Reading Quest 2

How do you detect a psychopath?

       While reading chapter 6 of How We Decide, the example of John Wayne Gacy was eerie and alarming.  A seeming wonderful man, husband, and neighbor could be a mass murderer?  What made this news so shocking was the fact that no one close to him suspected it.  This made me wonder if there were many telltale signs on ways to detect if someone is a psychopath.  As I researched the topic, I found, on LiveScience.com, surprising claims that the nature of psychopaths can be hinted through their speech patterns.  According to a team of researchers in Cornell University, who interviewed murderers classified as psychopaths, psychopaths often used “cause and effect” while explaining their crimes.  The “because” and “so that” indicate that they have logical explanations for what they have done and why they did it.  The study also suggests that psychopaths put a lot of focus on basic human needs, such as eating, drinking, and money.  Psychopaths have a lack of remorse or regret for their crimes while explaining them and it appears in their speech.  The study also notes that psychopaths often tend to speak in past tense instead of present.  Researchers say it could be a sign of their psychological detachment.  Some more signs are extreme selfishness, narcissism, and charm.  It is also common for them to be highly intelligent and cunning.  Although it seems very unlikely anyone could tell a person is a psychopath within a brief encounter, if they know the person well it might be easier to see detect these signs.  

Finding My Tweeps

Finding My Tweeps

Brian Balthazar: Since the theme of this class is Pop Culture, I figured it was only fitting to include described “Pop Culture Expert” Brian Balthazar as one of my experts to follow on Twitter.  Balthazar is a Pop Culture expert as he is the editor of POPgoesTheWeek.com.  He also is a comic, and a television panelist who often appears on television shows such as The Today Show on NBC, The Wendy Williams Show, Showbiz Tonight, and TV Guide Network.  He started his career by performing, then moved on to being a writer for a small news station.  His job was writing 20 second news stories for the station.  In 2000, he quickly worked his way up to be a producer for MSNBC, a year later taking the role of senior producer, covering post September 11^th stories.  He moved on to the Today Show and became a senior producer there as well.  After taking a class on comedy, Balthazar would do stand-up comedy at comedy clubs at night while producing in the daytime.   Also while producing; Balthazar appeared as the featured comic in the late night talk show Fashionably Late with Stacy London.  This was at the personal request of London, best known for hosting TLC’s What Not to Wear. Balthazar has apparently done almost every profession to do with popular culture and show business, and as an apparent expert, many shows on TV welcome him as there guest to discuss Pop Culture issues.  With his experience in performing in show business, news and politics, and producing major television programs, Brian Balthazar definitely has a spot at my “Tweep.”

 http://www.brianbalthazar.com/

Jillian Michaels: Jillian Michaels is a personal trainer, reality television personality, entrepreneur, and talk show host.  As a personal trainer, Michaels has released over 15 exercising DVDs, and written several books on exercise and weight management, two of the books have even made it to the New York Times Best Seller List. She has a talk radio, and even her own Wii video game called Jillian Michaels’ Fitness Ultimatum.  She perhaps is most famous for being an original trainer on the reality series The Biggest Loser.  She was on and off the show from October 2004, to May 2011.  In 2010 NBC and Michaels debuted a Biggest Loser spin off called Losing it with Jillian.  She is known for her great secrets and great results.  On the countless TV shows she makes appearances on, Michaels is portrayed as an expert.  What I like about her is that she does not pull any punches.  In her videos and books she is very straight forward and cut to the chase.   Another thing I enjoy about her is that she takes health into priority, which is far more uncommon than it should be.  She even frequently guest stared on the shows Doctors and Dr. Phil.  Although weight loss is not something I am interested in, I very much enjoy physical activity and keeping in shape, and I believe Jillian Michaels is the most accurate, health conscious fitness expert currently in the media and on Twitter. 

http://www.jillianmichaels.com/  
http://www.everydayhealth.com/jillian-michaels.aspx

Fads and Trends

Fads:

 

Smart Phones: In this day in age, almost everyone has some type of smart phone device.  Even I do not know what I would do if I couldn’t access Facebook, GPS, Google amongst many other sites and apps.  These phones started becoming well known around 2007, but not everyone owned them.  Although our society has become dependent and accustomed to these phones, I believe that this is a fad that will not last forever.  Of course, when the next big thing comes out, we will eventually all drop them and move on to the latest piece of technological gold.

Owl Necklaces: These necklaces were one of the most short-lived trends I have ever witnessed and been a part of.   It seemed around late 2010 owls where everywhere! And not to mourn Hegwig from the recent release of HP 7 Part 1.  In almost every clothing store, they could be found on jewelry (primarily necklaces). I had at least a few owl items.  Next they were on tee shirts, dresses, purses, you name it.  I have no idea how this ever got started, but as all ridiculous fads, this one has already come to end. 

