Definition Argument – Softball1321

The use of cell phones ruins relationships between friends, family, partners, or any person you share a connection with. Communication over the phone is not healthy. Face to face confrontation is radically superior. These cell phone devices can offer significant risks to the quality of personal interactions. 

In this context, “ruin” implies only one meaning. The use of cell phones “ruins” relationships means that it causes significant harm to the quality or strength of a relationship. While it is agreeable that cell phones are very useful for communication, it can destroy a relationship in many ways. One of the most important factors of a relationship is being able to understand each other and their feelings, although this is very difficult via text. 

The meaning of communication is where one individual conveys their thoughts, ideas, beliefs, and emotions to another individual in different meaningful or even non meaningful situations. Communication exchange carries additional weight in the context of romantic relationships, where ineffective communication between partners can lead to many problems that threaten the relationship. For example, if you are having a disagreement with someone through messages, it is almost impossible to understand their tone of voice, simply because they are not speaking. 

It is important to be able to visibly notice someone’s body language or tone of voice while interacting with them. Being able to notice these things is crucial because it provides additional information on what someone is saying beyond just texting. Facial expressions, gestures, even posture is essential in a meaningful conversation. These things may not be evident in words verbally, but definitely not in words via text messages. Tone of voice conveys many emotions and attitudes that someone may have. It is easier to notice if a conversation is warm and inviting or critical and angry through the tone of an individual’s voice. Paying attention to these little things is important to have a meaningful conversation that can maintain a possibly healthy relationship. 

Although there can be both positive and negative influences on using a cell phone as a way of communication, technology introduces a potential to misinterpret messages between close connections, which can lead to a downfall in the relationship. Communication via text can cause a decrease in intimacy levels in a relationship by misinterpretation or not being able to understand your partner’s feelings. 

The dependency on cell phones for social interaction can destroy the development of essential relationship skills. Active listening is such an important factor for building and maintaining relationships. Although it can be useful to talk through a problem with your partner via text in a quick manner, overusing it can be harmful to the relationship. It is hard to constantly explain yourself with your two thumbs and a cell phone, rather than just speaking. Text messaging lacks the non-verbal signals that are crucial for conveying emotions and intentions. 

Computer-mediated communication are not replacements for normal face-to-face conversations. Obviously communication via text is non-verbal, but how can you understand an individual’s thoughts or feelings if you can’t even listen to them? Studies have shown that the higher the share of texting out of all the communication, the less satisfied people are with their relationship. This is the definition of the concept that the use of cell phone communication ruins connections. 

When individuals spend more time on their phone, it is easy to neglect in person experiences or activities that you can share with your partner. Experiencing different things together with your significant other, family, or friends is very essential for building and maintaining a strong bond. If you are constantly on your phone and not enjoying the moment with whomever you are with, it can cause an emotional distance between your relationships. 

For instance, when couples spend excessive time on their phone during shared activities, such as going out to lunch or going to a store, something that is so little yet meaningful, they miss out on opportunities to engage in special conversations or experiences. The feeling of knowing your partner’s phone is more important to them than a conversation with you, can lead to isolation and loneliness. Overtime, the lack of genuine interaction can lead to emotional distance or even dissatisfaction in the relationship. 

As we all know, cell phones are a big distraction. Either when you are at work, in class, or even talking to someone, it is easy to get distracted by a notification on your phone. Specifically when you are having a meaningful conversation with someone you share a genuine connection with, constant notifications, calls, and messages can disrupt that conversation you are having and cause frustration which then leads to neglect and then other negative feelings that person may endure. It can be easily shown if your partner is more interested in their phone then you. 

Furthermore, social media is obviously a large contributor to consequences in a relationship, specifically a lover relationship. Popular platforms, mainly Snapchat or Instagram, often portray pictures of people that your significant other may come across and heart. Seeing that your significant other has “liked” or “double clicked” someone else’s picture that isn’t yours, can create unrealistic expectations that you may feel pressured to live up to the “perfect” picture they encountered through social media. 

It is very arguable that cell phones offer numerous benefits. Although, the overuse of cell phones has many negative effects. Miscommunication, distraction, and a decrease in productivity with your partner are just some of the few ways cell phones have negative consequences in different relationships. It is important that individuals need to set boundaries for their use of cell phones, especially in important and meaningful situations. Being fully present in any situation shows respect and appreciation for the experience. Being able to put the phone down shows that you value the time or moment, whether it is a special event, deep conversation, or simply spending time with loved ones. I believe it is important to minimize distractions and prioritize more face-to-face interactions rather than computer-mediated interactions to maintain and build a fulfilling relationship. 

References:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451958821000361

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Definition Rewrite- Taco491

The Cost of Chasing Impossible Dreams

We all want to encourage the people we love to pursue their goals, but we must also be careful not to enable them to waste their lives chasing impossible dreams. We celebrate with a friend who earns a well-deserved promotion at work, but we feel despair when they quit that job to chase a dream of becoming “the next Mariah Carey ” without a sense of tone . In the book, Championship Behaviors: A Model for Competitive Excellence in Sports, Hugh McCutcheon explains that “a dream can cause real emotional, physical, and mental damages” when it is unrealistic. If we were more willing to be honest with our loved ones, we could spare them the anguish of a lifetime of failure by helping them face the truth about their dreams.

Mental disorders, especially anxiety and depression, have become more prevalent throughout this age in time. These issues do not just affect adults, but they affect younger children too, particularly those who pursue high pressure dreams. In a study called An Examination of Depression, Anxiety, and Self-Esteem in Collegiate Student-Athletes, Samantha R Weber mentions that “Student-athletes (22.3%) were at risk for depression, anxiety (12.5%), and low self-esteem (8%).” Some of these students may be anxiety ridden because of the things going on in their game, the idea of trying to go professional, or because a parent is constantly encouraging them to continue when they do not want to. Being good at a sport is one thing, but being able to go professional is another; very few do. According to the National Collegiate Athletic Association, only about 2% of student-athletes actually go on to become professional. With these slim odds of actually going professional in sports, we can see why trying to go professional can create anxiety; they are trying to do their best, but are still failing in the end.

