Category Archives: Human Behavior

Human Behavior

In a Time of Crisis, Her Voice Was the One That Galvanized Alaska – The New York Times

Chance would soon be on the air, her station powered initially by emergency generators. She tried to vet information before going live with it, and passed on pleas and updates from family members looking for loved ones. Over the next three days, the state experienced 52 separate aftershocks, 11 of them greater than 6 on the Richter scale. Through it all, while racing back and forth to take care of her family, she remained calm. She understood, better than most of those around her, that mass hysteria would lead to mayhem. She asked grocers to open their stores, and cautioned people against hoarding. I was responsible for reassuring them that the world had not come to an end, she said later.

Mooallem does a nice job of showing the domino of damage in cinematic slow motion the crevasses opening in city streets, the land slinking and sliding, the indiscriminate collapse of homes of both the rich and the poor. And hes astute in explaining the science: the crust of the Pacific Plate pushing under the North American Plate. Its no exaggeration to say that Anchorage was nearly unrecognizable after the quake.

He also brings to life a half-dozen or so ordinary people who acted in extraordinary ways. The old saying of how women feel about Alaska men the odds are good, but the goods are odd certainly applied. But these oddballs were heroic, each in his own way. There was a psychology professor, Bill Davis, who marshaled the volunteers of his Alaska Rescue Group into action. A theater director, Frank Brink, was determined to stage Our Town soon after the disaster, to prove that life and storytelling go on. A sociologist, Enrico Quarantelli, doggedly documented human behavior under extreme duress. And Alaskas first governor, William A. Egan (no relation), proved as steady as Genie Chance.

But this is a very strange book. The big land of Alaska and the outsize people who inhabit it have long inspired some terrific tomes Jack Londons Call of the Wild, John McPhees Coming Into the Country, Jon Krakauers Into the Wild. The main problem with This Is Chance! is that it fails to rise to the drama of the event. That would be fine if the character drama played out in a satisfying way. But here it comes up short as well. The book moves about in time, jumping ahead and then back again. Its one thing to leap off the chronological ladder, quite another to leave the reader confused or worse caring less about people in the story.

Our hero fades and then disappears rather suddenly, with many pages still left in the book. At that point, the author appears, a wry and sometimes laconic-seeming writer with an off-kilter jaw, as Mooallem writes about himself. This is trouble, and things go downhill from there. All due respect to my fellow scribe, a bright and resourceful writer, but I wanted more of Genie Chance and less of her chronicler.

Chance divorced the abusive husband, had a good run at state politics, but then suffered illness and family tragedy at a relatively young age. She got dementia and died at 64, in 1998, at the Juneau Pioneer Home. She left behind many recordings, not just of the days when she was a lifeline through the airwaves, but of her experiences as a true pioneer in a state where that tag is too easily thrown around. The quake certainly has its place in history. This remarkable woman deserves her own.

Visit link:
In a Time of Crisis, Her Voice Was the One That Galvanized Alaska - The New York Times

Human Behavior

Staying human amid the pandemic – Marketing Dive

The following is a guest post from Grant Pace, partner and executive creative director at marketing agency CTP. Opinions are the author's own.

As the events of the past few weeks have unfolded, I've found some comfort in focusing on what feels most natural to me: Staying calm and trying to help clients solve problems with creative thinking.

I believe crisis can lead to opportunity, reveal strengths and bring people together. I still remember the sense of community and shared grief I felt after 9/11. So, as a marketer, I try to lean into these times when the ground shifts under our feet, whether it's a dip in the economy, a bad season on the sports field or something more unnerving like what we're witnessing now.

I've had some experience with it. In 1995, I went to ad agency McKinney & Silver to help relaunch Audi in the U.S. Sales had plummeted after a "60 Minutes" segment accused the cars of "unintended acceleration," killing some motorists. The story was later retracted, but the business suffered significant damage. We were able to breathe new life into the brand by highlighting how fun the cars were to drive. Time magazine took note, even quoting some of the more playful lines I had written. The campaign connected with car lovers and Audi was back.

That brings me to Corona beer. We're not the brand's agency, but I have deep roots in the beer industry, so I've paid close attention to its plight. I saw the tweet that said "38% of beer drinking Americans would not buy Corona under any circumstance now," which CNN helped go viral. Having been on the losing end of some past beer-related disasters, I felt for them. So random and nonsensical, but consumer behavior can be painfully fickle especially when fear invades, because it too is contagious.

