Skinny Jeans?

It is known to all that skinny jeans are not only meant for women. Many of the males in the society today, the teenagers in particular, are becoming obsessed in wearing tight jeans since it is in the current fashion trend. But little did they know that such of apparel bring some health hazards.

According to medical experts, there is an increase in injuries being caused by wearing of skinny or tight jeans.

For men, it is said that this particular type of denim pants is causing testicular torsion - a condition wherein the spermatic cord to a testicle is being twisted. Once the testicle being twisted, it cuts off the blood supply to pain, swelling, and worse; gangrenes of testicle. Aside from affecting the testicle, men who are fond of wearing skinny jeans could also experience a weak bladder, urinary tract infections, and low sperm coung.

Meanwhile, for women, wearing of skinny jeans could increase their chances to have a vaginal yest infection.
Apart from the aforementioned side effects of tight of fitted jeans, this particular style of pants is also found to reduce blood circulation in legs and thighs, which then results to augmentation of cellulite. It could also cause lateral femoral cutaneous nerve entrapment that cause tingly sensation in the thighs. This condition happens when the wearer habitually put cellphone in the front pocket. Digestion proglem is another side effect of high waisted skinny jeans and pressure on the urethra for low rise skinny jeans.

Knowing all those negative effects of constantly wearing skinny or fitted jeans, would YOU still put style before your health?

Source : www.yahoo.com

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Contact Lenses

Do you wear contacts? 

Do you clean them as instructed by your eye doctor? 

No - do you really clean them?

Research shows that contact lens wearers' cleaning habits are horrendous. It has been compared to asking a child to clean their room and when you go to inspect, you have toys under the blankets, crammed in the closet and stuffed under the bed. "See mom, I cleaned  my room."

So as you go to inspect, what do you think you will find? That's where we find ourselves - at the crossroads of 'I want to see more clearly' and 'I am really a lazy person at the end of the day.'

Here are some personal stories :

When it comes to contact lens wearers, no one was more lazy than me. I wore Dailies. Let me give you that name again - Dailies. Dailies, as the name clearly says, are contacts that you wear for A DAY and then toss in the garbage. They come in bulk so you can wear ONE A DAY. Not only did I wear a pair more than one day, I would sleep in one pair and not change them for days and weeks. I'm not sure it gets any lazier than that.

What was really weird was when I would eventually change my contacts, magically, my vision drastically improved. Because I was not changing them or at the very least cleaning them, the longer I wore them, the worse the clarity was. Think of it this way, If you never clean your windows on the outside, the clarity will get foggier and foggier.

In a recent survey of more than 400 CLW's (the hip way to shorten Contact Lens Wearers), only 2% of them were cleaning their contacts as prescribed. That's an astounding discovery!

8 people were taking them time at night to properly care for their eyes. Some of the other rules that were bent or broken out of the 400 CLW's : 

-some swarm;

-some showered;

-some slept;

-some wore them longer than recommended

Also in this study, it was found that almost 1 out of 2 have never replaced their lens case. At the minimum, this cases need to be washed in warm, soapy water because it can be a breeding ground for bacteria that can case great harm to your eyes.

In another survey that will make you scratch head that happened in August of 2011, people turned to other items when they ran out of contact lens solution.

Let's see what people used for their 'solution' :

- beer;

- baby oil;

- coke;

- petroleum jelly;

- lemonade;

- fruit juice;

- and lastly - butter.

There are many people come in with ulcers, green goop, crusty eyes or in extreme cases - blindness.

Hopefully this has been a wake-up call to you if you are a contact lens wearer.

Hopefully, you will be more diligent when it comes to your contacts and cleaning, storing and changing them.

Maybe it's been a while since you last changed your contacts (GO DO IT RIGHT NOW!) or maybe it's been a while since you've updated your contact lens prescription. If so, don't be lazy anymore.

Source : www.okaloosaeyecare.com

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12 Confusing Foods

You heard that eggs can be high in cholesterol, so you dutifully switched to whole grains for breakfast. Next, you swapped out red meat for fish -- only to later learn that fish contain dangerous level of mercury... and eggs may not harm your heart after all.

"With all of the different reports and headlines, it's no wonder that many people get confused," says Angela Ginn, RD, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and owner of Real Talk Real Food in Baltimore. To help you make sense of these and other health head-scratchers, we consulted our experts and sifted through the research.

Here, the new bottom line on 12 "Healthy" foods :

1. Coffee

Coffee is American's top source of antioxidants, serving up a hefty dose in each cup. It also contains magnesium and chromium, which help regulate blood sugar, which means it may protect against diabetes. What's more, coffee may stave off dementia, Parkinson's disease, and colon and endometrial cancers.

Bottom line : Go ahead, enjoy your morning brew - but if you're sensitive to caffeine, switch to decaf and skip the mid - afternoon mug.

