Genes And Other Factors Of Happiness Psychology Essay

Genes And Other Factors Of Happiness Psychology Essay Genes and circumstances contribute equally to human happiness in the short term, but genes and neurotransmitters cause  80% of the range of happiness people feel in the long term, according to recent research in behavioral genetics and neurochemistry (Sharpe and Bryant 2008:1-9) 1. Genetic information derived from scientific explorations of genetic traits may have important links to understanding the basis for feelings of well-being and potentially the phenomena associated with human happiness. While non-genetic oriented research of social, political, public policy, theology and economic studies have addressed the impact of social and institutional environments on mass political attitudes and behaviors, there is a paucity of solid research on the interrelation and influence of genetic and environmental factors on these parameters. The neuroscience and genes experiments have entailed basic propositions of well being and happiness into human brain which has made science unique. On th e other hands, Social Sciences especially economics, political science, theology or public policy has endeavored different aspects and corners of happiness research which made the issue not much different from what gene, neuroscience and psychology researchers have got. This paper would discuss the inevitability of the Science -Social Science Nexus in Happiness research and the findings. Keywords: Happiness, Genes, Science Social Science Nexus, Factors of Happiness. Introduction: Across culture, people rate subjective well being as most important elements of their life and more important than material success (Diener, 2000)2. Subjective well being is equally treated here as Happiness. In this paper we explore neurogenetics determination and its relationships with social science research on happiness throughout our lives. The abovementioned classical saying from Diener has got great value in Happiness Research. Despite the fact, the invention of Genetics Research during late 1800s flames the fire on Nature versus Nurture debate which has caused a rift within the scientific community, with researchers and theorists passionately defending both sides of the argument. Furthermore the Social science Researchers on Happiness has raised more issues which has become complicated to the neurogenetics researchers and by thus the inevitability of Social science and science nexus in happiness research has become more realistic. This holds especially true in the discourse of the determination of ones happiness.Resaerchers debate Human biological make up, i.e., the happiness is determined by configuration of human genetics. Even happiness is known to be related to personality traits. However, to date, nobody has examined whether personality and subjective well-being share a common genetic structure (Weiss, Bates and Luciano, 2008)3. Its novel approach to scientific analysis fusing biology, psychology and sociology was convincing to some researchers, but also thought of as unsubstantiated and too restrictive by others. The divisive line between those that supported the study of genetics within human behavioral research and those that simply dismissed its findings only grew with time, as more controversial theories and concepts began to emerge. A result of this conflict between nature and nurture is a lack of communication between both sides of the argument. Researchers tend to view genetics and life events as separate entities working to determine which one has greater power over the other in shaping emotional status. Genetics theorists such as David Lykken and Auke Tellegen4 focus most of their experiments on data analysis and genetics testing, while proponents of life events research such as Richard Lucas and Sonja Lyubomirsky use more of the qualitative methods, surveying specific individuals, as was familiar to sociologists. Though the differences between the two sides are stark, the two arguments can work together. Through the revelation of behavioral genetics research it is undeniable that new, significant findings in the realm of sociology will emerge. It cannot be counted out as a major force within the development of human emotion. Nevertheless, the inability of the two sides of this conflict to work together has led to numerous holes in research and conclusions by both points of view. In this paper we intend to prove that behavioral genetics greatly influences human behavior and emotion and should be taken into account in all social science research on individual happiness levels. We will first outline the research on genetics with respect to happiness and how it has evolved. Then we will look at the response to the genetic research by those who argue that happiness is determined by life-events. The final part of the literature will be a discussion of the integration of genetics and life-events, which will include the research which as been completed and that which we believe will further the field. We will then conclude the paper with a summary of the arguments and which side our study has led us to. Methodology: The methodology adopted here is Content Analysis, historical data analysis and analysis of case studies. We have consulted data and analysis of previous reports by scientific and social science experts on happiness research. The methodology is completely based on secondary data analysis and interpretation. In analyzing those data, we have carefully selected data which are related to our themes. We have also used those data and figures to show the science-social sciences nexus of happiness research. Characteristics of Happy People: In her recent study, Lyubomirsky suggests that happiness is determined by three influences: 50% set point or genetic make-up; 40% intentional activity; 10% circumstance (Lyubomirsky 2007).5 In 1996, University of Minnesota researcher David Lykken studied 4,000 sets of twins born in Minnesota from 1936-1955.   