The “understudy effect” highlights how rare it is to achieve greatness by chance. This phenomenon occurs when someone in a secondary role steps into the spotlight unexpectedly, such as an understudy replacing a lead actor or an assistant conductor filling in for a maestro. While it occasionally leads to success stories like Leonard Bernstein and Esa-Pekka Salonen, which according to Jane Piirto, in The Piirto Pyramid of Talent Development, “were assistant conductors who got their big chance when the maestros under whom they worked had to miss a concert,” these moments are exceptions, not the rule. In most cases, the understudy remains in the shadows, tirelessly working without recognition or opportunity. For individuals stuck as perpetual second choices—whether as the second chair in an orchestra or a backup player in professional sports—this reality can be crushing. Dreams require immense hard work, but when that effort only secures a backup role, it may be time to confront the truth. Family and loved ones who care deeply should offer a wake-up call, urging them to reevaluate their goals. Wasting a lifetime waiting for a one-in-a-million chance at success only prolongs frustration and emotional pain. Recognizing when to move on from an impossible dream is often the best path toward fulfillment. 

George Gmelch, in his book Playing with Tigers: A Minor League Chronicle of the Sixties, reflects on his pursuit of a childhood dream to become a major league baseball player. He reveals that “only 8 percent of Minor League players starting out in rookie ball ever make it to the big leagues.” Despite years of support from loved ones, Gmelch never achieved his dream. After playing in the minor leagues for a few years, he ultimately left baseball and redirected his efforts into writing, eventually becoming a successful author. Those years chasing an unattainable dream, however, were marked by frustration and lost potential. Like Gmelch, many children grow up aspiring to become professional athletes in sports such as baseball, basketball, football, or hockey. Encouraging these impossible dreams often creates a false sense of security and self-worth, fostering the belief that success is within reach when the odds are overwhelmingly against it. Parental support, though well-meaning, can inflate a child’s ego and reinforce unrealistic expectations. When these dreams inevitably collide with reality, the emotional fallout can be devastating. Rejection at the professional level often triggers anxiety, self-doubt, and feelings of inadequacy. Many struggle with questions about their identity and worth, wondering if their abilities were ever enough or if their loved ones misled them.

The pursuit of unattainable dreams often leads to prolonged stress, as individuals face constant pressure to improve and meet impossible standards. This anxiety compounds over time, leaving them emotionally exhausted and uncertain about their future. Few athletes, performers, or musicians ever make it to the professional stage, and the pursuit of such unlikely outcomes can come at the cost of mental health and personal fulfillment. Instead of encouraging an impossible dream, parents and loved ones should tell the person they are encouraging the truth. With this truth, it will help a person trying to attain an impossible dream recognize reality, adjust their goals, and pursue a path that aligns with their true potential.

In conclusion, there comes a time to stop encouraging someone who is pursuing an impossible dream. Continued encouragement can push them toward emotional, physical, and mental damage, especially as they face anxiety or even depression when their dream remains unattainable. Being seen as a second option rather than the first can take a toll on their mental health, as they waste valuable time clinging to the slim hope of success. While telling someone to give up may seem harsh, it ultimately helps them confront reality. By letting go of an unattainable dream, they can redirect their energy toward goals that offer real opportunities for fulfillment and success. Encouragement should focus on helping loved ones find paths that benefit their well-being and future, rather than fueling unrealistic expectations. Helping someone move on from a dream that only causes harm is not cruel—it is an act of care and honesty that can lead them to discover their true potential.

References

Gmelch, G. (2016). Playing with Tigers. Google Books. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=reIsCwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT10&dq=%22minor+league+baseball%22+%22chasing+the+dream%22&ots=Dd8jgsIW-i&sig=xF_nuDvgFs_80J5cEQ6o08IU3Gs#v=onepage&q=%22minor%20league%20baseball%22%20%22chasing%20the%20dream%22&f=false

McCutcheon, H. (2022). Championship behaviors. Google Books. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=pONgEAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT3&dq=%22motivation%22+%22achievement%22+%22chasing+the+dream%22+%2Bathlete+%22psychological%22&ots=y8udN-f1N3&sig=TW3sKZKZdjYHWd-CajV0TQeZ1MI#v=onepage&q&f=false

NCAA. (2014). NCAA RECRUITING FACTS. NCAA. https://www.nfhs.org/media/886012/recruiting-fact-sheet-web.pdf

Piirto, J. (2011). The Piirto Pyramid of Talent Development:. Jane Piirto PhD. https://janepiirto.com/?page_id=626

Weber, S. R., Winkelmann, Z. K., Monsma, E. V., Arent, S. M., & Torres-McGehee, T. M. (2023). An Examination of Depression, Anxiety, and Self-Esteem in Collegiate Student-Athletes. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(2), 1211. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9858692/

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Defintion- Taco491

Is there a time to stop encouraging someone who is pursuing an impossible dream?

Everyone wants to encourage friends, families, and the people they love in life to achieve their goals. In many cases they do achieve their personal ambitions and get their desired result in a situation. When it comes to dreams, that is where we come to a pause. Following and achieving a dream is very different from achieving a goal. A goal is a desire we act on and want to achieve in life, like being promoted at a job. A dream is very similar to a goal, but the difference is that it is a visual made up in our imagination that inspires us. In the book, Championship Behaviors: A Model for Competitive Excellence in Sports, Hugh McCutcheon mentions that a “dream can cause real emotional, physical, and mental damages.” These damages are from individuals who can’t attain their dreams. If a loved one told them the reality, which is that their dream really isn’t attainable, then they wouldn’t suffer from these damages. All in all, goals have deadlines, but a dream can stretch for a lifetime causing emotional, physical, and mental damages because dreams are very hard to attain in life. 

When becoming a second choice, it is time to give up on a dream. Dreams need very hard work in order to be accomplished. If people work so hard and still end up as a second option, they need to see the reality, which is that they are not able to achieve this impossible dream. Many people become second options in different scenarios. From being the second chair of an instrument to being a back-up for a professional athlete in football. There is always one person behind that is very good, but not good enough. Family members that love this individual need to give them a wake up call that they are not meant to pursue this dream. Even though blind luck can happen to a small percentage of individuals like Leanard Bernstien and Esa-Pekka Salonen, which according to Jane Piirto, in the The Piirto Pyramid of Talent Development, “were assistant conductors who got their big chance when the maestros under whom they worked had to miss a concert,” it is still a very small chance. This shows the understudy effect. This is when an actor learns another part in case anything goes wrong with the original person set to do the act. Most of the time the understudy only does their role, but there is a slight chance of them landing a huge role just because the main actor got hurt or just can’t make it. Becoming the main character in any situation could take years or even a lifetime, so why waste someone’s life when a loved one can tell them to move on from this unrealistic  dream. 