2. Wine

Raise a glass of wine to your heart health. All types are beneficial in moderation, but red wine contains antioxidants called polyphenols that may be especially protective. These powerful antioxidants may also protect against breast cancer by lowering sex hormones levels.

Bottom line : One glass - preferably of red wine, is Okay - but that women who toss back more than one to two drinks a day are at greater risk for heart disease and certain cancers.

3. Potatoes

This starchy veggie has a bad rap among dieters, but that's because people tend to consume it in the form of greasy French fries, chips, and buttery mashed potatoes. When prepared the right way, potatoes are a nutritious food. One medium potato, for instance, delivers 5 grams of fiber and nearly 20 percent of your daily quota for heart-healthy potassium.

Bottom line : Skip the fried versions and opt for baked or boiled potatoes. For an even healthier  option, choose purple potatoes, which can help lower blood pressure naturally.

4. Cheese

Hold the cheese? There's no need if you eat in moderation. A one-ounce serving delivers 20 percent of all the bone-building calcium that you need in a day, as well as plenty of protein and phosphorus. The  problem is that many people eat much more than one serving in one sitting.

Bottom line : Watch your portion sizes - one serving of cheese is roughly the size of a pair of dice.

5. Fish

A favorite of nutrition experts, fish has recently come under fire as source of mercury, a toxic metal. Fish is a good source of omega - 3 fatty acids, which have been shown to lower cholesterol and protect against heart disease. In fact, the American Heart Association recommends everyone consume two servings-especially the fatty kinds, like salmon, mackerel per week.

Bottom line : To minimize mercury exposure, eat a variety of fish. The FDA also advises that young children, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and women trying to become pregnant steer clear of fish that contain the most mercury.

6. Chocolate

As if you needed another reason to love chocolate, it has some health benefits as well. People who eat the most chocolate are 37% less likely to develop heart disease than those who rarely eat it, according to researchers at University of Cambridge. Chocolate, especially the dark kind, contains heart-healthy antioxidants called falvonols.

Bottom line : In moderation, chocolate is a treat that you can enjoy guilt-free. Reach for the dark varieties for less sugar and a larger dose of antioxidants.

7. Red Meat

A diet high in red meat can pave the way for heart disease and certain cancers, like colon cancer, according to a slew of studies. That's because it's often high in saturated fat, which can clog arteries. But leaner cuts - combined with heart-healthy sides -- do have a place in a nutritious diet. In addition to protein, meat also contains zinc, iron, and B vitamins.

Bottom line : Go lean. Look for cuts with "loin" and "round" in the name - and limit yourself to 18 ounces a week.

8. Nuts

Ounce for ounce, nuts pack in more calories than most other snacks. But the surprising truth is that nuts are one of the best foods for weight loss, according to Harvard researchers. Nuts are loaded with protein and fiber, which can help you feel full for longer. One study in the journal Obesity  found that people who ate nuts at least twice a week were less likely to put on pounds over the long run than those who didn't.

Bottom line : The fat in most nuts in the heart-healthy unsaturated kind, but you still need to keep tabs on your portion. Keep it to one ounce - 23 almonds, 14 walnut halves, and 49 pistachios.

9. Beer

When it comes to alcohol, wine gets all of the glory. But beer may be just as healthy. A recent analysis of more than a dozen studies found that one or two beers can lower your risk of a cardiovascular event by up to 33% - which is roughly the same effect as red wine. The protective effect could be due to antioxidants called polyphenols in beer, as well as alcohol itself.

Bottom line : Cheers to your health! - but as with wine or any alcoholic beverage, it's best to limit your intake to about one drink per day.

10. Soy

When people think "health food", tofu usually makes the list. But then reports came out that compounds in soy called phytoestrogens have a hormone-like effect in the body, raising your risk of breast cancer. In healthy people and in reasonable amounts, that's not the case. One study showed that breast cancer survivors who ate soy regularly were less likely to have a recurrence than those who didn't.

Bottom line : Soy is an excellent low-fat source of protein. Help yourself to soymilk and tofu - but speak to your healthcare provider before considering higher-dose supplements, especially if breast cancer runs in your family.

11. Eggs

The news is, well, egg-scellent: Not only does research show that eating an egg a day doesn't increase for heart problems, but new research from the USDA also shows that they contains less cholesterols - 185mg in a large one - and more vitamin D than previously thought. Eggs are a good source of protein and the yolks also contain a number of nutrients, such as vitamins D and B12.

Bottom line : To keep your cholesterol in check, stick with one egg a day.

12. Margarine

Flash back two decades, and most households were spreading on the margarine instead of butter. But after it was discovered that some brands contain trans fats - the type that can lower "good" HDL cholesterol while raising "bad" LDL levels - the pendulum swung back toward butter. These days, manufacturers have changed their products. Now, many spreadable margarines are made from healthier vegetables oils like canola.