But here's the lesson. Amid all the insanity, Corona parent company Constellation Brands CEO Bill Newlands didn't panic. He didn't get defensive or start blaming others, and he didn't squirt a lime into the eyes of the cynical social media monster. Instead, he stayed calm and led with his heart, saying simply, "Our thoughts and prayers go out to those affected by this terrible virus and we hope efforts to more fully contain it gain traction soon." Nice.

He added that his business was, in fact, healthy: "We've seen no impact to our people, facilities or operations and our business continues to perform very well." And then the kicker, he shared data that showed Corona sales were actually up 5% in the U.S.

The response was genuine, empathetic and backed by data. Suddenly, Corona wasn't a punchline to a bad joke. It was human, and it helped foster a deeper connection with him, his employees and the brand.

Emotional intelligence is the ability to use times of extreme emotion to work for you, instead of against you. Rooted in empathy, a mindful reaction to the challenge at hand, and the opportunity to create real, human connections with those affected. Those connections are the cornerstone of a brand's success.

We don't know when, but the pandemic will eventually recede. Thanks to a CEO's ability to put a more human face on his company, the Corona brand may well come out of it healthier than ever which is astounding.

In the meantime, agencies like mine are still seeking creative ideas to help clients stay focused, calm and, most importantly, human.

Continue reading here:
Staying human amid the pandemic - Marketing Dive

Human Behavior

Netflix’s 100 Humans: Who Is the Hilarious Human #28? – Screen Rant

Netflix is taking reality TV by storm with viral hits. First the reality competitionseries The Circle, then they won hearts with Love is Blind and now they give us a reality documentary-series, 100 Humans. As with most shows there is always a crowd favorite.This time around it's Human #28.

Now that the producers at Netflix has shown us that love is indeed blind, they have another social experiment to explore. In 100 Humans, a hundred random humans from various backgrounds and demographics are participants ininteractive experiments. They are used to prove or debunk popular trends and identify patterns in human behavior. Those involved in the experiments are respectively referred to as Human and their designated number to hide their identities. Topics they examinerange from the age old question of is the toilet paper supposed to be over or under to trying to prove if women really talk more than men. Hosts Alie Ward, Sammie Obeid andZainab Johnson, who all come from a background in entertainment, keep the experiments on track and add a little comedic flair to keep the show entertaining. Seeing the participants endure the various social psychological experiments is another level of entertainment. One particular participant who kept viewers wanting more is lovable Human #28.

Related: Listen to Your Heart: Everything We Know About the Bachelor Spinoff

Over a course of eight episodes, viewers get to know some of the humans involved, mostly basic information of hometown and occupation. There were even some familiar faces,like Emmy winner Ryan Zamo and YouTube star Avalon Warren. While some stood out more than others, none stood out quite like Human #28, Tyanta Snow, better known as Ty (via Instagram). Ty made quite the impression with his hilarious honesty, boisterous personality and admirable ability to burst into song at any given moment. The special education teacher from Pasadena, California, is also an actor and according to his IMDb page has been on several reality television shows as well as gameshows. His Instagram bio also indicates he's a gospel singer, which explains the ease of his musical talent.

Ty often used his gift of music to help him get through challenging experiments. He used it as a distraction during an experiment that required him to refrain from using the bathroom for five hours, then played a round of Jenga before he could go. Some of these felt quite brutal. It should be mentioned it was an experiment he prompted to be examined. In his most memorable moment of the season, he created a song to teach the game of Tic-Tac-Toe, which eventually went viral and probablychanged how the old school game is introduced at a time of boredom. It may have increased the use of the game.

Season 1 of 100 Humans may be over, but after the success of this season, Human #28 is bound to grace our television screens again. Until then, there's always Tic-tac-toe, tic-tac-toe Love to play the game, tic-tac-toe.

Next: Where to Follow All of the Love Is Blind Couples on Instagram

100 Humansseason 1 is currently available to stream on Netflix.

Source:Instagram,IMDb

Where Ahsoka Is During The Mandalorian (According To Current Star Wars Canon)

Brian Goodrum is a writer who specializes in content and creative writing. Now working as a writer for Valnet, Inc, covering Reality TV for Screen Rant, she can combine her love for entertainment and writing. She is fueled by all things art and tea related and looks forward to sharing her work.

