To do list

Some suggestions from the class:
-Talk to Dr. Bailey about the psychology aspect of this
-Research Calvin and Hobbs
-Analyze samantha/lea and their comfort objects
-Research puff the magic dragon
-Research Winnie the pooh

Email time

I have been reading through my books, and picking out the parts I want to use for my project. D.W. Winicott has a lot to say about my topic, and he will be the main commentary that I will be using. In his book "playing and reality" he talks about how "playing" influences a childs psycological development. Under this category of "playing" falls the idea of comfort objects. 

PETER RUDNYTSKY (Disclaimer: I had to copy and paste his name because I cant spell it, so sorry about the font change and capital letters.) Anyways, He wrote a book that comments on D.W. Winnicots work. I am going to send him an email and see if he responds. Hopefully he will respond and let me interview him/ answer some of my questions! 

This taught me I cant spell B-i-b-l-i-o(a?)-g-r-a-p-h-y

Books: 

Eisenberg, Arlene. What to Expect During the Toddler Years. New York: Workman Pub. 2010. 

Finley, Mitch. What Faith is Not. Franklin: Sheed &  Ward. 2001. (pg 40)

Freshwater, Dawn. Emotions and Needs. Buckingham: Open University. 2002.

Janice Golik, Janice. Nurses' Perceptions of Children's Use of Transitional Objects During Hospitalization. 

Kamishma, Shinya. Transitional Objects and Parent’s Attitude. 

 Rudyntsky, Peter. Transitional Objects and Potential Spaces: Literary Uses of D.W. Winnicot. New York: Columbia University. 1993.

 Shulz, Charles. Lose the Blanket, Linus! New York: Little Simon. 2003. 

Sussman, Marvin. Handbook of Marriage and the Family. New York: Plenum Press. 1987. (pg 313 footnote)

 Winnicot, D.W. Playing and Reality. London: Routledge. 2005. 

Young, Robert. Mental Space. London: Process Press. 1994. 

Websites:

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comfort_object

2. http://mythosandlogos.com/Winnicott.html

3. http://peanuts.wikia.com/wiki/Linus'_security_blanket

Thesis

A basic idea of my thesis: Comfort objects, whether displayed in literature or media, play a major role in the psychological development of children.

Happy November 1st!

I haven't done so much research since my last post. (college applications are to blame.) However, I am going to begin experimenting on my sister and tracking her reactions towards her comfort items. I will track how she acts when she has them as opposed to when she doesn't. This will be recorded in a notebook, and will be used as a main part of my project.

Peanuts

Since my last post I have made an interesting discovery. I have figured out who Linus Van Pelt is! (thanks Rabbi Rosen). He is a character in the cartoon peanuts who always carries his blue blanket around with him. I can use him in my project to show how cartoons present comfort items. In the cartoon, whenever Linus lost his blanket he became weak and dizzy,then suddenly recovered when the blanket was returned to him. Eventually, Linus began to grow out of his habit and the comic strip showed him with the blanket less and less until it was gone. I am going to dedicate a large part of my project to researching how social media displays comfort items. Why did the author draw Linus with the blanket in the first place? Was it his intention to display him in a certain light using the blanket?.... to be continued.

A history lesson

I explored what Psychologists had to say about my topic. 
According to Psychologists, sentimental objects are called "security"/ "transitional" objects. A common use for security objects is to help the child transition into reality. They are used as a child begins to separate from his mother and realize that him and his mother are not the same person.While this happens, the child experiences anxiety and fear. In order to reliever the child of his fear, he takes on a comfort object in place of his mother. 
The psychologist's also  realized that children have a greater sense of self confidence if they have a comfort object. So that answers my question--yes, there is an advantage to having a comfort object. Richard H. Passman, from the University of Wisconsin, conducted this experiment --so I will be using him as a large part of my project. 
I also decided I want to investigate how modern technology portrays comfort objects- as a good thing, or a bad thing? (On Tv, in newspapers, etc.) 

The very hungry caterpillar

Now that I have chosen a topic, the significance of sentimental objects, I decided to do some research and see what kind of spin I could put on it. I think I am going to look at it from a literary point of view as well as----Im not sure what I meant to write in that last sentence. I got distracted and started watching YouTube videos. I am pretty sure I meant to say "a literary view as well as a psychological point of view." For my project, I also want to preform an experiment by comparing children that have these sentimental objects as opposed to children that don't. Could it effect the way they sleep? What do psychologists have to say? I could use my little sister and her caterpillar named "T" as the experimental part of my project. How does it effect her on a night when she cant find "T"?.. I am kind of scared to test out this theory because there will probably be a lot of screaming and crying involved. This should be interesting. 

Rain rain go away

Since my last blog post, I have decided not to do my project about weather. I don't think there is enough material to write an interesting research paper and give my own opinion on the matter. Its either raining, or it's not. Theres no research to be done there.
 Instead, I decided I want my topic to be about sentimental objects--stuffed animals, blankets, toys. Why do people become so attached to these objects? Is there a benefit to having one of these stuffed animals? How does it effect our personalities? I am going to further research this idea and see where it takes me.

undecided

I have been researching topics and so far have not come up with anything i'm content with. 
 I thought about doing a topic on weather and why people develop so many phobias that are weather-related. Im not sure if thats interesting enough for a 20 page paper. Also, the creative blog name was a fail. Im working on that.