Bottom line : Avoid any product with the words "partially hydrogenated" on the ingredient list. Steer clear of stick margarine, which may still contain harmful trans fats - but spreadable tub margarine is a smart choice.

Source :  www.prevention.com

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The Truth Is...

The face of heart disease is changing. Once considered “a man’s disease,” the number of deaths from heart disease and stroke are now virtually the same for men and women in Canada. 

We hear the same messages day in, day out: Eat better. Eat different. Less processed. Move more. Work less. Sleep more. Worry less. Breathe deeper. At every turn, we’re bombarded with advice on how to be healthier and happier. 

Here are 8 prevention tips you can get :

1. Don't Smoke

Smoking contributes to atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) that can lead to heart disease and stroke. Smokers have nearly double the risk of certain types of stroke. And women over 35 who smoke and use oral contraception (birth control pills) are at even greater risk of heart disease as well as blood clots and stroke.

The good news is that just 24 hours after quitting, your chance of heart attack decreases, and after one year, your risk of heart attack is half that of a smoker.

2. Lower Your Cholesterol

Cholesterol and triglycerides are fats found in your body and your bloodstream. They are naturally produced by your body, and they also come from the food you eat—especially from foods high in saturated and trans fats. High triglyceride levels may be a more serious risk factor for women than for men.

It’s important for you to know your actual cholesterol and triglyceride levels and to discuss with your doctor where your levels should be, and what treatment options are available for people who have high cholesterol. You can lower your triglyceride and LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein)-cholesterol with a healthy eating plan, including substituting unsaturated for saturated and trans fats, and lowering your fat intake overall.

3. Manage Your Weight

Being overweight can lead to other problems affecting your heart, such as high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels and diabetes.

Women who are “apple-shaped,” or who carry the most weight around their middle could be at a greater risk than women who are “pear-shaped,” or who have the most fat around their hips and thighs. Abdominal fat is especially dangerous because it releases high levels of hormones that disrupt metabolism, causes high concentrations of bad fats to travel to the liver faster and signals that fat is building up around other crucial organs. Measuring your waist and regularly checking your BMI (Body Mass Index) are good ways to monitor your risk of heart disease.

You can manage your weight with a combination of dietary changes and increased physical activity.

4. Keep Physically Active

You don’t need to make a big lifestyle change to get these benefits, instead you can build up to this goal slowly. Start by incorporating a 10-minute walk into your routine every other day. Try taking the stairs instead of the elevator wherever possible.

Consult a physician before beginning any new activity if you have a heart condition, are 45 or older, or are between 35 and 45 and have risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, or a family history of heart disease.

5. Monitor Your Blood Pressure

Monitoring and controlling your blood pressure can reduce your risk of stroke by up to 40 per cent, your risk of heart disease by 50 per cent and your risk of heart failure by up to 25 per cent.

Blood pressure is the measure of the pressure or force of blood against the walls of the blood vessels, called arteries. High blood pressure can damage blood vessel walls, causing weakening or scarring that promotes the build-up of plaque and the blocking of arteries.

It’s important to have your blood pressure tested by your doctor or pharmacist, and to discuss with them what your test numbers mean. If your healthcare provider feels you need to lower your blood pressure, they may recommend that you:

- Lower your salt intake
- Take blood pressure medication
- Achieve a healthier weight
- Increase physical activity
- Follow a low-fat diet

6. Reduce Stress

People who experience high stress levels, anxiety and depression may make lifestyle choices, such as avoiding exercise or eating poorly, that increase their risk of high blood cholesterol, increased blood pressure or atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries).

You can try lowering your stress levels by:
- Identifying the causes of stress in your life
- Being physically active -- physical activity can be a great stress-buster
- Sharing your feelings with friends, family or coworkers


7. Manage Your Diabetes

Diabetes plays a big role in determining a woman’s risk for heart disease and stroke.

If you have diabetes, you can manage your risk for heart disease and stroke by:
- Controlling your blood sugar and following the advice of your doctor
- Eating a balanced diet with less fat and more high-fibre foods and complex carbohydrates
- Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight
- Being more physically active

8. Limit Alcohol Consumption

Drinking too much of any type of alcohol can increase your blood pressure and contribute to the development of heart disease and stroke.

You may have heard that alcohol – particularly red wine – is good for your heart.

There is some evidence that people who drink moderately have a somewhat lower risk of heart disease and stroke than those who do not drink or who drink excessively. However, if you really want to have an impact on your heart health, you’re better off eating a healthy diet, being physically active most days of the week and becoming smoke-free.

If you drink alcohol, limit yourself to one or two standard drinks a day; women should limit themselves to a weekly maximum of nine drinks.

