Blog 10

Before I started this course, I felt that Social Psychology would help me understand why and how people behave the way the do and the various interactions people have with each other. I feel that this course has done exactly that. I feel that I have learned the reasoning behind attitudes, behaviors, and interactions between people, and I feel that I have a deeper sense of empathy towards others. When discussing the objectives, I feel that I can explain the majority of them, so I definitely feel as though I achieved the course objectives. The objective I feel helped me the most was the one about making connections to other course content and outside experiences. I feel like that really helped me solidify the information in my head, and the connections helped me understand the information better.

Honestly, I never even really knew that Social Psychology was a thing until I signed up for the course. I had just never thought about the field or the need for it, so my attitude has changed a lot. Social Psychology is incredibly important and incredibly interesting. The content of this course was incredibly intriguing to me, and I feel as though everyone should take this course. If I were to take this class again, I think I would try to apply the concepts even more to my real life experiences just to really get a grasp of the vocabulary terms and concepts. I think I would probably take more thorough notes while reading the textbook as well.

One way that I have grown academically is the desire to study and the motivation to do my work ahead of time so that I do not procrastinate. I used to rarely study, and I used to be a hardcore procrastinator. This semester, however, I found myself wanting to study and wanting to not wait until the last minute to do my work and study. This is a big achievement in my eyes, and I feel prouder of my grades and my work. A skill I learned from this course that I can utilize is understanding that people’s behavior usually has deeper meanings. I think the ability to understand that there are a variety of factors that determine why a person is acting a certain way will certainly help me when I am working with the public. I will not take things personally when people are rude or unpleasant because I know that there could be a number of reasons why a person acts a certain way.

The picture below shows the components of motivation that helped me want to study and not procrastinate. In return, I felt more successful and prouder.

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Blog 9

After reviewing my e-Portfolio, the top three things that I have learned are the content in the Liking, Love, and Other Close Relationships chapter, the Self chapter, and the Attitudes chapter. In the Liking, Love, and Other Close Relationships chapter, I really enjoyed learning about the various types of love and attachment styles. This chapter contained a lot of terms that I have heard before and used in everyday conversation, so it was nice to finally learn the actual definitions of the terms. For example, I have always heard and used the words intimacy and love, and I have always had my own idea of what those words meant. Now, I can actually define the terms with accuracy.

I feel like I learned a lot from the Self chapter. The self is a topic that I do not often think about, so I feel like I learned about new terms as well as learning how to identify different aspects of myself which is really cool. The Attitudes chapter was also intriguing to me, and I feel like I learned a lot from this chapter. I feel that I learned a lot about attitudes, how attitudes affect behavior, and how humans learn. My favorite concept that I learned in this chapter was cognitive dissonance. I have felt this multiple times throughout my life, and I deal with it in my own way, so it is nice to be able to put a word to the feeling.

Assignment Takeaway 4, Blog 8, and Blog 3 all connect in my opinion. Assignment Takeaway 4 is about what I took away from Assignment 4 which was all about the different types of love and my scores in each category. Blog 8 is about the relationships between men and women and how they interact in some cases. These connect because they are both about styles of love and relationship interactions between men and women. I also connect Blog 3 with these two other posts. Blog 3 is all about the relationship between people and music, and I heavily relate my love and relationship with others through music.

A concept that connects to another course that I have taken is attitudes. I am currently taking PRTS 285 which is Diversity in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism. In that course, we talk about how negative attitudes is the greatest barrier to people with diverse characteristics in the leisure setting. We discussed how even if you attempt to behave in a way that opposes your actual attitude, little behaviors will reveal themselves. We talk about how some people refuse to behave in a way that does not match their attitude, which I now know might be to avoid feeling cognitive dissonance.

The following image shows how I determined and narrowed down the top three things I learned. First I found the posts that I was most interested in because I tend to retain information better when I am also interested in the concepts.

