These math bucks could be exchanged for small rewards like stationery or extra credit points. This approach boosted my motivation to engage in the subject and strive for improvement.

However, the negative reinforcement aspect came into play when she allowed students who consistently performed well on quizzes to opt out of certain homework assignments. While this was intended to incentivize excellence, I noticed that some students, including myself, began to focus solely on quizzes and ignored the importance of well-rounded learning.

 Taste aversion is a psychological phenomenon in which an individual develops a strong and often long-lasting dislike for a specific food or drink after associating it with a negative experience, such as nausea or illness. This response is a survival mechanism that helps humans and animals avoid potentially harmful substances. For me this happens when I smell or am near seafood. I immediately get nauseous and cant even be around it. Its crazy to think your brain is powerful enough to create a defense mechanism to something as simple as a food you dislike. As a picky eater this is something that I go through so often sometimes without even trying it to begin with. Another thing that makes me nauseous when I even look at it is seltzer water. Ive thrown up just thinking about the taste. 

Impulsivity and Trichotillomania

 I want to discuss how impulsivity is a huge component to the disorder Trichotillomania. Also referred to as "Trich", it is, "is when someone cannot resist the urge to pull out their hair. They may pull out the hair on their head or in other places, such as their eyebrows or eyelashes. Trich is more common in teenagers and young adults"(Source). The condition itself is considered an Impulse control condition. Trich is often comorbid with other mental health conditions. Often, Trich is strongly linked with obsessive compulsive disorder, or OCD for short. Trichotillomania is known to cause damage to the persons body. Balding, scabbing, and permanent hair loss is common in severe cases. Even in the less severe cases, temporary baldness and patching is common. I personally have been suffering with this condition for roughly 2 years. I have a significantly less severe case than most people. I developed this repetitive bodily movement during quarantine, the summer of 2020. It provides a feeling of relief for me. I noticed I started to rub my eyebrows, sometimes pressing on them and twisting them at times. I did not think much of it until I noticed I was starting to see some very slight hair loss. This is when I discovered this habit I once called "harmless"  was much harder to control than I thought. When I'd try to just stop doing it, It almost felt like a physical pain, or a build up of energy while not performing this ritualistic behavior. I've had many trial and errors. I've gone a month without doing it, and than out of no where this unconscious habit returns, usually during stressful or idle times. I have no began to work with a professional, and am seeing immense progress. The key treatment approach to Trich is a combination of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, and Habit Reversal Training. 

The Willpower Instinct Book Report

Kelly McGonigal's book "The Willpower Instinct" studies the science of willpower and the factors that affect our ability to withstand temptation, make wiser choices, and accomplish our objectives. McGonigal offers useful methods for boosting willpower and overcoming problems with impulse control and procrastination by drawing on principles from psychology, neuroscience, and behavioral economics. The audience gets a greater knowledge of their own habits as well as tips on how to develop self-control and resilience as the book explores the complex interactions between the brain's reward system and long-term planning. 

The discussion on the "Zeigarnik effect" and its effects on willpower is something I resonated with. According to the Zeigarnik effect, a psychological phenomena, people tend to recall unfinished tasks or objectives more  than ones that have been achieved, which causes them to become mentally preoccupied with these unresolved items. This idea is especially important when discussing willpower because it explains why, when we have unfinished business or goals on our minds, we frequently find it difficult to resist instant temptations and diversions.

The Zeigarnik effect is similar to the idea of "cognitive load" in terms of our understanding of cognitive psychology. Our minds are overloaded with cognitive load when we have tasks that need to be completed or goals that need to be achieved, leaving us with less cognitive capacity to effectively regulate our urges and practice self-control. This explains why, for instance, maintaining a good eating routine or avoiding distractions might be difficult when we are focused on unfinished job obligations or personal responsibilities.

