Motivation and Emotion and the Obesity - Essay Example

?Susan’s case Introduction The World Health Organization (WHO) defined obesity as a disease characterized by excess body fat, as measured through a Body Fat Mass Index and this health condition associates it with other health related problems (Formiguera and Canton, 2004; World Health Organization, 2000). Obesity is proven a lifestyle disease and is associated with cardiovascular diseases (Eckel, 2011), and other leading illnesses in the world today including type II diabetes (Haslam, 2010). Although there are some studies proving that it may be genetic in nature, remarkable researches are also conducted proving that obesity and its related diseases are indeed due to unhealthy lifestyle behaviors. Unhealthy lifestyle behaviors such as physical inactivity, alcohol abuse, smoking, and unhealthy diet are noted to be among of the real causes of obesity and its related diseases (Formiguera and Canton, 2004; Stern and Kazaks, 2009). The case of Susan, 41-year old, married with three young children aged 9, 7, and 3 years may at some point an upshot to obesity due to her weight gain, type II diabetes and chronic joint pain. The average weight of woman is 121 pounds (Montagu, 1999). Susan is 170 centimetres tall and weighs around 264 pounds since her weight in kilogram is 120. She is indeed overweight and her weight exceeds the average for women. Susan’s husband and children are also overweight. The impact of this on Susan goes beyond the physical nature of the human being. Susan struggled with feelings of depression as she has already tried every diet as possible but nothing seemed to work for her leaving her the feeling to become powerless and no control over the situation. Furthermore, she also expressed feeling of anger due to the teasing of his son’s weight. Based on behavioral perspective in psychology, Susan’s behaviors towards a certain situation (her health condition) can be explained due to observable manifestations of how she reacted into it. Behavioral perspective in psychology assumes that a person’s behaviors as influenced by the environment can be observed (Feldman, 2003). However, it is not at all times Susan’s behaviors can be explained the way they can be described from the behavioral perspective, cognitive perspective in psychology may also apply in her case. This perspective emphasises internal mental processes, nature (heredity) and nurture (environment) (Feldman, 2003). It is therefore important to know at what perspective Susan’s situation should be looked at in great detail. In this paper, the proponent discusses Susan’s likely cognitions that prevent her from changing her behavior in order to lose weight, with reference to current theories of motivation and emotion. The proponent also develops a plan of treatment for Susan’s condition based on the current theories of motivation and emotion. Cognition defined Cognition is such a broad concept but it definitely presumes that the human brain is capable of acquiring inputs from the environment, analyse them and even do some changes on them according to its own internal logic (Izard, Kagan, & Zajonc, 1988). This therefore emphasises that the internal mental process is capable of coming up with certain outputs. For instance, this can be clearly observed as how an individual responded to his or her immediate environment. There are situations that are outside of a man’s control but based on the idea of cognition, there is something within the internal aspect of him that keeps him stays in control and that is his free will surrounding his thoughts, beliefs, expectations, and self-concept (Feldman, 2003). Susan thought of reducing her weight. Thus, she came up with the belief that a way to do it is to be on a diet. She expected remarkable results from it, but it turned out it was not from her expectation. Finally, she concluded that she has nothing to do about the situation at all by feeling so powerless about it. All of these are probable cognitions that Susan remarkably faced. Social Cognitive Theory Susan’s situation can be described further based on the concept of social cognitive theory. This theory emphasises that a certain behavior is obtained by a person through the following constructs: personal, and environmental factors (Feldman, 2010). This theory emphasises that the environment triggers certain behaviors on a person but personal factor may actually take its part on it through the concept of self-efficacy (Feldman, 2010). There is more about looking at the internal aspect in this case but it is assumed that a person has internal locus of control on a certain situation. Therefore, self-efficacy tries to view an individual’s personal capabilities (Feldman, 2010). Susan’s behavior is affected by her thoughts about being obese and what basically the society tells about it. This idea is evident on how she responded when her eldest son’ obesity was laughed at. So she created a negative perception about gaining weight and this remarkably triggers certain behaviours on her part. This triggered her personal determination and capabilities to take control of the situation. Learning and behaviour So much have to be learned about the environment. Susan might have definitely learned from a friend, doctor and other health sources such as books, magazines, talk shows and more that diet is a way to lose one’s weight. Even on the negative thoughts or perceptions about obesity, Susan acquired all of these from her immediate environment. After acquiring essential information from any of them, she jumped right away into applying what she learned. This developed her behaviour towards a certain diet knowing that she was expecting something of a good outcome out from it. For instance, since she was on a diet, she should eliminate or control her calorie intake because this is what she might learn from an outside source. This definitely might change her behaviour towards eating too much calories that are found in chocolates, ice creams and pastries. This illustrates how her immediate environment through learning from it influenced her behaviours towards losing weight. Personal factor Here in this situation in which self-efficacy can be applied the most. As stated earlier, it is implied that self-efficacy is an integral part of a person’s internal control of the situation. In the case of Susan, self-control is necessary in order not to destruct her whole diet plan. She needs to be consistent in everything she does to lose her weight. Her belief that she needs to take her diet is sufficient enough to keep going and believe that she can do it. However, things will never be the same for her especially if she would view the result of her effort. She might be discouraged and this is