Intro and Ch 1

I was surprised to learn that many common health recommendations are actually ill-advised or even wrong, and that many peoples’ beliefs about health and longevity come from biased sources. People who participated in the study did not live such long lives because they ate healthy and exercised regularly. Instead, they lived long lives due to their specific personalities. I also learned that personalities can actually change slightly throughout the course of ones’ lifetime. I was under the impression that you were born with a certain personality and it remains the same as you grow older. Another thing that surprised me was that thinking happy thoughts does not reduce stress and lead to long life, and that worrying is not very bad for your health. I am not sure if I believe these statements because I feel as though thinking happy thoughts and being positive must reduce stress. One thing that I noticed was how hard working, dedicated, and diligent the researchers had to be. I think it is amazing that people can dedicate 20 years of their lives to one specific study. I am left wondering how accurate the study is. Yes, the researchers were extremely detail oriented but there are so many factors that must have impacted findings, and the authors mentioned this in the chapters.

 

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Introduction and Chapter 1

There are many main points from the introduction and chapter one. I think one of the biggest takeaways is that the researchers discovered that many present day health recommendations are in fact wrong or ill-advised. I think this is an important point to remember from the introduction because so many individuals are too quick to believe the newest fad, whether it be a new diet, medication, or exercise, I think it is important to be skeptical and not be too quick to believe everything you hear.

I think another main point from this chapter is the idea of “individual pathways.” I think when reading this book, it is important to remember that we are all humans and we are all very unique and different. When reading about health and longevity it is important to remember that everyone starts with a different genetic background, home environment, degree of education, ect. I think it is essential to keep this idea in mind when reading because every individual does differ and the findings from this study are based on patterns detected in the participants.

I really enjoyed reading these first two chapters and beginning to develop an understanding of what this book will incorporate. One of the things I really like about this book is how the authors include measures and self-assessments that the readers can complete, similar to the questions that Dr. Terman used in his study. Incorporating these questions, allow readers to self-reflect on their own health behaviors and incorporate change if they deem necessary.

I think I will really enjoy reading this book because I can relate the findings of this study to my own family. I have a grandmother who is 90 years old, and I regularly wonder how she is still incredibly healthy at her age. Prior to reading this book, I believed that it may be because she attends church daily, keeps a very busy social calendar, she never smoked, and has always remained active. Although these could still be factors, I think this book will provide me with new insight that I may have never considered, such as her personality. Therefore, I think it will be interesting to uncover the findings from this longitudinal study.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Introduction and Chapter 1

The chapter starts out by mentioning that a lot of aspects of our health are totally random, however, there are aspects that have a correlation to life events/personal features. For example, being born with a birth defect is not something that could’ve been in your control, but having access to medical care when you don’t feel well can help you uncover potential health problems.

The authors state that “Personality is not set in Stone” (page 5), which I find somewhat of a conflict with. Although I do believe our behavior as humans is due to a combination of nature vs. nurture, I believe that there are some aspects about our personalities/behaviors that are just inherent to who we are. As much as we believe that we can change people and the way they act just to improve their health, I think there will always be a need to stick to who you really are.

Nonetheless, I think it was very brave of the authors to look into the Terman case more deeply and try to find correlations, if any, between personality/sociological traits and one’s health. The fact that the study took eight decades to complete is incredible and takes a lot of time and dedication. I can’t wait to hear what they find out!

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Introduction and Chapter 1

The main premise of the Terman experiment is “why do some people thrive into old age and why others die prematurely” (Friedman & Martin IX). Throughout his study, Terman found that “the people who lived the longest had certain habits and patterns of living and their personalities, career trajectories and social lives proved highly relevant to their long term health” (Friedman & Martin X). This finding is applicable to the present day because it seems as though elderly people who have a daily routine that consists of various activities live longer than those who do not have a routine. I found it very interesting that Terman was able to follow individuals throughout their entire lives and observe which characteristics influence the outcomes of their lives. One thing that I found most interesting in the reading was that many health threats are not due to bad luck, instead they are “systematic individual differences in susceptibility to injury and disease” (Friedman & Martin 1). The determining factor of who gets sick and who stays healthy are products of personality or other social issues. After reading this quotation and comparing it to everything I’ve seen regarding longevity, I found that most of the time people think that getting a specific illness is a product of bad luck, when in actuality getting this illness is based on various factors such as over all happiness, relationships with others and behaviors.