For readers looking to strengthen their self-control, being aware of the Zeigarnik effect and how it relates to willpower can be a useful tool. Individuals can regulate their cognitive load and improve their odds of effectively resisting temptations by being aware of this psychological bias. In the book, McGonigal offers helpful advice that readers can use to lessen the Zeigarnik effect's negative effects on their willpower and generally improve their capacity for achieving long-term goals. These strategies include breaking tasks down into smaller, more manageable steps and employing mindfulness and meditation practices. For readers who battle with self-control and time management, this chapter's ideas can be revolutionary since they offer doable strategies to get over these obstacles and strengthen their willpower.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIQ6SKOlvsA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I_ERQWpyPs

discussion three: incentives

 

Anything can be an incentive or a motivator. For me, an incentive can be getting positive feedback from someone who I respect, such as my boss or my dad. It can make me become a better person and it can make me want to work harder in whatever task I am doing. Growing up, I usually would never get any positive reinforcement from my parents, I grew up with negative reinforcement because that is how I would learn. It made me only learn by getting negative feedback and it is now why I crave positive feedback and reinforcement. Another incentive that I have now is money. Making money is something that is so necessary in our time that it has become something so necessary for survival and it has become such a big incentive. 

discussion two: food

 

Food

I absolutely love food. But only food I know I will like. I am very picky with my food and up until recently, I was able to try new foods because of my boyfriend. He grew up very differently from me, and he grew up eating completely different foods than me. I always felt comfortable eating things I know I will like and sadly, that is mostly all plain food. I can now eat a wider variety of foods and being able to try new foods has “opened” new doors of trying food for me. I hope when I have a child I can be able to teach them to try foods that even I didn’t like. Learning about babies and their food preferences is so interesting to me because babies are pretty much “blank slates” and they learn what food they like and what food they don’t like. 

discussion post 1: impulsivity and self control

    Impulsivity and Self Control

Impulsivity and self-control can be something I find very challenging. I can have self-control and control my impulses, but I have the worst case of procrastination. I feel like I work better if I am pressured into doing something such as an assignment an hour or two before it is due. I have always been this way and I am sure I learned this from my dad because he is just the same way and my mom is the opposite. It can be hard for me to do anything even if I know the due date. I struggle so much with procrastination and I have tried very hard to control it but it can be hard. I also think it is because I get easily distracted whether it is on my phone or playing video games, I take even longer to do anything. I do want to try something out in order to stop procrastinating. 

Discussion Post #1: Food

 When I read about the food slides, taste aversion really stuck with me. Taste aversion is when you associate a food you strongly dislike with the taste and smell of nausea. This reminded me of foods I have and used to have a taste aversion for. When I was younger, I had very painful menstrual cycles. One night my dad made squid rice for dinner. The pain was unbearable and caused me to throw up. After that, I could not even smell the squid rice without feeling nauseous. However, I was able to get over it after a few times of smelling it and finally forcing myself to eat it. I had a similar experience when my brother's dad cooked tilapia in a butter and onion sauce. I had thrown up after eating some. This time, the smell was so potent that I would actually gag when I smelled him cooking it. To this day, I refuse to eat it and have to be in the room furthest from the kitchen to keep from gagging.

Discussion Post #3: Impulsivity & Self-Control

  Impulsivity has always been a very big motivator in my life. Growing up my mom was really strict and did not let me experience a lot of things a kid should be able to do, like hanging out with friends or getting a job. I did not get to make a lot of mistakes and learn from them. Now as an adult with my own money and in college, I tend to try to make up for time lost. A lot of the decisions I make are very impulsive. I tend to blow money on stupid things, I get tattoos or piercings or dye my hair the same day I have an itch for it, and I go to parties when I know I have homework due the next day. Although this can be detrimental in retrospect, I still have that responsible kid in the back of my mind so that I do not take it too far. I still have some self-control.

