psy (Br)

The Island Article Paper Directions

This week you will also be working on your second written assignment.  Your task will be to read the article entitled "The Island Where People Forget to Die" and then answer some questions about it.  This article relates to health psychology and I do believe that the information it covers is meaningful and you can apply it to your life to achieve greater health and happiness. You will be turning in your typed answers on a word document or pdf file through Canvas (always submit through the assignments tab, do not email me your papers). 

At first the cucumber was just fine, until she saw her buddy get a grape! This is a classic example of the type of relative deprivation that I was talking about in the clip above in action. 

Below are two documents of the same exact article, "The Island Where People Forget to Die", so you can use the format that works best for your computer. 

The Island Where People Forget to Die-word document version Download The Island Where People Forget to Die-word document version

Island Article PDF version Download Island Article PDF version

Once you have finished reading the article linked above click the link below to watch a brief video clip on the island.  

Once you have finished reading the article linked above and watching the video, open the file linked below and answer each of the questions on the document.  Make sure to read the questions carefully because numerous students in the past have lost points on this assignment because answers were not fully complete according to the directions.  It is usually obvious that some students have only skimmed the article or read only the first half of it and offer brief answers, while other students go beyond the minimum and clearly demonstrate that they read the whole article and reflected on it. Some of the important information in the article does not come until the second half of it. Take the time to prove that you read well and grasped the main points of the article and video and you will be rewarded with a high grade. 

 

The Island Article Worksheet directions Download The Island Article Worksheet directions

 

Once you are finished writing both parts of the assignment ( on the same word document or pdf file) then it is time to submit it so that I can grade it.  You can go to the next page in this module and submit there

References

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SORukNAI0o

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

The Island Where People Forget to Die

Name ________________________

PART ONE

1. How much of the article did you honestly read?

2. What proof does the article offer to demonstrate that Ikarians on average are more healthy than Americans? This answer only needs to be one or two paragraphs long, but be sure to include at least two specific pieces of evidence from the text (Hint—I am not looking for descriptions or behaviors of what Ikarians do in their day to day lives here, so don’t give an answer talking about them climbing hills when old or something. Instead, I am looking for real statistics on health outcomes, not behaviors (so something like, 42% of Ikarians get breast cancer compared to 28% of Americans).

3. The author admits he does not know why Ikarians live longer, but he speculates about many potential reasons. Discuss four factors that he speculates in the article might be helping them be happy and healthy and explain why these four factors are positive influences on their lives. This answer should be 4 paragraphs long, (each paragraph with 5-7 sentences) with each paragraph dealing with a different factor, and only one of the four factors you choose can be about dietary influences such as food, drink, or natural medicines.

4. Of all the factors that you mentioned in the previous answer, which one of these do you think is the most important in creating their positive health outcomes? Explain why in one paragraph (4 sentences minimum).

5. How does the phrase “correlation does not equal causation” specifically relate to this article? If you need to go back and look in your textbook to review what that concept means you should do that.

6. What point does the article’s author make about why the multi-billion-dollar American health club and diet industries are not more successful in helping Americans actually get healthier?

7. On a related point, the author is convinced that something needs to happen for people in places like the U.S. to actually adopt a healthful lifestyle. What is it?

8. In at least one full paragraph (5-7 sentences) explain two ways the video clip repeated information already presented in the article, and then explain how the video clip added something new to enhance your understanding of life in Ikaria. In other words, how is the video source both alike and different from the written one?

PART TWO

The article on Ikaria brings up many questions about what it is exactly that makes life worth living. It is possible to sum up the vast amount of psychological research that has been done in the last century on what makes human beings happy and healthy by boiling it down to five key components. If people are doing well in these areas then they are much more likely to be satisfied with their lives. As I list each of them, report on how they relate to your personal life.

Include two to three specific details to describe how you are doing in each of the following areas, and make sure to explain at least one specific step you could take to maintain or improve in that area. Each answer should be at least one paragraph long (4 sentences minimum):

a) Rest: Do you get an adequate amount of sleep in your day-to-day life? Are you wasting a lot of time staring at a computer at night when you could be getting better rest? Are you living at too fast a pace, or do you have enough down time during an average day to keep stress low? How could you get more rest if you are not getting enough?

b) Exercise: Are you getting regular physical activity? Modern life has created an environment where many people sit at work all day, and then go home and sit in front of a screen until it is time for bed. Running or working out in some capacity several times a week to the point of sweating is important for physical and mental health. How much exercise are you getting, and if you are not getting enough what is stopping you, and how could you improve?

c) Healthy diet: This certainly came up in the article on Ikaria. If you ask Americans if they believe it is important to eat healthy, almost all Americans will say yes, and yet few do. How healthy do you eat? Do you understand the basics about distinguishing nutritious food from unhealthy food? If you are eating many processed foods that are high in sugar and have other problems then explain why, and how you could potentially make some lifestyle changes with diet that would lead to better physical health.

d) Fulfilling relationships: There is an enormous body of research literature documenting the positive mental and physical health benefits that come with rich interpersonal connections. Having someone to talk to that you trust, and having family members and friends that you can count on when you need support, is very important. This is something that the individuals living on Ikaria certainly seemed to have and enjoy. How strong are your social connections? Do you have a network of fulfilling relationships? What specific steps could you take to strengthen your connections and build community?

e) Meaningful work and purpose: Research shows that people who spend time doing things that are meaningful to them are significantly happier. This is sometimes a paid job if you are lucky, but it does not have to be. It could be any activity that you engage in regularly and are passionate about and intrinsically motivated to do, from a form of art, sports, participating in a particular community, volunteer work done to serve others, or other pastimes. Day in and day out is the labor you are doing in your job, for school, or in your free time meaningful to you? Are you excited and interested in it, or are you just doing it to jump through the hoops and because you are supposed to? Explain where you are in your quest to find meaning and purpose in your daily activities, and what steps you might need to take to find fulfillment in this area of your life.