May 2012 Archives

psych 1001 blog 4.docx

I feel like one of the aspects of psychology that I will take with me will be the information about the sleep studies, and the sleeping disorders. I found it fascinating learning about the different cycles, and aspects that went into us obtaining a good nights rest. I found it extremely interesting. I learned about the REM cycle, and how the sleep cycle repeats itself every 90 minutes as opposed to happening once a night. I feel that since sleep is such a vital part of not only my life but in the lives of my peers it is a concept that we could all remember.

Another thing that was really interesting was that there are differences in waves as the differences in part of the cycle take place. Starting first with Beta waves then moving to Alpha waves. This then transitions to Theta waves and then we see the k complex and sleep spindles. And the last set of waves we see before we reach REM sleep is the delta waves.

It was also fun to learn about the different sleep disorders, like insomnia, narcolepsy, sleep- walking and night terrors. I found these to be really interesting topics as I didn't know much about them before this unit.

On television today, one of the most common types of shows is the onslaught of criminal justice shows, where crime scene investigators are able to attribute personality characteristics based off of the crimes people commit. Shows such as Criminal Minds, Law and Order, CSI and many others, all have incredible skills in characterizing the type of person each criminal is, based off of the crime scene they uncover. The truth of the matter is that in reality, even the most experienced investigators have great difficulty making attributes, at better then chance levels. I find it very interesting that although criminal profiling has been scientifically proven to be nothing more than a guess, that the FBI and other crime fighting organizations still train people to become criminal profilers. The reason that this job still remains, may be to aid crime fighters in hostile situations once they finally find the culprit. Knowing as much about the crime and the ones who commit it is still an important piece of the job.

Lawrence Kohlberg's work created a foundation for moral decision making and development. He demonstrated his ideals by using the "Heinz Dilemma" in which he created. The basic premise of the dilemma is that Heinz is the husband of a woman who is dying of a kind of treatable cancer that. There is a drug that can possibly cure his wife's cancer, but the problem is that Heinz can not raise enough money to pay for the extremely expensive cure. The questions is about whether Heinz should steal the drug because he can not raise enough money, or whether he should just let his wife die.

Kohlberg focused on the reasoning behind making a decision as difficult as this. His work was later criticized by many. I found the criticism of the fact that Kohlberg's work has a significantly low correlation with real world applications to be the most interesting and pressing. Correlational studies have shown a score of around 0.3, which basically points out the fact that although Kohlberg's work influenced how people approach moral decision making, it really only works with hypothetical problems, rather than issues we would have to deal with on a daily basis.

Modern advertising uses many different strategies to entice buyers to obtain the product they are trying to sell. As I looked at various commercials i saw forms of comedy to get the buyer to feel positive and happy about the product. I also observed many celebrity endorsements of products to so that buyers would make the connection of a quality product to someone they admire greatly. There were many other strategies that I observed but for me, commercials with comedy and celebrity endorsements were the ones that made me want to buy certain products. In the example below, the commercial not only uses comedy, but also a tactic of clever advertising that makes customers feel like they have to obtain this product unless they want to have non-virtuous outcomes in their lives. Many commercials are successful and humorous, but i felt as though this one was a great example of making the customer feel obligated to buy the product being advertised.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7udQSHWpL88

I recently completed an IAT test about ages. This test uses a series of pictures and signal phrases such as "good" or "bad" and assigns each one of these phrases to either a picture of an old person or a young person. Apparently, based on how quickly we press the button corresponding to "good" or "bad" over their corresponding old or young (or visa-versa) determines your specific automatic preference to either young or old. After completing the results I received the response "Your data suggest a strong automatic preference for Young compared to Old." I am not quite sure if i agree with this system of measurement, because I do no necessarily feel more favorable to either old or young people. I feel as though it is possible that my reaction times were possibly based on the culture i am most surrounded by, which is in fact younger people. I think that this test measures more of our culture rather than our preferences to older or younger people.

