Could Our Genes Determine If We Are Going To Be More Optimistic or Pessimistic?

Hello Everyone

Is it possible that there is a genetic reason why some people tend to be pessimists and others optimists?

Evidently some people actually do see the world more darkly.  It now seems that what people see in everyday life could depend on their genetic makeup.  There is a specific gene which is known to play a part in emotional memories and this could also impact where people focus their attention.

A Cornell University psychologist, Adam Anderson, believes that "our brains filter what we see and that emotions have a powerful influence on how we see the world."

About half of the Caucasian population have a gene in which specific amino acids are missing and this tends to give them an elevated awareness of negative stimuli.

Individuals with the missing amino acids from the ADRA2B gene have more norepinephrine.  This means they experience memories more intensely and are more likely to observe any negative events.

Could this information create more tolerance in society?  It adds to the saying that there is no right nor wrong in the world - just difference.

Roz Townsend  www.roztownsend.com

Source:             Meeri Kim  Washington Post

The camera and memory

Hello Everyone

In my part of the world, particularly around holiday time there is a trend to take a photo of yourself and post it on social media.  Even a former Prime Minister of Australia was a key proponent of this "selfie" trend.

There could be a good reason to limit this activity.

A study from Connecticut University indicates that taking photos rather than just concentrating and being totally present to a situation prevents memories from forming and taking hold.  They even have a name for this "photo-taking impairment effect".

Some people are almost mindless in their desire to record  every moment rather than take in the present moment.

The key point seems to be that "in order to remember, we have to access and interact with photos rather than just amass  them." The large numbers of digital photos that can be accrued can actually be a disincentive to organise and register them in the memory.

This is interesting research as most people would agree that the greatest gift you can give another is one's presence rather than a photo.  Yet the mere fact of concentrating on getting the photo rather than fully enjoying the situation might mean that the occasion does not live long in the memory.

Roz Townsend  www.roztownsend.com

Source:            Sarah Knapton Science Correspondent                                                                                              10 Dec 2013       Telegraph London

Keep it Sweet and Stay Cool - a little bit of sugar stops aggression

Hello Everyone

There is so much information on diet, health and general well-being around at the moment that sometimes it is hard to get a balance. 

For example there is a great movement afoot in the western world to have people be more accountable for the amount of sugar they eat and the impact it has on health – especially type 2 diabetes.                                               

Consider some of the latest research to come from the University of New South Wales in Australia suggests that aggressive people given to outbursts can gain control of themselves in situations where they normally lose it by eating a little sugar.  They also suggested using the non-dominant hand.

Professor Denson from the University of NSW stated that “self-control is like a muscle so it requires an energy source”.  Sugar is the energy source and practice at being calm or in control is also required hence people are asked to use their non-dominant hand.  Denson found that prisoners given a sweet drink were considerably less aggressive.

The research is really important for those people who want to take more control of their lives and limit aggression. 

It seems that the old adage of everything in moderation is important when it comes to sugar.  Similarly if people tend towards aggressive behaviour they would be wise to attend to any low blood sugar issues before they act.

Roz Townsend  www.roztownsend.com

Source:            The Sydney Morning Herald 3/11/2013 page 5

                        Nicky Phillips Science Editor

Communication and the importance of self

Hello Everyone

The dominance and creation of certain words in our language is a key indicator of what we are finding important in the way we live our lives.

In my part of the world, Australia, the word ‘selfie’ has so much importance that it was used as a key communication tool in the recent Government election.

A selfie is a picture that a person takes of themselves, preferably with a celebrity or someone of importance.  The photo is then uploaded to social media.  This is part of an engaging trend in language indicating a more selfish attitude.

University of California psychologists used the Ngram Viewer to analyse word usage in 1.4 million books from the US and Britain since the 1800s.   They found an increase in the use of words relating to the self and acquisition  such as ‘get’ and ‘choose.  At the same time, there has been a decrease in words relating to generosity, responsibility and accountability such as ‘give’, ’obliged’, ‘authority’ and ‘belong’. 

The theory is that as we have moved from rural, low-tech societies to more urban, high-tech ones there has been a greater use of words such as ’individual’, ‘unique’, ‘child’ and ‘self’.