Discussion Post #2: Drugs

 Drugs have always been a very big issue in my family. I have watched my father struggle with alcoholism, my sister's father struggle with alcoholism and drug abuse, my uncle struggle with drug abuse, and both my parents struggle with a caffeine addiction. When you are a kid, it can be hard to see the signs. But as an adult, I look back and notice just how much drugs motivated them to do terrible things just to get that fix. Some people may think a caffeine addiction is no big deal. However, both of my parents cannot go a day without drinking coffee or they will get a migraine. I have even watched my mom go through withdrawals when she tried to stop drinking soda and coffee. It was so bad that even her doctor told her that her blood pressure was dropping so fast because she was not getting a caffeine intake and that she should work on weening herself off. But, of course, that did not work because an addiction is an addiction, it is hard to stop.

Discussion Post #2: The Premack Principle

     The Premack Principle is a theory of reinforcement stating that a desired activity or behavior can reinforce the performance of a less desired activity or behavior. David Premack created this theory when he first evaluated how one behavior can reinforce another. Early evidence for the Premack principle resulted after Premack completed an experiment. He assessed the preferences of children to determine whether they enjoyed playing pinball or eating candy. To test this behavior, he had children play pinball for them to eat candy and afterward had the children eat candy for them to be able to participate in pinball. The children in this experiment who preferred the second behavior experienced an effect of reinforcement, supporting the Premack principle. 

    This principle is key to behavior modification and is often used in applied behavior analysis. Other researchers have conducted studies proving the effectiveness of the Premack principle in modifying behavior using rewards and reinforcement. Another example of this is if a parent wants their child to eat more healthily, which to a child is less desirable. However, the child may be more interested in playing in the park with friends. The parent can then motivate the child to eat better, so that after they can play in the park which is the preferred activity. The child will do so more willingly being that there is a reward, playing outside.

    I can connect to this theory and believe that my parents often followed the principles of this theory when I was a child. I often couldn't have friends over unless I cleaned my room, or couldn't eat my favorite snack until all my homework was finished. This motivated me to get the less preferred activity done and out of the way before I was able to enjoy doing another activity. The Premack principle can lead to increased motivation and ultimately changes unhealthy habits/behaviors to healthy ones.

References

Vinney, C. (2019, October 7). What is the Premack Principle? Definition and examples. ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/premack-principle-4771729

Discussion Post #3: Self Control

         For my third post, I will discuss impulsivity and self-control. Self-control means to resist against impulsive choices. People show self-control in a lot of scenarios such as limiting the amount of tv that they watch, limiting the amount of sweets they eat and going to sleep around the same time each day to prevent staying up late. According to Howard Rachlin, personal problems with self-control occur because people have a hard time putting off immediate gratification for a better future reward. Howard Rachel uses alcohol as an example to show that people drink when they are happy and also drink when they are stressed to become happy. In both cases, you will feel worse after you drink.  

Self-control has become really difficult due to apps such as tiktok and Instagram. On Tiktok, people see other users promoting things and linking the items that they are talking about. It is really easy to get influenced to purchase something even when you don’t actually need it. Especially for the younger generation, kids have been spending less time playing outside and more time using apps such as Tiktok. There are many influencers on Tiktok that promote a brand or product such as clothes, accessories and more causing 1 out of 4 tiktok users to purchase something that they saw on Tiktok (McNair, 2022). 

To expand the topic that was introduced in the slides, you can improve your self-control by looking at the bigger picture and setting goals for yourself. For example, if you want to start going to sleep earlier and stop using your phone until late at night, you can improve impulsivity by putting your phone on your dresser away from you. If it is closer to you, then it will be harder to have self-control and not reach for it. If it is farther from your reach, you won’t feel tempted to reach for it and use it. Also, you can have a strict schedule to go to sleep at a specific time each day. 