Throughout this semester in psychology there were many interesting topics that we went over, but the one that will stick with me the most is the concept of Inattentional Blindness. I never had really thought of the fact that I am missing so much of my life, while trying to get through my every day activities. Ever since i started learning about Inattentional Blindness, I have been focusing on, at least a few times a day, slowing down and really taking in everything around me. Once I started doing this I started noticing things that I had been missing, and new things that I would have otherwise missed. This concept doesn't have to just apply to psychology and knowing how people operate, but also in applying it to my own life and trying to really understand and observe my surroundings. I obviously can't spend the whole day with my head in the clouds and trying to observe my surrounding everywhere I go, but I think I will always try to take a few times in the day to slow down and actually experience the world I am living in.

6. How about animal language? What examples of animal communication can you find and how can you think about these examples scientifically? Is this language?

As I researched for examples of animal communication I came across an extremely interesting piece of information about how Meerkats use a series of different noises to communicate. Animal Planet studied the animals and found that "Meerkats purr to show contentment and attachment. They chatter when they're nervous, and they squeal when danger presents itself. Meerkats also use sounds to coordinate their hunting efforts." This information has lead me to believe that, although it is not as intricate and intelligent as the various human languages, Meerkats do have a form of language. The Meerkats have started assigning different noises to mean different things, ranging from predator warnings to creating defense strategies with other Meerkats. The video below is a perfect example of how the Meerkat's ability to communicate helps a group of Meerkats defend their young from a predator: www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5iejF6GYzw

In conclusions, many animals form primitive versions of "language" to communicate with one another, and gain progress within species.

In this fast-paced world, it's very easy to become overwhelmed by all the social and academic pressures put on a college student, especially a freshman. This study shows that depression is on the rise in college students. It's very important to get enough sleep and eat healthily, especially in one's first year of college when one is still adjusting to the college lifestyle. Good studying techniques can help cope with major deadlines and tests and help prevent depression. It's just a good idea to take care of yourself and if you think you're getting depressed, see a counselor.

I think naturalistic observation is one of the better research methods to learn about how humans behave in the natural world. When humans are being observed they act differently, so any data taken may be inaccurate or incorrect. Just like the pool players and the observers, where the pool players' skill levels went up or down if they were being observed, people's behaviors drastically change is they're observed. This is why the naturalistic observation research method is so important.

One of the most interesting topics for me in PSYCH 1001 was social psychology. I found it fascinating how people act differently in groups and how drastically their actions differ from their personality. I now recognize a lot of the signs of groupthink, group polarization, social loafing, etc, in my past and present. I know I've been subjected to it. Everyone has.

The thing that strikes me most, though, is the Bystander Effect. If someone is hurt or in need of help in a crowd, no one will do anything because they'll think someone else called for help or assisted the person in need. No one will do anything to help.

But there's a simple fix to this: simply be aware of it. If one is aware of the Bystander Effect/diffusion of responsibility, then they can take measures to counteract it and help those in need instead of assuming someone else did. It's just another example of how knowledge can influence how someone's attitude towards a situation changes. Knowledge brings power, after all.

Upon moving to a new city, for whatever reason, be it a job transfer, life change, or just wanting to get away, many people don't know others in their area and may have a hard time assimilating to the new environment. They may have trouble connecting with their associates, coworkers, or other people around them, which is why the idea of a cult is so appealing to them. The offer of a group of people who are willing to accept and befriend is quite appealing to those in a confused, fragile state of mind. Though nowadays they're not called cults, since that has a negative connotation, but other names, like self-help groups or clubs.

A less drastic example would be high school or college freshmen. They're thrown into a strange situation and will most likely seek a group of individuals like themself to associate with.

The psychology here is not difficult to understand: a person in a new situation seeks comfort from like-minded individuals. Once in a group or "cult," they are further indoctrinated and solidify their membership. Groups like these know that people are vulnerable in a new situation and use that to their advantage in recruiting new members.