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Introduction and Chapter 1 Submission – Brittany Woo

In the introduction and Chapter 1 of the Longevity Project, it harps on the fact that long life is not dependent on the typical health factors society thinks of, but rather on individualized habits and patterns of living. Based on studying the lives of hundreds of subjects for over several decades, the studies have shown that individual pathways based on personality, family, work, and social relations are more of a determinant on if someone is on a healthy path of life.

Just from these two brief chapters, my thoughts and beliefs about a healthy life has already shifted away from just dieting and exercising appropriately to maintaining a healthy life to analyzing how my own personality, work, family life, and social relations could have an affect on me. Last year I ran a half marathon because it was one of the only ways to get me to stay dedicated to exercising. I wanted to become more fit and “healthy,” therefore I poured many hours of training and $90 into this race. Nowadays, I hardly feel motivated to run more than 3 mile at a time. Running to me was a source of longevity, however now I am starting to realize that it may be a myth and there are other aspects of my life that relate to the perceptions of a person’s health.

Additionally, within my apartment, we all are on this “health kick.”  This includes exercising daily and eating fresh produce and foods rather than processed ones. It has been two weeks since the semester started, and we have all been pretty dedicated with our goals.  However, this book makes me question the purpose of our “health kick.” Are our actions worth it? What more can we do or what different actions can we take to be healthier college students if exercising and healthy eating isn’t the secret to a healthy life, according to this book.

 

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Introduction & Chapter One

In the introduction and chapter one, Friedman and Martin (2011) review the premise of their book: to identify the psychological and environmental characteristics that are associated with longer lives. Dr. Terman’s longitudinal study of 1500 participants showed detailed qualitative data on their families, schooling, activities, personalities, and social relations. By doing so, they hope to see whether certain traits predicted their health over time. Personality, social relations, family, and work are all relevant to healthy/unhealthy lifestyles. At the end of chapter one, the authors predicted that highly sociable and conscientious children would lead healthier and longer lives. However, the chapter ends with a cliffhanger, claiming that their hypothesis was only half right.

It is insightful for the authors to note that there must be a series of healthy traits one must possess to leave a better life. For example, one single action, such as increasing water intake, will not “cancel out” high amounts of soda drunken. Rather, there must be a lateral inhibition of decreasing soda intake as well. In my experience, by changing one part of their diet region, people may feel like they are on a pathway to a healthier lifestyle. While this may be semi-true, a healthy lifestyle encompasses more than diet. There needs to be a more holistic perspective taken on how to be heathier rather than just focusing on the physical.

For example, in my future, rather than just focusing on what I am eating and the exercise I do, it is also important to view my goals as attainable, work towards them, maintain good social relations, and practice some stress-relieving activity. In class, the speaker spoke about the different health dimensions (ie emotional, physical, financial, etc.). These all have an impact on my psychological well-being. As the book states, individual differences in my personality and perspective towards life affects my health. If I can consciously make better choices in most, if not all, these health dimensions, then I believe that my overall health would improve.

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Introduction and Chapter 1

Something I found interesting in the introduction to The Longevity Project was the question of Terman participant result generalizability. The writers of The Longevity Project acknowledge that the Terman participants lived in a different era from today and were somewhat unique in being unusually bright, middle class and educated. They assert that “a poverty-stricken peasant with HIV” will differ significantly from a Terman participant, but explain that they have used scientific techniques and statistical tests to validate the generalizability of results. As well, the authors maintain that most readers of the book (middle class and educated) are not different in relevant ways from members of the study. This speaks to the importance of socioeconomic status to lifestyle and health and suggests that the book is tailored to a particular audience and less written for consideration of the health  of the entire United States population.