One drink equals:
- 341 mL / 12 oz (1 bottle) of regular strength beer (5% alcohol)
- 142 mL / 5 oz wine (12% alcohol)
- 43 mL / 1 1/2 oz spirits (40% alcohol)

Because heart attack and stroke share many of the same root causes, many of your prevention efforts will give you double the health benefits by protecting you against both heart disease and stroke. Making lifestyle changes and taking action to improve your health can reduce your risk of these diseases by as much as 80 per cent! So, what are you waiting? Get healthy right now and enjoy your one and only life! 

Source : thehearttruth.ca

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Dampak Negatif Menonton Televisi Pada Psikologis Anak

KATA PENGANTAR

            Puji syukur penulis panjatkan kehadirat  Tuhan Yang Maha Kuasa berkat rahmat-Nya dan kerja keras penulis sehingga makalah ini dapat terselesaikan dengan baik dan tepat pada waktunya.

            Makalah ini disusun untuk menyelesaikan tugas dari dosen mata kuliah pengantar psikologi sebagai tugas pembahasan antara teknologi dan psikologi. Makalah ini berisikan pembahasan mengenai teknologi (TV) yang memberikan dampak negatif pada perilaku anak dari sudut pandang psikologis.

            Penulis menyadari bahwa makalah ini masih banyak kekurangan. Oleh karena itu, kritik dan saran yang bersifat membangun sangat kami harapkan demi kesempurnaan makalah ini.

            Akhir kata, penulis menyampaikan terima kasih bagi semua pihak yang telah membantu dan semoga makalah ini dapat bermanfaat.

BAB I

PENDAHULUAN

1.1  LATAR BELAKANG

Teknologi pada zaman sekarang berhubungan erat dengan manusia. Bahkan tanpa hadirnya teknologi sehari saja bisa menimbulkan perasaan yang tidak mengenakkan, khususnya televisi, telepon genggam ataupun laptop. Kali ini pembahasan adalah mengenai dampak menonton televisi terhadap perilaku seorang anak. Setiap hari, anak-anak pasti memiliki waktu atau sengaja meluangkan waktu untuk menonton tv. Baik sebelum sekolah, sepulang sekolah, ataupun malam hari sebelum tidur. Yang ditonton dapat berupa acara anak seperti kartun, atau film keluarga. Isi dari acara yang ditayangkan beragam. Menurut sebuah studi oleh Eron (1992), 20% dari program acara tv mengandung kekerasan. Anak-anak yang masih dalam tahap perkembangan dan pencarian jati diri cenderung sangat mudah dipengaruhi, terutama oleh orang yang dekat atau disukainya. Permasalahan yang sering muncul sekarang yaitu bahwa perilaku anak zaman sekarang yang sudah berubah, cenderung lebih agresif dan tidak sopan. Perubahan tersebut terjadi seiring berkembangnya teknologi, khususnya televisi dan program-program acara yang ditayangkan.

1.2  RUMUSAN MASALAH

-          Apakah ada hubungan menonton televisi dengan perilaku anak?

-          Apakah perilaku anak yang cenderung lebih agresif dikarenakan menonton acara televisi yang mengandung kekerasan?

-          Adakah ada upaya yang bisa dilakukan untuk menghindari atau mengurangi dampak negatif yang muncul karena menonton televisi?

1.3  TUJUAN DAN MANFAAT  

1.3.1        Tujuan

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui adanya pengaruh atau dampak nyata dari menonton televisi terhadap perilaku anak di jaman kemajuan teknologi ini.

1.3.2        Manfaat

Peniliti berharap penelitian ini dapat memberikan manfaat pada masyarakat khususnya orang tua agar mengetahui bahwa menonton televisi dapat memberikan dampak dalam perilaku anak yaitu meningkatnya perilaku agresif anak. Peneliti berharap dengan orang tua mengetahui hal tersebut maka dapat mengambil sikap yang baik untuk mencegah perkembangan kepribadian anak yang buruk.

BAB II

LANDASAN TEORI

2.1  Teori Belajar Kognitif

Teori belajar kognitif adalah teori belajar selain operant conditioning ,dimana teori ini menyatakan proses belajar yang melibatkan proses mental, seperti perhatian dan memori. Teori ini menekankan pada terjadinya proses belajar melalui proses obervasi, imitasi atau proses lain yang tidak melibatkan adanya stimulus atau reinforcer seperti reward atau punishment. Ada beberapa tokoh yang teorinya memiliki dasar teori belajar kognitif.

2.2  Latent Learning

Teori ini dinyatakan oleh Tolman, yang menyatakan bahwa suatu pembelajaran terjadi, namun tidak akan terlihat tanpa adanya reinforcement.

