Have your ever been going through a rough time, maybe you had a fight with a friend or family member, and you decided to go for a walk to clear your head? When you got out under the wide expanse of sky, and the sun was shining down did you feel better? For years, alternative health and natural healing specialists have argued with the public that spending time out in the sun each day will not only prolong life, but will help improve our mental stability and outlook within life. Is there any truth in these theories? Or is it all a hoax? By the end of this paper we will determine whether sunshine has any lasting effect on an individual’s psychology in the areas of vitamin D, synthesized environments, and overall outlook on life.
In order to comprise a deeper understanding of sunshine’s psychological affects one must first delve farther into the physical catalysts that might trigger a psychological response. Sunshine is one of the main natural catalysts in the production of vitamin D; in fact many believe it is purely from the sun, though this is not entirely true. In reality 90% of the body’s vitamin D content is acquired by consumption through diet. The last 10% however requires a catalyst (I. E. Sunshine) in order to maintain the amount of vitamin D necessary to stay within the parameters of normal functioning status. This being said, vitamin D is seemingly helpful when curing several types of diseases, though the scientific community cannot seem to come to an agreement on the extent of its usefulness. From years of experimentation, it appears that an individual’s physiology largely contributes to how effective “sunlight treatments” may be. Because of this many doctors are hesitant to proscribe sunlight as a main stream medical remedy, though many psychologists will tell you that when treating mild depression and SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) thirty minutes in the sun each day will boost a patient’s psychological status.
Within in the realm of science there is always room for advancement and improvement. In fact, many would tell you that the very purpose of science is such that there is nothing else to it. In recent years the advancement portion of this hallowed subject has been seemingly solely wed to the achievement of realistic synthesized outdoor environments within one’s home. This could be considered acceptable until one actually looks past the wonder and into the real life damaging effects. When one goes outside one is not only given a physical stimulus for the body but is also engaged in the psychological development that takes place when entering the world around us. When the weather is pleasant, and calm people are more likely to venture outside which intern often encourages psychologically stimulating activity such as laughter, socialization, and a deeper internal appreciation of beauty. As one Rebecca Blanton puts it; “God’s great works can never be perfectly simulated by a machine, though they may be deemed more comfortable within a controlled environment. The hallmark of humanity is the ability to think on the fly, and that is something no game can teach you.”
Psychology is the study of the inner workings of individual minds, so when studying a topic that deals with the effects of something on the psyche it is often quite beneficial to look at the individuals that have been exposed. In a recent study a group of people was polled at random to see what the initial response of an average person might be in regard to sunshine. Results showed that three out of five people responded negatively. “It depends on the temperature and amount of overcast” Said, 18 year old Kyle Johnson from Peotone, “In general though sunshine just hurts my eyes and gives me heat exhaustion.” This was the general consensus among the group until one Marnie Davis of Grant Park voiced her opinion. “Sunshine makes my heart soar, my spirits rise and I feel like it is the Lord touching our faces and homes with his warmth.” After careful study of the data compiled from the polls and comments it was determined that one’s outlook on life and age were likely factors in ones opinion of sunshine, but not ones actual psychological development under its affects.
Now it is time to decide whether the facts set before you bear enough weight to have a long lasting effect on our psychology. Sunshine, as we now know, is the natural catalyst to the production of Vitamin D, which has been proven to help those who suffer a variety of illnesses, both psychological and physical. Synthesized environments often deprive us of the natural environment God created for us, and finally, our outlook on life often determines how we form opinions, which ultimately leads to psychological development. In general, sunshine seems to be an unavoidable necessity that was designed from the very beginning to stimulate growth and beauty, both physical and psychological.