 

 

References:

McNair, K. (2022, December 19). 10 real-world things people have done after watching TikTok videos. CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/12/19/how-tiktok-influences-users-to-spend-money.html 

Discussion Post #2: Drugs

 In my second post, I will be discussing drug abuse and addiction. Alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, amphetamines, cocaine, and opiates are examples of drugs that people use. People usually want to try out a drug just to experience it once however, they don’t realize how addicting it can be. A lot of high school students either smoke or do drugs just to experience it however get addicted to it and can not function without it. Furthermore, people who use caffeine feel energetic and alert. Caffeine addiction especially coffee addiction causes people to get headaches whenever they don’t get a certain amount of caffeine in a day. They also can experience feeling fatigue, having a hard time concentrating, and feeling irritated (Caffeine, 2020).

         Not only can you become addicted to drugs, but you can also get addicted to caffeine, gambling, and exercising. Gambling and exercising are behavioral addictions. Exercising addiction can cause a person to feel withdrawal symptoms such as depression and anxiety when they do not exercise. Similarly, gamblers look for opportunities to gamble without thinking about their financial circumstances. 

         Stress is a major reason why people start doing drugs. Psychoactive drugs have the effect of relieving stress which is why a lot of people do drugs. Drugs is a way to get their mind off of things. To relieve stress, people should start doing things such as exercise and finding new hobbies. Exercise is a great way to deal with stress. Additionally, people can find hobbies that they enjoy such as reading, baking, cooking, or playing a sport such as tennis. Relieving stress by finding hobbies is a topic that extends what was introduced in the slides since it is a healthy way to cope with stress, so a person does not use drugs.  

 

 

 

References:

Caffeine: How long it lasts, how much & withdrawals. Cleveland Clinic. (2020, December 23). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/15496-caffeine-how-to-hack-it-and-how-to-quit-it 

Book Report: Grit

        For this book report, I have chosen to read the book, Grit, written by Angela Duckworth. When looking at the several options provided, and the various quirky titles, this one caught my attention the most. Before reading this book, the only type of grit that I knew of, was the popular breakfast, eggs, and grits, or when someone describes a texture as being gritty. However, in this book, Angela Duckworth defines the word grit as being something that you chose to stick with over the course of time and master its capabilities. Grit is also an individual personality trait that is seen in those individuals who have a deep passion and strive for a specific goal, regardless of the obstacles of life. 

        I really enjoyed reading this book and understanding how grit applies to my own life. One of the main points that is expressed throughout the entire book is that grit is a measurement of effort that soars above talent. In the book, Angela Duckworth has this “Grit Scale,” and those people who score high will supposedly be more successful than others who chose to rely on their talent. Duckworth takes grit and then compares it to various physical anomalies, levels of intelligence, and different innate abilities; concluding that people who are higher achievers tend to put in two times the amount of effort in order to be successful.

        Based on this grit scale, people with higher scores also practice and fail very often. This is because of the concept that an individual should practice constantly and should do so with only that goal in mind. Having a goal is one thing, but acting upon and achieving that goal is another, and this book greatly divides the two.

        While I enjoyed reading the entire book and learning about Angela Duckworths personal struggles, I really liked seeing the comparisons of the high and low scores and what they meant about a person. I liked the way in which Duckworth said that those people who obtained higher scores have more direction in their lives. Another point that greatly stuck with me, was when she expressed that those who scored higher, have their goals written down in pen, and those who scored lower, had their goals written in pencil, and that was extremely deep. It truly made me think a lot about what my goals are and how far have I come. How much grit do I have and are my goals written in pen?

        Furthermore, this book can greatly be correlated with the other book we read for this class, Endurance, written by Alfred Lansing. Throughout the entirety of the book, Shackleton and his whole crew needed to have tons of grit in order to survive. The whole crew went through tons of difficult moments and struggles that made them feel hopeless, but in the end, they had enough grit in order to complete the journey.

        I definitely recommend that everyone should read this book at some point in their lives to get a different perspective on life and how grit can affect it in a positive way. I have many personal goals that I have set for myself, and I look forward to continuing to have the passion and perseverance to be successful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H14bBuluwB8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWctLEdIgi4