Lesson 1

Understanding Elements and

Characteristics of Trends

A pattern of gradual change in a condition, output, or process, or an average or general tendency

of a series of data points to move in a certain direction over time, represented by a line or curve on a
graph.

A trend is a sequential pattern of change in recorded data. A change evidenced by a rise or fall of
variables when measured between at least two points over time (Gordon, 2008).

It is a way of doing new things individually or one society then followed by many people; it may
become a daily routine or a tradition.

A trend has a big impact in our society and it have the capacity to make a big changes in our
lives.

A trend is a behavior or new way of doing things and it has a big impact on our society. It is a
sequential pattern of change in a condition, output, or process, or an average or general tendency of a
series of data points to move in a certain direction over time, represented by a line or curve on a graph.

MEGATRENDS AND MICROTRENDS

Megatrends. They are a larger pattern of broad trends that reshape and transform our lives.
Megatrends entail a major restructing; they are a larger pattern of broad trends that reshape and transform
our lives.

Microtrends. It advocates localization as opposed to globalization, recognizing that people and

communities have never been more sophisticated and more knowledgeable about the choices they make
in their everyday lives.

EXAMPLES OF TRENDS:

Twitter – it lets you see what is happening around the world, from breaking news and
entertainment, sports and politics to big events and every day interests.

Examples:
 Twitter is a free social networking microblogging service that allows registered members to broadcast
short posts called tweets. Twitter members can broadcast tweets and follow other users' tweets by using
multiple platforms and devices.

Facebook – is the most common social network website where you can share information about
yourself and communicate with other people.

Facebook is a popular free social networking website that allows registered users to create
profiles, upload photos and video, send messages and keep in touch with friends, family and colleagues.
The site, which is available in 37 different languages, includes public features.

Process of Identifying a Trend

Trend analysis is the widespread practice of collecting information and attempting to spot a
pattern in the information. It may used to predict future events or estimate uncertain events in the past.

Trend Spotting is the identification of new trends or attempting to see the future. Trendspotting
is attempting to see the future in the present (Rehn and Lindkvist, 2013). Being able to predict a trend is a
valued skill for the global citizen. Trendspotting is sometimes called cool-hunting and trend analysis.

Trend Spotter - is a person who notices and reports on new fashions, ideas, or activities that are
becoming popular. They are the people who notices and reports on new fashions, activities that people are
starting to do.

Projecting Trends - assumes the future will be a logical extension of the past

Drivers continuing what is a trend

Enablers an empowering influence and encourages the drivers Blockers may take the form of new
law, politicking, street protests and other factors.
 Friction is a resistance to change that occurs naturally and inevitably

Differentiate a trend from fad

Both trends and fads can play an important role in an organization’s success – but they must be
treated differently. If they are not, leaders risk burning out adapting to every fad, and critical trends
required for an organizations’ survival may be missed. Let’s start by looking into fads and trends
individually.

Fad is a new thing that people are doing. The easiest way to categorize a fad is one word: short-
lived. Trends have a much longer lifespan than fads. In fact, trends can continue to be fashionable for
years and even decades.

Trend is significant, have broad implications in all aspects of society, identifiable and explainable
while fad is transitory or quick, affect only particular group of people without impact and driven by
emotions.

Fad- Typically spread quickly but disappear equally quickly. The easiest way to categorize a fad
is one word: short-lived.Typically, fads last for a total of one season. A fad is often referred to as
“catching on” with the larger population, but will often fade as quickly as it appeared. The easiest way to
remember a fad is through a simple alliteration: fads fade. Although engaging in fads can be fun, they are
often not worth investing a large amount of money or time.

Trends- Trends have a much longer lifespan than fads.they can continue to be fashionable for
years and even decades. The primary difference between a trend and a fad is that trends have the potential
to be long-term influences on the market.

Rapid change is a constant feature of our lives. As Gordon(2008) put it, we have seen significant
developments across society, technology, institutions, products and services that will surely continue into
the future. We know that the future generation will be different in an easy way. New technologies ,
market shifts; even our social values and traditions may damage. We use our trends both local and global,
to position our organizations and ourselves. We can also influence some events for our own advantages in
the future.

Nature makes Us Appreciate Our Bodies and Reject Unrealistic Beauty Standards

Viren Swami

Nature is good for us---surely nobody has missed that fact. These days, both scientists and
policymakers agree about the importance of offering everyone access to green spaces, regardless of social
background. That is because easy access to nature encourages physical activity, which in turn has positive
health effects. For instances, English populations with the most green space in their surroundings also
have the lowest levels of morality. The simple fact is that people tend to be healthier and live longer when
they have easy access to nature.

Accessible green space is also good for our psychological well-being. For example, large-scale
surveys in the Netherlands and UK have shown that individuals living in urban areas with more green
space have lower rates of mental health distress and are more satisfied with life than those living in areas
with less green space. Other studies show that exposure to natural environments reduces negative
emotions- including anger, anxiety, and sadness. Even just viewing images of nature or looking at natural
environment from a window can reduces stress, enhance recovery from illness, and improve mood.

My colleagues and I wanted to know whether the positive effects nature might extend to other
aspects of psychological well-being. In particular, we were interested in body image, which has a
significant impact on mental health in all age groups. To examine this, we asked an online sample of
almost 400 adults in the US to complete a measure of their exposure to nature in everyday life activities.

They also completed measure of self-esteem and “body appreciation”. The latter reveals the extent to
which people hold favourable opinions about their bodies, accept and respect thier bodies, and reject
unrealistic beauty standards. In our study, published in the journal body image, we found that both
women and men who reported greater exposure to nature also reported more positive body appreciation.
To explain this finding, we suggested that exposure to the natural world is “restoring” in fact, previous
studies have shown that exposure to nature increases positive self-evaluations including self-esteem and
helps people recover emotionally from the stresses of everyday life. In turn, these effects seem to promote
more positive body image.

That is not all, though. Access to green spaces also facilitates social interactions and gives rise to
stronger neighborhood ties, which in turn provide direct benefits for mental health. In our study, we found
that direct exposure to nature may also heighten the extent to which individuals feel at one with, or
connected to, nature. This was in turn associated with more positive body image. The same positive
association between connectedness to nature and body appreciation has previously been found in British
women.

Feeling and being part of a larger ecosystem requiring concern and protection is an issue that is
bigger than our waistlines or the latest fashion. In other words, a sense of connectedness to nature may
haft our attention away from narrow self-interest and into more rounded aspects of well-being, such as
living a fulfilled life.

It may also help us to focus on the functionality of our busies-- what our bodies can do rather than
what they look like. By helping some individuals to identify commonalities between themselves and
wider ecosystem, greater connectedness to nature may also result in critical appraisals of unrealistic
stereotypes and ideals of appearance.

Of course, our findings are preliminary and limited by a number of issues, including the fact that all
our data were self-reported and cross- sectional. Even so, our work fits with a broader body of work
improved mental health.

If research continues to support these findings, particularly in different cultural and national groups,
it may help us to develop new ways for promoting positive body image. For example, psychologists
working with patients who struggle with poor body image may want to encourage them to go on nature
walks or hiking excursions. More generally, our work highlights the importance of providing everyone
with opportunities to play and engage in green spaces, and for legal commitments to halt the decline in
natural environments.

Trend and Fad defined and distinguished

Trend is a “recurrent phenomenon that takes place over time and gives rise to speculation on the
future” (Sanders, Soper, and Rothwell 2002). Trends analysis is an examination of these phenomena and
speculation on the likely impact they will have in the future. Any given phenomenon and prediction
which likely to happen or any craze/fad or trend that would likely emerge needs to be examined.