After comparing data on identical vs. fraternal twins, he came to the conclusion that 50% of ones satisfaction from life comes from genes. (Lykken, D.   Happiness is a Stochastic Phenomenon.  Ã‚  Minn Psychological Science  7(3), 1996)6 Martin Seligman, PhD, at the University of Pennsylvania taught a single happiness-enhancing strategy to a group of severely depressed people.   These individuals had difficulty staying out of bed.   They were encouraged to log onto a Web site and engage in a simple exercise.   The exercise involved recalling and writing down three good things that happened every day.   Within 15 days, their depression lifted from severe to moderate to mild.   Ninety-four percent reported relief (Authentic Happiness2002).7 Richard Davidson, known by colleagues as the king of happiness research, has been studying the link between prefrontal lobe activity and the sort of deep bliss that people who meditate experience. According to Davidson (2001)8, happiness isnt just a vague, ineffable feeling; its a physical state of the brain-one that you can induce deliberately. As researchers have gained an understanding of the physical characteristics of a happy brain, they have come to see that those traits have a powerful influence on the rest of the body. Numerous studies (Kubzansky, Sparrow, Vokonas, Kawachi, 2001)9 have discovered that happiness or related mental states like hopefulness, optimism, and contentment appear to reduce the risk or limit the severity of cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, diabetes, hypertension, colds, and upper respiratory infections as well. The benefits of being happy go beyond the temporary phase of feeling good. Happy people exhibit a high level of energy and can do attitude. They are emotionally intelligent and show more poise and grace in a crisis. Their immune systems are stronger, and they live longer and have more fruitful lives as a result. Over many decades, psychological researchers have begun to place more and more emphasis on understanding influences upon mental and emotional health and well-being. Some of Seligmans own research, for instance, had focused on optimism, a trait shown to be associated with good physical health, less depression and mental illness, longer life, and, yes, greater happiness. Perhaps the most eager explorer of this terrain was University of Illinois psychologist Edward Diener, a.k.a. Dr. Happiness. For more than two decades, Diener had been examining what does and does not make people feel satisfied with life. Seligmans goal was to shine a light on such work and encourage much, much more of it. A recent survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that people ages 20 to 24 are sad for an average of 3.4 days a month, as opposed to just 2.3 days for people ages 65 to 74. The earlier notion where you live makes you happy, has recently been challenged by the work of North and others (North  et al. 2008)10.  They suggest that  happiness can change and underscore the importance of exploring more deeply the role that family relationships play in facilitating such change and this is not related to economic status (Wenz, 1977)11. Similarly, the idea that  marriage increases happiness has been challenged by the evidence that married people may have been happier than single people because the former were happier to begin with. Scientific Research on Happiness: Genes and Happiness: Genes carry the instructions for the construction of neurotransmitters, their receptor and re-absorption portals. They also impart information on such things as their storage and release rates. Hence, genes can influence the prevalence, scarcity, and activity of serotonin and dopamine, and, in turn, whatever behaviors and feelings these neurotransmitters induce. For each of us, our happiness fluctuates within a small range that our genes largely determine. So concludes Dean Hamer in his review of studies on the role of genes in happiness or misery. Hamer12 directs our attention to two of the more than  300  known neurotransmitters, dopamine (the brains chemical for pleasure) and serotonin, the petrochemical for misery. Neurotransmitters pass information from the synapse or junction between a nerve cell and another nerve cell or a muscle. The nerve cells bulbous end releases them from storage when an electrical impulse moving along the nerve reaches it. Then they cross the junction to dock at the other nerve cells receptor, and either prompt or inhibit the impulses along the second cell. The first nerve cell reabsorbs excess neurotransmitters, but not necessarily all of them. Those that remain free-floating help create our happy or miserable states of being. How you feel right now is about equally genetic and circumstantial, says Hamer. But how you will feel on average over the next ten years is fully  80% because of your genes (Hamer  1996:  125).13 Further evidence for a physical/biochemical basis of happiness comes from neuroanatomy.  