I chose to read David DiSalvo's article "Need a Self-Control Boost? Gargle with Sugar Water!" and Jonah Lehrer's article "Where Do Bad Moods Come From?" Both of these articles are about willpower, though different aspects of it. They are pretty interesting articles that apply science to everyday life and both include helpful information to make life a little but easier.
In DiSalvo's article, he discusses a solution to an exigence which most of us are familiar with: loosing self-control. We've all had to do those tedious tasks which we are quick to give up, but researchers from the University of Georgia have an answer: gurgle with sugar water (or lemonade). Their studies show that real sugar only has to touch the taste buds in your tongue to have a positive affect. One of the constraints laid out for us in this article is that it has to be real sugar in order for the boost to occur - Splenda just won't do. DiSalvo cites Leonard Martin, co-author of the study, and gives us the basis of the experiment in his article, making use of intertext.
"Since glucose is the brain's primary energy source, it makes sense
that a quick shot of sugar would crank up attention. But according to
the researchers, this study suggests that the sugar is providing more
than a simple energy boost. 'It doesn't just crank up your energy, but it cranks up your personal
investment in what you are doing. Clicking into the things that are
important to you makes those self-related goals salient,' said Martin."
In Lehrer's article, he teaches us all why we are prone to those pesky, out-of-the-blue bad moods. According to Roy Baumeister and Mark Muraven who pioneered the idea in the 1990s, ego depletion is what happens when your self-control and willpower have been completely drained. Once you're down to a minimum or non-existent supply, your mood turns sour. In his article, Lehrer not only mentions the work done by Baumeister and Muraven, but also David Gal and Wendy Liu who did another related study more recently. These intertexts are not cited directly but are paraphrased to make them easier to be understood by the layman.
"When we push our mind too hard, asking it to refrain from carbs and
cigarettes, we struggle to avoid the negative thoughts and emotions that
lead to sour moods."
Both of these articles give the average person solutions to some everyday problems. They were both easy to read and understand, even for someone - like me - who would prefer not to touch science with a 10-foot pole. Reading these articles just goes to show that everyday tasks, from the tedious to the laborious, are only a matter of will.
#The Rhetorical Situation #Exigence #Audience #Constraints #Intertext #Why Should I Care? #HopefullyThisWillBeACleverClosingStatement
DiSalvo, David. "Need a Self-Control Boost? Gargle with Sugar Water!" Web log post. David DiSalvo. N.p., 15 Nov. 2012. Web. 15 Jan. 2013.
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