Eating Disorders

An eating disorder is something that must be taken seriously by all, but often is not. This really frustrates me as someone who is interested in working in health care as well as someone who has been affected by an assortment of eating disorders through friends and family. Many things could influence the habits of an individuals eating, and often one group of individuals that is known to be "at risk" includes dancers and cheerleaders. They say this could be because of the tremendous amount of stress and pressure there is to have a "nice" body (whatever that means...) and to be in excellent shape.
The reason I say that eating disorders are not always taken seriously is simply because of a lack of education. Sometimes people think that maybe younger girls are just trying to "fit in" and don't pay too much attention to their weight loss of lack of eating. And maybe they are just trying to follow the crowd, but that does NOT mean it should not be treated as a disorder as it can lead to trauma and psychological issues later on. I will also say that of course eating disorders are not limited to young girls, anyone of any gender, age or race could be affected.
I hope that eventually eating disorders will be treated as any other disorder and that it will not be such a difficult subject to talk about. I also hope that somehow there will eventually be less pressure on body image for everyone, but especially those groups known to struggle with eating disorders the most.

Socioeconomic Status and Health

The section on Socioeconomic status and health caught my attention as health in general is a topic of interest as well as the subject I enjoy to study. It has been said that there is a strong link between the socioeconomic status of an individual and their overall health, leading to these individuals living longer than those of lower socioeconomic status.
Not only do those who have a higher income have a better chance to pay for the health care needed to maintain their health (maybe not necessarily in Canada because healthcare is covered), but they can also afford to buy healthier foods to prevent many diseases or health issues. It amazes and disgusts me to consider that many families have unhealthy lifestyles or are obese because they simply cannot afford to eat the way they should. It is so easy to buy a dozen boxes of Kraft Dinner and junk foods at a cheap price, and it is often easily twice as much to buy some fruits or vegetables.
Obviously the costs of these foods are higher for a reason - it is more expensive to get them, especially when they must be imported from another country. I do hope however that in the future it will be made easier for everyone to eat better and live a healthy lifestyle at a lower cost to prevent the high numbers of obesity and other health risks and factors that come along with it.

Social Facilitation

Group projects have always been something I have disliked. From the moment they are assigned, I dread the thought of having to arrange for everyone to meet, for everyone to follow through and actually show up, and to imagine that it will ever be finished to an acceptable level. Social facilitation caught my eye in my cultural psychology book as I was curious to learn whether or not group projects do in fact bring the abilities/ efforts of an individual to a lower standard, or if I was simply being dramatic. 

Social facilitation is known as a tendency for people to do better on tasks they know and have rehearsed when in the presence of others, but do worse on tasks they are not as familiar with (Heine, 2010). This makes me think of myself personally as if I know enough on a subject, such as physical activity for example, I can confidently have a conversation with someone or write a paper on it in no time at all. If I am hesitant though, maybe with something as giving a speech on politics, I am likely to freeze up and become frustrated and embarrassed causing me to seem even less knowledgeable on the subject. 

Social facilitation also reminded me of another personal experience related to sports. When I played high school soccer, our team always finished somewhere in the middle of the league at the end of the season. It seemed when we really needed to pull a strong effort together against a team that was clearly better than we were, we could do it. We had everyone all in giving 110% when it counted. The problem was that when we played teams we knew we should easily beat, its as if we slacked off because we knew we would come out on top. This affected us in the long run because when it came down to ranking everyone by points, we were not actually that far ahead of where we should have been from playing these teams below our level. 

The Propinquity Effect

The propinquity effect says that we are likely to choose friends based upon how frequently we interact with them (Heine, 2010). A personal example of this would be the friends I have made and maintained throughout my time at university. During frosh week, we were exposed to students from all faculties as well as from all residences to encourage new friendships within the STFX community. Throughout the first semester I spent at university, I made friends with individuals of all ages, from all programs, and all residences. The friendships I maintained though, are relationships that were formed over consistent or constant interaction such as those who lived in the same residence that I did, those who are in the same program as I am, as well as those who are my own age and share similar interests.
When considering who I am still friends with from the beginning after finishing my third year, I can't help but notice that most of my friends are people I lived with as well as those who are in my program. The fact that I was almost forced to interact with these people in more than one social setting (both living with them and having classes together) led to other simple activities we did together such as eating at meal hall or going to the gym together.
As a student who has spent three years in the HK program, it is not surprising that the activities I do with friends in my program involve physical activity or health related programs. Having classes in the same building as the gym almost makes it wrong to skip out on physical activity, right? This is just one example of how exposure to those with similar interests affects my personal choices.
I'm not saying I haven't built or maintained friendships with others who are not in my program or who I didn't meet in residence, but it is certainly easier to stay friends with those who are constantly part of your daily or weekly routines and who share similar interests.