Richard Lane  and his colleagues preliminary research indicate that feelings of happiness, sadness, and disgust all co-occur with increased brain activity in the thalamus and medial prefrontal cortex. Greater activity near the ventral medial frontal cortex distinguishes happiness from sadness, whilst happiness correlates with significant increases in bilateral activity near the middle and posterior temporal cortex and hypothalamus. Lane concludes that, spatially distributed brain regions participate in each emotion (Lane, et al.  1997:930)14. Identical twins (those with the same genetic makeup) attain the same level of happiness  44  percent of the time. In comparison, fraternal twins, those who share genes as do ordinary siblings, reach the same level only eight percent of the time. Hamer adds: These data show that the broad heritability of well-being is  40  to  50% (Hamer  1996:  125)15. Studies by David Lykken and Auke Tellegen assess the happiness of twins over five to ten years, and show the slight impact of sex, age, race, and marital status, and the short-term influence of job loss or lottery winning. A recent report by psychologists Christopher Lewis and Stephen Joseph16 suggests that the Depression-Happiness Scale (which psychologists use to calculate happiness) measures happiness as a trait rather than a state, with subjects scores on the scale remaining relatively stable over a two-year period. Other studies show that a persons level of happiness remains stable over many years. Inherited genes account for the majority of this level. Figure- 1:  Happiness genes GENE ASSOCIATIONS DRD2 Alcoholism, Substance abuse, craving behavior, cocaine dependence, smoking, ADHD, parenting, Obesity, video gaming, sexual activity, posttraumatic stress disorder schizophrenia, Parkinsons, brain metabolism, BMI, executive functioning, love styles (EROS) pathological gambling. Pathological aggression, schizoid/avoidant behavior, criminal activity, politics party attachment. Energy, hypertension. Hyperphagia, growth, sexual maturation, brain development, depression, anorexia, bulimia, fibromyalgia, pain sensitivity, hunger, novelty seeking, extraversion, early onset sexual intercourse, defense style (lying), oppositional defiant disorder, panic disorder, developmental personality, Tourette Syndrome, Parkinsons, executive dysfunctioning, pleasure buzz ANNKI Smoking dependence, parental rule-setting, Schizophrenia, cognition deficit, alcohol and opiate dependence, pleasurable buzz, 5HT2A Eating disorders, obesity, Insulin resistance, love styles (romantic), suicide, ADHD, Panic disorders, impulsive aggression, cognitive impulsivity, anger, sweet tooth, antidepressant treatment outcomes, fibromyalgia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, borderline personality, smoking behavior, cocaine dependence, BMI. OPRK1 (kappa -opioid receptor) Alcohol and heroin dependence. Pain mechanisms and tolerance. OPRM1 (mu opioid   receptorreceptor) Pleasure buzz, smoking addiction, heroin addiction, alcoholism, pain sensitivity, BMI, type 2 diabetes mellitus. COMT Psychiatric and affective disorders, alcoholism, substance use disorder, smoking, post-surgical pain, fibromyalgia, Parkinsons disease, ADHD. SLC6A3 Post-surgical pain, cocaine abuse, alcohol dependence, smoking behavior, juvenile delinquency, pathological aggression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, ADHD, impulsive aggression, cognitive impulsivity. HTR3B Heroin addiction, migraine, impulsive behavioral aggression, cognitive -impulsivity, ADHD, alcoholism. NOS3 Pain mechanism, healing mechanisms, circulation, hypertension, cardiovascular. PPARG Type 2 diabetes, Obesity, Insulin sensitivity, Body composition, eating disorders, BMI, physical exercise, common metabolic disorders, body mass, waist circumference, inflammatory response, immune system. CHREBP Plasma triglycerides, triglyceridemia, obesity ,,improves plasma glucose, FTO Severe obesity, food intake, adiposity, body mass, energy intake, BMI, fat mass, pleasurable buzz. TNFalpha Inflammation, mortality, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, BMI, Immune response. PEMT Proinflamamtory, immunoregulation, apotosis, substance use disorder. MANEA Substance dependence LEPTIN-OB BMI, Schizophrenia, stress, obesity risk, food intake, craving behavior, diabetes, insulin sensitivity, adiposity, body composition, linear growth, metabolic factors, hyperphagia, cocaine dependence, lipogenesis, modulation of sweet substances, anorexia, bulimia, cardiovascular effects, fertility, sexual maturation, brain development, depression, fatty acid metabolism, hunger, MAO-A Pain sensitivity, bipolar affective disorder, ADHD, alcoholism, Substance Use Disorder, violent behavior, juvenile delinquency, smoking, child abuse, suicide, criminal activity, posttraumatic stress disorder, anti-depressant treatment response, alcoholism, panic disorder, schizophrenia, pathological gambling. ADIPOQ Metabolic syndrome, adiposity, fat mass, energy intake, obesity, lipogenesis, type 2 diabetes, BMI. STS ADHD VDR Obesity, BMI, overeating, metabolic syndrome, anthropometric measures, schizophrenia, temporal lobe epilepsy, immune system, type 2 diabetes, physical activity, BONE DENSITY (OSTEOPOROSIS). DBI ANXIETY DISORDERS GABRA6 Autism, alcoholism, stresses response. GABRB3 Autism, alcoholism, stress. MTHFR   Cardiovascular disease, Homocysteine levels, obesity, fat mass, Schizophrenia. MLXIPL (CARBOHYDRATE BINDING ELEMENT) Plasma triglycerides, glucose craving behavior, obesity. VEGF Angiogenesis factor, cognition, tissue healing, pain sensitivity, oxidative stress. DRD4 Financial risk taking, nicotine withdrawal, ADHD, novelty seeking, Alcoholism, aggression, impulsivity, delinquency, memory deficits, anger, temperament, schizophrenia, sexual intercourse, drug abuse, extraversion, obesity, stress, emotional reactivity, infant attachment, oppositional defiant disorder, fibromyalgia, hyperphagia, alcohol craving, pathological gambling, panic disorder, developmental personality, Tourette Syndrome, Parkinsons. VMAT2 Antidepressant treatment outcome, Parkinsons, ADHD, cocaine and methamphetamine dependence, spirituality GOD Gene. CLOCK Circadian system, mood, bipolar, endocrine and metabolic rhythms, stress, reproduction, morphine dependence MELETONIN Sleep anxiety, alcoholism OREXIN Hyperphagis and energy regulation