Humanistic psychology

Humanist psychology  is a very simple philosophy that evolved out of existentialism(see another blog that references existentialism).  The humanists emphasize the present unlike other psychologies that study the patients past to give them therapy.  They believe that true happiness comes from becoming a better person and understanding yourself, and while this makes your life better or more meaningful, they believe that each life is meaningful just for being a life.  Strong emphasis is placed on taking responsibility for past actions, they believe that atoning for ones negative actions and accepting reasonable praise for positive actions leads to happiness and mental health.

For more information on Humanist psychology follow the link  

http://www.abraham-maslow.com/m_motivation/Humanistic-Psychology.asp

Mental Health stories

Mentally Healthy story

Joe is walking to school, he sees all of his friends and says hi to them, engaging in small conversation every once in a while.  This makes him happy, he progresses through his day until he remembers that he forgot to do his homework and the teacher scolds him in front of the class for not doing it.  This makes him a little angry at the teacher but he gets over it and remembers to do his homework the next night to avoid getting embarrassed.

Mentally Unhealthy story 

Bob walks to school, other kids say hi to him and he gives them the middle finger, none of them provoked him and he isn't angry about a previous situation.  He is angry at these kids for no apparent reason.  Bob did his homework, unlike Joe, and is praised in front of the class by the teacher.  Out of nowhere Bob punches the teacher in the face and is expelled.  Upon expulsion he laughs and dances around the principals office as if he's happy.  Note that Bob doesn't particularly hate his school and knows that it will go on his record.  For no apparent reason Bob is happy to expelled.     

Health Questions

Q:What is the ideal Human in terms of BMI, weight, height etc. ?

A:http://www.trap17.com/index.php/what-bmi-body-mass-index_t36288.html

-the ideal BMI, Body Mass Index, is from 18 to 25, the ideal weights and heights aren't given but in terms of health the ratio is more important than the actual measurements which are more cosmetic, i.e. taller people may be more attractive but not necessarily healthier

Q:What are the benefits of the American Lifestyle?

A: I thought we were just being pestimistic, but I found no sources that commented on any benefits to the American lifestyle, we either eat too much just because we can, or starve ourselves to avoid being obese but in the process we become anorexic, either way we do too much or too little

Q:How many hour of exercise do we need as humans?

A:http://heartdisease.about.com/cs/exercise/a/enoughexercise.html

60 minutes of vigorous activity outside of everyday work

Q:What kind of exercise is most important?

A:http://www.becomehealthynow.com/category/exercisetypes/

Aerobic exercises, such as jogging cycling etc. are view as most important since they prevent heart disease and other circulatory problems.  Strength training and stretching have their own benefits but are considered supplementary and aren't "mandatory" exercises   

Q:What is the ideal diet for humans

A:http://www.webindia123.com/health/diet/diet/ideal.html

unlike other "1-sided" weight loss diets this one is more balanced and has a wider variety of foods

Animal Essay

Most "humans" classified as homo-sapien-sapien, would say that we're some sort of chosen race among the animals, that we're better because we think or because we have consciousness or because god chose us or because we have souls.  The sad truth is that we are animals and most people can't accept that and our society has come up with several ways to separate us from animals.

  Creation myths are driving forces in our effort to separate ourselves from animals, the book of genesis is one of many creation stories that depict humans as higher than the other animals.  "Let us make man in our image and let him rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the air" chapter 1-26.  The bible clearly says that we as humans are dominant over the other animals in the world.  The scientific creation myth, evolution, divides us into kingdoms, families, genus's and species.  While humans are put under the kingdom of "animal" we are put into our own genus and our species in an effort to separate us from animals.  Humans may not need their own genus because our genetic material is very similar to other chimps, which would put us in the same genus.  Science and religion use different evidence to separate us from animals.

Rene Decartes is another reason why we don't see ourselves as animals.  His main philosophy revolved around our minds.  He believed that we are our minds that live in our bodies.  The quote "I think, therefore I am" shows how significant the mind was to him.  No other animal views itself as just a mind, non-human animals accept their bodies, contrary to what Decartes believes.  His ideas have made the rest of society ignore their bodies, we emphasize education over fitness and value intelligence over strength, this separates us from other animals because other animals need their bodies to survive and accept that they need them.

Humans tend to think we're on the top of the food chain because we haven't experienced any food chain outside of farms and civilization, in the wild we're fairly low on the food chain because we've domesticated ourselves and can't survive well in the wild.  We don't know that we're not on top of the food chain because most of our time is spent only with humans, any other animals are usually birds or pets that we name and humanize.  Because we don't spend time with non-human animals we can't relate to animals and we deny our relation to animals.

If humans accept that they're animals they can make their lives better in a number of ways.  People will be able to appreciate and take care of their physical bodies like animals do.  People will also be able to realize that thinking isn't the most important thing and that thinking isn't what defines people.  We will also become more dependent on ourselves, animals don't believe in any outside influences to help them and solve their problems on their own.  Humans perceive the world as a collection of systems full of abstract ideas, things like economies, government, and religion which aren't real.  Animals only accept what they can see, feel touch, smell etc. as real, they see the world for what it really is and they don't get caught up in ideas that the rest of the world believes in.

I think that we are animals, it wouldn't make sense for humans to just evolve out of what we were, no matter how many upgrades you put in a computer it'll still be a computer, in the same way that we've evolved to seemingly become above animals.  Once we come to terms with humans being animals we can live more natural and happier lives.  We can learn a lot from animals and how they live, and we can use what we know about animals to live better lives.                       

Answers to questions

Q:What percent of old people can walk?

Q:""live alone?

A:39% of old women lived alone and 19% of old men lived alone 

Q:""work?

Q:""play sports? 

Q:""are depressed?

Q:""volunteer for community service? 

Q:""don't take medication?

Q:""live in retirement homes?

Q:""use recreational drugs?

Q:What is the average cause of death in old people?

A:Heart disease kills 533,302 old people per year

Cancer kills 385,847 per year

Strokes kill 130,538 per year

Q:How much do old people spend on medication?

Q:How much money is spent on people who are about to die?

Q:How long does the average person live?

Q:What percent of old people are on anti-depressants?

Q:How many old people are on pension?     

Old people are viewed as either angry bitter people, or gentle people who pass down wisdom, the similarity between these two expectations is that old people are unhealthy and are burdens on society.  The data gathered from the research supported most of it based on deaths and medical studies we have concluded that most old people are unhealthy, and that a large portion of them live alone.  Our perceptions of them are true at their roots, but we tend to exaggerate these traits for comedy or to argue  how they se resources without contributing to society. 

Old People Questions

Lifestyles of Old People

-What the most interesting thing you've done since becoming "old"

-What is it like to live in a retirement home?

-How active are Old people?

-How often does your family visit you?

-What do you do now that you didn't do in your youth?

-(Vice Versa)

-Is this what you expected would happen when you get older?

-Do you enjoy life?

-What do you wish you could do?

-What role models do you have as an old person?

-What is your average day like if you can't walk?

-What age do you consider old?

-How often do you think about your health?

-""death?

-What's it like not being able to do things on your own?

-What percent of old people can still control their bodies?

-""live with their family?

-""volunteer for community service?

-""work for a living?

-""are poor?

-""play sports?

-""are depressed?

-""are happy?

-""consider themselves young on the inside?

Questions for an old person

1-What were things like in your childhood? (can stem to technology, music, etc.)

2-What do you think you've accomplished in your life?

3-What regrets do you have?

4-How can I make my own accomplishments?

5-How can I avoid regrets