Smoking, drinking, overeating and accumulating stressors are behaviors that become pronounced in adulthood though they trace their origins to a much younger age probably around the teenage years. These behaviors do not just crop up out of the blues. They start and develop over a period. The various theories and theorists in this context are keen on pointing out the psychosocial nature of an individual. They show how the actions and expectations of a person conflict with those of society and how that could therefore lead to various behaviors in adulthood. The theories in contexts have their different ways of explaining these behaviors in adulthood.
Erik Erikson in his theories believed that there is always room for one to continue growing and developing. He also stated that personality develops in a particular order that is predetermined and builds up on a previous stage of development. In this context, the seventh stage of his theory (generativity versus stagnation) is of keen interest. This stage takes place at the age of 40 to 65 years. Generativity involves giving back through raising children, being successful and productive at work and getting involved in community activities. Stagnation is being unproductive and feeling unfulfilled (Cherry). At this stage, one is likely to face a midlife crisis, especially if one feels like a failure. They may get involved in smoking, drinking, overeating and stress accumulation as a way of channeling the stagnation out.
According to Albert Bandura, “Most human behavior is learned observationally through modeling: from observing others, one forms an idea of how new behaviors are performed, and on later occasions, this coded information serves as a guide for action” (Bandura p22). In this case, the behavior of drinking, smoking, and overeating and stress accumulation in adulthood must have been learned through observation. It is influenced by the environment, cognitive of behavioral instances. Terror management theory involves the realization that death is inevitable hence making one to have more desire to live (Cox and Arndt). This could result in anxiety hence resulting smoking, drinking overeating, and stress accumulation as a way to channel out the anxiety.
The behaviors in context can be solved by first recognizing what causes it and most importantly realizing the health hazards that are brought about by overeating, stress accumulation, smoking, and drinking. Stressors could be due to an experience or circumstance. Such habits can be broken by dealing with their causes as described in the theories. Also, when one realizes the negative effects they have on the body, they are likely to stop the habit. Such negative effects include liver cirrhosis for drinkers, lung cancer for smokers, depressions for those who accumulate stress and obesity for those who overeat. These topics are significant since they enable one to identify the source of their psychosocial problems, which could lead to such behavior in adulthood. It also ensures that one lives a healthy lifestyle.
These topics apply to personal life since it advises on healthy living. At this age of 40-65, most people are parents and they need to show the importance of good health to their children. This kind of behavior in adulthood could result to children learning by observation and start practicing it too, which could cripple their future. Therefore, in this case, adults should realize the effects of such behavior and most importantly do what it takes to stop it.
Hawaii gets many visitors; its culture is known for leisure and festivities in which smoking, eating, and drinking are involved. Therefore, over the years, tobacco smoking and drinking alcohol became part of the culture. It is, therefore, possible for people especially the younger ones to learn it through observation predominantly through social learning theory. Therefore, rules have been established to make sure that there are restricted smoking areas and ensuring that people understand the effects of smoking. This is because the Hawaiian culture values good health. For instance, Hawaii was the first state to raise their smoking age to 21 years (US Legal). This is a way of giving back to society as explained in Erik Erikson’s theory. Also, food is an integral part of Hawaiian culture and obesity is prevalent (Lassetter 63-70). To them, food is a major stress reliever, and eating a lot is a major part of the culture and creates more attachment to life as explained in terror management theory. Health practitioners have done their best in ensuring people eat healthily and control their portions. All in all, smoking, drinking, overeating and stress accumulation should not be entertained, if good health is to be achieved.
Works Cited
Bandura, Albert. Social Learning Theory. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1977. Print.
Cherry, Kendra. "The Seventh Stage Of Psychosocial Development: Generativity Vs. Stagnation". Verywell. N.p., 2016. Web. 6 Aug. 2016.
Cox, Cathy and Jamie Arndt. "Terror Management Theory." Tmt.missouri.edu. N.p., 2006. Web. 6 Aug. 2016.
Lassetter, J. H. "The Integral Role Of Food In Native Hawaiian Migrants' Perceptions Of Health And Well-Being". Journal of Transcultural Nursing 22.1 (2010): 63-70. Web. 6 Aug. 2016.
US Legal, Inc. "Smoking Regulations In Hawaii – Smoking." Smoking.uslegal.com. N.p., 2016. Web. 6 Aug. 2016.