Source: Blum, K et.al. (2009)17 The abovementioned Table showed the genes and its associations with different Situations. Genetic factors may also contribute to the drug abuse-derived pleasure form; in one genomic study on rats exposed to chronic methamphetamine abuse, the SLC6A gene and its variants were shown to be altered upon exposure to methamphetamine (Kobeissy, et al., 2008)(Gold, et al., 2009).18 This disorder is due to genetic defects in the dopamine reward pathways. As a result of such defects the natural rewards are no longer sufficient to improve mood and provide pleasure, and affected individuals pursue an excessive amount of unnatural rewards such as from alcohol, nicotine, drugs, gambling, sex and risk taking in the form of dangerous sports, such bungie and base jumping, sky diving, extreme skiing, race car driving, video gaming and others to stimulate their reward pathways. The SLC6A gene is involved in cocaine abuse, alcohol dependence, smoking behavior, juvenile delinquency, pathological aggression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, ADHD, impulsive aggression, cognitive impulsity and is a major component in the happiness gene map (see  Figure 1  and  Table 1). In 1995 Kenneth Blum coined the term RDS (Blum et al. 1996; Comings et al 2000; Blum et al. 2000).19 The fact that drugs of abuse such as alcohol, cocaine, speed and nicotine stimulate the release of dopamine explains part of the question of why humans become addicted to things; this does not explain why some people have serious problems with addictions. While environmental factors play a role, there is a significant variation in addictive potential among individuals exposed to the same environment or even substances ( Hoebel, Avena, Borcarsly, Rada, 2009,  Comings and Blum 2000).20  Ã‚   Another facet of certain environmental elements that may affect ones happiness and ultimately longevity is being in control. Langer (1989)21 carried out a landmark study that suggested that being in control resulted in greater longevity. In his study performed in a nursing home for the elderly, one group of subjects was given a plant and told to look after it, they were responsible for the plants health. Another group was also given a plant but told that the staff would look over the plant. Over the next 18 months twice as many of those who were not in control of their plants died compared to those in control of their plants. A test of this hypothesis has been successfully carried out by others in two strains of rodents. One strain liked drinking alcohol more than drinking water; the other strain did not. If the preference for alcohol was due to a defect in the dopamine D2 receptor, then increasing the level of D2 receptor in the reward pathways should eliminate the alcohol preference. This was accomplished by injecting copies of the D2 receptor gene directly in the nucleus accumbens. This resulted in a temporary over expression of the D2 receptors that lasted several days. The over expression of the D2 receptor gene reduces alcohol intake demonstrating that high levels of the D2 receptor gene are protective against alcohol abuse (Thanos et al 2001).22 Post (2005)23 suggests that altruism and volunteerism are associated with happiness, improved mood, enhanced self-esteem, and better mental and physical health; and that helping others, per se, may be a major part of the increased longevity seen in religious versus non-religious individuals. However others have rejected the idea that religion was a key factor. They concluded in their studies of over 8,832 subjects that volunteering, rather than its religious context, explained the beneficial effects and happiness (Musick  et al. 1999)24.  These findings are not so simple and cannot be taken without understanding that  we really cannot determine whether a confound drives an observed correlation. That is, that correlational data is always vulnerable to potential third-variable confounds. As we stated earlier, wealth does not necessarily correlate with happiness. In fact, as pointed out in Comings25 book  Did Man Create God,  a major reason for the lack of correlation between Gross National Product (GNP) and happiness is that people quickly adapt to a wide range of circumstances. He stated, Someone inheriting or winning a great deal of money may be temporarily be happier, but they soon settle back to their previous innate level of happiness. The same holds for those with progressively increasing yearly incomes. In support of this notion  Allen Parducci  (1995)26 suggested that after each raise, people adapt and return to a previous level of happiness (a set point genetically programmed), a phenomena he termed  hedonic treadmill. Figure-2 Source: Ibid, 2009 27 Psychology and Happiness: For most of its history, psychology has concerned itself with all that ails the human mind: anxiety, depression, neurosis, obsessions, paranoia, delusions, etc., and the behaviors they produce. The goal of practitioners has been to bring patients from a negative ailing state to a neutral normal state. Or, as University of Pennsylvania psychologist Martin Seligman puts it, from a minus five to a zero (Seligman 2002)28. In the tabe-1, we could see that DRD2 genes has associations with the psychological functions like Alcoholism, Substance abuse, craving behavior, cocaine dependence, smoking, ADHD, parenting, Obesity, video gaming, sexual activity, posttraumatic stress disorder schizophrenia, Parkinsons, brain metabolism, BMI, executive functioning, love styles (EROS) pathological gambling. Pathological aggression, schizoid/avoidant behavior, criminal activity, politics party attachment. Energy, hypertension. Hyperphagia, growth, sexual maturation, brain development, depression, anorexia, bulimia, fibromyalgia, pain