2.3  Modeling

Modeling adalah proses belajar berdasarkan obersavasi perilaku orang lain. Teori ini dikeluarkan Albert Bandura yang juga disebut social cognitive learning. Teori ini muncul berdasarkan penelitian dengan boneka yang terkenal dengan nama Bobo doll. Dalam penelitiannya, sekelompok anak diperlihatkan film dengan aksi menendang, memukul dan menduduki bobo doll, sedangkan sekelompok yang lain tidak. Setelah itu, kedua kelompok anak ditinggalkan dalam satu ruangan hanya dengan satu boneka bobo doll. Hasil penelitian menyatakan bahwa anak yang diperlihatkan aksi kekerasan juga akan menirukan aksi kekerasan dari film tersebut, tapi tidak oleh anak yang tidak diperlihatkan. Bandura menyatakan bahwa anak-anak akan menjadi lebih agresif dan tidak takut sebagai akibat dari modeling film yang ditontonya.

Proses modeling yang terjadi juga melalui beberapa tahap:

1.      Attention

Observer harus memberikan perhatian pada si pelaku merupakan proses awal dapat terjadinya modeling.

2.      Memory

Hal-hal yang diperhatikan tadi harus diingat terlebih dahulu dalam memori, agar kemudian dapat dipanggil kembali.

3.      Imitation

Observer harus bisa menggunakan kembali informasi yang telah disimpan tadi dalam mengimitasi perilaku tersebut.

4.      Motivation

Dalam melakukan imitasi perilaku, perlu adanya motivasi sehingga modeling terjadi secara keseluruhan.

Hal ini sejalan dengan teori Latent learning yang dikemukakan Tolman.

BAB III

PEMBAHASAN

Peran media terhadap perkembangan anak semakin besar seiring dengan kemajuan bidang teknologi. Salah satu media yang sangat berpengaruh pada perkembangan adalah televisi. Anak-anak lebih sering menghabiskan waktunya untuk menonton televisi. Padahal, acara yang disiarkan cenderung manipulatif dan kadang memperlihatkan sesuatu yang tidak pantas dilihat anak-anak.

Berdasarkan hasil riset University of Otago di Selandia Baru yang dilandasi observasi terhadap pertumbuhan seribu anak yang lahir di kota Dunedin, Selandia Baru pada 1972-1973, Bob Hancox dan timnya menemukan bahwa risiko anak itu akan didakwa terlibat tindakan kriminal pada saat beranjak dewasa meningkat 30% untuk setiap jam yang dihabiskan anak itu di depan televisi pada hari biasa. Penelitian itu juga menemukan bahwa banyak menonton televisi di masa kecil diasosiasikan dengan ciri kepribadian agresif ketika dewasa, meningkatkan kecenderungan mengalami emosi negatif, dan kenaikan risiko kelainan kepribadian antisosial. Gangguan kejiwaan ini ditandai dengan pola perilaku antisosial dan agresif yang persisten.

Tingginya pengaruh buruk televisi bagi perkembangan anak membuat orang tua diwajibkan untuk selalu mendampingi dan mengawasi setiap kali anak menonton televisi. Sayangnya, sangat jarang orang tua yang bisa melakukan tugas ini dengan baik terkait kesibukan di luar rumah. Akibatnya, anak akan menyaksikan acara apapun yang menurutnya menarik untuk ditonton.

Dalam satu minggu, anak bisa menghabiskan lebih dari 24 jam untuk menonton televisi. Apa saja yang dipelajari anak dalam rentang waktu itu? Tentu saja apa yang dilihat akan dianggap sebagai pembenaran. Misalnya, anggapan bahwa kekerasan mampu menyelesaikan masalah, bahwa bertengkar menjadi suatu hal yang luar biasa dan terlihat keren. Selain berdampak pada perubahan perilaku seara psikologis, anak cenderung menutup diri dari dunia luar dan lebih tertarik untuk duduk di depan televisi tanpa diganggu dan akhirnya anak akan kehilangan semangat bergaul dengan teman dan juga malas berolahraga.

Menonton televisi harus dikurangi karena beberapa hal:
1. Menonton televisi berpengaruh pada perkembangan otak.
 Pengaruh menonton televisi pada anak dibedakan berdasarkan tingkatan umur. Bagi anak berusia 0-3 tahun,  televisi dapat mengakibatkan gangguan perkembangan bicara, menghambat kemampuan membaca secara verbal maupun pemahaman, dan menghambat kemampuan berekspresi melalui tulisan. Pada anak usia 5-10 tahun, televisi dapat meningkatkan agresivitas serta kekerasan dan tidak mampu membedakan kenyataan dan khayalan.

2. Menonton televisi mendorong sifat konsumtif.
 Menonton televisi bagi anak-anak memang terlihat menarik. Selain karena acara televisi yang dihadirkan, berbagai sajian iklan yang dimuat dalam setiap tayangan televisi juga mampu menarik perhatian mereka. Berbagai iklan produk di televisi benar-benar mudah merasuki pikiran anak. Anak merupakan target pengiklan yang paling utama. Anak-anak cenderung tergiur untuk memiliki produk-produk seperti yang diiklankan. Hal ini tentu saja akan membuat anak menjadi konsumtif.