One man named George Gmelch wrote a book called,  Playing with Tigers: A Minor League Chronicle of the Sixties. This book talked about his dream and journey to become a major league baseball player. Gmelch stated, “Only 8 percent of Minor League players starting out in rookie ball ever make it to the big leagues.” This is a very low number and it’s only related to baseball. Everyone supported George and his dream throughout his childhood, but in the end it never came true. He made it to the minor leagues, played there for a couple years and then ended up leaving. He left his childhood dream of becoming a major league baseball player because he could not achieve it. He wasted years of his life trying to achieve this impossible goal that only 8% of the minor league players could get, and ended up writing books instead. If George Gmelch didn’t have the support he had growing up as a child to pursue this goal, he would have already been a successful author.

Many children, just like George Gmelch, have dreams of becoming a professional in a sport: baseball, basketball, football, hockey, etc. Many of these children have support from their parents at such a young age, which leads them to keep reaching for these unattainable dreams. This creates a false belief for the children; the false belief would be that they are good enough to make it professional. These parents or other loved ones only want to help see their child grow, but when they encourage a dream that only a few percent of people actually achieve, it hinders the child’s mental state more. As this child grows up and keeps gaining support, it will boost their ego more and more. When the time comes to enter the professional stage of a sport, and they are denied, it will cause them to have a breakdown about if they were actually a good player as well as if his loved ones lied to him about his potential. All of this leads to psychological damages, which can make a personal question who they are; are they a great athlete, performer, musician? There are so many great athletes, musicians, etc. in the world, but only so many make it to the professional level. Before encouraging an impossible dream, think before you do. Do you want your child to mentally suffer in the long run?In conclusion, there is definitely a time to stop encouraging someone who is pursuing an impossible dream. The more we encourage a person to achieve this impossible dream, we push them more towards developing emotional, physical, or mental damage. This can be seen if a person feels anxiety or even depression when they cannot attain their dream. Being seen as a second option, rather than the first, can put mental hardships on a person’s brain, for they are wasting their life believing there is a small chance that their dream can be fulfilled. Telling a person to give up may sound horrible, but look on the brighter side. This is helping them to understand the reality that they are wasting their life waiting around when they could be finding something that actually benefits them now.

References

Gmelch, G. (2016). Playing with Tigers. Google Books. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=reIsCwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT10&dq=%22minor+league+baseball%22+%22chasing+the+dream%22&ots=Dd8jgsIW-i&sig=xF_nuDvgFs_80J5cEQ6o08IU3Gs#v=onepage&q=%22minor%20league%20baseball%22%20%22chasing%20the%20dream%22&f=false

McCutcheon, H. (2022). Championship behaviors. Google Books. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=pONgEAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT3&dq=%22motivation%22+%22achievement%22+%22chasing+the+dream%22+%2Bathlete+%22psychological%22&ots=y8udN-f1N3&sig=TW3sKZKZdjYHWd-CajV0TQeZ1MI#v=onepage&q&f=false

Piirto, J. (2011). The Piirto Pyramid of Talent Development:. Jane Piirto PhD. https://janepiirto.com/?page_id=626

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Definition Argument- RoboFrog

All around the world, people read news articles, watch television, read advertising that is posted around them, and read funny sayings printed on t-shirts and their ideas and opinions are influenced by them as a result. Books as a result of being written by people are no different in regard to being influenced. Expanding upon this concept one can argue that fiction books that use characters or settings from previous books written by different authors can be considered fanfiction.

The books that I am going to be analyzing as evidence of this idea is the “Percy Jackson and The Olympians” series. This series uses characters and settings from Greek mythology and puts them into a modern world setting. The series is from the perspective of Percy Jackson, a kid in the modern world who discovers that the Greek gods are real and that he is a demigod, before proceeding to go on a series of quests to save the world. During these quests he has run ins with the gods and other characters from Greek mythology who at times provide tools and information to aid him or threaten to kill him. In the first book, “The Lighting Thief”, he is introduced to this world, the camp where the demigods are trained, and sets off on a quest to find the master bolt and return it to Zeus by the summer solstice. In the second book, “The Sea of Monsters”, he and his friends go on a quest to retrieve the golden fleece to save the camp. In the third book, “The Titan’s Curse”, he and his friends go on a quest to save the goddess Artemis by the winter solstice. In the fourth book, “The Battle of the Labyrinth”, he and his friends discover a secret passage into the camp that bypasses its defenses, leading to them going on a quest to find Daedalus in an attempt prevent the Titians and their forces from using the Labyrinth to destroy the camp. In the final book, “The Last Olympian”, he leads his fellow demigods in a final battle to save Olympus from the Titians.

In this essay “fanfiction” will be defined as a work of literature that makes use of characters and settings from previous works of literature and changes them to fit a new story while keeping their essence of them as recognizable. This means that the specific character or setting must be recognizable as that specific one instead of being someone or something that just happens to share a name. For example, in chapter 14 on page 213 of the second book, the cave where the cyclops, Polyphemus lives in, on the island where the golden fleece is located is described as:

I pushed through the crowd of sheep and goats toward the back of the cave.

Even though I’d dreamed about this place, I had a hard time finding my way through the maze. I ran down corri-dors littered with bones, past rooms full of sheepskin rugs and life-size cement sheep that I recognized as the work of Medusa. There were collections of sheep T-shirts; large tubs of lanolin cream; and wooly coats, socks, and hats with ram’s horns.

Whereas in book 9 of the “The Odyssey”, the cave that the cyclops lives in on the island is described as:

“We soon reached his cave, but he was out shepherding, so we went inside and took stock of all that we could see. His cheese-racks were loaded with cheeses, and he had more lambs and kids than his pens could hold. They were kept in separate flocks; first there were the hoggets, then the oldest of the younger lambs and lastly the very young ones[80] all kept apart from one another; as for his dairy, all the vessels, bowls, and milk pails into which he milked, were swimming with whey. When they saw all this, my men begged me to let them first steal some cheeses, and make off with them to the ship; they would then return, drive down the lambs and kids, put them on board and sail away with them. It would have been indeed better if we had done so but I would not listen to them, for I wanted to see the owner himself, in the hope that he might give me a present. When, however, we saw him my poor men found him ill to deal with.

Both passages describe the cave as being filled with sheep and sheep byproducts. The difference in the kind of sheep byproducts being is probably due to the fact that Odysseus and his men are looking for things of value to them as shown in the part of the quote that comes after the description of what is inside the cave, so that is all that is described for them, whereas Percy is looking in the cave for his imprisoned companions and is just describing the stuff that sticks out to him along the way. These similarities shows that these settings in the books are the same place.