Five years from now I will definitely remember the portion of the class that deals with disorders. I found every disorder we learned about fascinating in its own way. I am from a small town so seeing a variety of disorders isn't very likely. Learning more about whats out there and what affects some people in their every day lives is something that was important for me to do. Sometimes I take for granted that I don't have a type of disorder. As we learned more about these things I realized the struggles they go through and how lucky many of us are. One thing that stuck out to me in particular was the information we learned about the eating disorder named pica. This disorder is defined as the appetite for substances largely non-nutritional. People that suffer from this order eat chalk, dirt, spoons, and crave things that a completely healthy person would deem absolutely disgusting. This disorder is an issue because of the harmful things they put in their bodies. It is good to see that some action is being taken to treat people with this disorder.

Overall, this was just one aspect from this class that I will remember. This class was beneficial in so many ways and I look at life at a different perspective because of it.

Body image, by definition, is one's feelings or attitudes toward there own body. This is a trending topic in society because everyone strives to have that perfect body image that we see on countless T.V. shows and in various magazines. However, is someone in a magazine really who you want to look like? It is crazy how the psychological and physical affects can affect a person. One study done by Dr. Aric Sigman explored the psychological process when someone who is overweight sees a skinnier person. In women, when looking at a skinnier women, their brain chemistry automatically changes which diminishes self-esteem and leads to self loathing. It is fascinating what just looking at skinnier people can do. It seems that it is the worst in teenage girls. Being a teenager means lots of judgement, bias, and often times you get treated differently if you are "good" looking or "bad" looking. We see the development of eating disorders in young teens because they are striving to look like someone else. A recent study done in Sweden says that gender, socio-economic status, and ethnicity are all highly correlated to eating disorders. In some ways it seems that people that fit these three areas that correlated the most don't have a choice. They see others doing it, and because they are in the same situation, they do it too. Another study done by Garner and Garfinkel demonstrates that those in professions that there is a particular social social pressure to be thin (such as models and dancers) are much more likely to develop anorexia throughout there career.

Overall, body image is something that can be a very dangerous thing. I understand the need to feel good and look good, but don't do it for anyone else but yourself. People need to lose weight in different and more healthy ways. I believe we need more people who specialize in body image and how it affects a person's actions and overall psychological state so we can prevent various eating disorders.

In five years, I will remember so many things that I have learned in Psychology 1001. However, one thing that will forever be engraved in my mind is the Milgram Experiment. This was one interesting thing to learn about, that's for sure. If you don't remember what this is exactly, here's a quick summary:

Participants were given a sheet of questions to ask a person in another room. If the person in the other room answered incorrectly, the participant had to give the other an electric shock. The voltage increased little by little after every wrong answer. The participant in the separate room was not actually receiving these shocks, but this was unknown by the person giving out the increasing shocks. There would be screams coming from the other room, making it seem to the other participant that the other was actually being shocked. A person in uniform would tell the participant to continue, and they explained to them that this was a very important experiment; without their participation, it would be a complete failure. In the end, the participant would basically have to either listen to the authoritative figure (KEEP GOING!) or their own personal conscience (STOP!).

I thought that this was a very interesting thing to learn about because, whether we want to believe it or not, most of us do what we're told when ordered by someone in an authoritative position, be it a teacher, a police officer or a doctor. After learning about this (and watching the video), it kind of shocked me how some people kept going to the very last voltage, despite the screaming that they heard, which did turn into silence towards the end. It is scary to think that some people will do ANYTHING when told to by a person in uniform. Intimidation plays a huge role in that, but I guess it's just something that everyone must work on: to listen to their conscience! What is morally right is always much more important than what is SAID to be right. Think about it.

This made me think of the Nazis and Hitler. They would all listen to him because he was a man in uniform with lots of power. They were intimidated by the amount of power that he held, and, therefore, did not want to be punished. It is crazy to think about how the human mind works. Everyone is selfish. Everyone. But I'll leave that rant for another stormy day...