Culture and Fairness

The culture and fairness portion of my cultural psychology text book really seemed to catch my attention. When comparing the principle of need to the principles of equity and equality, many things rushed through my mind. The first though, was how I was brought up and am still living in a country and society which generally follows the principle of equity. Without even having to look into the definitions or meanings of these principles, I was aware that most often, if you work for something you will achieve it and if you put more effort into a certain task, lets say your job, you will learn more money than someone who does not put forth this same amount of effort. Although maybe sometimes it would be nice to universally follow the principle of need or the principle of equality (this one isn't as uncommon), I understand why Westernized countries prefer the method of earning their worth and having a capitalist society.
I am all for helping others, especially those in need, but I also appreciate that if I work hard I generally know I will make the money I deserve or get the grade I should have in school. I feel that Westernized countries are the primary followers of the principle of equity where we are a capitalist society and earn what it is we deserve. Something I will highlight though, is that the saying "the rich get richer and the poor get poorer" is not too far off. Although yes equity is the way things work in Westernized countries, there are always exceptions. For example, once an individual hits a certain point in their career or company, they may be making profit that is sky high even though they don't even work anymore.
Overall, I find it interesting to see how different cultures utilize different methods of distribution whether it be money, materials or jobs. Personally though, I truly believe in earning what you have (money, materialistic things, etc.) by working hard and putting in as much effort as it takes. That leads to having conflicted personal beliefs when it comes to helping those in need if it is financially under the circumstance that the reason they got to where they are is that they were lazy or chose not to work and put forth effort. It also leads to conflicting beliefs in complete equality for certain things as I don't believe that someone who works hard their entire life should have the same end result as someone who put in as little effort as possible throughout their entire life.

Downward and Upward Social Comparison

While reading about downward social comparison and upward social comparison, I was reminded of many personal situations or instances which I was affected in one way or another. Downward social comparison was defined by Heine (2012) as comparing your own performance to someone who is doing worse than you. This is obviously a confidence booster- who doesn't like to get the highest grade on a test or make the most money on their pay check? This competition reminds me of my friends and classmates and I both when I was in high school and even now as I attend university. It may never be spoken aloud but there is always some type of competition when it comes to grades. Personally it is a good feeling when I receive a better mark on an exam than my circle of friends because I feel as if I have accomplished something even if my mark is actually a poor mark as well. I am aware that this is wrong, in fact I wish competition among grades didn't exist, but I cannot help myself but wonder how everyone else does on an exam or assignment that I had as well.
Heine (2012) defined upward social comparison as comparing our own performance with someone who has done better than us. This, to me anyway, is a confidence killer. Most often it is not a good feeling when you know you have received a lower mark on an exam than all of your friends. It makes me feel as if I have failed at what it was I should have achieved. That being said, it drives me to do better personally the next time.
As I mentioned before, I wish social comparison didn't exist sometimes although I am just as guilty for participating in it as the next guy. For better or for worse though, social comparison has always been around and certainly isn't going anywhere anytime soon!

Incremental Theory vs Entity Theory of Self

After learning about incremental and entity theories of the self, I was curious to see which I was more similar to. An incremental theory of the self is defined in my cultural psychology textbook as the belief of knowing it is easy and possible to change as well as knowing that we are expected to change, and an entity theory of self is known as resistance to change and the view that our attributes stay the same (Heine, 2012).
While I was thinking about each theory, I came to the conclusion that I generally have an incremental theory of self. I like to think that as a young individual, I have plenty of room for improvement and changes in my life. Something that is and always has been important to me is doing my best at whatever task I am involved in, regardless of what it is. Although it would be great to perfect every skill or task I have ever had to perform, I have a realistic understanding that it simply is not possible. That being said, the next best thing would be to have consistent and constant improvements. I understand that I am always changing - physically through looks and body shape and size, and mentally as I gain knowledge and age. I am certainly not the same person I was 21 years ago when I was born, nor am I the same person physically or mentally that I was even a few years ago. I most definitely believe that we all as individuals are always changing and this is influenced by everything that is changing around us such as the environment, new trends, and aging.
The fact that I have an incremental theory of self may be influenced by the society I grew up in, or even by the way my parents raised me. I was always encouraged to do my best and put in the most effort I could, which often resulted into a personal competition to do better the next time. Sometimes I also competed with my brother, which isn't uncommon among siblings. Whatever it was that influenced this drive certainly pushed me to find room for improvements and come to the realization that there is always room for improvement.

