1. If I were to describe my personality, I would say that I am happy, fun-loving, open-minded, unique, and caring. I also think that I am moody, a perfectionist, and I get jealous easily. Being a happy person is positive because it's very healthy to be happy and laughing. Being fun-loving is positive because I am enjoying life to the fullest. Being open-minded is positive because I accept people's differences and I don't discriminate against people. Being unique is positive because I have my own personal identity that is special, that no one else has. Being caring is positive because I can deeply care for the people that I love and show them how I feel. Being moody is negative because my mood is always hopping from happy, to annoyed, to anxious, and back to happy. Sometimes people don't know how to deal with my changing mood. Being a perfectionist can be positive, but it is negative for me because it's so annoying and time consuming. Getting jealous easily is so negative because I should really focus on me and my life instead of caring about what other people have.
2. I am very optimistic and I definitely always try to look on the bright sides of situations. This impacts my life by making it better. When I don't dwell on the negative, I ultimately feel better about the situation. An example of my optimism is when I don't do well on a test or an assignment. Instead of dwelling on the fact that this bad grade will bring down my whole grade, I tell myself that I will do better on assignments and tests in the future to bring my grade back up. Another example of my optimism is when I get my paycheck at work, and it's not as high as I thought it'd be, I don't dwell on the fact that I won't have extra money, I just think about how I have a good amount of money saved, and if I really need money, there is some in the bank.
3. One part of my personality is that I am outspoken and I will usually speak against things that I don't agree with. If a person I didn't know very well was saying things that I completely didn't agree with, I probably wouldn't speak against them out of respect, and the fact that I don't even know them. This change would be beneficial because I could come off rude and disrespectful, which I would not want people associating with me.
Another part of my personality is that I am very loud and silly with my friends. This trait changes a little bit when we are out in public or around teachers. We tone down our loudness and silliness. That is beneficial because I wouldn't want to be categorized as a loud, immature girl. I want people to respect me and my actions.
4. One defense mechanism I have used is Denial. When one of my friends was making plans without me and then completely started ditching me, I just made up excuses for why it was happening. I was completely denying the truth and I didn't want to accept the fact that she just didn't want to hang out with me anymore.
Another defense mechanism I have used is Displacement. After having a really argument with my boyfriend at the time, I started punching my pillow and my bed.
Another defense mechanism that I have used is Reaction Formation. When I first started high school, I had very low self-esteem. So I would try to dress really nice and trendy, and I would spend so much money on new clothes to cover up the fact that I disliked how I looked.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Blog Post #10
1.One thing I learned from Chapter 9 on thinking was Problem Solving. I learned that there are two different tactics to solve a problem: algorithm which is time consuming, yet thorough, and heuristic which is faster, but more error-prone. Personally, the tactic I use to solve problems is the heuristic approach because it is more efficient and simple. I would probably use the algorithm approach to work out a complicated math problem. I found that learning about these two approaches of problem solving was interesting because I didn't know there were actual proper names for them, I just thought they were known as the "hard way" and the "easy way". I am definitely more educated on the proper terminology now.
2.I do believe I am emotionally intelligent. The book states emotional intelligence as the ability to percieve, understand, manage, and use emotions. I believe I am emotionally intelligent because I always pick up on other people's emotions very easily. When I see a friend who has their head down and being very quiet when they are usually upbeat and chatty, I know that they are upset or annoyed. I use my emotions by showing love to my friends and family with hugs and words of encouragement. I try understanding my emotions by asking myself "Why do I feel like this?" I manage my emotions by either crying or talking about them with someone.
This impacts my personal relationships because I can better understand people and pick up on how they are feeling. I am much more relatable and understanding in tough situations. I think it is extremely important to be emotionally intelligent, because it helps you so much in life. You end up becoming closer with friends, family, and co-workers because you can connect with them so much easier.
3. The most interesting thing I learned from Chapter 10 was how similar identical twin's brains are. When identical twins take an intelligence test, it's virtually as similar as one person taking the test twice. Fraternal twins are much less similar in their intelligence levels. The variations in the test scores are simply from genetic variation. I just found it super interesting how alike identical twins are when it comes to their intelligence, which does make sense ... similar appearance, similar intelligence. Fraternal twins are just the opposite.