sensitivity, hunger, novelty seeking, extraversion, early onset sexual intercourse, defense style (lying), oppositional defiant disorder, panic disorder, developmental personality, Tourette Syndrome, Parkinsons, executive dysfunctioning, pleasure buzz etc. At the same time, the gene like ANNKI has the effects on Smoking dependence, parental rule-setting, Schizophrenia, cognition deficit, alcohol and opiate dependence, pleasurable buzz. The gene 5HT2A has got associations with Eating disorders, obesity, Insulin resistance, love styles (romantic), suicide, ADHD, Panic disorders, impulsive aggression, cognitive impulsivity, anger, sweet tooth, antidepressant treatment outcomes, fibromyalgia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, borderline personality, smoking behavior, cocaine dependence, BMI. Genes like OPRK1 (kappa -opioid receptor) has associations with the Alcohol and heroin dependence. Pain mechanisms and tolerance. OPRM1 (mu opioid   Receptor) has associations with Pleasure buzz, smoking addiction, heroin addiction, alcoholism, pain sensitivity, BMI, type 2 diabetes mellitus. COMT has associations with Psychiatric and affective disorders, alcoholism, substance use disorder, smoking, post-surgical pain, fibromyalgia, Parkinsons disease, ADHD. SLC6A3 genes are associated with Post-surgical pain, cocaine abuse, alcohol dependence, smoking behavior, juvenile delinquency, pathological aggression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, ADHD, impulsive aggression, cognitive impulsivity. Heroin addiction, migraine, impulsive behavioral aggression, cognitive -impulsivity, ADHD, alcoholism is attached with the gene HTR3B. Pain mechanism, healing mechanisms, circulation, hypertension, cardiovascular are associated with the genes NOS3. Type 2 diabetes, Obesity, Insulin sensitivity, Body composition, eating disorders, BMI, physical exercise, common metabolic disorders, body mass, waist circumference, inflammatory response, immune system are affected with the genes PPARG. Plasma triglycerides, triglyceridemia, obesity ,,improves plasma glucose are asssociated iwth the genes CHREBP. Severe obesity, food intake, adiposity, body mass, energy intake, BMI, fat mass, pleasurable buzz are associated with the genes FTO. Inflammations, mortality, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, BMI, Immune response are associated with the gene TNFalpha. Proinflamamtory, immunoregulation, apotosis, substance use disorder are associated with the gene PEMT. Substance dependence is also associated with the gene MANEA. BMI, Schizophrenia, stress, obesity risk, food intake, craving behavior, diabetes, insulin sensitivity, adiposity, body composition, linear growth, metabolic factors, hyperphagia, cocaine dependence, lipogenesis, modulation of sweet substances, anorexia, bulimia, cardiovascular effects, fertility, sexual maturation, brain development, depression, fatty acid metabolism, hunger have great effects of the gene LEPTIN-OB. Pain sensitivity, bipolar affective disorder, ADHD, alcoholism, Substance Use Disorder, violent behavior, juvenile delinquency, smoking, child abuse, suicide, criminal activity, posttraumatic stress disorder, anti-depressant treatment response, alcoholism, panic disorder, schizophrenia, pathol ogical gambling are also affected by the gene MAO-A. Metabolic syndrome, adiposity, fat mass, energy intake, obesity, lipogenesis, type 2 diabetes, BMI has the same associations with the gene ADIPOQ. ADHD has the associations with the gene STS. Obesity, BMI, overeating, metabolic syndrome, anthropometric measures, schizophrenia, temporal lobe epilepsy, immune system, type 2 diabetes, physical activity, BONE DENSITY (OSTEOPOROSIS) has associations with the gene VDR. Anxiety Disorders has associations with the gene DBI. Autism, alcoholism, stress response has association with the gene GABRA6. Autism, alcoholism, stress has strongest associations with the gene GABRB3. Cardiovascular disease, Homocysteine levels, obesity, fat mass, Schizophrenia has associations with the gene MTHFR. Plasma triglycerides, glucose craving behavior, obesity has associations with the gene MLXIPL (CARBOHYDRATE BINDING ELEMENT). Angiogenesis factor, cognition, tissue healing, pain sensitivity, oxidative stress has associations with the gene VEGF. Financial risk taking, nicotine withdrawal, ADHD, novelty seeking, Alcoholism, aggression, impulsivity, delinquency, memory deficits, anger, temperament, schizophrenia, sexual intercourse, drug abuse, extrav ersion, obesity, stress, emotional reactivity, infant attachment, oppositional defiant disorder, fibromyalgia, hyperphagia, alcohol craving, pathological gambling, panic disorder, developmental personality, Tourette Syndrome, Parkinsons has association with the gene DRD4. Antidepressant treatment outcome, Parkinsons, ADHD, cocaine and methamphetamine dependence, spirituality GOD Gene has association with the gene VMAT2. CLOCK gene is associated with Circadian system, mood, bipolar, endocrine and metabolic rhythms, stress, reproduction, morphine dependence. Sleep anxiety, alcoholism is associated with the gene MELETONIN. OREXIN gene has associations with Hyperphagis and energy regulation. So from the above analysis what we could see is that several genes have had associations with the psychological orders and disorders of human body and mind. Genes like DRD2 and DRD4, ANNKI, COMT, SLC6A3, TNFalpha, PEMT, LEPTIN-OB, MAO-A, ADIPOQ, STS, VDR, DBI, GABRA6, GABRA3, MTHFR, VEGF, VMAT2, CLOCK, MELETONIN, OREXIN has associations with the Psychological disorders like Sleep anxiety, mood, bipolar, endocrine and metabolic rhythms, stress, reproduction, morphine dependence, cocaine and methamphetamine dependence, spirituality GOD Gene, Financial risk taking, nicotine