Cornish (2004) and Canton (2006) defined trends as collage of present circumstances that extend
current patterns into the future. Trends analysis grants societies “future events. Included in a definition of
a trend are three commonalities that trends share:

1. Trends are a complex synthesis of information from a wide variety of fields.

2. All trends use pattern identification and recognition to make predictions when talking about the
future.

3. Trends use time frames to evaluate their evolution.

Trends are best guesses for future events or patterns that are based on present peripheral and
historical information. This information can be obtained by sophisticated methods such as computer
modeling; polling, surveying, or it can compile through retroactive analysis of past trends. Synthesizing
many factored and considering a multitude of variables allow humans to simplify the complexity and
chaos of the interrelatedness of events into a reality that can accommodate present modalities of thought
(Cornish 2004).

Fads are normally micro trends that exist under that umbrella of an actual trends (Naisbitt 2006)
trends are often classified as short-term-- one to three years, mid-term--three to ten years, or long-term--
ten to 50 years (Cornish 2004). The ability to from a trend along a linear timeline however is not always
correct as trends can revert back on themselves becoming cyclonal or trends can fuse or converge with
other trends occurring in the same time frame (Canton 2006).

Trending is an important skill in the 21st century affording those inclined a portal into the future. In
addition, trends allow for preemptive judgments and actions toward future events and conditions. Due to
the interrelatedness of all things in the universe, trends are a complex fusion of past, present,, and future
information and represent humans’ best guess predictions over time.
 The trend reward portable music players, on the other hand, started with the invention of big heavy,
portable “boom boxes” and morphed into personal CD players--- continuing to grow and change into the
MP3 portable music player phenomenon that we see today.

Fad Defined

Fad is something, such as an interest or fashion that is very popular for a short time (merriam-
webster’s Learner’s Dictionary). A fad is product that has little, if any, utility but is characterized by a
quick rise in sales and popularity followed by a quick decline in sales and popularity. This quick up and
down in sales is because fad products usually do to satisfy a strong consumer need. Nevertheless, fads
seldom completely die out with some hardcore followers remaining loyal.

Classic examples of fad.

Hula hoop
YoyoVirtual
pets Frisbee®
pokemon®
Hello kitty®
Loomband

A fad is an intense but short -lived fashion. It is widely-shared enthusiasm for something, especially
on that is short-lived. It is temporary fashion, a craze, interest, or activity that people follow
enthusiastically, but lasts for a short period of time. A fad is different from a trend in that a fad always
has a definite beginning and end. A trend, on the other hand, evolves and changes as it continues to grow.

They say that to follow a trend, one must not only be conscious of what is currently happening, but
be astute enough to predict what will happen in the future. Try the following exercise. Identify if the
statements in the first column are a trend or a fad then write your prediction.

THE ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE: A TREND OR A FAD?

FAST FACTS: ALS and the Ice Bucket Challenge

Reynaldo Santos Jr.

August 25, 2014

Rappler.com

Manila, Philippines- You has definitely seen at least one of those viral Ice Bucket Challenge videos.

These viral videos are the latest craze on the internet. The New York Times reported that more than
1.2 million videos were shared on Facebook between June 1 and August 13, and that the challenge was
mentioned on twitter more than 2.2 million times since July 29 this year.

These viral videos try to raise awareness about a disease called LAS. And it helped that even big
personalities have taken part in not just making the disease known, but also donating for this cause. Not
all those who have joined the video challenge actually know ALS is, or what the video is all about.

What Does ALS MEAN?

 ALS stands for Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the
spinal cord. A-myo-trophic is from the Greek language that means “no muscle nourishment”--”A” means
no or negative, “MYO” means muscle, and “TROPHIC” means nourishment.

“LATERAL” refers to the areas in the spinal cord where portions of the nerve cells that signal and
control the muscles are located. As the lateral degenerates, it leads to scaring or hardening (or sclerosis) in
the affected part.

What Does ALS do the Body?

ALS causes the progressive degeneration of the motor neurons, which control muscle movement. As
motor neurons degenerate, they can no longer send impulses tot the muscle fibers that normally result

in movement. When muscles no longer receive messages from the motor neurons, they begin to shrink.
Dead motor neurons make the brain lose its ability to initiate and control muscle movement, affecting the
action of voluntary muscles which could lead to total paralysis.