On the other hand, not all works that use the same characters and settings from the works that proceeded them are fanfiction. One example of this is adaptions of previous works. This is due to the fact that they are basically the same story just changed for a different audience. For example, the version of “The Odyssey” that the quote above is from is an adaption of the original version of it because the original is written in ancient Greek whereas the version the quote is from is in English and has had its grammar changed so that it makes sense in English. Also, the translation is not adding new characters or circumstances into the story. Another example of this is sequels that are written by the author of the original work whose story they are continuing and adding additional lore to it. This is by virtue of being written by the same person means it cannot be fanfiction.

References

Homer. (2024, October 1). The Odyssey rendered into English prose for the use of those who cannot read the original. The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Odyssey, by Homer. https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/1727/pg1727-images.html

Riordan, R. (2005). The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson & the Olympians #1) (1st ed.). Disney/Hyperion.

Riordan, R. (2006). The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson & the Olympians #2) (1st ed.). Disney /Hyperion.

Riordan, R. (2007). The Titan’s Curse (Percy Jackson & the Olympians #3) (1st ed.). Hyperion Books for Children.

Riordan, R. (2008). The Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson & the Olympians #4) (1st ed.). Hyperion Books for Children.

Riordan, R. (2009). The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson & the Olympians #5) (1st ed.). Disney/Hyperion Books.

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Def/Cat – Student1512

In an online era never seen before by consumers, the rise of online shopping has gotten its grips on customers. That’s why now, it’s crucial to understand the psychological factors behind purchasing decisions. Cognitive buying behaviors influence how consumers think and behave during their purchasing decisions, significantly shaped by psychological factors and cognitive processes. In exploring how cognitive buying behaviors are influenced by mental health and personality traits, it becomes clear that both psychological factors play a pivotal role in consumer behavior. 

Mental health significantly influences cognitive buying behavior, as particular conditions, especially those characterized by mood fluctuations, can guide individuals to participate in impulsive purchasing as a way of bettering their mood. These behaviors can lead to feelings of guilt after buying, resulting in a cycle of emotional distress. In those suffering with conditions like compulsive buying disorder, there is a direct link between mental state and cognitive buying behaviors. Compulsive buying disorder is characterized by persistent, repetitive buying behavior that is primarily in response to negative stimuli, such as negative feelings or circumstances, and affects one quality of life (Brook et al., 2015). Those suffering with this disorder tend to find themselves with issues such as financial difficulties, debt, and credit card abuse (Brook et al., 2015). Compulsive buying disorder is no joke as this disorder is a behavioral addiction (Brook et al., 2015), and is known to stem from atypical childhood and adolescent environments (Brook et al., 2015). In the digital era, a disorder such as compulsive buying disorder is as easy as any to exploit. Online platforms are made to enable such negative impulsive behavior through buying features such as one-click purchasing, targeted advertisements, and limited-time offers, which create a fake sense of urgency. In individuals with compulsive buying disorder, such elements can further a cycle of behavior where negative feelings lead to irresponsible purchases, continuing feelings of guilt and financial strain. This isn’t something unsurprising, though, as platforms are aware of cognitive buying behavior as well as mental health disorders that fuel their ever growing businesses. The effects of the exploitative nature of online shopping in understanding cognitive buying behavior go beyond mere financial loss; these online businesses inflict damage on their consumers’ personal lives as well. Those suffering from compulsive buying disorder often face marital discord, family issues, and emotional hardship (Brook et al., 2015) as a direct result of this exploitation.. Online shopping platforms, while profiting from consumers’ vulnerabilities, neglect the emotional toll their practices impose. This exploitation not only undermines individual well-being but also destroys relationships, and calls attention to a troubling disconnect between corporate profit motives and the mental health of consumers. Mental health disorders that deal with impulsivity such as compulsive buying disorder directly influence an individual’s cognitive buying behavior. However, a more thorough understanding of what influences such cognitive buying behaviors can be gained by looking at various personality traits.

In understanding personality traits used in psychology of personality, one can reference two cognitive buying behaviors that are predictable based on certain personality traits. Impulsive buying, defined as making a random, not thought through, and direct purchase (Aquino & Lins, 2023), is known to be strongly evident in those who show to have a high score on neuroticism, a trait defined by unstable emotions and being prone to negative moods (Aquino & Lins, 2023). The trait  influences individuals with high neuroticism to make rash purchases based on their emotional instability, and thus increasing the possibility of impulsive buying behavior. Not only this, but the higher the neurotic trait, the more likely one is to make a purchase decision that will ease their negative mood. In such a connection, a distinct influence of psychological traits in cognitive buying behaviors is highlighted. Another behavior, compulsive buying, described as uncontrolled buying that promotes harm and distress, (Aquino & Lins, 2023), is typically predicted by the openness, agreeableness, and neurotic traits (Aquino & Lins, 2023). Openness refers to the extent to which an individual is willing to try new experiences and engage in analytical thinking (Aquino & Lins, 2023). On the other hand, agreeableness is typically understood as friendly, cooperative, and compassionate a person is towards others (Aquino & Lins, 2023). In understanding all three traits, correlations can be drawn regarding their influence on compulsive buying behavior. Individuals high in openness are often more willing to try new products and experiences, which can lead to compulsive and unplanned purchases. Furthermore, those with a high level of agreeableness may have a tendency to prioritize the needs of others, thus promoting overspending and compulsive buying. Not only this , individuals scoring high in neuroticism increase their likelihood of making compulsive purchases as a way to cope with their negative moods. Their emotional instability can drive them to seek immediate gratification through shopping, furthering their compulsive behaviors. In understanding all three of the traits and how they interconnect with compulsive buying behaviors, the relationship between personality traits and consumer behavior is shown.

Cognitive buying behaviors are shaped by mental health and personality traits, both of which heavily influence the normality or abnormality of an individual’s buying behavior. In examining mental health through compulsive buying disorder, the abstract reasoning of their purchasing habits is made clear. Formed through hardship and adverse childhood experiences, the condition further brings the individual’s quality of life down due to their cognitive process. Their atypical way of coping with their negative moods exemplifies their cognitive reasoning, thus leading to a debilitating behavior and disorder. Further dissecting cognitive buying behaviors, personality traits were looked into as well. In examining the relationship between the two, it was found that personality traits do dictate cognitive processes and can increase the likelihood of adverse buying behavior. In understanding this, it’s important to realize the possible intentional or unintentional harm online shopping is bringing to the public and everyday consumer. Typical consumers are now bombarded with advertisements of any sort, tearing away impulse control on a daily basis. How many consumers, prior to online shopping, did not deal with compulsive and impulsive buying? How many developed a compulsive buying disorder since? It’s hard to know, but these are the questions that the public should be asking to keep their hard earned money, and sanity, out of the grips of corporations.