3. Menonton televisi berpengaruh terhadap sikap.
 Pada dasarnya, anak belum bisa membedakan hal baik dan hal buruk. Anak-anak cenderung akan mencontoh segala hal yang dilihatnya, termasuk tontonan di televisi. Akhirnya, mereka yang hobi menonton televisi akan berpikir bahwa semua orang memiliki sifat sama seperti ditampilkan di televisi. Hal ini tentu saja mempengaruhi sikap anak dan bisa terbawa hingga dewasa.

4. Menonton televisi mengurangi semangat belajar.
 Bahasa televisi memang terkesan lebih simple dan memikat. Hal ini tentu saja berbanding terbalik dengan buku pelajaran yang terkesan sangat kaku dengan penggunaan bahasa ilmiah. Akhirnya, menonton televisi banyak menghasilkan "bahasa televisi" yang nantinya akan membuat anak ketagihan dan malas belajar karena mereka lebih memilih melakukan hal simple.

5. Menonton televisi membentuk pola pikir sederhana.
 Akibat sering menonton televisi, anak akan kehilangan minat membaca sehingga mereka memilih pola pikir sederhana, kurang kritis, dan linear atau searah. Pada akhirnya, pola pikir tersebut akan berpengaruh pada imajinasi, intelektualitas, kreativitas, serta perkembangan kognitif anak.

6. Menonton televisi akan berakibat pada konsentrasi
 Anak hanya memiliki rentang konsentrasi sekitar 7 menit. Rentang waktu ini sama persis seperti acara dari iklan ke iklan. Hal inilah yang akan membuat konsentrasi anak menjadi terbatas jika mereka menonton televisi terlalu sering dan dalam waktu yang lama.

7. Menonton televisi akan mengurangi kreatifitas.
 Televisi membuat anak-anak menjadi kurang bermain sehingga mereka akan menjadi manusia yang individualis. Ketika merasa bosan, mereka tidak akan keluar untuk bermain dengan teman-temannya. Yang mereka lakukan hanya memencet tombol remote control untuk mendapat hiburan. Bahkan akhir pekan pun dihabiskan untuk menonton televisi. Cara ini tentu saja akan membuat anak tidak kreatif.

8. Menonton televisi meningkatkan kemungkinan obesitas.
 Menonton televisi tentu saja membuat anak tidak bergerak aktif. Terlebih, menonton televisi selalu ditemani dengan jajanan atau makanan lain. Akhirnya, mereka hanya berdiam di depan layar seraya mengisi perut dengan jajanan. Cara makan seperti ini hanya akan menurunkan metabolisme sehingga membuat timbunan lemak yang berujung pada kegemukan.

9. Menonton televisi dapat merenggangkan hubungan antar keluarga.
Anak rata-rata menghabiskan waktu sekitar 3 jam per hari. Hal ini tentu saja akan mengurangi kebersamaan antar anggota keluarga. Bahkan, waktu makan yang seharusnya dilewati bersama keluarga akan menjadi agenda sendiri-sendiri karena anak lebih memilih makan di depan televisi sambil menonton.

Dengan banyaknya dampak buruk, tidak sedikit keluarga sekarang membuat rumah mereka bebas televisi. Sangat penting untuk anak mempunyai kesempatan mempelajari dan mengalami langsung pengalaman hidup sehingga mereka dapat mengembangkan keterampilan yang mereka butuhkan untuk sukses di masa yang akan datang.
Untuk menghindari dampak negatif yang ditimbulkan akibat menonton televisi, orang tua harus mengawasi tontonan untuk anaknya. Sebaiknya tidak menonton acara televisi yang mengadung unsur kekerasan atau unsur negatif lainnya.

Berikut ini beberapa cara untuk mengurangi kegiatan menonton televisi:
1. Bercocok tanam
2. Bermain di luar rumah bersama teman
3. Berolahraga (berenang, bersepeda, bermain sepak bola dan sebagainya)
4. Belajar

Akhir kata, menonton televisi tidak selalu membawa dampak negatif, tetapi lebih baik menghindari menonton televisi berlebihan mengingat beberapa dampak negatif yang telah disebutkan diatas.

BAB IV

PENUTUP

4.1 KESIMPULAN

             Menonton televisi ternyata berpengaruh dalam perilaku anak. Program TV yang mengandung unsur kekerasan dapat ditiru anak terutama dengan proses belajar modeling. Anak cenderung mengikuti dan meniru apa yang ditontonnya.

