Dispensary Corner 29 May 13
May 29, 2013
Stress is no excuse for a
chocolate binge, according to
researchers from the University
of Southern California, who found
that being under pressure can
reinforce both good and bad
behavioural patterns.
Reported in the latest Journal of
Personality and Social Psychology,
a study looked at the activities of
65 students over a 10 week term
and measured the amount of
willpower subjects had during the
stressful exam period.
They found that during trying
times, when participants were
stressed and sleep-deprived, they
were even more likely to stick to
old habits, reports the BBC.
Thus the students who ate lots
of junk food had an even worse
diet during exams, while those
who went to the gym regularly
were even more likely to exercise
while under pressure.
“The central question for
behaviour-change efforts should
be, how can you form healthy,
productive habits,” said lead
scientist, Professor Wendy Wood.
Necessity is the mother of
invention, and a great example
of this is a Chinese man who has
built his own prosthetic limbs,
after losing both arms in a freak
accident eight years ago when a
fishing boat exploded.
According to the UK Telegraph,
Sun Jifa was unable to afford
medical help from local hospitals,
and has spent the time since
the incident crafting his custom
designed arms out of steel.
After refining the design he’s
now able to drive, perform
routine tasks and help his family
out on the local farm.
The report says the farmer has
now become a minor celebrity
in his home town, and is now
reasonably prosperous, having
started a business which has
created more than 1000 pairs
of prosthetic limbs for other
amputees - and sold them at
about a tenth of the price charged
by Chinese hospitals.
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