 The changing nature of language and the requirement for language that meets the needs of technologically savvy users has meant that a new dictionary www.urbandictionary.com  has been created to manage the ever increasing internet slang.  This urban dictionary has more than 2.4 million likes on facebook .

Just as the need arises to develop language to suit our highly technical worlds we also have the power to create language and distinctions in language to create any world we want. 

My recent book on Future Words is about that very point.  We have accepted a language based on a highly moral basis which uses words such as right and wrong.  Is it time to create other priorities in language such as generosity , responsibility and integrity?

 Roz Townsend  www.roztownsend.com

 

Communication is the key! Even with bubs!

Hello Everyone

Communication is the key!

Parent of young children around the world are using deaf sign language a way of communicating with their children before the children are able to meaningfully talk.  This usually takes place around 2 years of age.

Deaf sign language is becoming increasingly popular bridge to move from the babble of babies to conversational language.

Many people say that the deaf sign language promotes brain development and infant bonding whilst at the same time giving babies the ability to communicate their needs a little earlier.

From about the age of nine months, babies wave their hands and arms, gesturing and pointing.  As they learn to walk their arms and hands become freer to express themselves.

In the US a longitudinal study from National Institutes of Health indicated that babies given sign language along with talking scored better on multiple measures of language acquisition than those not given that exposure.

This research and the desire to communicate is a constant reminder of the importance of communicating with the ones we love.  Parents can put so much effort into understanding the needs of their little ones.

Communication adult to adult seldom occurs with such a desire for understanding.  New lovers might experience it but the intensity usually dies away.  Imagine if we, as adults put in as much effort in understanding the needs of the children and adults in our lives.

Roz Townsend  www.roztownsend.com

 

6% of the written and Spoken Language

Hello Everyone

English is an interesting language.

The word ‘and’ is the fifth most popular word in the English language and has its own logogram.  A logogram  is a representation of a word or the smallest meaningful unit of language.   The word ‘and has its own logogram the ampersand ‘&’.

This is interesting because the most common word in the English language accounting for 6% of the written spoken language is the word ‘the’. Surely ‘the’ is entitled to its own logogram.

The history of the ampersand makes sense as to its existence.  According to Wikipedia, in English-speaking schools when the alphabet was recited, any letter that could also be used as a word in itself ("A", "I", and, at one point, "O") was preceded by the Latin expression per se which means "by itself".

It was usual to add the "&" sign at the end of the alphabet as if it were the 27th letter.  It was pronounced and. The result was that the alphabet being recited would end in "X, Y, Z, and per se and". This last phrase was slurred to "ampersand" thus the term had entered into common English usage by 1837.

Be, to and of are the 2^nd 3^rd and 4^th most popular words in the English language.  In fact ten words make up 20% of the written and spoken language in English. Perhaps it is time to give all 10 a logogram to speed up reading and writing.

Technology has moved ahead but written language skills have considerable room for progress. Certainly this can be seen in sms texting where new language is developing.   Perhaps it is time to formalise it and see it in everyday use as well.

Enjoy language!

Roz Townsend

Kindness, happiness and chocolate

Hello Everyone

Some interesting research in Australia makes one think about the causes of happiness.

The Di Marzio Research group asked participants to rate seven things that made them happy or fulfilled.  Of all the items listed the highest ranking on 36% was “an act of kindness to benefit another”.  This was followed by having a cuddle and third was walking in nature – 12%.

The other things that make people happy but not to the same extent as those listed above are ‘buying something for someone” and ‘volunteering for a charity or community group”.  On the list but ranked the lowest was eating chocolate.

What the research confirms is that our relationships are the most important aspect of our lives and the area most likely to give us happiness and fulfilment.  We gain most meaning when we pay attention to our relationships with each other and the environment.

The concept of random acts of kindness has been around for some time.  And for some it is easier to be kinder to strangers than our immediate family or friends.

This article challenges you to take on being kind as a natural part of who you are and then to let the happiness and fulfilment flow from that position.  Consider, being kind as an unconditional way of living life with no thought to manipulating those around you or expecting an outcome.

Kindness is like a portal to happiness.  It is a choice of the way in which we live our lives.

Be Kind! Live! Love!

Roz Townsend www.roztownsend.com