Fairy Tales for Adults: Movie makers will do anything to draw people in, and recently what seems to be working is fairy tale classics made for adults.  Perhaps the reason this works is that by adding twists and turns to stories that have been around for centuries, is they don’t have to come up with the whole plotline themselves.  The have the basis for a sold story and just have to add everything we movie-goers expect; romance, action, humor, and suspense.  We also live in a time where everyone is looking for their Prince Charming again (thank you Twilight).  Some include Red Riding Hood, Alice in Wonderland, and Snow White and the Huntsman.  However we will soon tire of this.

Dubstep: This extremely popular genre of music seemed to erupt around the world.  Dubstep is electronic music that is defined as having an overwhelming bass line, reverberant drum patterns, clipped samples, and occasional vocals.  This kind of music was originated in London and for a while was only known to play at raves, or parties of the sort.  Nowadays, dubstep it heard everywhere, on people’s iPods, and at any college house party.  Dubstep is easy to dance to and definitely matches the electronic feel that our whole society is experiencing.  As most music, dubstep is likely a fad.   

Superhero Movies: Superhero movies have always been something the public has responded well to, but in 2011, it seemed like an extreme amount of films erupted in this genre.  I suspect after 2008’s The Dark Knight’s huge success, more production companies thought it was a good idea to jump on the soon to be band wagon.  In 2011, Thor, The Green Lantern, Captain America, and Konan all came out and showed great box office success.  I suspect this fad will continue for a bit as their sequels come out.  I personally am excited for The Dark Knight Rises.

 

Trends:

 

Social Networking: Perhaps the most astounding trend in the world is that of social networking.  Information can instantly go to anywhere in the world. And ideas can spread around the world in a matter of hours (I believe the term is ‘going viral’).  People can communicate with large amounts of people in a matter of seconds, which is how several movements have been started.  The liberation in Libya was organized by communication through Twitter.  It has allowed families halfway across the world to feel close.  Most of us would be lost without are connection to the outside.

TV Talent Competition: TV talent competitions have popped up very suddenly, but I don’t think they are going anywhere anytime soon.  Ever since Andy Warhol’s “15 minutes of fame” prediction the majority of people will do just about anything to get their turn.  The phenomenon started in 2002 with singing competition American Idol, which is still running today.  Other shows include America’s Got Talent, The Voice, The X Factor, So You Think You Can Dance, and a lot more.  Some stars do come out of these shows although it is rare.  However, people will always want to get their chance at lasting fame.

3D Films: In the 1980’s and 90’s, 3D films became well known, but were very low quality and rare.  In the 2000’s it became slightly more popular, but it gained the most success from 2009’s Avatar.  Since then, it seems many other movies want to give it a try.   Now the newest trend in movies is putting older movies back into theatres and making them 3D.  This includes The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, and the upcoming Titanic.  This is a trend because over time, 3D has become what it is today, and I believe it’s very possible for 2D movies to die out.

Adult Cartoons: The phenomenon of animations for adults first started with the hit sitcom The Simpsons in 1987.  The show’s success later lead to many other adult cartoons such as Family Guy, South Park, Futurama, American Dad, and Bevis and Butthead.  A popular television channel that broadcasts these shows is [adult swim].  These hilarious shows have gained huge success over the years and are still as popular as ever.  This is definitely a trend and not a fad.  Cartoons for adults have slowly became popular over time and will not be gone anytime soon.

Slang: Slang words and phrases have always been a large part of pop culture.  And as we learned in our Alien Tour Guide quest, we expect everyone else to know exactly what we mean.  Slang has always existed but now the popular thing is texting acronyms.  Such as LOL= laugh out loud, brb= be right back, ROFL= rolling on the floor laughing, and so many more.   In this day in age, many slang terms are said in Ebonics, or improper English.  Slang terms are used in pretty much every society around the world.  They always have and they always will.

Reading Quest 1:

Do any other types of medicines affect decision making?

In the very beginning of How We Decide’s third chapter, I found the story of Ann Klinestiver’s medicine induced gambling addiction.  This fascinated me and made me question side-effects of all medications used by me and others.  I wonder if the Parkinson’s disease medication Requip is the only kind of prescription drug that is known to alter a person’s decision making ability.

Before I got started looking for other medicines, I decided I should research Requip further.  I thought it was interesting to find that dopamine agonists not only affect a person’s desire to gamble, but also can cause compulsive eating habits and increase a person’s sex drive.  This could cause people taking the medication to make uncharacteristic and even potentially physically dangerous, as well as financially and emotionally devastating.  I also discovered that Mirapex, an FDA approved medication used for similar treatment, was known for the same side-effects.

I began to look up mind altering prescription medications and found most drugs treating psychological issues, such as medication for depression and bipolar disorder, can change how the brain makes decisions, but it is far more rare for medicines focusing on physical issues have the same effect.  Dopamine agonists like Requip seemed to be some of the few. 

In fact, as I searched further for drugs that seriously altered decision making the way Requip did, I could not find any.  While many medications can alter the mind in strange ways, nothing affects it like dopamine agonists.

           

Just got a twitter account. My name is @AngWilliams93

One of my favorite movies in the world!