Language Acquisition

After reading my cultural psychology chapter involving development and socialization, I gave some thought to the sensitive periods for language acquisition section. As someone who has learned a second language and did so early on in my life, I can relate to and understand the concept mentioned and the findings of the studies done make perfect sense. There is indeed a period of time where language acquisition will be found easier, and after this period of time it will be more difficult to retain and understand a second language (or maybe a third or fourth for some).
From personal experience, I am glad now as a 21-year old that my parents encouraged me to participate in the French immersion program as a child in grade one when I was six years old. Although I grew up in rural New Brunswick and rarely needed to use my French in the community I grew up in aside from in school, I have gained skills which will help me in the future as far as communication as well as finding a career. Because I was so young when I began to learn a second language, I feel that I have a faster reflex when processing and responding in a second language than someone who learned a second language later on in life. For example, speaking the French language is now something I can do without too much thought or effort, even though it is not the language I learned primarily. I can understand and reply quickly in both English and French. On the other hand, my brother learned French as he got older and was a teen, and often finds it a bit difficult to just start up a conversation in his second language.

Cultural Norms

When considering what traditions and events I celebrate with my family and friends, I am forced to realize what has become culturally accepted and what has not. Most of my family and friends consider birthdays to be a special day, including all of their closest relatives and having tons of food and celebrations. Birthdays are generally a good excuse to have a party, or go out for dinner and a movie with your loved ones.
In my circle of friends, we have two types of social interactions. The first, a more traditional one, being that we physically are together and participate in events such as dinner, watching movies, going shopping, or being active together. The second type of social interactions I participate in are through social media. Although many believe that the technological advances are the greatest thing to ever happen, sometimes I have mixed emotions. I realize that I may sound hypocritical by stating that opinion, as I sit here on my laptop to publish this post for an online course. But as much as I appreciate and love the help and quickness the internet provides, it comes with many negative aspects. One of these is that our culture is accepting of using texts or Facebook messages as the primary means of communication. Whatever happened to walking to someones house and asking them if they want to go for a walk or hang out? Another is that it encourages laziness. It prevents us from wanting or having to spend our free time outside or actually seeing our friends, because we are so preoccupied with Netflix or researching a certain topic.
Along with both physical social interactions and social media interactions comes the new term "first world problems.' Our culture, developed in a first world country, is accepting of having to have exactly what we want and having it the moment we want it. 'First world problems' include things such as when your webpage wont load, or when your cell service is crappy. Of course I complain about these sorts of things too, even though I should know better. Sometimes I am forced to take a step back and just think about how the culture I live in considers something a problem when that specific thing is not even known about in another culture.

Cultural Views

Personal views and perspective always have and always will vary across cultures. Growing up as a Canadian in a small anglophone rural community, I have experienced different expectations and personal opinions than would someone of another culture, whether it be because they speak another language or because they live in a different setting or climate. Because of the country I am from, I am already considered a part of a particular culture. I fell into the classic stereotype of a hockey player when I was younger, and I also have an interest in the outdoors. Coming from the family I did, I had expectations to attend some sort of post-secondary education once I completed high school, as my parents as well as society have pushed young individuals to be as successful as they can. 

I am fortunate that my parents themselves have been successful enough to appreciate and understand the importance of higher education. Especially as a female, I have had opportunities that have been beyond what some may ever imagine. Although typically Canadians are encouraged to participate in post secondary education and to take the opportunities available to them, many places in the world do not. Some countries have the expectation or mind set that women should stay home with the children, and their daughters should stay home to help as well while the men go to work. I am by no means stating that this is right or wrong. I am however comparing what is culturally acceptable in different parts of the world and I am amazed at how much they differ. 