withdrawal, ADHD, novelty seeking, Alcoholism, aggression, impulsivity, delinquency, memory deficits, anger, temperament, schizophrenia, sexual intercourse, drug abuse, extraversion, obesity, stress, emotional reactivity, infant attachment, oppositional defiant disorder, fibromyalgia, hyperphagia, alcohol craving, pathological gambling, panic disorder, developmental personality, Tourette Syndrome, Angiogenesis factor , cognition, pain sensitivity, oxidative stress, obesity, obesity, Schizophrenia, alcoholism, stress response, Anxiety disorders, bipolar affective disorder, ADHD, alcoholism, Substance Use Disorder, violent behavior, juvenile delinquency, smoking, child abuse, suicide, criminal activity, posttraumatic stress disorder, anti-depressant treatment response, alcoholism, panic disorder. But the most interesting thing is that not all the genes have the same disorders, rather each of the different genes has different syndroms which affects happiness of human being. But most interesting things is that more genes has associations with the same disorders like Schizophrenia of human being which seriously affects happiness. As well as more genes has the same affects like panic disorders which also affected happiness. In one hand, this is the genes associations with Psychology and happiness and on the other hands, there are more factors involved in the Psychology and happiness. James Montier29, a global equity strategist, has concluded with the almost same view of happiness where genes have the greatest associations with human happiness. About 50% of individual happiness comes from a  genetic set point.  That is, were each predisposed to a certain level of happiness. Some of us are just naturally more inclined to be cheery than others. About 10% of our happiness is due to our  circumstances.  Our age, race, gender, personal history, and, yes, wealth, only make up about one-tenth of our happiness. The remaining  40% of an individuals happiness seems to be derived from  intentional activity, from discrete actions or practices that people can choose to do. Economist Richard A. Easterlin30 at the University  was among the first to notice the paradoxical disconnection between a nations economic growth and the growth of its happiness. The Easterlin Paradox was once thought to be limited to rich

Why Should Abortion be illegal?

Abortion is taking the life off new human being. Many people would say that it's not human to kill another person but what makes abortion any different from that? The main reason why many women abort is because they're too young and are scared of the Impact a baby will make In there life, they don't have enough money to support a child, or their relationship starts falling after finding out they're pregnant. As a Christian I was taught that abortion Is wrong and that only God can determine who lives and dies. Not only is abortion wrong but it can also cause severe damage to our body not only physically but psychologically.If you're not ready to take care of a child on your own don't abort put your child up for adoption, there are thousands of couples who would love to have a child but can't and are just waiting for a baby to adopt. Abortion is not justified because adoption is another choice, women often have side affects both physically and psychologically and you are taking the bab y's right of life away, killing is never right under any circumstance, therefore abortion should be Illegal. Adoption Is another option, give your child to a nice family who will take care and purport the baby the way It should be.There Is 36 couples waiting for ever one baby put Into adoption (Life News). You can even have the choice to have an open adoption where you can keep In touch with your child and know how Its doing throughout his/ her life. I think the fact that there are couples out there aborting because they aren't ready to have a children is unfair to couples dying to have children and the future baby. Abortion is very harmful to the human body not only physically but psychologically. Abortion can cause both short and long term physical complications. One is that abortion can affect women in being able to have healthy pregnancies in the future.After having an abortion women often suffer from depression because of regret, not only that but abortions create a risk of hav ing a miscarriage or pelvic inflammation disease In the future. Abortions aren't helping your life they're ruining it. All of this can be avoided, our bodies weren't made to have abortions. You are taking the life of a human being when you have an abortion. The fetus has a heart beat 5 weeks after the mothers last period and the fetus heart starts pumping blood throughout its body at six weeks (New Health Guide). People say abortions is not killing an actual living being.The time period recommended to have a safe abortion is 10 weeks, by this time the baby is already active. Its teeth and fingernails are growing in, it can start making facial expressions and even have the hiccup (New Health Guide). Please tell me how this isn't a human being. The Declaration of Independence says â€Å"that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness†, but by having an abortio n you are taking the babies right of life and happiness.Abortion can and should be stopped, It's not right nor human to kill a human being because you can't or don't want to take care of It. I understand women are scared or Just don't have the time to take care of a child but adoption Is always a choice. Abortions change women forever and not always for the best. The child has rights and by aborting you are taking the baby's right of life. Affects and you are taking the baby's right of life away, killing is never right under any circumstance, therefore abortion should be illegal.