The topic of chicken training is something I have never heard of. I did some research and despite what you might think, it is supposedly pretty easy. It is said that chickens learn faster than dogs and are very intelligent. My source says that training involves a simple few things - a hungry animal in a comfortable environment and a trainer with good timing. Basically, if your chicken is comfortable around you, then the training will be quick. The trainer must use a variety of tricks for positive reinforcement, similar to a dog. Chickens are trained along the basis of operant conditioning. Chicken training has become a more popular hobby for dog trainers because they are trained so similarly. One common thing to teach chickens is going through an obstacle course and there has even been research done a chicken that can play tic-tac-toe. Theres is actually a chicken training seminar by Bob Bailey who teaches chickens to discriminate between shapes and chain behaviors together. Overall, the message is, if you didn't know, chicken training exists. Here is a video of Bob Bailey and the various training techniques he uses.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJtf9YxZkNI

For a refresher the Milgram experiment is where a subject had to apply electric shocks to a "victim" with orders from a person in a position of authority. This experiment reinforces the concept of obedience which proves to be appalling at times. The test opened my eyes as to how people obey orders from authority will little or at times no thought of what they are doing. It can be scary as seen in the case of Milgram's experiment and could be the root of of many catastrophic events in human history. Obedience is easy to see in everyday life for our benefit with laws the government places in effect and it's as simple to see with children. Tell a child to take off their shoe and go hit someone with it and they very well may do it, although not encouraged. Another concept that will stick me and is along the lines of obedience is conformity. Conformity is prominent in every aspect of our life and at unfortunately at times suppresses creativity and originality. Conformity will stick with me because it is something I see happening all the time to people and even I fall victim to it.

As we know from our trusty psych textbooks social facilitation is the tendency of individuals to better on tasks when in the presence of others. The idea says that you will perform better at things you are already good at doing, so social facilitation shouldn't apply if you are terrible at dancing... although it is interesting to point out that social facilitation does seem to make make people perform considerably better at things they are absolutely miserable at doing on their own. A good example of this is running. You could be laying on the side of the road after a mile of casual jogging, but with a partner who runs daily, you might end up doing 2 or 3 more miles than thought imaginable, still ending laying on the side of the road. Dancing is one of those things that seems to defy social facilitation because more often than not I've seen people's dancing abilities seem to degrade further, if at all possible, in the presence of others.
Exhibit A

We learned many concepts in psychology this semester, but I believe one specific concept that will stay with me is the concept of nature versus nurture. I really enjoyed learning about this topic as I am currently studying biology, so it was easy for me to make connections from the textbook to applications in science. The experiment in particular that caught my attention was when twins were separated they still expressed some similar traits and personality factors - clearly indicating that there is something to the "nature" argument. However, nurture cannot be ignored either as raising someone in certain situations can clearly change personality traits that they have (like, a safe environment would promote security and trust whereas an abusive environment would promote apprehension, distrust, and aggression). Nature versus nurture is essentially saying that you have to realize that it's a mix of the two that defines a person; not necessarily one more than the other.

In the future I hope to do some work in science, primarily biology, and this is obviously a key topic for debate among geneticists everywhere: how important is the way someone is raised in relation to their genetic makeup? What makes someone who they are?

A well created, unbiased video that I have seen about this topic comes from Psychoanalyst Maxson McDowell who was previously a molecular biologist.

When it comes to decision making there is a big difference on how people approach the process. The biggest difference is personality which can easily be divided into the general personality traits of women compared to men. Women generally react very irrationally and with much emotional influence. They take everything personally and normally look deep into each topic. Sometimes maybe even deeper than the original intentions of what they are examining. Men on the other hand normally think less about their decisions and don't often associate personal feelings into their decisions.

A prime example of this on a grand scale is the decision making process that happens every day at the nations capitol. The president is required to make important decisions for the country every day and his personality affects his decisions. Is is possible that this decision making process would be dramatically different if the president where a women and emotions became more prevalent in the process?

Over the last ten years, there has been a large increase in the need for counseling among college students across the nation. This has been researched and it is believed that the pressures of this modern, fast paced society are the cause. In years past, college wasn't as necessary as it is today. There were still pressures on the students who went to college, but people didn't feel as though their life depended on how well they did in college. Now days if you don't do well in college and find a good job, you will not only be stuck working a low income job, but you'll also have to spend the rest of your life paying off student loans. There is just so much pressure that counseling has become a necessity. It is a real shame that our society has come to this point, but it is that cross that we all must bear nonetheless. We all have to take good care of ourselves and try not to bottle things up. Letting things bottle up causes nothing problems down the line and they will only grew in severity the longer they are left unattended. Stay positive and stay healthy people.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100812111053.htm

Throughout this semester there have been a lot of psychological ideas and concepts that were thrown our way. The science of psychology is a very interesting one and, like all science, we engage in it daily. Though there were a lot of concepts that we learned, one that I think will stick with me and benefit me in my daily life is Correlation vs. Causation. A lot of times it is very easy to jump to conclusions about what happened without verifying who truly did what.