View post:
Netflix's 100 Humans: Who Is the Hilarious Human #28? - Screen Rant

Human Behavior

Why people are panic and bulk-buying during the coronavirus pandemic – Insider – INSIDER

A trip to the supermarket ends the same way for many people around the world right now trying to pick up anything you can among rows and rows of empty shelves.

While shops have not closed in most places, people have been panic buying items in bulk so they are prepared if their country does go into complete lockdown. Grocery chains and governments have advised against this bulk-buying, but this hasn't stopped people rushing to queue up and buy tons of things like toilet paper and diapers to store in their homes.

Panic buying behavior occurs when the brain's survival mode overrides any rational decision making, according to Dr. Ali Fenwick, human behavior expert at Nyenrode Business University.

He said there are four main reasons why people feel the need to stock up in this way.

An uncertain or threatening situation means the more primitive part of the brain can take over, and it's main objective is to keep you alive. This suppresses or distorts rational thinking, so even though governments are promising there will be no disruption to food supply, many don't listen.

Most people have never lived through something like this current health crisis, so they would rather buy more food than they usually would than risk going hungry.

Scarcity of products leads people to perceive them as more valuable, meaning they are more willing to pay a premium price. It can even make us buy things we don't even want because we think they are suddenly worth more.

This can explain why people are scrambling for toilet paper and stealing it out of other people's baskets even though they have plenty at home.

Fenwick explained that the fact other people are filling their houses with things they don't need can bring about the urge for you to do the same.

Everything feels quite uncertain right now, with social isolation and countries closing their borders, which can lead us to follow what other people are doing, even if it's not right at all.

In uncertain times, it's nice to feel like you have control over something. When looking at the apocalyptic sight of an emply aisle, buying up anything you can helps provide that control, because you know if the worst comes to the worst you can feed your family.

"In summary, bulk buying is caused by various psychological and environmental cues which throw rational thinking out of the window," said Fenwick. "When in survival mode, we let mainly our emotions drive decisions and are more susceptible to social influences. So, we will rush out and buy more because we believe others are doing the same."

Read more:

A surfer set up toilet paper exchange on a street corner and is encouraging people to share their supplies

13 heartwarming ways everyday heroes are helping people affected by coronavirus

Logan Paul shared a TikTok poking fun at how people around the world are panic-buying toilet paper

Bidet sales are soaring as the coronavirus causes toilet paper panic-buying frenzies around the world

An Australian family accidentally ordered $3,264 worth of toilet paper when they bought 48 boxes instead of 48 rolls

See the rest here:
Why people are panic and bulk-buying during the coronavirus pandemic - Insider - INSIDER

Human Behavior

Coronavirus and the changing dynamics of social spaces in Pakistan – Daily Times

According to World Health Organization (WHO), there has to be distance of at least 1 meter which needs to be maintained between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing. This caution is prescribed in the light of the fact that social contact can increase the susceptibility of catching the virus. Hence, any form of social contact, most critically physical proximity, is being consciously restricted by the governments of the countries where the number of cases as well as death rates are increasing due to coronavirus. For instance, in China cell-phone tracking system is being made operational to monitor peoples mobility especially to restrict the mobility of those who have confirmed infections. In Italy, as an immediate response to the outbreak, travelling restrictions are being imposed, in

addition to curbing social mobility by shutting down schools, restaurants and bars. The UK Government is also actively functioning to stop all non-essential contact with other people.

These measures which are being referred to as the need of the hour have received flake in political and academic discourses due to their stringent and anti-social stance toward human behavior and interactions. But the fact of the matter is that the relevance of these strict measures cannot be ignored if the susceptibility of the virus is to be minimized.