Prose Appreciation

The East, an excerpt from the short story â€Å"Youth† written by Joseph Conrad is a descriptive paragraph about a young mans first impression of the east. The tone of the excerpt is admiring because the writer uses words such as â€Å"impalpable† and â€Å"enslaving† suggesting that the young deckhand was overwhelmed by the magnificent sight of the east. The aim in descriptive paragraphs is to build descriptive detail. The writer mostly uses long sentences which are suitable for a descriptive paragraph because there can be a lot of detail packed into long sentences. However, there are two short sentences. The fragment sentence â€Å"And this is how I see the east† is used to create suspense while the short sentence near the end of the excerpt â€Å"That I can never forget† emphasis just how great an impression the east made on the narrator. While most of the sentences are assertive sentences, used to experience the scene of the east through the eyes of the narrator as he approaches the bay, most sentences are also loose sentences to accumulate descriptive detail. However, in the excerpt there are some unordinary sentences. The opening sentence â€Å"And this is how I see the east† is a periodic sentence and the delay of the verb â€Å"see† is used to create suspense, on the other hand, to emphasize the immense size of the bay, the writer uses the parallel sentence â€Å"I see a bay, a wide bay†. We see the same affect on â€Å"wide† in the parallel sentence as we saw on â€Å"See† is the periodic sentence. Through out the excerpt, many different types of language devices are used. Sight imagery: used to implant the image of the mountains and the bay the narrator is seeing into the readers mind, Tactile imagery: to give the sensation of holding an oar in hands, Olfactory imagery: to make the reader experience the smells of the wind as the narrator did, Similes: â€Å"I see a bay, a wide bay, smooth as glass and polished like ice† to explain just how perfect a day is was and how calm the sea was, and â€Å"It was impalpable and enslaving, like a charm, like a whispered promise of mysterious delight† used to create the sense of power that the east had over the young man, Personification: the narrator has â€Å"looked into the east’s very soul† used to show the connection between the narrator and the east. The excerpt clearly demonstrates how dumbfounded and impressed the narrator was with the east during his first impression.

The Growth of Christain Yoga - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 4 Words: 1231 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2019/08/07 Category Sports Essay Level High school Topics: Yoga Essay Did you like this example? Yoga has been a significant staple in religions across the world since their originations. Religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism have utilized yoga as a way to practice ones own spiritual devolvement and helping them have a sense of awareness of their own nature (Surrenda, 2012). The migration of yoga into the western-world of Europe and Americas began as a form of exercise to promote flexibility in the human form and for the philosophical properties that the originating religions had sold it to have. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "The Growth of Christain Yoga" essay for you Create order Since yoga has increased substantially in the western world and many people know of or how to do yoga, and the historical background is related so closely to religious affairs, it seems logical that Christianity would also pick up this model. Christian yoga is a very new concept brought into the religious world. The thing that makes this yoga Christian is the reading of the Bible in different parts of the practice (Soloman, 2017). Yoga is a controversial subject within the Christian community. Many have referred to it as demonic and see the Hindu roots as incompatible with their faith. In a blog post titled Christian Yoga? Its a Stretch, outspoken pastor Mark Driscoll described yoga as a system of belief that is unchristian, against Scripture, and thus demonic in nature. He went on to write that whatever way you look at yoga, including Christian yoga, it cannot be divided from its Hindu roots (Driscoll, 2011). Other Christians see yoga as spiritually benign, a harmless exercise to improve flexibility and strength. Then there are people who blend their Christian faith into their yoga practice. This dance around yoga reflects the debate within the Christian community on if and how it can fit into a faith other than Hinduism . Exactly what can make yoga Christian is undefined. It can look like prayer and scripture readings being added into the session, Christian worship music might be played during a class, some put yoga poses to traditional Christian prayers or incorporates a whole Bible study into a class. Holy Yoga doesnt present trainees with a Christian yoga formula but encourages each certified instructor to incorporate Christianity as they see fit (Boone, 2006). Christian yoga also takes a few things away from the traditional course of yoga. The word or sound om, a mantra that is typically chanted at the end of a yoga class with the goal of connecting to others and the universe, is often missing