Another thing is that people come up with these ridiculous superstitions because they fall prey to correlation vs. causation. What I mean by this is there are many examples of athletes who have to wear their lucky shorts or eat their special pregame meal for every game because they think that is the reason they play well. They fail to realize that the reason the play well is because they practice and do everything that it takes to get ready for the game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RP9JCfCIh1c

Everyone falls victim to this from time to time, but I will make an effort to look for the facts as oppose to jumping to unverified conclusions. I mean it is not like I just get angry about little things all of the time or have all of these superstitious ways, but a friendly reminder never really hurt anyone.

Down the road, I feel that the thing that I will take with me is the way companies advertise their products to the masses. Many of my classes this semester have focused on social media and its affects on sales. Advertisements use stimuli and conditioning methods to attract the attention of buyers and lieu them into buying their product. Psychology has showed me some of the techniques they use in order to draw attention to themselves.
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=advertising&hl=en&safe=off&client=safari&sa=X&rls=en&biw=1420&bih=526&tbm=isch&prmd=imvnslb&tbnid=hFgTtSqRl_srhM:&imgrefurl=http://advertfan.com/2009/01/national-advertising-benevolent-society-2009-swinsuit-calender/&docid=cBgOrYYzJDHdtM&imgurl=http://advertfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/ddb-calender.jpg&w=1305&h=821&ei=h0ikT72MBeTk0QHMstGXCQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=255&vpy=147&dur=344&hovh=178&hovw=283&tx=156&ty=103&sig=110853797001489186661&page=3&tbnh=154&tbnw=209&start=34&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:7,s:34,i:244

Some of todays ads seem completely crazy because of how unrelated they are to the actual product. I feel that I am going to pay more attention to ads now and decipher the different conditioning methods.

5 years from now, I think I will remember the most about individual differences in psychology. I think this is a very important aspect of psychology for all people to know and understand. When dealing with other people, as we all have to do in school and work, it is important to remember that everyone doesn't think the same way as you do. It's very important to remember this when working with other people

I will also remember a lot about the psychological disorders we learned about in chapter 15. I find psychological disorders really fascinating, and I really enjoyed learning about them. I think because of this, i will be able to remember a lot of information about them. I especially find schizophrenia interesting. I think this is because this is one of the most unique and mysterious disorders known.

We all read (and enjoyed!) chapter 8 of our textbooks, which deals with language, thinking, and reasoning. One thing I took away from the chapter (among many, of course...) was the concept of extralinguistic information - or 'non-verbal' communication.

It's a little like the language of mathematics, in that all the details of extralinguistic information and signals is universal in relation to every culture on our planet. It's in the way we all express ourselves, use gestures - the way we compose ourselves; our posture. But there's one area in which I find all of these non-verbal cues endlessly fascinating, and I'm sure we all can relate to this in some way...

...

Dating.

Whether it's that awkward first date with a cutie you happen to be sweet on, or perhaps even while elbowing through the mob at ladies' night at a bar, how close are any of us paying attention to what is being said by that other person? Sure, the framework of what the conversation is about gets remembered, but most of the attention is centered around how this other person is acting/reacting non-verbally. Are they looking at me? Are their arms crossed? What signals are they trying to send me? It's through these extralinguistic cues that most people (should) know how things are going on a date/encounter. For the most part, and especially if things are going well, these cues aren't singled out, but they are noticed.

Now, I'm not going to link to all the trashy pick-up youtube videos on this subject in order for you to better know how to "get better at dating", all I'll say is pay more attention next time to what's NOT being said, because that's where the most interesting things are happening.

...also pay attention to what they're saying...of course.

