The Human Observation Project
Alisa Bailey
Central Texas College
General Psychology- PSYC 2301-428947
Dr. Joyce Jones
March 15, 2015 Abstract
In this observation project the results will show and discuss that of a natural observation. When presented with a choice of a snack, such as a healthy option or unhealthy option what will most people choose? In the second half of this observation, A variable will be added in order to change the behavior.
The Human Observation Project
Statement of Problem
The problem behavior associated with individuals making bad food choices when presented with unhealthy food will need to be observed so that we may understand how to change this behavior as it is unhealthy and harmful to health overall. Are poor choices in different foods causing obesity? Making poor choices when it comes to food is an
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The current epidemic of obesity is caused largely by an environment that promotes excessive food intake and discourages physical activity (French, 2001). I expect to observe in this study that once a person is presented with a choice between a sweet unhealthy or healthier snack will they will choose the unhealthy snack over the healthier choice 80% of the time.
Hypothesis
A study investigated the effects of weight loss dieting on the components of working memory. The results showed that dieters performed poorly on measures of the central executive and the phonological loop compared with non-dieters (Vreugdenburg et al., 2003). This in turn reduced the decision making capabilities and impulses when making choices for food. Based on the above studies I propose the following hypothesis: If presented with a sweet snack, more individuals will choose a sweet snack rather than the healthy snack. Testing of this hypothesis is described below.
The Naturalistic Observation
Everyday Americans die from the diseases they carry from obesity. Many Americans overeat because of their social problems or because they are hereditary. Many plans have been discussed, but finding the solution is the problem. Junk foods and unhealthy beverages have corrupted children’s minds all over the nation, and putting a stop to it could lead to other benefits. Unhealthy foods and drinks should be taxed and healthy foods should be advertised to help prevent American obesity.
Of these, the majority of individuals fell between twenty-one to forty years of age. Approximately half of the participants were shown four meals online that included only relatively unhealthy items, while the others were shown the same series of meals with a healthy option also pictured. With each change, the participants were asked to give a quantitative estimate of calories in the pictured meal. Once values had been placed on each of the items, participants were asked to provide how concerned with their weight they were on a 1-5 Likert-type rating scale. In addition to these participants, one group of eighty individuals was enlisted to evaluate the calorie count of only the healthy items on their own, while another group of one-hundred eighty-nine individuals were shown the same combination, but asked only to evaluate the unhealthy
Throughout the past years and more here recently obesity has become a fast growing problem in the United States and around the world. Since this has become such a problem certain authors are starting to take a stand in how they think the solution should be fixed. The solutions are discussed in the following articles: How Junk Food Can End Obesity by David H. Freedman and What You Eat Is Your Business by Radley Balko. Both articles have clear and distinct arguments, but the argument by Balko entices his readers and has a clear purpose and tone that allowed his article to be more effective.
Obesity in America is directly due to the fast food industry. From the rising mortality’s among people who are obese from fast food. To even the preservatives fast food chains use within their food. Not only have that calorie’s people intake from these restaurants even been miss looked. While people may think they can overcome the urge, fast food chains exclusively use addictive’s in their products to hook people from day one of use. Healthy lifestyles among society have been misled by the very fast food chains, which state their “healthy”. With that said, emotional issues even come to play when involving a human’s appetite to fast food. Even beverages sold at these fast food chains exceed the normal limit of sugar a healthy being should consume. Even America’s view point on serving sizes of meals served at these fast food chains goes way beyond a healthy lifestyle that everyone wants.
Human’s, according to the bible, will always be evil because of one action; the action of biting the apple. Films like Fargo, Magnolia, and Pleasantville portray human nature constantly “biting the apple.” These films seem to share many views on how human nature is portrayed with the Bible. Betrayal and forgiveness are two prominent themes in the Bible as well as all three of these films. In particular, the film Magnolia seems to have almost every character commit betrayal of some kind. The one character that is true to Bonhoeffer’s “true discipleship” is Officer Jim Kurring. He values the lives he saves more than his own life, he is truly unselfish.
Eating the pizza instead of the salad seemed like a good idea at the time, but now one is stuck in this sloth like state hours later. It seems letting cravings control what and how to eat is not the best strategy to healthy living. Mary Maxfield, in her article “Food For Thought: Resisting the Moralization of Food” discusses her views on how people should eat. She believes people crave what their bodies need, therefore, people should eat what they crave. Maxfield claims that diet, health, and weight are not correlated with each other, and because of this, people view obesity as unhealthy, thus forcing them to distinguish “right, healthy” foods from the “wrong, unhealthy” choices.