4.2 SARAN

            Dalam menonton televisi anak-anak sebaiknya dibimbing orang tua. Dengan kata lain, orang tua menemani anak menonton televisi. Selain itu, program acara TV yang ditonton sebaiknya dikontrol dan dipilih. Anak-anak sebaiknya tidak menonton program acara televisi yang mengandung unsur kekerasan atau unsur negatif lainnya.

           

DAFTAR PUSTAKA

Lahey, Benjamin B. 2007. Psychology An Introduction. New York: McGraw-Hill

Plotnik, Rod. 2005. Introduction to Psychology. Seventh edition. USA : wadsworth Thomson Learning

King, Laura A. (2010). Psikologi Umum: Sebuah Pandangan Apresiatif. Jakarta: Salemba Humanika.

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Online Research About Psychology + IT = ?

This time, I'll share the result of my online research about Information Technology students who have learnt Psychology. This research is only for the University of North Sumatra. In this research, they are being asked some questions about the impact of Psychology in their studies, especially IT.

According to my research that I've done, all of them feel that IT students need to learn Psychology and more than 70% of them said that Psychology is really important for them. Almost all of them said that they have got the benefit from learning Psychology. Most of them can understand more about themselves and some of them know more about people's behavior. 80% of the respondents are interested in learning Psychology and want to know more about it.

Here's the chart below showing their responses according to the research:

The importance of Psychology in IT

Their interest in learning Psychology

The best method in leaning
(click to zoom image)

Interest in learning more

From the researched that I've done, I can conclude that Information Technology students are very enthusiastic in learning Psychology.

My Testimony:
This is my very first time in doing a research and this is my first time too in doing an online research. In my opinion, it is very effective to do an online research compared to manual research (paper-based). So for those who want to do a research, I suggest you to do online research because I think that nowadays, people tend to ignore the paper-based research that can't be filled only by clicking.

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Sensation And Perception

This time, I'm going to explain about sensation and perception and my own experiences involving those two.

Sensation is the process of receiving information in the form of stimulation received by the human senses. Sensation is receiving information without interpreting the information. The sensation can be either internal or external stimulation. External sensations from outside through our senses: the eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin. Eyes receives sensations such as vision, ears receive sensations such as hearing, skin receives sensations of touch, heat, pressure, and so on. Internal sensation is a sensation from ourselves. Such as hunger.

If a person receives the same sensation or stimulation repeatedly, the brain's response to that sensation will be reduced. It's called sensory adaptation. The example in daily life is when we first enter the swimming pool, we will feel very cold but eventually, the cold will be reduced until we don't feel cold anymore.
Perception is the process of interpreting the sensation. In other words, it is the process of translating the information which we received. The perception of each person to a stimulation is different. This is due to the experience, the history of life, psychophysics and perceptual distortions. Perceptual distortions can be physical appearance, stereotypes, first impressions (halo effect), and the "tendency to judge others immediately". Example: A person tends to see the physical shape of a person and directly judge that person, before knowing more about him/her. This will form different perceptions compared to people who really know that person well.

Different perceptions that emerged among people are mostly associated with the vision. According to Gestalt, there are 5 things which influence people's perceptions:
1. Figure-Ground
People tend to see the object that appears as figure, and other objects as ground.
2. Proximity
Objects that are close with other objects tend to be a group.
3. Continuity
Objects that are connected with other objects tend to be a group.
4. Similarity
Objects that are similar tend to be a group.
5. Closure
Objects that closed tend to be a group.

Misperceptions are very common. This misperception is called illusion. The illusion can occur naturally or accidentally. Intentional illusion is an illusion deliberately made on an object. An example of this is an optical illusion. That is an illusion caused by an error catching stimulus by the human eye. One of illusion examples is Zollner Illusion.

Now, I'm going to tell you a bit about my experience involving sensation and perception.
I'll start with the sensation that I received using my eyes. That time, when I was playing badminton, I saw one of my classmates was playing badminton too with a girl at the court beside mine. He looked so happy and the girl was enjoying the game too. That is the sensation I got. At that time, my perception is the girl must be his girlfriend! So I came to him and after we greeted each other, I directly made fun of them, saying that they looked so suitable for a couple, like husband and wife. But I was definitely wrong! They are not a couple! The girl is his cousin +.+
That was a huge misperception. Then I quickly said goodbye after I apologized.
So, the sensation I got is "I saw my friend played badminton with a girl" and the perception is "I thought the girl is his girlfriend."

I'll continue with the second experience of mine. This time, I'll tell you guys about the sensation I received using my ears.
I had a promise with my classmates to go hang out together on that day. But suddenly, I got into a fight with my little sister and then quarreled with my mom too. (Such a bad day!) I had a feeling that my mom won't let me go out as a punishment. But I tried not to think about that possibility. I got into my room, took a bath, changed clothes and got prepared. After I had finished everything, I crept outside my room and passed through the living room where my mom was sitting on sofa. I took a deep breath as I hold the door handle and suddenly my mom yelled at me. (Oh, crap! She won't let me go anywhere today!) But then she told me that there was a dead cockroach near the door. She was just warning me about dead cockroach! Not about anything else. She scared me to death. Another misperception.
So this time, the sensation I got is I was being yelled and my perception is I was going to stay at home whole day.
That's all.. I hope you guys can understand more about sensation and perception..