Naturalistic observation is a research tool in a subject is observed in its natural habitat without any manipulation from the observer. Some advantages of naturalistic observations are: seeing the subject in its natural environment, it provides better data than lab research, and he observer is able to go experience different opportunities. There are a good amount of advantages when discussing naturalistic observation, but there are some disadvantages too. If the subject knows it is being observed, it may act different. So it is the job of the observer to be as careful as possible to not be seen to make the situation as realistic as possible. Another disadvantage is that different observers viewing the same thing may have differing opinions. The natural environment causes the subject to be more free leading to more observational opportunities, which may cause bias because we have no control of what happens, but when in a lab, the subject may be controlled and results will be similar from different observers. Overall, i believe that naturalistic observation is the strongest form of observation if the subject is completely unaware that someone is watching. It can provide you answers that aren't manipulated which can be more useful when relating things to the real world and when doing studies on topics that rely on natural observational studies to be affective.

Conformity, as defined by the book, is the tendency of people to alter their behavior as a result of group pressure. When looking at this term we can find the pros and cons that come along with it. One pro that is seemed to be liked by many is the idea that the group will run more effectively. Decision making will be easier and everyone will be acting alike. Conformity would be easier for people with low self esteem because they will feel a sense of belonging in the group. I believe that the pros may not be as strong as some of the cons when dealing with conformity. The fact that everyone has the same and a person can't challenge an idea that is supported by a majority of the group is a problem. People may not have as much of a voice as they want and may become very easy to control. This ties into the argument that conformity doesn't provide people to be flexible or open to new ideas. There will be no creativity or uniqueness to the group because the have to function the way everyone else is. Overall, there are both pros and cons to conformity and knowing each side can be important when going into a conformed or non-conformed environment. Here are a couple pictures that explain the difference between conformity and non-confomity.

Here is a link that shows a video on conformity:

five years from now, i think i will remember some of the most influential studies that we have read about. studies like Asch's conformity, Milgram's obedience and Zimbardo's prison experiment i have found to be very interesting and insightful. the main reason i took psychology was because i am interested in why people do the things they do, and the results of these experiments shed some light on my query. another reason i think it would be beneficial for me to keep those experiments in mind is something that i just recently read in my book. people tend to be more likely to help others in a crisis when they have read and understand studies about conformity. so apart from those studies just being an interesting piece of information, they might actually be useful for me or others later in my life. overall though, a lot of the things i learned this semester have enriched my experience of life and have gotten me closer to understanding people. thanks for a great semester!

5 years from now I think I will remember most the information about happiness. Happiness is obviously a very prevalent topic in our society-- everyone wants to achieve happiness in their lives. Our book tells us that there are several main predictors of if we are happy or not. These include, marriage, friendships, a college degree, religious beliefs, exercise, gratitude, and giving. I think many of us try to reach happiness through romantic interests and through our friendships. However, it's important to remember that there are many other components and predictors of happiness. We also need to focus on how we treat others and what we can do to help others. The act of giving does breed more happiness and I think it's important to remember that.

Five years from now, I plan to be starting my actual career. I want to be a teacher, so that I can help others and give back to the community. I also want to get married, travel a lot, and start a family in the next 5 years. I am hoping, of course, to reach that level of happiness that we all strive for with those goals of mine. Psychology will definitely play a role in that happiness.

Also, of course, it is important to remember the popular misconceptions about happiness. Our text book also tells us that money does not predict happiness, the events (whether they are positive or negative) do not determine our happiness, and neither does our happiness decrease with old age. I hope that if I remember these lessons, I can achieve happiness in my life.