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Blog 8

I though this article was incredibly interesting. From experience and from entertainment, I could gather that men and women expect different outcomes from each other and from relationships. There are expectations put on each other from the start which ends poorly if those expectations are not being met. Also, some people tend to view relationships as games, and some people just like the power that may come with relationships. The part I found the most intriguing was that a significant number of men pretend to be emotionally invested in a woman to have sex, and that women pretend to be more sexual than they are to hopefully get the emotional needs that they want from that man.

Another part I found interesting was the part about infidelity and how there are differences in sexual and emotional infidelity. My sister and her boyfriend have talked about this before. She said that she would not break up with him if he had a one night stand of meaningless sex with someone else, but she said she would break up with him if he had a long-term affair with emotional ties. He said he would break up with her no matter what. It is interesting to think about.

They ways in which men annoy, irritate, upset, or anger women usually have to do with not showing an effort or lacking in showing care. Men tend to not show enough affection or how their women want them to show their care. They do not often talk about their emotions which annoys women. Also, they lie and do not uphold their promises or the things they say they will do. Men can also annoy or upset women by talking down to them or “mansplaining.” Of course, these are just overgeneralized statements, but they are seen a lot.

Women annoy, irritate, upset, or anger men in a number of ways. They can be overly clingy and overemotional. Often times, women will not let their men be friends with other women. They can say insensitive things. Also, they annoy or upset men by not communicating who they are with or where they are. Women can also hold men to certain expectations without communicating what those expectations are which can anger, annoy, and upset men.

Picture A below shows a visual representation of a man talking over a woman and making her feel small. It represents “mansplaining” which annoys and angers women. Picture B is a visual of a woman crying because women being “overemotional” is annoying and irritating to men.

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Blog 7

Self-regulation and emotional intelligence are interconnecting concepts within an individual. Being able to regulate one’s own emotions is a component of emotional intelligence. When a person’s emotions get too high and that person is unable to regulate their emotions, then that person may make decisions or respond in a way that they do not intend. Being upset, anxious, or fearful may cause split decision responses that could have a negative impact. However, if a person is able to self-regulate, they are able to bring their emotions down and respond in a rational way.

To me, emotional intelligence is the way an individual interacts with their emotions in a negative or positive way. My emotional intelligence is varied. I am very aware of my emotions and the emotions of others around me. However, I am not great at regulating my emotions. I can be aware of how my emotions are affecting my behaviors towards myself and others, but it is hard for me to calm down, step back, and respond in a rational way most times. It takes a lot of effort. It is interesting because I was in therapy for a while. I did not realize it at the time, but I was being taught self-regulation techniques in regard to my emotions. However, I still need to work on being able to self-regulate my emotions.

The picture I have added is a screenshot of an Emotional Intelligence quiz that I took. It shows the rankings of the different areas that contribute to my emotional intelligence.

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Blog 6

I was not at all surprised by the information presented in the TED Talk. Women have always been hypersexualized and given unrealistic and physically impossible beauty standards. Advertisements just promote the hyper-sexualization of women which in turn give men the expectation of what a woman should look and act like. Due to the rise of social media, even younger girls are exposed to advertising that sexualizes women and promotes unrealistic standards. I feel that a lot of companies sexualize women because they try to get women to think they will look like these women if they buy and use that product.

However, I do believe that things are getting slightly better. I have seen a lot of accounts on social media that show edited photos next to the original photos to destigmatize what women should look like. Also, there are a lot of social media accounts and influencers that are “getting real” with their viewers and showing their natural bodies. I feel that companies, like Dove for example, have been starting to move towards inclusivity of body types and diverse characteristics. There are plus size models, dark-skinned models, and models with disabilities to name a few. However, there is still a thin, white female majority.

This TED Talk also pointed out the gender differences and representation. Yes, men are being sexualized a little more, but certainly not as much, and men often face less danger than women. I often have conversations with men about the sexualization of women, and the men I speak to will reply saying that men are sexualized now, too. I always have to end up explaining how women are seen as objects and are in more danger while men are seen as hot and sexy as opposed to an object, making them less likely to be in danger of violence.