Works Cited:

Brook, J. S., Zhang, C., Brook, D. W., & Leukefeld, C. G. (2015). Compulsive buying: Earlier illicit drug use, impulse buying, depression, and adult ADHD symptoms. Psychiatry Research, 228(3), 312–317. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2015.05.095

Aquino, S. D., & Lins, S. (2023, July 18). The personality puzzle: A comprehensive    analysis of its impact on three buying behaviors. Frontiers. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1179257/full 

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Definition—GamersPet

People have a certain preference towards food products that they would consume intentionally or unintentionally despite whether they know the benefits or the consequences of eating them. We know our limited capacity when we replenish our hunger, however there are other types of consumed goods that most people use intentionally that don’t involve the stomach but our minds. It is strange when we hear the word drug that we would presumably think it’s extremely bad like heroin, and cocaine, but putting that in medical terms then it would increase the credibility.

Caffeine in food products such as coffee, sodas, energy drinks, and other edible food products are an invisible psychoactive drug stated from the article “Neuropsychological ….Addictive?” by various authors that we know from the generalization of what it does to our body. They also stated that intake of caffeine categorized as “generally recognized as safe” from the Food and Drug Administration. However, the authors of “Neuropsychological……Addictive?” concluded that caffeine is a potent drug that complies with the criteria of an addictive substance regarding dependence, tolerance, and withdrawal. It is weird how we would be able to obtain nonprescribed legal psychoactive drug easily from convenient stores compared to extreme illegal drugs from the back alleyways.

The use of caffeine in a normalized life differs such as diminishing physical exhaustion and reestablishing mental alertness. However, there are side effects when consuming them. CBC radio host Jian Ghomeshi, the voice of the daily art from a podcast by Savin Monique, said that he was a caffeine addict because all he did was do talk shows while drinking powerful coffee in the morning, one in the afternoon, and a triple espresso at night. Ghomeshi shared his struggles with the effects of caffeinated drinks of how he found dramatic ups and downs of his energy throughout the day where he wanted to crash midafternoon where it will impact his career if he continues to drink caffeinated drinks. If the Food and Drug Administration declared that caffeine is generally safe to consume, then how come Ghomeshi is having a difficult time dealing with the effects of caffeine. Shouldn’t it be prescribed or informed people of the amount of dosage they can take in order to prevent facing negative problems?

“Neuropsychological…..Addictive?” stated that caffeine is not truly addictive, but from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, comprises caffeine addiction and caffeine withdrawal as familiar mental disorder. Another proposition from them is that the effects of caffeine can produce life threatening health hazards such as anxiety, insomnia, reproduction abnormalities and death, but it is not accountable for severe health risks linked with the abuse of drugs of addiction. Another article “Caffeine – An Invisible Addiction” by Sidra Ajmal and Laiba Ajmal can back up the claims that caffeine and addiction are not conclusively associated which depends upon the definition of addiction. Of how caffeine consumption is very common in the modern age, its adverse pharmacological effects have no value due to the ease of availability where people can alter their own time at their own pace of intake, dose, and intake intervals of caffeine which slowly accumulates overtime. Their studies suggest that there is a strong link between caffeine consumption and age. Based on their analysis, students aged greater than 18 become more addicted to caffeine than younger students. At least 50% of the students consumed caffeinated drink of tea once or twice a day whereas 26% consumed more than twice a day which significantly shows their desire towards caffeine. Ajmal analysis proves that caffeine addiction is true but slow and becomes stronger with age.

Without an examination of doctors on ourselves for diagnostics, we self-proclaimed a specific word that is followed up by a word which is addiction. We don’t even need doctors to tell us how much caffeine to take into our bodies. People would state certain claims to have a medical craving or a habit of something that they tend to do repeatedly like gambling, drinking or smoking.  There is a repeated process that at first, it’s rewarding then they become addicted and eventually get withdrawals and then back from the beginning to nullify that behavior which negatively bites them back. In the article “Comorbidity….Consumption” by Mona Mrad and Charles Chi Cui proposed that there are two types of psychoactive behaviors towards addictive consumption which is compulsive buying and brand addiction that impacts on consumers self-esteem and life happiness. Compulsive buying is defined as repeated and excessive buying of consumers goods are not needed in short term while brand addiction provides long-term gratification. Caffeinated products fall under these two psychoactive behaviors because getting the product is a lot easier with both short- and long-term effects. People can say that they have a collection of a certain item but technically it would fall under the terms of addiction of compulsive buying. Mona and Cui stated that compulsive buying provides short-term relief from dysphoric feelings. However, that positive effect diminishes through time and re-emerge buying urges.

Reference:

Sidra Ajmal  Laiba Ajmal. “Caffeine – an Invisible Addiction.” Caffeine – An Invisible Addiction | Bulletin of University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca. Food Science and Technology, 11 June 2023, journals.usamvcluj.ro/index.php/fst/article/view/14592.

Mona Mrad, and Charles Chi Cui. “Comorbidity of Compulsive Buying and Brand Addiction: An Examination of Two Types of Addictive Consumption.” Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, 29 Oct. 2019, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014829631930548X?via%3Dihub#section-cited-by.

Savin, M. (2010). Caffeine addiction: Ghomeshi’s wake-up call. Toronto: The Globe and Mail. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.rowan.edu/login?qurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.proquest.com%2Fblogs-podcasts-websites%2Fcaffeine-addiction-ghomeshis-wake-up-call%2Fdocview%2F2385342126%2Fse-2%3Faccountid%3D13605

Uddin MS, Sufian MA, Hossain MF, Kabir MT, Islam MT, et al. (2017) Neuropsychological Effects of Caffeine: Is Caffeine Addictive? J Psychol Psychother 7: 295. doi: 10.4172/2161-0487.1000295

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Definition – Loverofcatsandmatcha

The psychosocial behaviors presented by adolescents are largely influenced by their surrounding environments; namely, their peers. During one’s adolescent years, an individual will spend most of their time with people within their age group; the people they surround themself with play a major role in shaping who they will become as they grow up. The views they develop, their hobbies, and their future goals can all be impacted by the people around them. This influence is not necessarily a negative; proper socialization often leads to these growing similarities. However, there is also a noticeable impact when there is a lack of socialization within an individual. To best understand the differences, it is important to first understand what qualifies as being “properly socialized.” It is, in most cases, on a self identifying basis. An individual simply always being surrounded by people does not equate to them being properly socialized. The idea of proper socialization is a more internalized sensation, which poses an issue when trying to measure it. 

