STRESS AND THE CITY: URBAN DECAY

“Scientists are testing the idea that the stress of modern city life is a breeding ground for psychosis”

By: Alison Abbott

Published: Nature; 10 October, 2012; www.nature.com  Alternatively, just google the title and author’s name.

Level of Difficulty: ***

BEFORE YOU READ

* Listen to the podcast the link to which is provided in the margin of the text and take notes

QUESTIONS

1. The move made in 1965 to keep track of mental illness resulted in the following hypothesis:
2. What conclusion can be drawn from the information provided in paragraph three?
3. What does “To complicate matters” in the phrase “To complicate matters, many growing cities include immigrant populations” refer to? Explain.
4. What makes conclusions reached by studies linking city life to increased stress important?
5. The biological stress response is inherently beneficial so long as ………………………………………..
6. What is the end result if stress hormone levels do not get switched off?
7. Although the Camberwell study was successful, mostly reliable data is hard to come by because: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
8. What caused Meyer-Lindenberg to link mental illness to city living?
9. Meyers-Lindenberg has linked living in large cities to over responsiveness to stress, which basically means …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………You will need to tweak the text; be very careful.
10. Why is Weinberger conducting his study in China?
11. The stress of city life alone is not thought to cause psychiatric disorders but when combined with ………………………………………………………. and ……………………………………………… it does.
12. Meyer- Lindenberg is testing second generation immigrants in Germany to find out if ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
13. What does “This” refer to in the phrase “This is important because mood and affect change dynamically”?
14. What is Van Os’ ultimate purpose?
15. What is Meyer-Lindenberg’s ultimate purpose in his study in Heidelberg?
16. How is it hoped these studies will impact cities in the long term?

WRITING TASK

Write a problem solution essay discussing how urban planning could be improved to help reduse stress and mental illness. Before doing so, take to watch videos detailing the views and achievements of some of the best known urban planners. When you have done so, use the points below:

In your introduction, introduce the now established link between urban centers and stress on the one hand and mental illness on the other. To do this, use the text. End your introduction with a thesis statement signaling solutions.

In your development, suggest more green areas such as parks, Japanese style roof gardens, water features and trees, shrubs and flowers in the city, better soundproofing of buildings to keep out the noise of city life, having no traffic areas, organizing community projects and get togethers to bring people together.

In your conclusion, reach the obvious conclusion that individuals and municipalities need to work hand in hand to achieve the above and that all the effort and resources devoted to such a venture would have a positive impact on both individuals and the state.

STRESS AND THE CITY: URBAN DECAY KEY AND TEACHER’S NOTES

This wonderful text can be done in conjunction with “Deadly Dreams” – also in the file marked Level *** - as they are thematically linked. The text describes a link between city life, stress and mental illness, which is a connection many of us have often privately made so it should go well. The writing task provides the opportunity to watch some sensational videos on the latest in urban planning, which should make the writing task fly.

1. The stress of city life could be increasing the risk of schizophrenia and other mental health disorders.
2. Anecdotally, the link between cities, stress and mental healthy makes sense.
3. To complicate the matter of studying whether something as complex as a city environment has an impact on the brain.
4. The findings might (even) help to improve urban areas. This phrase summarizes the advantage; the following sentence is support.
5. It switches off
6. Psychiatric disease OR mental illness
7. Diagnoses are often imprecise and incorrectly recorded.
8. The number of homeless mentally ill people on the streets. (Only! Nothing more)
9. The amygdale and the cingulated cortex showed much greater activity (Or responded more strongly)
10. Because urbanization is happening at lightning speed (there).
11. Other environmental stresses and risk genes.
12. The common urban experience of feeling different from your neighbors because of socio-economic factors or ethnicity could be a factor.
13. Recording their moods, thoughts, location and activities as they go about their daily lives.
14. To test his hypothesis that risk of progressing from disturbance to full blown psychosis is connected to a distorted ability to learn which aspects of a new environment are rewarding and which are threatening.
15. To trace how different aspects of city life affect the brain. This is the minimum but it is not wrong if you add on the rest.
16. They will help people make decisions about how the city should best be developed; they will help pinpoint the most stressful parts of an existing metropolis. There are two effects as far as cities go.