The first ad I chose (Picture A) is a perfume ad. The ad shows Kit Harrington, an attractive man, but only the bare legs and arms of a woman. The woman is dismembered and used for her body parts, while the man is shown fully clothed and with his face showing. The next advertisement (Picture B) is an ad featuring Priyanka Chopra. This a case where a darker skinned female’s skin was lightened for an ad. The ad pretty much promotes the lightening of darker skin. The next ad (Picture C) is telling women that their body shape that they were born with and have no control over is wrong and should be changed artificially. Basically, it is saying that a woman’s natural shape is unacceptable.

 The next picture (Picture D) is a magazine cover of Kylie Jenner about 2 months after she turned 19. On the cover she is topless and wearing latex gloves. It seems that the media tends to encourage young women to sexualize themselves and promote the sexuality of their bodies the minute they turn of legal age to do so. The final ads (Picture E) promote the infantilization of adult women and the sexualization of children, especially young girls. Ads like this normalize the sexualization of young girls which can make people think that it is okay to do so.

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Blog 5

There are three advertisements shown in the picture below: a mouthwash ad, a diet pill ad, and a makeup ad featuring Zendaya and Lupita Nyong’o. These advertisements in order of appearance represent a perceived credible source, a noncredible source, and an attractive source. Picture A, the mouthwash ad is perceived as a credible source for a number of reasons. First of all, mouthwash has been used by people for years, and the company, Johnson & Johnson, has been around for decades. Since people are familiar with these things, they are more likely to believe the sources are credible. Also, there is a chart on the ad comparing the Listerine brand to the Crest brand. The use of graphs and statistics makes it seem like there has been research done on the product which ups the ad’s credibility. At the bottom of the ad, the words, “Scientific, Effective, Supportive, Customized,” are printed at the bottom of the ad. Those are key words that would potentially make a person trust that the ad is credible.

Picture B is an ad for weight loss pills. This is not a credible advertisement because it is more obviously marketing something than the mouthwash ad, and it looks less professional. There is a massive “As Seen on TV” logo, which is not a very trusted or reliable source. Also, there is a statistic on the ad, but it is not backed up by any graphics or sources which also makes it noncredible. Picture C is an ad for makeup that uses attractive women, Zendaya and Lupita Nyong’o, to sell the product. Using attractive people to sell product is typically effective. People may believe that they will look like and be as attractive as the people in the ads, so they may end up buying the product. Usually when attractive people are featured in ads, they are celebrities. This may cause fans of the celebrity to buy the product just because a celebrity they like is promoting it and saying they use it.

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Blog 4

I always struggle during the first exam with a new professor because I have no idea what the test will be like. Since I have no idea what the test will be like, I feel more stressed when studying, which causes me to not want to study. I take notes while reading the textbook, I read through the PowerPoints, and I complete all of the related activities and such. However, I did not really pay attention to the chapter objectives or the study guide which was not my smartest move. Also, I waited until the last minute to study. What I am going to do for the next exam is make sure I understand the concepts and vocabulary on the objective documents, I am going to study from the study guide, and I am going to start studying earlier instead of waiting for the last minute. From this exam, I learned that I actually need to apply myself instead of just trying to wing everything. Reviewing the questions I got wrong helped me realize that they were silly mistakes that could have been avoided if I had actually studied the material.

The picture below is a photo of the flashcards I made but did not take the time to study from.

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Blog 3

The relationship between music and people is something I have thought about a lot because music is very important to me. I have always known that people can be in a romantic relationship or be friends without having a similar music taste. However, from experience, some of the deepest bonding comes from a shared love of music. I have a very similar music taste to my little sister, and I would have to say that our values align very similarly. Now, my boyfriend and I just recently got into a scuffle because he rarely took time to listen to my favorite music even though I listen to his favorite music to try to understand him better. He has since listened to and appreciates the music I love, and I feel that we have a deeper bond because of it. I feel like people tend to bond over songs because what is being portrayed in songs correlates with what people believe and value. If someone does not agree with or like someone else’s music, they may have different values than that person.

