Weekly Blog
Weekly Blog 10 | Final Blog
First of all, it feels like this semester has flown by. It’s hard to believe it’s the end of the semester, but when I think about how hot it was at the beginning of the semester and how cool it is now, it sets in that time has passed as normal; as normal as the changing of the seasons. It certainly was an eventful semester, so perhaps that made time feel like it has passed at super sonic speed as well.
My academic growth feels like taking on the arduous and laborious project of flipping a dilapidated house, little by little, piece by piece, Enjoying the milestones along the way, making progress.
When I look at the expectations I had in Blog 1, I stated that I expected this class would help develop a cultural perspective to apply when learning topics in my other psychology courses, and I believe this course has achieved just that, as well as achieving the course objectives.
I only developed an initial impression after looking over the syllabus at the beginning of the semester, and my impression then was this course will help keep my perspective open when learning about other topics in psychology, as I knew I’d be learning psychology topics through a western lens, especially research and theories. I would say that impression held true, and even evolved from an impression to appreciating the value of the perspective cross-cultural psychology instills that can’t be unseen. In my Human Factors class, it helped me think about accessibility, diversity and inclusion in designing products. In my Research Methods class, it helped me think about universality of data and experiments. In my Cognitive Psychology class, I also thought about universality by leaving room for thinking about if the outcome of some of the experiments may have differed if performed in another country with a different set of values, norms, lifestyles and worldviews. Mainly able to keep straight that what I am learning is western psychology and does not always translate the same for nonwestern countries.
If I were to take the class again, I would definitely journal to reflect more, and do further research into topics of interest while covering the module, so the information is still relevant. There are a plethora of scientific journals that can help expand my understanding and learning.
One way I have grown academically is learning how to study effectively in ways that work for me, and actually taking notes on what’s an effective learning method and what is not. So really catering studying for myself, rather than trying to force common study tactics to work.
The class has impacted my professional life as well, currently and for the future. I work a call center job, and I talk to people from all walks of life. What I have learned has helped gain knowledge and understanding as to why they may behave a certain way, and honestly even understanding western customers on a deeper level.
I have also expressed interest in teaching abroad in Japan, so learning theories and principles in a cross-cultural perspective that takes differences into account, I feel better equipped with the knowledge to understand the basics behind the difference of behaviors. What I’ve learned in the textbook has even helped ease my concerns of immersing myself in Japan, dissolving the ignorant mindset that I would have compromise my differing norms and values, to one of understanding the differences, why they are, what to expect and neither culture’s norms and values are better or worse than the other.
Thank you for a great semester!