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Operant Conditioning (Group 1)

Operant Conditioning

Learning From The Consequences Of Your Behavior

Group members:

1. Adlin Ichsan - [101402030]

2. Fitria Ningsih Sipahutar - [111402015]

3. M. Ryan Faisal - [111402017]

4. Nathan Polindo - [111402079]
5. Anthonius Kosasih - [111402089]

If you were to move into a new town and you came to a park then an attractive and pretty girl spoke to you, you would probably keep going to that park again. 

The changing frequency of people’s behavior caused by the consequences of their actions is called operant conditioning. People learn from the consequences of their actions and their behavior changes.

Operant Conditioning was first described by American psychologist, Edward Thorndike (1991). At first, Thorndike was interested in the question of animal intelligence, which he investigated using an apparatus he called a "puzzle box." A hungry cat was placed inside the box, food was placed outside, and the cat's efforts to escape were observed. With each trial, the cat becomes more efficient at opening the door of the box. Based on these observations, Thorndike formulated the "Law Of Effect", which states that the behavior that yields good consequences will be strengthen, and the behavior that yields bad consequences will be weakened.

Thorndike's law of effect formed the basis for subsequent study of what is now referred to as operant conditioning in contemporary psychology.

There are three ways in which the desirable and undesirable consequences of our behavior influence our future behavior:

1. Positive Reinforcement

2. Negative Reinforcement

3. Punishment

Positive Reinforcement

In positive reinforcement, the consequences of a behavior are positive. This causes the increasing frequency of that behavior. People tend to repeat the behavior that gives them good result. In positive reinforcement, the good result is called positive reinforcer or reward.  Positive reinforcement is used to increase the frequency of wanted behavior.

For example, a lazy child was told by his parents that he would get a bar of chocolate if he can finish his homework before dinner time. Because he liked chocolate so much, he started to do his homework right after he had finished his lunch. As he finished the homework before dinner time, he got the chocolate his parents promised. This keeps repeating for the next days.

From this case, the reward is the chocolate and the behavior increased is finishing homework as soon as possible.

There  are  two important issues in the use of positive reinforcement:

1.Timing.
Reward must be given directly after the behavior wanted. The more delay or time interval between the behavior and the reward, the slower the learning occur. This delay has been referred to as the principle of delay of reinforcement.

For an example, if we were to train our dog to give a “handshake”, we should give our dog a piece of biscuit right after it took its paw and gave us a “handshake”.  Mostly, the optimal time is only one or two seconds. 

2. Consistency in the delivery of reinforcement.

In the beginning of the learning process, the reinforcement must be given consistently after every response. But after the  learning occur, it’s not always important to reinforce every response.

So, if we were to train our dog to give a “handshake”, we should give our dog a piece of biscuit everytime after it succeed shake your hand. But after the dog is well-trained, the biscuit is not always important anymore.

Negative Reinforcement

Sometimes, the increasing frequency of a behavior is to avoid aversive event. If a behavior is able to take away something we don’t like, then we tend to repeat that behavior again and again.

For example, when a naughty child is given punishment by his parents, he cried. To stop his crying, his parents then cancelled the punishment given. The next time he got punishment, he will cry again to make his parents cancel the punishment.

From this example, the increasing behavior is crying. The aversive event being taken away is the punishment.

Negative reinforcement is a very powerful method of reinforcement, so we learn patterns of behavior quickly and easily.

Punishment

Punishment is a negative consequence that leads to a decreasing in the frequency of the behavior that produced it. For example, if you keep talking in class while teacher is teaching infront, a negative consequence will surely occur. The teacher will scold you or give you another type of punishment. And you will probably not try to talk while teacher is teaching again. Punishment can be a valuable way for discouraging inappropriate behavior only if the punisment is appropriately used.


Testimony:
I think positive reinforcement is the best method compared with the other two. So, before we try to give others punishment or negative reinforcement, it's better to give the positive one first. 

I think that's all for this operant conditioning topic. I hope you guys  can understand more about this principle of learning.

References:
1. Lahey, Benjamin B. (2005). Psychology: An Introduction(Ninth Edition). Avenue of the Americans, New York: The McGraw-Hill Companies,Inc.
2. King, Laura A. (2010). Psikologi Umum: Sebuah Pandangan Apresiatif. Jakarta: Salemba Humanika.
3. candraardian2.wordpress.com/artikel-psikologi/teori-belajar

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