I tend to relate people to three scenarios: when we both like the song, when I imagine scenarios with that person, and when there are qualities that simply remind me of that person. When it comes to my mom, my dad, and my sisters, they fall into the category of us both liking that song. My mom is obsessed with this band called The Decemberists, and we both love this song called, “O, Valencia.” My dad and I both like the song, “Brandy,” by Looking Glass, and my sisters and I love “State of Grace,” by Taylor Swift. I love to spend time singing these songs with each respected person, and it always makes me really happy. Sometimes I like to think about dancing at weddings with my boyfriend, and every time I hear “Coming Home” by Leon Bridges, I think of this scenario, and it makes me happy.

There are also certain aspects that just remind me of certain people. For example, my cousin walked down the aisle at her wedding to “Tennessee Whiskey” by Chris Stapleton, and now every time I hear it, I think of her. My friend, Noelle, used to sing the song “Stuck Like Glue” by Sugarland, and now I think of her when I think of the song. I also think of my dog, Henry, when I hear “Lookin’ Out My Backdoor” by Creedance Clearwater Revival because he always stares out our backdoor. I am starting to realize that I just relate songs to happy memories and people who give me happy feelings.

I have put this picture of “Escape (The Piña Colada Song)” by Rupert Holmes below because it is my go to karaoke song. I know every word, and the song is so silly that it makes me happy.

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Blog 2

I believe that I am a great student. I am hardworking, interested, and committed to producing on a high level. I believe this about myself because I have aways been a straight A student and an honors student. As much as I do believe I am a great student, I also believe that I could apply myself more to become an even better student. Occasionally, I get in the habit of procrastinating and then having to rush to complete my work, which ultimately produces work that is not up to my usual standard. To increase my confidence levels in my belief that I am a great student, I feel like I should apply myself more.

If I took the time to really sit down and write an essay or study for an upcoming exam instead of doing things last minute, I feel like I would be prouder of myself than getting good grades for a last-minute piece of work. Now I put in a lot of hard work for the work I submit, but I would feel better if I allotted myself more time. My self-efficacy score was 27 or 2.7. This is pretty low, but I am not great at problem solving or reacting to problems I did not see coming. However, I do feel that my self-efficacy score is not an accurate representation of my abilities as a student. I may freak out at the first sign of a problem, but I always seem to manage to get it fixed and end up with a good grade.

Below, I have posted a picture of me doing work in the library. I often go to the library to do work because it helps me focus, and the environment encourages me to complete my homework.

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Blog 1

I believe that the course objectives will help me in a number of ways in the future. Overall, I feel that the course objectives evolve around the “why” and the “how” of social interactions and behaviors. I feel that understanding these objectives would help anyone, not just someone going into the psychology field. It is important to understand social relationships and interactions because it allows for healthy personal and professional relationships between people by potentially creating a deeper sense of empathy. I think this is incredibly important, especially since I would like to work with the public. Therefore, understanding people and their behaviors would help me succeed professionally.

My expectations for this course are to complete all of the objectives outlined in the syllabus. I love to learn, especially about behaviors and social relationships, so I am glad to be taking this course. I hope to learn and fully understand the information I need to be able to be successful in working with people. I sometime struggle with asynchronous classes due to the lack of schedule, so I make sure to write down everything that is due for the week in the beginning of the week. Also, I review the instructions and rubrics for everything that is due that week just in case there is an assignment is more time consuming. That way, I am not stuck at the last minute with not enough time to complete the assignment. I will try my hardest to stay on top of my work and not fall behind.

The picture below is how I stay on top of all of the work I need to do for the week. I write everything down in a checklist form. Then, I check off the work as I complete each item. I check this list first thing in the morning, before I go to sleep, and multiple times throughout the day.