For the location of my naturalistic observational study I chose a public park with a splash pad which I frequently visit with my daughter. Since this site is quite popular with locals at any given time of the day there are at least over a dozen people present. As the park is designed for the entertainment of children the age group of the people varies. There are young children accompanied by their parents and grandparents as well as teenagers in groups. Therefore the above discussed park proved to be the greatest preference for me to observe the behavior of people in a natural setting.
In reading this research, people should become more physically active and attempt to make healthier choices because their life depends on these crucial decisions. Choosing to eat a plate of french fries could bury someone six feet under if he/she continues to make these choices.
Thinking about normal social interactions and normal social behaviors, I think of comfortable. When I sit down with a friend, a usual routine is followed, “Hey, how are you, what’s new?” (e.g. My turn, your turn). These questions between my friend and I include eye contact, attention, and facial expression. Usually, I feel that I give my friend my undivided attention. Other normal characteristics include: remembering what the person has just said so a comment can be made, as well as each comment is appropriate and in relation to the current topic. Moreover, the duration between each question or comment is short.
By using observation methods, a wide variety of behavior can be recorded. Picking through the garbage on the side of the road can reveal behaviors of fast-food customers, or sitting for only one hour in the university canteen to understand the gender differences in choosing a diet meal, or even watching the customer’s behavior from deciding which yogurt to be taken off its store shelves in the supermarket can also answer the question: Are the customers attracted by its appearance or flavor or price or brand or nutrition? The aim of this observation assignment is to evaluate and explain the different types of interactions between individuals and groups present, as well as the environment in which these interactions take place. The field observation was conducted at the Vietnamese fast-food restaurant named “We love Banhmi” in Budapest, and the role adopted, was that of observer as a non-participant. Group structures as well as overall activity, patterns of behavior, and the duration and timing of such behaviors and interactions were observed and recorded.
Obesity and overweight remain the two major social problems in the United States. Apart from the fact that obesity and overweight are dangerous by themselves, they also cause a variety of negative health consequences. Our lives our overloaded with tasks and obligations, and we often choose to eat something fast. “Fast”, however, does not necessarily imply “useful”, and more and more people face the risks of becoming obese even at young age. Because obesity has already become a national i...
Food is a major part of everyone’s everyday life. It’s hard to imagine life without the chocolate cake on your fingers or a carne asada taco in your mouth. Enjoying delicious desserts and fast food seem extremely magnificent to eat and spend money buying them. Although, there have been many controversies in the United States on how it’s the largest country with the most obesity regarding children, which affects their health, many people are still going throughout their day snacking. Many people in America are having full course meals with thousands of calories in one sitting not knowing the short term or long term side effects that are going to take a huge toll on their lives. Food is delicious, but it comes with a secret behind the savoriness/sweetness.
In the Bio Analogics article it states that nearly two-thirds of residents of United States are overweight, and since 1991 the incidence of obesity has risen from 12 percent to more than 25 percent. This is due to the amount of junk food and burgers, we ate daily. To see if I am also one of these fast food consuming eaters, I composed a diary of what I eat daily and I discovered that within my weekly schedule, that’s between school and work- I eat hamburgers at least three times a week. I ate these burgers not just from one place, I ate them from four different places. The first one I ate was at In-and-Out. The second one was at Fuddruckers. The fourth day I had one in McDonalds and on the sixth day in which my friends and I went to Applebee’s after work and I still had the nerve to order a hamburger even when there were other items on the menu.
Food addiction can lead to serious and difficult health concerns. Nevertheless, obesity has other health issues that comes with it as well. In the United States between 2007 and 2009 there has been a 1.1% increase of obesity (Pedram). There has been an assumption that if it continues by 2050 it would be close to 100% of Americans who would be obese (Pedram). This information explains that the increase in overconsumption of food can slowly make most Americans suffer from obesity. Another issue of obesity is that it is “the fifth leading cause of global death” (Pedram). Becoming a food addict can cause an individual into becoming obese that they may eventually face death. Food addiction has become quite a controversial that it is difficult to overcome as fast food restaurants are encouragement in individuals to choose the path of obesity. Nevertheless, obesity is still a health issue that is harmful and dangerous to an
Many factors influence how much we eat and our food choices. Numerous studies have shown that simple things such as variety, distractions, visual displays and thinking that a food is good for you, leads to increase consumption. The approach presented is to eliminate overeating, which is not the same as people who under eat. This study reviews literature associated with the factors that affect consumption. Consumption is directly related to ones health in several ways. First of all, the nutritional value of the food. Essential vitamins and minerals are found in foods to promote a healthy body. Secondly, when excess calories are consumed (over consumption) this leads to excess body fat which is the cause for numerous illnesses. Lastly,