There are many pros and cons when it comes to testing one's IQ in the workplace.
IQ testing has revealed unsuspected talents in many individuals. This could help an employee figure out what they are best at and how they can change the way they do things for the company and their own gain. This being said it shows the employer the person's strengths and weaknesses. This will help the employer out by knowing what certain skill someone is good at and what skill they are sub par in. IQ tests also assess individual differences and provide useful reflections of cultural and biological differences among individuals.
There are also negative effects when it comes to IQ testing. Knowledge of ones IQ may inhibit their level of aspiration and affect their self-concept. If someone finds out that they have a higher IQ than someone above them they may become tempted to not listen to their superior and have a hard time working with others that have lower IQ ratings. The biggest con for an IQ test is that it is limited in predicting occupational success. Just because one can receive a high IQ score does not mean that they are going to be the best worker for you.
As one can see IQ tests can both help or hurt you if you are trying to use them in the workplace.

http://www.intelligencetest.com/images/test/report/bellcurve.gif

I think that the concept that I learned in psychology that will be most important to me five years from now is either the concept of parenting styles of the concept of social influences on attraction. Five years from now I plan on being in grad school and continuing my degree. It is around this time that I will also hope to get married and start a family. First, I will need to meet someone that I want to spend the rest of my life with, which involves the social influences on interpersonal attraction. The major factors in a successful relationship are proximity, similarity, reciprocity, and physical attraction. With all of the school I will have to be doing, I have a feeling that it will be more difficult to find someone and be in a serious relationship with them. I have a feeling that once I am older, all the qualities will become more important and more relevant in my life. After that I plan on having a family, which is where the parenting styles will come into place. Learning about the various types of parenting styles really made me reflect on my childhood and evaluate what kind of parents mine were like. I like to think that I grew up okay and I know my parents did a wonderful job raising me. I don't know what kind of parent I'm going to be but this class has made me aware of the multiple different variations and will probably guide me in making important parenting decisions in the future.

Five years from now, the concept I think I will remember the most is the different parenting styles. My parents were a huge influence on my life, even though their parenting style was more on the permissive side of the spectrum. In 5 years, I would love to be married and thinking of starting a family. Although I can't base my entire parenting methods on a short section from our psychology book, I think the 4 main parenting styles are good things to keep in mind when deciding to start a family. I was raised with more permissive parents than anything else, but reading the descriptions of each style, I think I will most likely be more along the lines of authoritative. Knowing that about myself will prepare me for my own children.

There's an overwhelming amount of information to think about when considering the different topics we've studied in this course. I'm positive there will be, in the next 20 years, concepts and ideas that will be very applicable to my life and the lives of everyone around me...but I can't help but shake the most recent therapeutic method I learned in this class - electro-convulsive therapy.

I realize (through some mild research) that ECT isn't what people make it out to be - as though it were electro-SHOCK therapy, or anything grotesque as such. But the concept of this style of therapy still bothers me a bit.

I'm reminded of the movie 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind'. If you haven't seen it, the movie involves taking painful memories that are a part of your history and erasing them from an individual's memory bank. At the end of the procedure, there will be no memory of having had any of those painful memories.

Now, I don't know much about the science of ECT, but as it was explained in quick detail, it seems to be a treatment slightly similar - where depressing events and memories are recalled in specific detail, and the ECT seizures work to make the patient forget part or all of the depressing event/situation.

It may be because I haven't dealt with severe depressing or emotional pain, but something about deleting that which makes an individual different (their histories/their experiences/their LIVES) bothers me. Even though I understand that the procedure DOES, in fact, help quite a bit in helping patients towards a better quality of life, a part of me will always find it inhumane.

One of the most effective ways for me to be able to remember any concept is to apply it to my current life situations. The more relevant the concept is to me, the more I will understand and remember it. As a father of a five year old and a three year old child, I don't think anything resonated with me more than the various child development theories presented in Chapter 10. I have always enjoyed watching my children as they ponder a new concept, turning it over in their minds in an attempt to understand it. And, there is no greater feeling of pride in your children then when you see their excitement when that "aha" moment comes in and they realize that those random strings of letters actually form words. (Both are currently learning to read) I got a firsthand experience at testing out Walter Mischel's Delay-of-Gratification test with my five year old. When given the choice of a smaller less desirable snack now or a larger, tastier snack in 20 minutes when I have time to prepare it, he will usually take the instant gratification and forego the greater reward. It will be interesting to see how this changes as he grows older and is better able to weigh out the pros and cons. And with the theories in Human Development that I have learned this semester, I will be better prepared to help guide them in the right direction and develop into productive members of society.