I do not doubt the thoroughness and validity of statistical evaluation of the generalizability of The Longevity Project. However, I think the book would benefit from exploration of how factors of the study might decrease result generalizability and why this matters to society today. For example, most of the Terman participants were white, meaning the results of the study do not account for social and cultural racial differences. It is unlikely that members of the Terman study faced racial discrimination, but systemic racism damages health and well-being, meaning results of The Longevity Project are less inclusive of the experience of many black Americans. Another important factor in the study is location; all the Terman participants were raised in San Francisco and variables like climate or an urban lifestyle could affect longevity. Finally, participants grew up in a largely technology-free environment, making their upbringing significantly different from that of the current American schoolchild.

The length and consistency of the Terman study and the careful analysis of its data makes the Longevity Project a valuable addition to healthcare psychology literature. Still, I think the introduction to the book would have been stronger had the authors explored confounding factors in their findings and considered how the American population today might differ from the Terman participants, creating a dialogue about systemic racism, the prevalence of technology and other aspects of our society.

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Intro and Ch.1

What interested me the most during the beginning of the book was that the criteria used to describe a child’s personality back when the project started was still applicable today and easily fit our modern statistical models.  It was a goldmine for the researchers to be able to analyze that much data and have it be so detailed.  It makes me wonder though if the original researchers only had these surveys on the children’s personalities filled out once or if they were done at multiple points throughout their schooling to track the change they went through in that critical stage of development.  I also wonder if the relationship the children had with their parents was considered when analyzing the data the parents gave on the child’s personality, because often parents would want to brag about their children and make them appear a way they aren’t.  Alternatively, some families with strained relationships may also paint the child in a misleading light.  Having the children’s teachers also provide data on them is a good control, but how much sway is given to each provider of information on the child?  I also wonder how much of the findings from the study still holds true considering the drastic cultural shifts that have occurred since the study participants were children.  Technology and the mass loss of athletic and arts opportunity for children may have changed some of the baseline averages for the study if it were conducted in modern times.

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Individual Pathways

The aspect of individual pathways was a concept that especially stuck out to me in this reading. I feel that in today’s society we tend to link certain, single traits to specific results pertaining to health and quality of life. For instance, Friedman and Martin speak of a girl with divorced parents. Most would agree this girl would experience struggles in relationships throughout her life because of this specific circumstance. However, Friedman and Martin also outline the importance of individual pathways. This means that it is not just specific circumstances that affect quality of life as a whole, but rather a collaboration of these circumstances and how they react with one another throughout one’s life. Even though the mentioned girl had divorced parents, she was not doomed to plagued relationships. Rather, she was happily married. This is because a single circumstance does not solely determine one’s overall health and quality of life, but many factors contribute to this phenomenon.

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Introduction and Chapter 1 review

Most people wish to live a long and healthy life. Through the introduction and first chapter of the book, the authors believe they have fond the signs of what leads to a longer, healthier life. They use the data collected by a Stanford professor, Dr. Lewis Terman, to make these distinctions. By looking at the  entire lives of Terman’s subjects, they could view the entire picture of how these subjects lived their lives. The data was able to provide evidence that the authors believe debunk many of the myths we believe today on how to lead healthier lives. Myths such as, “take it easy and don’t work so hard and you will stay healthy” or “Worrying is bad for your health.”(Friedman xii) Chapter 1 gives a brief set up of the study through two of Terman’s subjects, Patricia and John. Terman asked many different questions to the mothers and teachers of John and Patricia, that were mostly not used till the Longevity Project. The authors came up with two hypotheses on individuals they believed may live healthier and longer lives. They hypothesized that “highly conscientious individuals might stay healthier and live longer…We predicted less healthy fates for the moody and troubled.”(Friedman 8)

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