Conduct a literature review related to a topic of your choice (i.e., on topic of psychological disorders, emotion theories, or theories of personality). You will formulate a research topic, research questions (i.e., what effect do emotions have on eating? OR what is the relationship between emotions and eating? OR How does emotional regulation play a role in eating disorders?), and form a research explanation in form of literature review (support research question using existing research). When introducing the topic, please provide a brief (1-2 sentence) personal reflection on why you chose this topic and how you might apply it to your life (i.e., how the information relates to your background, interests, history experience, and future actions). Your research explanation must be supported by references from the textbook and at least three additional journal articles (please remember to use in-text citations). Your literature review will be marked according to the following criteria.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Research Topic: The Relationship Between Emotions and Eating Behavior
Personal Reflection
As someone who has always been interested in the intersection of psychology and behavior, exploring how emotions influence eating habits is a topic that resonates with me. Understanding this relationship can provide valuable insights into how emotional regulation plays a role in maintaining a healthy relationship with food, which is essential for overall well-being.
Research Question
How do emotions impact eating behavior, and what role does emotional regulation play in the development and maintenance of disordered eating patterns?
Literature Review
Eating behavior is a complex phenomenon influenced by various factors, including physiological, psychological, and environmental elements. Emotions play a crucial role in shaping individuals’ eating habits, with research indicating a strong connection between emotional states and food consumption (Macht, 2008).
According to Heatherton and Baumeister (1991), emotions can serve as powerful motivators for eating, with individuals often turning to food as a means of coping with stress, sadness, or other negative feelings. This concept is further supported by a study conducted by Haedt-Matt and Keel (2011), which found that individuals with poor emotional regulation skills were more likely to engage in disordered eating behaviors as a way to manage their emotions.
Moreover, the relationship between emotions and eating behavior is bidirectional, as demonstrated in a study by Bongers et al. (2013), which highlighted how certain foods can elicit specific emotional responses that, in turn, influence further food choices and consumption patterns.
In light of these findings, it becomes evident that emotional regulation plays a critical role in the development and maintenance of healthy eating habits. Individuals who struggle with regulating their emotions may be more prone to using food as a coping mechanism, leading to maladaptive eating behaviors and potentially contributing to the development of eating disorders such as binge eating disorder or emotional eating (Geliebter & Aversa, 2003).
In conclusion, the relationship between emotions and eating behavior is a multifaceted one that warrants further exploration. By understanding the impact of emotions on food choices and consumption patterns, interventions can be developed to promote healthier emotional regulation strategies and support individuals in developing a positive relationship with food.
References
– Bongers, P., Jansen, A., Havermans, R., Roefs, A., & Nederkoorn, C. (2013). Happy eating. The underestimated role of overeating in a positive mood. Appetite, 67, 74-80.
– Geliebter, A., & Aversa, A. (2003). Emotional eating in overweight, normal weight, and underweight individuals. Eating Behaviors, 3(4), 341-347.
– Haedt-Matt, A. A., & Keel, P. K. (2011). Revisiting the affect regulation model of binge eating: A meta-analysis of studies using ecological momentary assessment. Psychological Bulletin, 137(4), 660-681.
– Heatherton, T. F., & Baumeister, R. F. (1991). Binge eating as escape from self-awareness. Psychological Bulletin, 110(1), 86-108.
– Macht, M. (2008). How emotions affect eating: A five-way model. Appetite, 50(1), 1-11.
By synthesizing existing research on the relationship between emotions and eating behavior, this literature review provides valuable insights into the complexities of this phenomenon and highlights the importance of emotional regulation in fostering a healthy approach to food consumption.
