The Psychology Behind Obesity

          The concept of obesity may have to deal with many perspectives of psychology but in this case I find the social cultural prospective to be the most convincing.  In society today we are bombarded with the opportunities to over indulge due to the plethora of fast-food joints and the serving sizes provided in our restaurants.  As stated in the voice-over, Americans are trained at a very young age to consume what is put in front of them, almost creating a sense of obligation to over-eat.  The convenience of such unhealthy foods also aids the increasing rate of obese Americans, as it is often cheaper, hence making it an easy choice.  Continuing with the convenience of fast-food venues, the speed in which one can receive their food also promotes the lifestyle of unhealthy living because it draws those who are always on the go.  With the unbeatable price and speed of some McDonald's fries, how could anyone resist, right?  Furthermore, the environment of restaurants, including the disapproving looks from the waitors as they collect your nearly full plate (when in reality you ate too much as it is), creates a vibe in which binge eating becomes the normal.  As humans, we had the need to please others and having the expectation of finishing our plate looming over us, we often cave and stuff ourselves for satisfaction from those around us.  This social cultural aspect of eating norms advances the growing problem of obesity much more than any other psychological perspective due to the atmosphere America provides its citizens when it comes to the consumption of food.
           Yet another perspective that could weigh in on obesity that is not mentioned in the voiceover would be the developmental perspective.  This deals with how the brain develops over time and what it becomes accustomed to.  I feel that this plays into obesity because our surroundings continuously enforce the accessibility of unhealthy foods, and advertisements usually promote fast foods such as fried burgers and fries.  The more our brain is exposed to these unhealthy options, the more our brain will crave these things on a day to day basis, eventually making us obese. The point I'm trying to convey correlates to the theory that if we repeat an action a certain amount of times, we will master it; similarly, if we repetitively are subjected to fast-food, eventually we will consume it regularly, leading to our obesity. By nature, we are creatures of habit and the consumption of unhealthy foods is not an exception.

The Case of Andrea Yates

          After contemplating the three levels of psychological analysis in regards to the case of Andrea Yates, I have deemed the neuroscience and behavioral genetic perspective the most convincing.  Although I do see the roles the other perspectives may play in her psychotic actions, I feel that there must be a sense of insanity originating from the brain, most likely a form of depression.  The fact that she had been off her meds does not seem a coincidence to me because if she was prescribed them in the first place, she clearly experienced frightening symptoms.  I do question the doctor's incentive to take her off her meds though if she was so unstable at the time of the murders.  Furthermore, I think it is another red flag that both her siblings also obtained mood disorders; clearly something was not right in her family.  While it may have been a combination of her social environment and her unstable mental perception, I believe that her delusional thoughts of the Devil possessing her as well as her questionable history with depression and mood disorders points the most convincing level of psychological analysis to the neuroscience and behavioral genetic perspective.
           This case illuminates many principles about psychology that I had not even comprehended.  One that stood out to me was that the number of perspectives that must be taken into consideration when evaluating a patient and their brain functions.  Andrea Yates, for example, had numerous bizarre symptoms and explanations throughout the duration of the murders, as well as her trial, such as claims of the Devil within her and her children's developmental issues.  As you conveyed the three different perceptions to choose from I found myself nodding to each one, thinking, "well yes this could be why" and "oh yeah that too".  To me, this emphasized that not only one thing could be wrong within a person's brain and it opened up the number of possibilities that I would not even think of, which furthermore excites me for the surprises this class holds in store for me.  In other words, I think it has become clear that there is not necessarily one right answer when it comes to the imperfections of each individual's brain.