2.I do believe I am emotionally intelligent. The book states emotional intelligence as the ability to percieve, understand, manage, and use emotions. I believe I am emotionally intelligent because I always pick up on other people's emotions very easily. When I see a friend who has their head down and being very quiet when they are usually upbeat and chatty, I know that they are upset or annoyed. I use my emotions by showing love to my friends and family with hugs and words of encouragement. I try understanding my emotions by asking myself "Why do I feel like this?" I manage my emotions by either crying or talking about them with someone.
This impacts my personal relationships because I can better understand people and pick up on how they are feeling. I am much more relatable and understanding in tough situations. I think it is extremely important to be emotionally intelligent, because it helps you so much in life. You end up becoming closer with friends, family, and co-workers because you can connect with them so much easier.
3. The most interesting thing I learned from Chapter 10 was how similar identical twin's brains are. When identical twins take an intelligence test, it's virtually as similar as one person taking the test twice. Fraternal twins are much less similar in their intelligence levels. The variations in the test scores are simply from genetic variation. I just found it super interesting how alike identical twins are when it comes to their intelligence, which does make sense ... similar appearance, similar intelligence. Fraternal twins are just the opposite.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Blog Post #9
Memory is one of the largest, most important things that defines who we are as human beings. Our memory makes us complex, intelligent, and able to progress. Without memory, we would never be able to remember any schooling, how to drive, or how to work at job. Our lives would almost be in a pointless standstill without memory.
Clive Wearing is a man who has no memory at all. He was a talented musician, but then one day he had a headache, which progressed into having no memory longer than 20 seconds. He is also a husband. Clive's wife handles his memory damage very well. Sometimes she seems frustrated and annoyed a little bit, but most of the time she is patient and completely understanding. I know that I would have a completely hard time of dealing with a husband who had trouble with remembering basic things. I think I would be completely furstrated with him all the time. That sitaution makes me feel very thankful for the good memory that I have. Even though my memory isn't perfect, it functions pretty well for everyday life, which I am totally greatful for.
Memory is much more complicated than I could have ever guessed. I had no idea that there were different processes of memory and different types of memory either. I now see memory as a complex job that my mind performs all the time.
I do in some ways now see my memories differently because the book talked about storage decay and forgetting memories. Our brains have so many things to remember, we are bound to forget some memories. I do trust many of my memories, but now I kind of have to wonder because the book even states that sometimes when we do things, our mind doesn't even remember it at all because it is labled as "not important". I did the excercise "Short Term Memory Encoding and Rehearsing" and I did pretty well, I think my short term memory is much better than my long term memory.
One significant concept that I learned in this section was the relationship between stress hormones and memory. Stronger emotional experiences cause stronger, more reliable memories due to the stress hormones that are produced. This is important because it answers the question of why we usually remember really bad events that have happened to us. Some people can remember a car crash or a robbery super vividly. I can apply this to my life by sharing with people why they remember a really bad memory very vividly, and I can keep it in mind for myself too.
Clive Wearing is a man who has no memory at all. He was a talented musician, but then one day he had a headache, which progressed into having no memory longer than 20 seconds. He is also a husband. Clive's wife handles his memory damage very well. Sometimes she seems frustrated and annoyed a little bit, but most of the time she is patient and completely understanding. I know that I would have a completely hard time of dealing with a husband who had trouble with remembering basic things. I think I would be completely furstrated with him all the time. That sitaution makes me feel very thankful for the good memory that I have. Even though my memory isn't perfect, it functions pretty well for everyday life, which I am totally greatful for.
Memory is much more complicated than I could have ever guessed. I had no idea that there were different processes of memory and different types of memory either. I now see memory as a complex job that my mind performs all the time.
I do in some ways now see my memories differently because the book talked about storage decay and forgetting memories. Our brains have so many things to remember, we are bound to forget some memories. I do trust many of my memories, but now I kind of have to wonder because the book even states that sometimes when we do things, our mind doesn't even remember it at all because it is labled as "not important". I did the excercise "Short Term Memory Encoding and Rehearsing" and I did pretty well, I think my short term memory is much better than my long term memory.