Especially, in a country like Pakistan where the number of identified infected cases has been reported the highest as compared to other South Asian countries, the relevance of such measures become even more important. Adding to this grave situation is the shortage of precautionary masks and hand sanitizers in the medical stores of the country. With such dearth of physical infrastructure in the health care, paucity of Human Resource trained in knowledge related to the virus and virus-control, and state-apparatus determined to restrict social mobility by curbing social spaces, will human behavior actually change in a country like Pakistan? We are not able to respond with an absolute Yes to this question. There can be many reasons attributable to our ambiguity in finding a deterministic response to this question. First of all, huge economic costs are being borne by the most infected regions as a result of shutting down and locking-down because people are refraining from physical contacts and confining themselves to their spaces of domesticity the immediate result of which is the sharp decline in the demand of goods and services. To what extent this global phenomenon is contextual to Pakistans reality, especially when we consider countrys informal economy, is questionable. If a poor persons survival is singularly contingent on per-day labor (for example of a child working in automobile mechanics/shop, a khokha owner, a daily-wage worker or a domestic helper), will he/she be caring for coronavirus even when the demand for his/her goods and services is low? Secondly, the country has culturally and historically been bifurcated into urban and rural domains where awareness and literacy rates in the former are greater than the latter. Moreover, the social ties and social capital are more grounded in the rural than urban areas of Pakistan due to which maintaining social distancing in the rural areas seems to be a bigger challenge than it is for urban areas in Pakistan. In the light of this assertion, do we need an interventionist policy of social distancing specified for rural/urban divide in Pakistan? Thirdly, our social values and codes of hospitality are so strong that these have become part of our cognitive systems and cultural norms. We still see people shaking hands with each other around us. We still see people hugging each other because they want to respond to the gesture of physical proximity with same warmth. Also, we still see people being reticent to cover their faces with masks despite catching cold, or not caring much for their mouth or nose droplets dropping over other peoples bodies when they cough or sneeze. Why? Because, they simply dont care as we heard one sick man saying Allah maalikhai (Allah is our caretaker). Putting these contextual realities in place, social distancing seems implausible in Pakistan. Having said this, we observe shrinking of social functioning as a response to which social behavior is altering in the physical spaces around. It gives a lesser sense of belonging when your colleagues and even close relatives for that matter do not encourage or respond to physical proximities such as hand shaking, hugging or kissing. The recent studies of cognitive anthropology being conducted in the west are also highlighting that social distancing is causing social isolation which can cause depression and other psychological disorders among people. Such studies can be relevant for a country like Pakistan where Social groups are closely-knit and culturally-tied to each other. In a nutshell, coronavirus and the institutional response to it is necessary but as to what extent it will be efficacious for a complex country like Pakistan is a question to ponder over.

The authors are assistant professor and lecturer at the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) respectively.

See the original post here:
Coronavirus and the changing dynamics of social spaces in Pakistan - Daily Times

Human Behavior

This Indonesian Scientist Studies The Worlds Newest Orangutans – Forbes

Bogor Agricultural University researcher Puji Rianti in the field, collecting genetic samples for ... [+] her research in Indonesia.

Puji Rianti's skills as a geneticist and her passion for conservation have made her a researcher at the IPB University in Indonesia, studying the genetics of theTapanuli orangutan, which is only found in a small area in Northern Sumatra.

Rianti was a co-author of the paper that in 2017 described a new species of great apes, the Tapanuli orangutan, Pongo tapanuliensis, which were spotted in the area in 1939 but not rediscovered until 1997.

When I was a girl, I had many dreams of a careers to be a teacher, a police detective, an archaeologist, even a radio announcer and an artist!

But I always had a dream to research in the field with primates. During my study in the university, I had several opportunities to live that dream as a research assistant, Rianti said. I think being a scientist is not always about being a nerd, but about having an excellent communication and negotiation skills.

Then she eventually became a primary researcher of a project, which she said the biggest dream came true.

Her field and genetics experience gave her the opportunity to work in one of the most intriguing scientific questions in the region.

It's always been a big question: how and why can only we have orangutans as Asia's big apes, living only in certain areas in Sumatra and Borneo, she said, What evolutionary moment shaped that?

Rianti also said that there is plenty that we can learn about the evolution of human behavior and culture through this far sister in own primate family.

My work began as a chunk part of these questions, especially the evolutionary genetics part that shapes the orangutans' population nowadays, she said, My study also generates databases for population identification purposes within and between populations and species in Sumatra.

According to Rianti, together with the most significant research consortium of orangutans, she and her fellow researchers were finally able to prove the genetic and behavioral uniqueness of a certain population of Orangutans in Tapanuli in northern Sumatra, culminating in naming a newly named species.

Now, most scientists and conservationist are also interested and willing to study this species, but genetically we still lead in the project because of our expertise and laboratory tools availability, she said.

According to Rianti, even though the Tapanuli orangutan was announced as a new species of orangutans in Sumatra only in 2017, the population is already facing so many threats and life challenges just to keep existing.

It is also challenging to find an individual in the wild, as their appearance is influenced by the availability of food and suitable habitats, she said.

As a scientist and conservationist, I have learned to open my eyes, my ears, and my heart.

In terms of lessons of others in the global south, Rianti says if we want to conserve and safe our natural environment and biodiversity, we need to help people in the area.