In the events following a tragic event, such as a school shooting, society is quick to jump to review the backstory of the perpetrator. There are the typical questions that arise: “Were they a ‘loner’?”, “What was their home life like?”, “What kind of people did they surround themself with?”. Within these questions, society is automatically attributing the crimes of the individual to their environment and surroundings, rather than themself. Unintentionally, society acknowledges the impact of others on an individual’s development; when an individual commits a crime, their social integration is immediately called into question, and the general consensus is always the same: they were not properly socialized, and if they were, they would have never committed their crime. 

In November of 2021, Ethan Crumbley of Oxford High School in Oxford, Michigan, released gunfire on his peers and educators, killing four people. In the research that came to light in the midst of his trial, his background and home life were, naturally, immediately investigated. In a Case Study of his shooting published by the Journal of Education, Health, and Social Sciences, the research revealed that Crumbley had a tragic home life, which had likely shaped his personality. In the weeks immediately preceding the shooting, “Ethan’s best friend moved away and his family dog died, which caused him to become depressed.” It is no mere coincidence that the simultaneous occurrence of these events had no impact on Ethan’s decision and actions. He lost his closest friend, which lessened his social interactions, and led to depression. This factor, coupled with his rough home life, influenced his mood, feelings, and, inevitably, actions. Moreover, in Crumbley’s family, gun violence was not taught to be a dangerous concept, with Crumbley’s parents purchasing a gun for him to have, “referring to it as Ethan’s ‘new Christmas present’.” The environment one is surrounded by shapes their moral views, and their concept of right and wrong. Typically, one’s socialization with their peers will also impact how one grows up– but inadequate socialization can cause mental disturbances on a person’s psyche. In losing his best friend, Crumbley had lost his primary social outlet. Though he had already shown signs of mental instability and potential violence, those actions were only acted on following the loss of his peer. Without an outlet to communicate with, it can be hard to differentiate what is socially acceptable. While this is no excuse for the heinous crimes committed, it is a necessary viewpoint when diving into the backgrounds of criminals in cases like these.

While an example has been presented regarding an antisocial shooter, this is not true of every individual who commits such crime. In fact, it is not uncommon for a school shooter to have a social peer group, of which they share similar interests. Does this qualify as being ‘properly socialized’, a phrase with no concrete definition or mode of measurement? The short answer is no. A properly socialized individual would not unleash gunfire in a school. However, with encouragement from their peer group, they may develop ideas that their actions are okay, or even warranted. In School shootings: A Review of the Characteristics and the Psychopathology of the Perpetrators, the typical school shooter is assessed, alongside the common factors of a school shooting, and the signs that were missed. “Shooters were considered outcasts and “weird” but not all of them were ‘loners’. Their peer groups shared analogous interests in violence, making even harder the ‘reality check’ on behalf of the perpetrator.” When an individual is in a social group that shares their views, they develop a warped sense of right and wrong. Social groups can have both positive and negative effects on the way an individual’s perception of morals develops, and a key example is the analogous interests in violence. If everyone surrounding an individual is telling them something is okay, why are they going to question itr? It is far easier to see something is wrong from outside of the house, than it is from inside of it. If an individual surrounds themself with people who enjoy nature and volunteering, they will likely begin to develop the same interests. The same is true if one surrounds themself with drug users: they will begin to take after those they surround themselves with. Humans are naturally programmed to want to fit in, and, if surrounded by people with certain ideals, they will, more often than not, adopt them as well. 

It is a challenge to identify what qualifies as being ‘properly socialized.’ Solely ‘fitting in’ with one’s chosen group is not enough, nor is simply having a group. In order to qualify as being ‘properly socialized’, one must have a grasp on the concept of social awareness, and, as a general note, understand the general principles of right from wrong. The amount of peer relationships is not, necessarily, the largest factor, but one’s ability to properly interact with others can be an indicator of social health. The way one has grown up and the people they surround themselves with play major roles in determining what kind of person one will become. 

References

Contributors to Antisocial Behavior in Adolescence from the Perspective of Developmental Psychology: A Case Study on a School Mass Shooting Leng & Song

https://drpress.org/ojs/index.php/EHSS/article/view/6442

(PDF) School shootings: A Review of the Characteristics and the Psychopathology of the Perpetrators PDF | On Mar 30, 2017, Alevizopoulos Giorgos published School shootings: A Review of the Characteristics and the Psychopathology of the Perpetrators 

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322226358_School_shootings_A_Review_of_the_Characteristics_and_the_Psychopathology_of_the_Perpetrators

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Definition Rewrite -phoenixxxx23

In Pursuit Of Lost Time

As a child, each year on my birthday, as I blew out the candles, I made the same wish: that life would be generous enough to give my mother more time. When she passed away from cancer, I learned the hardest, yet most important lesson of my life: time is the most precious thing we have, for it is inseparable from life itself. In that moment, I understood that we often take time for granted, failing to recognize its fleeting nature until it’s too late.

In today’s world, we fill our days by mindlessly scrolling through social media feeds, watching TikToks or checking notifications, not because we’re seeking something meaningful, but because we want to escape the harsh truth of time’s passage. We have a complicated relationship with time. On one hand, we fear it, and on the other, we desperately try to outrun it. But the problem lies in how we’ve convinced ourselves that time is an infinite resource. It’s not. We act as though it stretches on forever, but the reality is far different.

Consider this: the average adult spends about 4 hours and 37 minutes a day on their phone. This seemingly small chunk of time quickly adds up to nearly a full day each week, 6 full days every month, and a staggering 70 days every year. By the time an average person reaches the end of their life, they will have spent roughly 12 years staring at a screen. Even knowing these jarring statistics, we still find ourselves reaching for our phones without a second thought. It has become so ingrained in our daily existence that, in many ways, it dictates our lives. Our phones are indispensable tools in the modern world, capable of extraordinary feats: connecting us with people across continents, capturing moments through high-definition cameras, and providing a window to endless possibilities. Yet, as powerful as these devices are, they are equally capable of pulling us into a trap of constant distraction, transforming something that should be a blessing into a curse.