What Are the Symptoms of ALS?

To be diagnosed with ALS, patients must have signs and symptoms of both upper and lower motor
neuron damage.

Body parts affected by early ALS symptoms depend on which motor neurons in the body are
damaged first. About 75% of patients first experience “limb onset”---- symptoms in the arms (difficulty in
arm activities such as writing) or legs (awkwardness when walking or running, tripping, or stumbling,
etc.)--- While about 25% experience “bulbar onset” (difficulty in speaking clearly or swallowing).

Upper motor neuron degeneration leads to tight and stiff muscles and exaggerated reflexes, while
lower motor neuron degeneration causes muscle weakness and atrophy, muscle cramps, and twitches of
muscles.

In later, lung and eye functions may be affected. Most people with ALS die from respiratory failure,
usually within 3 to 5 years from the onset of symptoms. However, about 10% of those with ALS survive
for 10 more years.

What Causes ALS?

The cause of ALS is not yet completely known. But scientific researches have found that ALS may
have some genetic links.

In 1993, scientists discovered that mutations in the gene that produce SOD1 enzyme are associated
with some cases of ALS. Also, in 2011, scientists found that a defect in the C9orf72 gene is present in
both ALS and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) patients, revealing that these disorders may be related.

In 90 to 95 percent of all ALS cases, the disease occurs randomly, with no clear factor or cause.
Environment factors such as exposure to toxic or infections agents, physical trauma, and behavioural and
occupational factors are also being studied to see whether they also cause ALS.

Who Gets ALS?

 ALS is considered to be one of the most common neuromuscular diseases worldwide. In 90 to 95%
of all cases, the disease occurs randomly, with no clear factor or cause. In the US, there are 3.9 cases per
100,000 persons aged 60-69 years, but younger and older people can also develop the disease.

About 5 to 10% all ALS cases are inherited.

How Is ALS Treated?

There is no cure yet for ALS. But in 1995, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved
the use of riluzole, which is believed to reduce damage to motor neurons. This drug prolongs survival by
several months, but does not repair already- damaged motor neurons.

Also, physical therapy and special equipment can enhance an individual’s independence and safety
throughout the course of ALS.

Quiz.

Answer the following questions:

1. According to Kristen Anderberg, what is the basis of beauty standards and view?
2. “Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder”. Who is the beholder? To what does the beholder anchor hi/her
standard?
3. Explain in your own words “beauty” and “standard”.
Choose from any of the guide questions to debate on:

A. Why do men and women adhere to certain standards of beauty?

Shall men and women adhere to certain beauty standards?

B. How powerful are created trends to enforce certain beauty standards? Do trends become powerful
when certain beauty standards are enforced?

CRITICAL THINKING CORNER

1. How do I understand the word “trending”?

2. What entails when a thing becomes a trend?

Answer the following questions:

What is the not-so- sweet truth about high fructose corn syrup?

2. If this becomes a trend, how will you predict the nexy scenario?

Write a 100-word essay. You may choose from any these two titles:

1. “Which Fad or Trend Shall I Accept or Reject?”

2. “How Do I Accept or Reject a Trend?”
Fill up the circle of trend:

1. On the upper right hand corner, write one emerging trend.

2. On
3. On the lower right
the lower right hand
hand corner,
corner, write
write the
the things
things about
about that
that trend.
trend.
4. On the lower left hand corner, write the things that can be done for that trend.

5. On the upper left hand corner, write the corner, write the concrete thing that you can actually do for
that trend.

Answer the questions.

1. How can I intelligently spot, accept, or reject any emerging fad or trend?

2. How can I I become a shrew’s triage in understanding the deluge of challeges brought about by the
21st century fads and trends?

3. What does ALS means?

4. What does ALS do to the body?

5. What causes ALS?

6. Who gets ALS?
7. How is the ALS treated?

8. Will you accept the Ice Bucket Challenge? Why? Why not?
9. How fast do I get hooked to any emerging trend?
10. How do I make sense of any trend or fad in order to accept or it?