They are the one who will keep the habitat safe and sustain. Because it's their home habitat, their life and work, and we shouldn't give up, she said.

Puji Rianti carries out laboratory work at the genetic lab of the Department of Biology IPB ... [+] University at IPB University in Bogor, Indonesia

Rianti is just one of many women making an impact in science and communities in Indonesia. Another is Monica Nirmala is an Indonesian dentist who is now a masters student at Harvards School of Public Health.

RELATED:How Paying Your Doctor In Seeds Helps Save The Rain Forest

She has helped Kinari Webb medical doctor and founder ofHealth In Harmonyto reduce deforestation and provide equitable access to healthcare through Project Alam Sehat Lestari(ASRI)in the village ofSukadanaon the edge of theGunung Palung National Parkin western Borneo.

In order to reduce the impact of health emergencies on the deforestation, the villagers can pay for their healthcare at the clinic with seeds, handicrafts and other non-cash payment options.

Health In Harmony figures show the number of logging households in the community has dropped by 89% over the last 10 years and in the first five years of the program infant deaths per 100 households declined 70%. The community now also has an ambulance.

See original here:
This Indonesian Scientist Studies The Worlds Newest Orangutans - Forbes

Human Behavior

There Are Striking Similarities in The Way Bacteria And Humans Settle Into Colonies – ScienceAlert

The way oral bacteria sets up shop in our mouths is not unlike how we humans settle into our cities, a new study has found.

There's a reason bacteria are said to live in 'colonies', and the more we learn about how these tiny architects build their communities, the more familiar their behavior seems to us.

A new study following how multiple individual settlers develop into microcolonies has found growth patterns and dynamics that mirror our own urban inclinations.

"We take this 'satellite-level' view, following hundreds of bacteria distributed on a surface from their initial colonisation to biofilm formation," says Hyun Koo from the University of Pennsylvania.

"And what we see is that, remarkably, the spatial and structural features of their growth are analogous to what we see in urbanisation."

Just as in nature, bacteria in your mouth live in complex structures known as biofilms. In fact, 99.9 percent of prokaryotes live crammed together with millions of other neighbours in one of these settlements.

Biofilms are everywhere, but if they're on your teeth, we refer to them as plaque. This dense and sticky deposit is hard to remove, thereby protecting resident microbes from environmental assaults, like toothpaste, floss or even antibiotics.

It builds up when several individual settlers develop into microcolonies, but exactly how this happens remains underexplored.

Using the oral bacterium Streptococcus mutans, researchers have shown that microbial cells settle at random and regardless of the surface type. Nevertheless, only a subset of colonisers actually begin clustering, expanding their scope "by amalgamating neighboring bacteria into densely populated microcolonies."

"We thought that the majority of the individual bacteria would end up growing," says Koo. "But the actual number was less than 40 percent, with the rest either dying off or being engulfed by the growth of other microcolonies."

Once the clusters arise, something really curious happens: they begin to interact with one another, growing and organising into densely populated "micron-scale microcolonies that further expand and merge" to form a biofilm superstructure.

This sort of cooperation is interesting, as previous studies have reported bacterial competition in other species, especially when there was a scarcity of nutrients.

In this case, the nutrients only impacted the actual forming of the colonies. After that, "the individual microcolonies (distant or in close proximity) continued to grow without disruption until merging with each other, and the merged structures behaved and grew like a single new harmonised community," the researchers write.

Only when more antagonistic foreign species were introduced did it affect that seemingly peaceful unit, and the growth of the microcolonies was lowered.

"These communities (microcolonies) can expand and merge with each other in a collaborative fashion, without competition between adjacent communities," the authors conclude.

(Paula et al., Nature Communications, 2020)

It's the type of growth that indicates "communal behavior between microorganisms", and it looks similar to human urbanisation, where some settlers stay static, while others grow into villages that further expand into densely-populated microcolonies or cities, which then merge into microbial megacities.

Of course, there are limits to this idea of bacterial urbanisation. The authors aren't saying microbes build traffic signs, roads and supply lines, but the general idea is the same and it can not only help us tackle infections better, it might also help us build more sustainably.

"It's a useful analogy, but it should be taken with a grain of salt," Koo says. "We're not saying these bacteria are anthropomorphic. But taking this perspective of biofilm growth gives us a multiscale, multidimensional picture of how they grow that we've not seen before."

The study was published in Nature Communications.