One significant concept that I learned in this section was the relationship between stress hormones and memory. Stronger emotional experiences cause stronger, more reliable memories due to the stress hormones that are produced. This is important because it answers the question of why we usually remember really bad events that have happened to us. Some people can remember a car crash or a robbery super vividly. I can apply this to my life by sharing with people why they remember a really bad memory very vividly, and I can keep it in mind for myself too.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Blog Post #8
Classical Conditioning is a type of learning in which a person learns to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events. An example would be that you learn that fire is hot, and that it can hurt and burn you. So when you're sitting around a campfire and someone is about to squirt lighter fluid on the fire, you may be scared of the big flames that will soar up and you may scoot your chair back away from the fire to anticpate the heat and flames.
Operant Conditioning is when a person learns to associate a response and its consequence and thus to repeat acts followed by good results and avoid acts followed by bad results. An example is when potty training a child, when you reward them with candy or stickers after they completed going to the bathroom, they are more likely to keep repeating that act. The consequence they recieved was positve and enjoyable so in turn, their positive potty behavior is strengthened.
The difference between Classical Conditioning and Operant Conditioning is that classical conditioning is linking stimuli and anticipating events, while operant condtioning is learning to associate a response and its consequence. This is interesting because it's very true and relevant. I use classical conditioning all the time when I'm cooking or dealing with something that could harm me. Operant conditoning was used on me when I was a child and getting potty trained.
A postive reinforcement is increasing behaviors by presenting positive stimuli. An example would be when my mom started paying my cell phone bill when I started getting really good grades, her paying it encouraged me even more to keep my grades up.
Negative reinforcement is increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli. An example is that I get migraines all the time, so I'm always taking medicine to get rid of my migraines. It has now become a habit because if I'm able to get rid of something negative, then of course I want to do it.
Punishment is an event that decreases the behavior that it follows. An example is when I was younger, I would always talk very sassy to my mom when I was mad, so as a result she would send me to my room or take away objects that I could use such as the TV or computer.
The most interesting thing I learned in this section was about the mirror neurons. This was interesting to me because it explained so much about children, how they completely imitate what they see and hear because of the mirror neurons. I found it very interesting how when children often experience physical punishment, they tend to display more agression. It's so interesting how everything is linked together. This changes the way I think about children who curse and hit others because in a way, it's not really their fault, they're just mimicking what the see/hear. I can apply this to my everyday life by trying to be more understanding of why people act a certain way, even if I believe that their actions are negative.
Operant Conditioning is when a person learns to associate a response and its consequence and thus to repeat acts followed by good results and avoid acts followed by bad results. An example is when potty training a child, when you reward them with candy or stickers after they completed going to the bathroom, they are more likely to keep repeating that act. The consequence they recieved was positve and enjoyable so in turn, their positive potty behavior is strengthened.
The difference between Classical Conditioning and Operant Conditioning is that classical conditioning is linking stimuli and anticipating events, while operant condtioning is learning to associate a response and its consequence. This is interesting because it's very true and relevant. I use classical conditioning all the time when I'm cooking or dealing with something that could harm me. Operant conditoning was used on me when I was a child and getting potty trained.
A postive reinforcement is increasing behaviors by presenting positive stimuli. An example would be when my mom started paying my cell phone bill when I started getting really good grades, her paying it encouraged me even more to keep my grades up.
Negative reinforcement is increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli. An example is that I get migraines all the time, so I'm always taking medicine to get rid of my migraines. It has now become a habit because if I'm able to get rid of something negative, then of course I want to do it.
Punishment is an event that decreases the behavior that it follows. An example is when I was younger, I would always talk very sassy to my mom when I was mad, so as a result she would send me to my room or take away objects that I could use such as the TV or computer.
The most interesting thing I learned in this section was about the mirror neurons. This was interesting to me because it explained so much about children, how they completely imitate what they see and hear because of the mirror neurons. I found it very interesting how when children often experience physical punishment, they tend to display more agression. It's so interesting how everything is linked together. This changes the way I think about children who curse and hit others because in a way, it's not really their fault, they're just mimicking what the see/hear. I can apply this to my everyday life by trying to be more understanding of why people act a certain way, even if I believe that their actions are negative.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