It’s easy to get lost in the endless stream of notifications and updates, as we trade authentic connections with people for fleeting likes and comments from strangers. As we become more absorbed by our phones, we risk disconnecting from the real world—the one filled with people, experiences, and memories that truly matter. This is where balance becomes key. We need to use technology in ways that enhance our lives rather than letting it take control of our time, and ultimately, our well-being. In this digital age, it’s not enough to just use technology; we must be intentional in how we engage with it, ensuring that it serves us, rather than the other way around.

In an attempt to reclaim my time, I decided to start a personal journey by keeping a journal. I document my victories, my missteps, and the lessons I’m learning along the way. This journey is far from easy, particularly as I balance the demands of college, where most of my assignments are online, with the responsibilities of three part-time jobs that require constant communication through emails and texts. My ultimate goal is to transform my phone from a source of stress and distraction into a helpful tool—though I’m constantly reminded how fragile that balance is.

The first chapter of my journal is titled “Awareness.” Awareness is the first and most critical step in breaking any addiction, including the one to our phones. We are constantly bombarded with articles and studies on the time we waste on our devices, yet the concept of time slipping away feels distant, almost abstract, until it hits home. My own moment of awareness came when I realized that when I thought of “time,” my first association wasn’t a clock, an alarm, or a calendar. It was the vivid, cherished memories of my life: the first time I saw my dog and his fluffy ears, the stunning sunsets at the beach, the flowers I used to frow with my grandmother in the backyard.

This realization struck me: the issue isn’t the phone itself—it’s how we’ve come to forget what time truly means. Time is no longer something we experience or savor; it’s become something abstract, distant, and endless in our minds. I used to share that perspective—believing time was infinite, that there would always be more of it. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve faced the painful reality that time is finite, that it’s not something to be wasted.

One article that helped me grasp this was “Validity Test of the Theory of Planned Behavior in College Students’ Withdrawal from Smartphone Dependence.” It explored the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), a psychological framework that sheds light on how intention and action are interconnected. The theory reveals something powerful: when it comes to reducing phone use, having a strong intention is essential, but it’s not enough on its own. Intentions without understanding won’t lead to lasting change. If people don’t fully comprehend why it’s necessary to reduce their phone usage—whether it’s for their mental health, relationships, or academic success—no amount of willpower can truly alter their habits.

There is a need for both intention and insight. To break free from the grip of smartphone addiction, we must first understand how this behavior is harming us. We must connect the dots between our phone use and its impact on our mental and physical health, our relationships, and our sense of time. Only then can we start to make meaningful, lasting changes. It’s not just about limiting screen time—it’s about reclaiming time for the things that matter, rediscovering what it means to live fully, and ultimately, taking back control of our most precious resource: time.

References

Validity Test of the Theory of Planned Behavior in College Students’ Withdrawal from Smartphone DependenceSpringer Link. 16 September 2020.

*TO BE CONTINUED…I focused on a single reference instead of two because I wanted to fully express the personal significance of the concepts discussed in the text. There’s an abundance of dry statistics and academic articles on this subject, but I aimed for something more vivid and relatable. If you’d like me to adjust this approach to make it more grounded, just let me know!

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Definition-phoenixxxx23

In Pursuit of Lost Time

We have all read the good old tale of Alice in Wonderland. In pursuit of the white rabbit with a watch, she decides to jump into the unknown—a rabbit hole from which there is no way out. I have always been curious, like Alice, about why the white rabbit looks so intently at his watch and hurries somewhere. I could never imagine that the time on his watch represents the time of my life, which, like sand in an hourglass, slips away right before my eyes. Before I could even blink, I found myself in a rabbit hole, surrounded by people entranced by a metallic device with a glass screen. They stared into it, oblivious to the real wonders unfolding all around them. They walked past the Cheshire Cat, the caterpillar, and the very rabbits I sought, lost in a world that exists only in the flicker of a screen. In this strange wonderland, life unfolds in the fleeting moments between glances at their devices, as if the real magic has been forgotten. In this wonderland, people do not see real wonders at all.

Yet, I am not Alice, nor did I dream of this peculiar world. Falling asleep and waking up early in the morning, the image of the white rabbit holding a watch flashes before my eyes. I try to calm him down, telling him that in our world, this is normal—that the metal thing called a phone does not control me at all. I only go there for three, four, or five hours a day; others generally sit in it all day. He is silent in response, and his gaze falls on the hands of the clock, where my life is ticking away. Every day, I stifle the growing urge to escape this hole, feeling the weight of the unseen chains that bind me. The people around assure me that there is no issue—that such are the rules of this new age. But deep within, a question gnaws at my soul: is it possible to win the war for your own time? In the shadows of this wonderland, where reality blurs with illusion, I wonder if I can break free from the grasp of this ever-ticking clock. What lies beyond the confines of this rabbit hole, waiting for those brave enough to seek it?

The average adult spends 4 hours and 37 minutes looking at their phone every day. That quickly adds up over time to about 1 day every week, 6 days every month, and 70 days every year. The average American will spend 12 years staring at their phone screens over their lifespan. And even knowing this horrifying statistic, our hand still continues to reach for the phone. The rules of the new world dictate it as a necessary tool for existence in society. And in fact, this device is capable of miracles, its camera can capture the Cheshire cat and even call the Hatter, who may be on the other side of the world. It is a gift and a curse in one bottle, too much of this mixture can become a true poison. We can easily lose ourselves in the endless scroll of notifications and updates, trading genuine interactions for fleeting likes and comments. As we engage with our phones, we must recognize the risk of disconnecting from the world around us. It’s important to find a balance, using technology to enhance our lives without letting it take over. In this digital age, we have to be intentional about how we use our devices, ensuring they serve us rather than control us.