More:
There Are Striking Similarities in The Way Bacteria And Humans Settle Into Colonies - ScienceAlert

Human Behavior

Wait, What Does The Novel Coronavirus Have To Do With Bats? – Women’s Health

If youre not a member of the scientific or medical community (or, if you are, you're a hero right now!), it might seem like the novel coronavirus came out of nowhere. Now that 191,127 COVID-19 cases in total have been reported on every continent except for Antarctica, many people are wondering exactly where the novel coronavirus came from.

While a lot about the virus is still unknown, part of the answer to that mystery may have to do with an animal more commonly thought of as an important part of any good Halloween decoration display: the bat.

The first cases of COVID-19 (the illness caused by novel coronavirus) can be traced back to a live animal market in Wuhan City, China, according to the CDC. And research suggests that, like other recent viral outbreaks, COVID-19 originated in bats before it made the jump to humans. Here, the details on how bats played a role in this COVID-19 outbreak.

It's unclear exactly how bats picked up novel coronavirus, but researchers do know they carry it and are the reason it's been passed on to humans. COVID-19 is a zoonotic disease, which means it is caused by an animal virus that has been picked up by humans, explains Richard J. Kuhn, PhD, a professor of biological sciences at Purdue University. By Kuhns estimate, about 80 percent of viruses that exist are zoonotic viruses, and they work in both directions: animals can pass them to humans, and humans can pass them back to animals.

The novel coronavirus that caused this current outbreak comes from a family of zoonotic viruses. Viruses from this family have been passed to humans from animals before (more on this later) and usually result in cold- and flu-like respiratory symptoms for humans. But the illnesses they cause can also lead to death in animals, according to a study from the University of California, Berkeley.

However, researchers have found that when bats contract these viruses, their particularly strong immune systems prevent them from getting sick or dying from the infections. This means they can continue to carry and pass on the virus, whereas other animals that contract it may get sick and die, and therefore are less likely to pass it on. The UC Berkeley researchers found that a bats immune system is so strong, in fact, that when a virus infects a bat, the animals immune system response is thought to cause the virus to adapt and replicate even faster. That means when the virus infects an animal with a weaker immune system (lets say a human), the virus is able to wreak havoc.

One of the reasons bats have such strong immune systems is thought to be the fact that they can fly, according to the UC Berkeley study. When they fly, bats elevate their metabolic rates to a level that would hurt other mammals, but for bats, helped them develop an immune system that is able to quickly repair the cell damage caused by flight, the researchers found.

As a virus jumps from species to species, it mutates, which means that researchers won't see an *exact* copy in animals of the novel coronavirus found in humans. But scientists have found a 96 percent genetic match between the virus that's currently infecting humans and a coronavirus that is found in bats, according to a study published in Nature in February.

Kuhn believes that its not likely that novel coronavirus spread directly from bats to humans, but that one or more animals at the market in Wuhan were infected by bats and served as an intermediate host in the transfer of the virus from bats to humans. It's thought that humans then came in contact with an infected animal, or animals, at the market. How exactly the virus was transmitted is still unknown, but some theories include a human consuming an infected animal or touching an infected animal during the butchering process.

While they don't know the exact route the virus took to get to humans, scientists all seem to agree that the novel coronavirus came from animalsparticularly considering other recent disease outbreaks that were caused by zoonotic viruses.

COVID-19 is not the first illness that has made the leap from bats to humans. The viruses that caused SARS, MERS, Ebola, Nipah, Hendra, and Marburg can all be traced back to bats, according to the UC Berkeley researchers, although all were spread through intermediate hosts. While animals and humans have traded diseases back and forth historically, recently, outbreaks that can be traced back to animals have become more commonpartly, at least, due to human behavior.

"This is something that has been increasing probably because weve degraded their habitat and come in more contact directly with more animals," says Kuhn. He also notes that humans have created environments where there are high densities of animals, "whether thats a swine farm or a wet market, in which viruses can spread," he explains. "So, there will continue to be this threat of pathogens moving into a new ecological niche."

Unfortunately, experts say no. Humans come in contact with animals in all sorts of waysby hanging out with pets, consuming animal products, and encroaching upon their habitats. So, Kuhn says, the best thing to do is try to learn from this outbreak and try to be prepared for when the next one occurs.