evident to how she viewed herself as powerless to take control of the situation. It is also part of her self control not be easily destructed on negative issues concerning obesity such as the bullying towards her obese eldest son. What Susan needs at this point is a personal factor that will consistently push her forward to believe in herself. Without that, her personal capabilities will diminish because there is nothing that would ignite her motivation. However, such personal factor is influenced by the environment in the first place. In fact, the very reason why she tried to take on dieting is due to learning it in the first place from her immediate environment and then she believed that she can do it and there was going to be a promising result from all her efforts. After self-control, there has to be more determination for Susan and her willingness to take the initiative to never stop with one option alone. In fact, she is capable of researching other options aside from being focus only on dietary concerns. In fact, the truth about losing weight does not only confine the idea on dietary issues, but on other lifestyles such as taking mental and physical exercises (Rippe, 2004). It was not mentioned in the case and it is clear that Susan was able to try even other possible options aside from dietary concerns. Environmental factor In the case of Susan, there is a strong link between environmental and personal factors in creating her behaviour towards weight loss. Thus, it is important to include the environmental factor prior to igniting self-efficacy in her. Susan seems to have the support from her husband, but she was eventually barking on the wrong tree knowing that her husband also suffered the same problem as like her. In fact, both of them and their children require professional assistance regarding their health issues. Not only that, Susan needs to be inspired by others who actually made it and those personal stories of obese individuals suffering from different consequences such as bullying. Susan might gain important insights from these personal stories and it will open up a new level of thinking in her that would strengthen her personal capabilities on a certain situation. However, it is not enough to rely on her environment alone in order for her to succeed in her goals. This is the point of the next theory. Self-determination theory From where Susan might find her self discouraged or lack of motivation is the right place to ensure some psychological needs that have to be fulfilled in her part. This is the very point of self-determination theory where it emphasises that individuals are destined for growth, positive social development and personal well-being if psychological needs such as autonomy, competence and relatedness are all satisfied (Ryan & Deci, 2000). This simply illustrates that Susan must be motivated by her own desire rather than by the desires of here environment. The negative thoughts about her fight with obesity might or might not actually help Susan at some point, but it all depends on the level of her desire for her self to achieve certain goals. At some point, the whole thing about this is still in line with Susan’s personal capability to determine her desire and work hard for it. Cognitive dissonance Susan’s cognitions are certainly in conflict because her expectations were failed due to not meeting what she believed would make better results in addressing her problem with losing weight. She is now in mental distress and this is clearly evident by looking at them at behavioural perspective in psychology. This is the point of cognitive dissonance. When there is conflict between cognitions, the state of mental discomforts results (Lidwell, Holden, & Butler, 2010). At this point, it would be necessary to expose her to various possible options and someone needs to explain to her that it is not only through dieting one would be able to lose weight. Something to this effect would help relieve some mental discomforts that Susan experienced. Goal setting theory (improves self efficacy) Goal setting theory suggests that individuals may be motivated to pursue certain goal if someone or another tries to agree and work with them on establishing it (Pride, Hughes, & Kapoor, 2011). At this point, it is a good move that Susan should be motivated by her husband and children by working out with them. They could work out together and even enjoy in the process. This is a matter of setting priority and establishing it within the family. However, Susan may also try to establish her goal with clinical experts about her condition. A monthly check up or evaluation of her status would be necessary in order to observe progress. This would not only give her some facts, but this is a way of having her with someone to help her establish a goal, and even someone that might push her up if necessary. Plan of treatment Based on the discussed theories above, it is found out that Susan’s case is eventually not that hopeless yet. There are many things that need to be done yet. In fact, Susan has just tried one approach in addressing her problem. A personal counseling is necessary with Susan’s case. It is important at this point that she should increase her social contact with experts in losing weight just prior to the actual work out. This is to help her changed her wrong cognitions about losing weight. As much as possible, these cognitions should not work in conflict with each other within the entire process of treatment. Once everything is settled and Susan has remarkably learned all the essentials, the actual work out for her losing weight program may be initiated. However, evaluation process should take place and Susan should be informed in advance that some things may not just quiet work out well in some instances. This is again to help her learned that losing weight takes enough time for patience and to explore possibilities at some point or certain level. References Eckel, R. H. (2011). 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Walnut Creek, California: Rowman Altamira. Pride, W. M., Hughes, R. J., & Kapoor, J. R. (2011). Goal setting theory talks about how to improve self-efficacy (11th ed.). California: Cengage Learning. Rippe, J. M. (2004). Weight Watchers Weight Loss That Lasts: Break Through the 10 Big Diet Myths. New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons. Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2000). Self-detemination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. American Psychologist, 55, 68-78. Stern, J. S., and Kazaks, A. (2009). Obesity: a reference handbook. California: ABC-CLIO. World Health Organization (2000). Obesity: preventing and managing the global epidemic. Geneva: World Health Organization. Read More