Launch Osmosis
Acton Launch: Osmosis and Human Behavior
Introduction:
Osmosis is the movement of water from an area of lower concentration to an area of higher concentration through a semi-permeable membrane. It’s essential for life, maintaining balance in cells. But how might osmosis connect to human behavior? Think about how people absorb behaviors, attitudes, and ideas from those around them, especially in high-pressure or influential environments.
Scenario for Students:
Imagine you're in a group of friends. If most of them have a specific attitude, habit, or belief, do you naturally absorb some of it over time? What about when you're in a completely new environment? Let’s explore how the idea of osmosis can reflect the way we as humans adapt and absorb behaviors.
Socratic Questions:
- How do humans "absorb" behaviors or attitudes in a group setting? a. Is it because humans naturally adapt to fit into their surroundings? b. Or because people intentionally choose behaviors to align with others?
- Should you be careful about the "environment" you place yourself in? a. Yes, because you might unconsciously absorb negative habits or attitudes. b. No, because you can always resist influences if you try hard enough.
- Can surrounding yourself with positive, motivated people "push" you to grow, like osmosis moves water to a higher concentration? a. Yes, because we tend to reflect the qualities of those around us. b. No, because personal growth depends only on individual effort.
Debrief Ideas:
- Discuss how the environment acts like the "concentration gradient" in osmosis.
- Explore examples of times when people unknowingly picked up habits, attitudes, or ideas from their surroundings.
- Challenge students to think of ways to be intentional about the “membranes” they create in their lives to control what they absorb.
Would you like to refine this further or focus on a specific example?