The question is, will we be able to predict this in the future?" he says. "And were not there yet. We can anticipate that its coming because of our more frequent exposure to animals, but we cant anticipate what its going to look like right now. For Kuhn, one of the keys is developing better technologies that can tell if someone is infected with a virus before they become symptomatic. That way, someone who is sick can be treated and take appropriate action sooner and will hopefully limit the number of other people infected.

So, while researchers continue to investigate these diseases, the most important thing you can do right now is make sure you keep yourself and those around you healthy, per the CDCs guidelines, and look out for the symptoms of the illness in yourself and others, and seek medical help and testing if you suspect you or a loved one has it.

The novel coronavirus is especially serious for the elderly, those who are immunocompromised, and people with chronic conditions. The best way you can prevent the spread of the virus is to practice social distancing, wash your hands frequently, avoid touching your face, and implement these other hygiene habits that can help protect the health of your family and community.

Read more:
Wait, What Does The Novel Coronavirus Have To Do With Bats? - Women's Health

Human Behavior

Oversexualization of the Human Body Damages Self-Esteem – berkeleyhighjacket.com

There are many wacky traditions here at Berkeley High School (BHS), but arguably the wackiest is Senior Streak. During this upcoming event, students run through the school and into the city with no clothes on. Though it may seem all fun and cheeky, Senior Streak brings up a more serious question about human behavior. Should public nudity be considered an act of rebellion? We place a lot of shame on the body, but normalizing nudity could actually have incredibly positive effects on our society.

We may seem pretty relaxed compared to other places, but being naked is still taboo in American culture. When you bring up the idea of nudism with most Americans, their reaction is, Ew, Id rather not. But why do we have such a strong aversion to nakedness? One reason may be that since covering up is the norm, people only find themselves stripping in sexual situations. So when we see nudity in any context, we connect it with sex. In a study from psychologist Kurt Gray, subjects were shown photos of the same person in a headshot and in a revealing outfit. The study found that people wearing less were judged as being less intelligent and less capable, but more reckless and pleasure-seeking than their clothed counterparts.

This over-sexualization of the body has awful consequences. High school students will receive criticism about their outfits being inappropriate. These comments feel especially awkward coming from adults, who shouldnt be thinking of teens in a sexual way. This thought process also leads to unwanted sexual attention and harassment. If nudity wasnt so frowned upon, it would allow us to get used to the human anatomy and see it as more than just an object of desire.

Additionally, studies show that being nude is very beneficial to our mental health. It lets us feel comfortable in our own skin and appreciate the way that we look instead of being ashamed of it. Research from Dr. Keon West at Goldsmiths, University of London, showed that spending more time naked leads to, greater life satisfaction and relationships that are mediated by more positive body image and higher selfesteem. This doesnt mean that everyone needs to start going to work and school fully nude, but getting comfortable with the bodies we live in would certainly benefit us all.

Unfortunately, walking down the street showing only what your mama gave NATHAN BOOTH you can lead to arrest and conviction for indecent exposure. Nakedness can feel liberating, but it shouldnt have to be an act of defiance. We project a lot of shame on to being nude and depicting it only as highly sexual or embarrassing. This is why its so crucial that things like Senior Streak continue, to normalize nudity until its no longer seen as making a statement. We were all born with these bodies, so we might as well embrace them.

Original post:
Oversexualization of the Human Body Damages Self-Esteem - berkeleyhighjacket.com

Human Behavior

Panic Buying: The Psychology of Hoarding Toilet Paper, Beans & Soup – PsychCentral.com

Theres a very good article by Bella DePaulo, Ph.D. Why Are People Hoarding Toilet Paper? that dives into the psychology of this behavior. Its a good question, because what were seeing are American consumers acting in a seemingly irrational manner in reaction to the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.

Panic buying is what people do when faced with an imminent disaster, whether it be natural such as a hurricane or snowstorm or something else, like the spread of a virus for which there is no effective treatment or vaccine. And while it seems irrational on the surface, it actually has a rational basis.

I think one of the reasons panic buying seems to make less sense to some during this pandemic is the fact that its likely to not just last a few days or weeks, but months to come. Theres little chance most people can stock up on enough food to feed an entire family, or even oneself, for months on end.

Hoarding is a natural human response sometimes rational, sometimes emotional to scarcity or perceived scarcity. According to timely, recently published research (Sheu & Kuo, 2020):

Psychologically, hoarding stems from a humans response, either rationally or emotionally, to scarcity, and so may occur on either the supply or the demand side. As argued by [other researchers], hoarding can be an overall response that involves a mix of a strategic, rational and emotional human responses (such as anxiety, panic and fear) to perceived threats to supply.

