February 02 2018
February 02 2018
Friday Factoids: Why It Hurts To Lose A Fictional TV Character
For the fans of the hit television series This Is Us, Super bowl Sunday was not just about the game, Justin Timberlake’s halftime performance, and the commercials. It was the day we finally learned the backstory of one of the show’s beloved characters, Jack Pearson, and how he died. As fans watched the show, it is likely that they experienced feelings of sadness and probably cried along with the thousands of other fans who were glued to their TV screen.
But why do fans mourn the loss of these TV characters? It has been suggested that fans of these TV shows use the characters as an escape from the stressors in their daily lives (Holmes, 2015). Each week and even each season, fans tune into their favorite shows to see how the characters are developing in life. It is not surprising that many people begin to form an attachment to these characters and potentially even see some of themselves in the characters.
A study conducted on the end of television series and thus the subsequent death of beloved characters found that fans are most unhappy when loose ends are left about the fate of the characters. This indicates that fans want a sense of closure with the characters’ stories and do not want to have to continue wondering, “What if.”
So know that when you feel sad that a beloved character is no longer on your favorite show, you are not alone, and it is likely that others around the world are having those same feelings.
References:
Cristel Antonia Russell, Hope Jensen Schau. When Narrative Brands End: The Impact of Narrative Closure and Consumption Sociality on Loss Accommodation. Journal of Consumer Research, 2014.
Holmes, L. (2015, April 29). Yes, Grieving Fictional Characters Is A Real Thing — Here’s Why We Do It. Retrieved from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/29/why-we-grieve fictional-characters_n_7152992.html
Anissa Pugh, MA, LPA
WKPIC Doctoral Intern
February 02 2018
Friday Factoids: Does Groundhog Day Make You SAD?
Each year on February 2nd, we forget about the fancy technology that exists to predict the forecast and rather turn our attention to a groundhog and his shadow. On this day, people wake before dawn to see if the now famous Punxsutawney Phil will see his shadow on the ground. Theory states if Phil sees his shadow on the ground then we can expect another six weeks of winter; however, if he does not see his shadow we can look forward to an early spring.
So you are probably wondering how accurate is this forecast prediction, because he is ‘only’ a ground right? Since Punxsutawney Phil was first tasked with this job over 130 years ago he has predicted 103 forecasts for more winter and only 18 forecasts for early spring. A study conducted by the National Climatic Data Center found that he is right 39% of the time (“Groundhog Day | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) formerly known as National Climatic Data Center (NCDC),” 2015).
With predictions tending to heavily favor six more weeks of winter, it is important to understand how changes in seasons can impact a person’s mood. During the winter months, some people begin to feel depressed and notice a decrease in their energy levels that does not exist during other times of the year. These individuals may be suffering from what was formerly known as Season Affective Disorder (SAD) and what is now known as Major Depressive Disorder with season pattern in the DSM-5. The symptoms of this disorder are similar to that of a depressive disorder and those experiencing ‘Winter Pattern SAD’ may experience cravings for carbohydrates, weight gain, hypersomnia, or social withdrawal (a feeling like you want to “hibernate”). Treatment for SAD often includes psychotherapy such as CBT combined with behavioral activation to both look at negative thoughts process, but to also keep the person active. (“NIMH » Seasonal Affective Disorder,” n.d.). Another common treatment for SAD is light therapy to help replace the decrease in natural sunlight that is experienced during the winter months.
So did you see Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction this morning? Well if you did not he has predicted 6 more weeks of winter.
References
Groundhog Day | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) formerly known as National Climatic Data Center (NCDC). (2015, February). Retrieved from https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/customer-support/education-resources/groundhog-day
NIMH » Seasonal Affective Disorder. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/seasonal-affective-disorder/index.shtml
Fun Facts on Groundhog’s Day: http://www.ibtimes.com/groundhog-day-2018-facts-quotes-history-upcoming-annual-ritual-2648921
Anissa Pugh, MA LPA
WKPIC Doctoral Intern
January 01 2018
Friday Factoids: Imposter Syndrome
Although the imposter phenomenon is not an official diagnosis listed in the DSM, it is a very real form of intellectual self-doubt that can significantly impact one’s social and emotional well-being. Further, imposter feelings are often accompanied by anxiety and depression.
Imposter Syndrome is a fear of being discovered or unmasked. Many graduate students question whether or not they are prepared or truly worthy of doing the work that they are tasked to do. Often the work is being done well but the pervasive feelings of self-doubt, fraudulence, and insecurity dismiss successes and chalk it up to timing, luck, or a divine intervention. Imposter feelings often presents when students question how they ever got accepted into graduate school or matched through the stressful APPIC process. These students often view everyone else as a better candidate and continue to worry they don’t belong.
The following are ways to overcome imposter feelings while learning to acknowledge your strengths:
- Learn to accept praise.
- Create a visual tally of your accomplishments.
- Process your feelings of anxiety and inadequacies through journaling, and/or talking to trusted others.
- STOP FEELING LIKE A FRAUD AND ENJOY YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS!
Georgetta Harris-Wyatt, MS
WKPIC Doctoral Intern