from Christian yoga (Soloman, 2017). The Christians Practicing Yoga website advises that the meaning and implications of om should be understood rather than uttered just because its cool or what people do in a yoga class. The website offers Shalom, the Hebrew word for peace and wholeness, as an om alternativ e (Gelinas, 2008). In the video To Om or Not to Om, Holy Yoga founder Brooke Boon said there isnt anything inherently wrong for Christians to let out an om,, but the mystery of it can create more questions than answers. From our perspective, prayer does the same thing, she said (Boone, 2006). As the founder of New Day Yoga addresses why she teaches yoga from a Christian perspective, she also lists many scriptures that she likes to use in classes. She states that her aim as a company and Christian yoga studio, that as we learn to balance our body in tree pose by engaging our core and keeping our focus on a still point, we also learn to balance our lives by engaging our minds and keeping our focus on the One True God, (Gelinas, 2008). When questioned about her verses she stated, each one of these verses is rich and powerful in the spiritual realm, and I wanted to give my students the opportunity to let the truth of these words sink deep into their minds so that they could be transformed. I wanted New Day Yoga classes to build up my students in their faith as well as in their body so that they would be equipped to live out the fullness of their destiny in Christ. I wanted to help them reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attainin g to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ so that they would not be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching, (Gelinas, 2008). PraiseMoves was created by Laurette Willis as a Christian alternative to yoga, rather than Christian yoga (Willis, 2001). However, at times, the 150 postures in PraiseMoves can look a lot like yoga. For example, cobra pose is referred to as the vine, a reference to a Biblical analogy where Jesus referred to himself as a vine. Willis created other poses herself, some of them modeled on the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. During each pose, a corresponding Bible verse is recited by the class, such as for the vine pose it is John 15:5 where Jesus says I am the vine; you are the branches PraiseMoves is disguised as exercise, said Willis, but it is really a way for people to have a closer relationship with God, (Soloman, 2017). Yoga has never had a single purpose for its seekerswhether it is philosopher-ascetics seeking enlightenment, ecstatic devotees expressing the love of God, people in pursuit of yogic superpowers, fitness buffs seeking the perfect yoga butt or Christians wanting to get closer to Christ. The argument that Christian yoga is not real yoga assumes that yoga is or has been a tradition that has exclusively featured Hindu symbols, practices, and ideas. In reality, yoga includes a variety of historical as well as new traditions that have changed and evolved throughout the years. Yogas history is rooted in a variety of South Asian religious movements going back over 2,000 years ago (Jain, 2017). In India alone, yoga practitioners have included Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, Christians and Muslims (Jain, 2017). In other words, yoga has never belonged to any one religion, but it has always been packaged in a variety of ways. The real question that everyone should be considering is not the question of whether or not Christian yoga is real yoga, but has there ever been one real yoga? References Bharati, S. J. (2017). Is Yoga a Religion? Retrieved from Swami J: https://www.swamij.com/religion.htm Boone, B. (2006). What We Believe. Retrieved from Holy Yoga: https://holyyoga.net/about/what-we-believe/ Buddhism and Hinduism. (2018, November 25). Retrieved from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism_and_Hinduism Driscoll, M. (2011, November 18). A Modern Reformation. Retrieved from https://amodernreformation.blogspot.com/2011/11/christian-yoga-its-stretch-by-mark.html Gelinas, D. (2008). Why I Teach Yoga from a Christian Perspective. Retrieved from Christians Practicing Yoga: https://www.christianspracticingyoga.com/5588485fe4b0d4f1a8c4542d/ Jain, J. (2017, June 21). Can yoga be Christian? Retrieved from The Conversation: https://theconversation.com/can-yoga-be-christian-78730 Manjackal, J. (2018). Yoga in philosophy and practice is incompatible with Christianity. Retrieved from J Manjackal: https://www.jmanjackal.net/eng/engyoga.htm Roys, J. (2015, June 23). Three Reasons Christians Should Think Twice About Yoga. Retrieved from Julie Roys: https://julieroys.com/three-reasons-christians-should-think-twice-about-yoga/ Soloman, S. (2017, September 5). Inside the Growing World of Christian Yoga. Retrieved from VICE: https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/7xxa3a/inside-the-growing-world-of-christian-yoga Surrenda, D. (2012, January 12). The Purpose of Yoga. Retrieved from New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/01/12/is-yoga-for-narcissists/the-purpose-of-yoga Willis, L. (2001). Dr. Laurette Willis Bio Ministry. Retrieved from Praise Moves: https://praisemoves.com/about-us/laurettes-bio-ministry/