Many people hoard during normal times, under the rubric of bulk purchasing. This is an example of rational hoarding, because people do this in order to enjoy better pricing on staple goods, such as paper products (paper towels, toilet paper, etc.) and food (such as canned food).

People also hoard during times of crisis or disaster, because of a belief whether its true or not of the impending scarcity of a product. In 2008, many Americans panicked about the rice supply due to a global rice shortage during that time. Every typhoon season in Taiwan, the prices of seasonal fruits and vegetables reliably rise over 100%, regardless of actual supply of these staples (Zanna & Rempel, 1988).

Humans perceive reality in two primary ways: rationally and intuitively (or emotionally). Much as a person might try, it is nearly impossible to divorce reality from your experiential and emotional connection to it. You cannot just be a robot (although some people are much better at this than others) and act 100% of the time in a rational, logical manner. This impacts our decision-making when it comes to disaster planning.

Researchers have found that hoarding due to an impending or ongoing disaster is likely to be self-interest-oriented and planned behavior that is dominated by peoples desire to minimize risk (Sheu & Kuo, 2020). It is less risky to hoard food (and toilet paper) and be wrong about the extent or duration of the disaster, since most of it can be used anyway.

People are motivated largely by self-interest and to avoid suffering (whether physical or emotional, real or perceived). We spend much time weighing possible risks and working to reduce them, because it means we get to live a longer life. People go in for an annual checkup to their doctors office as they age to prevent unexpected health problems that are more likely to occur as we age. People cross at a crosswalk to reduce their risk of being hit by a car on the street. We hedge our bets in a new relationship to save ourselves from heartache later.

While it may not make much rational sense to hoard cans of beans or soup, it makes us feel like were taking reasonable precautions to minimize risk. And remember, different people have different risk tolerances. So while one person may feel perfectly fine not stocking up on staple goods, another person may need to.

People are also more likely to engage in hoarding when their intuitive, emotional side driven by anxiety, fear, and panic believes there is a reason to do so, due to temporary factors, like price volatility or a supply shortage (Sheu & Kuo, 2020). Even though rationally, most people know via historical data that such shortages will be short-lived, emotionally we simply dont believe that.

An emotional contagion can take hold as we observe the actions of others, because people can be easily influenced by seeing other peoples behaviors and feelings. The anxiety and worry about food supply shortages is more readily transmitted to others nowadays, due to the immediacy and increased reach of social media. Even if that anxiety and worry is misplaced or irrational, it spreads like its own virus throughout our social media networks.

So when you see images of empty store shelves and hear your friends all stockpiling toilet paper, you think to yourself, Well, maybe I should be doing this too. It may make little sense to you, but you do it anyway. Just to be safe.

Im not sure that hoarding would be as widespread if, after going on your panic buying spree, you get back to the house and feel even more anxious. Instead, such behavior induces a sense of calm and control. Youve taken active measures to reduce your risk (of starvation, of not being able to clean yourself after using the bathroom, etc.), and it provides at least a temporary sense of relief. It helps alleviate some of the fear and anxiety most of us are feeling.

An in an out-of-control situation where a global pandemic is occurring, its not a stretch to understand that people want to feel that semblance of control (or at least the perception of it). Taking action, even in the form of something as simple as cleaning ones house or buying canned goods, provides at least some relief for the low-level anxiety.

Keep your distance from others. Avoid large gatherings or close social situations. Wash your hands throughout the day for at least 20 seconds. And stop touching your face, or others. And if you must hoard, please try and do so in reasonable amounts. Remember there are many people in the population such as our senior citizens who often dont have access to the resources or space to hoard. Good luck and keep safe!

For further reading:

Why Are People Hoarding Toilet Paper?

References

Sheu, J-B. & Kuo, H-T. (2020). Dual speculative hoarding: A wholesaler-retailer channel behavioral phenomenon behind potential natural hazard threats. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 44.

Zanna, MP & Rempel, JK. (1988). Attitudes: a new look at an old concept, in: The Social Psychology of Knowledge, Editions de la Maison des Sciences de lHomme, 315334.

My sincerest thanks to Elseviers ScienceDirect for providing access to these research articles.

Footnotes:

Related Articles

Read more from the original source:
Panic Buying: The Psychology of Hoarding Toilet Paper, Beans & Soup - PsychCentral.com