I decided to start the war for my own time by keeping a journal, where I document my discoveries, hard-won victories, and obvious missteps. This journey is clearly challenging, especially as I navigate college, where most assignments are online, while juggling three jobs that require me to check emails and messages from my bosses every few minutes. My goal is to transform my phone from an enemy into a friend, but that line between the two is incredibly thin and fragile. The first chapter of my journal is titled “Awareness.” The main issue with any addiction lies in a lack of awareness. Every article online talks about the amount of time wasted when you’re glued to your device; it’s a concept we hear repeatedly throughout the day. My awareness of the problem of phone addiction came when the first image that popped into my head at the word “time” was not a clock face, an alarm on my phone, or a calendar. Instead, it was life. Time is intertwined with my first memories: the moment I saw my dog for the first time, the breathtaking sunsets by the sea, and the excitement of my first day of college. The problem isn’t the phone itself; it’s that we’ve lost the true meaning of time—it feels endless. I used to hold this perspective until I encountered the challenges of maturing. As a child, every year on my birthday, while blowing out the candles, I wished for just one thing: that life would be generous enough and grant my mother more time. The day she passed away from cancer, I learned the most important lesson of my life: there is nothing more precious than time, as it is synonymous with life itself. We open our notifications and scroll through the hundreds of TikTok videos because we want to escape from time. We strive to confront it ruthlessly, even if we’re afraid to admit this to ourselves. In the article Validity Test of the Theory of Planned Behavior in College Students’ Withdrawal from Smartphone Dependence, we delve into the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), a powerful psychological framework for understanding intentional action. The link between phone usage and the power of intention is striking. A strong intention to cut back on phone use often leads to success, but intention alone isn’t sufficient. If individuals lack a clear understanding of why they should reduce their phone usage—be it the detrimental effects on mental health, strained social relationships, or academic performance—no amount of willpower will drive meaningful change. This highlights the necessity of both intention and deeper insight in tackling smartphone addiction.

References

Validity Test of the Theory of Planned Behavior in College Students’ Withdrawal from Smartphone DependenceSpringer Link. 16 September 2020.

*TO BE CONTINUED…I focused on a single reference instead of two because I wanted to fully express the personal significance of the concepts discussed in the text. There’s an abundance of dry statistics and academic articles on this subject, but I aimed for something more vivid and relatable. If you’d like me to adjust this approach to make it more grounded, just let me know!

Posted in Definition Argument, Phoenixxxx, Portfolio Phoenixxxx | 1 Comment

Definition Rewrite- iloveme5


As humans, we tend to hide our vulnerabilities out of fear of appearing weak. However, when we observe others being open and vulnerable, we often view them as strong for doing so. Emotions are essential for humans to express, yet different emotions can be perceived in various ways. It’s evident that the human mind perceives emotions differently, but the reasons behind this variation remain a mystery when it comes to how different emotions are expressed. The mind can be deceptive, influencing how we experience specific emotions, the variety of emotional states with how we view them including the different types of tears, perception of emotion through text, and how language perceives emotions. 

Emotions are fundamental to human experience, shaping our thoughts, behaviors, and interactions. Understanding emotions can be complex, as they encompass a range of feelings, from joy and love to anger and sadness. Therefore, humans tend to confuse our vulnerabilities for fear of being weak or our expressions and actions for vulnerability. Emotions are crucial for human expression, but different emotions can be viewed in various ways. It would  seem that the human mind is wired to perceive emotion, yet how the different emotions come into play is a mystery, as far as expression goes. The mind can play tricks on the human body to modulate such feelings of an emotion, the breadth of emotional states and, particularly, the variety of tears.

Judith Rosenhouse, in the Journal of Phonetics, conducted a study in which the different cries and tears of a baby were monitored and categorized. “In the present study different cries of an individual baby are examined in order to better understand the differences between cries which are apparently stimulated by different causes.” Infants express themselves through various cries and tears, and adults do the same in their own ways. We as humans share emotions that are vital to the human experience that alter our thoughts, behaviors and interactions. The study of emotions both in humans and scenarios is bound to provide one with a broader understanding of emotions and their relationship to human psychology. 

Emotions can be widely defined as complex psychological states characterized by three distinct components: a subjective experience, a physiological response, and a behavioral or expressive response. Primary emotions are typically known as happiness, sadness, fear, anger, surprise, and disgust. These feelings are usually short-term and appear because of different stimuli. Primary emotions play an adaptive role and have a promoting impact on survival. For example, fear can prompt flight-or-fight responses, and happiness can enable social bonding and cooperation. Being able to recognize such basic emotions permits the individual to develop ways of responding to stimuli and then find out what kinds of things elicit these responses.

There are also secondary emotions that result as reactions to primary emotions and usually are shaped by personal experience or social context. These are more complex and may vary among individuals based on sex, age, etc. Some secondary emotions are shame, guilt, pride, and jealousy.  For example, one may get angry because of an incident that took place, that would be a primary emotion. But if he responded aggressively to the situation, then he would go into the secondary emotion of being shamed. According to Olivia Guy-evans, in the article of Simply psychology, “Secondary shame stems from imagining others’ judgment. You mess up, criticize yourself harshly, then assume everyone sees you that way.” Not only do we, as humans, judge others when they are in vulnerable states, but we also do the same to ourselves. 

Understanding this category can help individuals examine what is happening with regard to their feelings and the causes leading to them. The interaction of primary and secondary emotions together may aid a person in managing their emotional actions more appropriately since they will know how to handle the root, rather than the emotion itself. Imagine if we could grasp the various types of tears that humans express. Some might be tears of joy, others could be tears of sorrow, and yet others might stem from anger. Especially because of the differences we share such as sex, age, culture etc. The way we view emotions are all led by these factors that control how we react to them. For example, If I saw a man crying out in public I would assume it’s out of sadness or anger because it’s not seen often. Since I am a woman, this is how I would perceive it. To another man, they could perceive it as weak. These factors alter how we view this.

Lastly, complex emotions further portray the task of human emotions as a complex one. These emotions usually result from a mix of primary and secondary emotions and include nostalgia, envy, and even empathetic feelings. The complex emotions are usually wider contexts and may well involve more complicated reasoning skills, such as the ability to reflect upon past events or to understand other people’s feelings. The categorization of emotions into different groupings opens our eyes to appreciate the diversity of emotional experiences, the influences of human behaviors, and human relationships. Recognizing the categories of emotions can help in emotional intelligence-thinking about how to better negotiate one’s feelings and the feelings of others. Emotional intelligence incorporates the capability to recognize, understand, and manage one’s own and others’ emotions. 

By understanding one’s feelings with clarity and categories, it reduces misunderstandings in situations. This could benefit us as humans in not only for ourselves but for our relationships. Having this sort of emotional intelligence is key for success of displaying emotions and understanding them. Emotions are feelings that affect every human aspect of life. Understanding our emotions allows us as humans to navigate our feelings with more awareness and empathy. By embracing this, we open pathways for deeper self-awareness and mutual understanding, enhancing our lives and fostering a more empathetic world.

References

Main.pdf

primary-and-secondary-emotions.html

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