Much of my identity is defined by the culture where I was raised and continue to live in. If I had not grown up in a rural, Christian community in eastern Canada, I likely would not have the same beliefs and opinions that I do today. Culture may often be looked at from the outside as something specific to countries or climate, or race or religion. At least that is what I assumed before learning more about cultural psychology. Now I realize that culture can vary simply by moving towns in the same area, or making a small change in your life. For example, the university culture is much different form the 'real world.' I say this because I never imagined that my views, thoughts, and opinions would improve or change so greatly when I moved to begin university. The university culture has forced me to make friends with people I had not imagined having anything in common with beforehand. It has also given me countless opportunity to meet so many interesting people from cultures all around the world. Because of this, I feel as if I am more educated on a variety of cultures. I look back at the person I was in high school and realize how narrow minded I was, and how I had beliefs and opinions on areas that I didn't have nearly enough education in. 

Culture and its variations of traditions is intriguing and I hope that at some point, everyone has the chance to experience a culture different from their own. Sometimes it is difficult to step outside of the box and try something new, but it is so important to understand the meanings and stories behind different cultures. 

Theory of Mind

A topic in cultural psychology that captured my attention is theory of mind. This is a theory which means that there is an understanding between individuals that everyone has their own minds which differ from one another. Just because someone has been raised the same way and in the same cultural setting as you have, does not mean that their perspectives and opinions will be identical to yours. It is actually quite common for people who grew up in similar environments to have different thoughts and views on the world.
A personal example of this concept would be that my brother and I, who grew up in the same household, raised by the same parents, and shared almost all of our life experiences together, have completely different interests and opposing point of views. However, we both are understanding of each others goals and views on life even though they are not compatible with one another. When he has an idea of what he wants, whether it be a video game or making a decision as big as choosing a career path, there is no changing his mind once he has it made up. He does not depend on the opinions of others nor does he go back and forth weighing his options. He is able to make a decision quickly and that is that. On the other hand, when I am making any sort of decision I spend a good amount of time analyzing each of my options and weighing out the pros and cons of all of them. My brother is also very much a homebody and enjoys spending most of his time alone. I however am very social and always have plans with friends or family to fill my spare time.
Despite our differences, my brother and I have an understanding and acceptance of each other. I understand that he wont have the same interests and feelings toward certain things or situations that I might. His mind simply works differently than mine, and that does not make us enemies or ruin our relationship as siblings.
Having an understanding of theory of mind is definitely important in life as a whole because as we encounter individuals from other cultures we are bound to have clashing perspectives and interests with them. When traveling, I have noticed that cultures can vary from small changes to large changes and the way things are done one place are likely done in a different fashion than another. For example, when I travel to the Caribbean I am always amazed at how they build their structures and their modes of transportation. Obviously they have a warmer climate, making both of those things different from here in Canada but it is interesting to me how a variation of culture causes such changes.

Imitative vs. Emulative Learning

In cultural psychology, I have learned about imitative and emulative learning. Imitative learning is defined by Tomasello et al. (1993) as a situation when the learner internalizes something of the model's goals and behavioural strategies. I have utilized this type of learning through observing and imitating my parents as well as other role models as I have grown up. Examples of this type of behaviour and how it is linked to my personal experiences vary from how I learned to tie my shoes to how I learned to do larger tasks such as how I cook a certain meal or how I drive my car. I would have to say that my parents have had the biggest impact on me as far as imitative learning goes, and through their skills I have adapted identical ways and processes of doing things.
A common critique when it comes to almost any task is "why do you do this task this particular way?" In many situations, I simply respond by saying "that is how I learned through observation." When learning to drive, both of my parents took turns giving instructions and having patience while I learned the rules and ways of the road. I remember clearly that I began driving with two feet opposed to using the same foot for both the gas and the break. My reasoning for this was because that is how I had observed my father driving for as long as I had remembered. However, when my mother got in the car with me one day to go for a drive, she realized what I was doing and immediately critiqued the way I was choosing to drive. Of course her reasons were fair; she was concerned it was an issue of safety and I could not argue with her over that. Learning through imitation can certainly lead to positive outcomes, but bad habits also have a tendency to sneak in there as well.
Emulative learning is defined by Heine (2012) as a type of learning focused on the environmental events that are involved. Although I have also experienced this type of learning, I have not experienced it as frequently as imitative learning. A personal experience with emulative learning would be when I played hockey and I was learning to shoot a puck. My father tried countless times to show me the steps he takes to complete a slap shot. No matter how many times I tried, I could not seem to be successful with my shot by following the exact same steps he was taking. So instead, I changed my form a little bit as well as the way I moved my body to complete the same task as he was performing, but in a slightly different way.
When looking at different types of learning as a whole, it is interesting to see how people can perform the same task in so many different ways. The way we go about doing things will likely depend on how those around us are doing them as we are constantly being influenced by the culture we live in.