Assignment Takeaway 4
From a Social Psychology point, relationship building is important. As it relates to personal relationships among two people, love is a definite factor. Assignment four allowed me to understand the concept of love as established by Hendrick and Hendrick (1986). This article, along with their Styles of Love Questionnaire, provided me with a deeper understanding. After further researching, I realized there are six types of love styles (Eros, Ludus, Storge, Pragma, Mania, and Agape). Of the six styles, I fell into two categories. Eros and Pragma, where I exhibited a high level of love. Eros is described as “strong physical preferences, early attraction, and intensity of emotion” and pragma, “rational calculation with a focus on desired attributes of the love. Might be called love planning.” These results came after answering the questions based on my current relationship.
With that said, every person is different, and every relationship that we are in is different. When we’re in a relationship long enough, our wants and needs change as well. Love is also exhibited through non-verbal communication. We must be able to capture and understand our better half when it comes to various communication styles. As we understand these non-verbal cues, it assists us with shaping our love style(s). With that said, the Styles of Love Questionnaire helped me indicate which styles I fall in and which ones I would need to work on.
The above photo is a pear with the statement “You’re my better half.” It’s simple and to the point as my half is my better half. We are a pair. (LOL)
Assignment Takeaway 3
Assignment 3 was about prejudice. The task was to watch a video clip on Michael Richards’ tirade during a comedy club event. What ensued appeared to be his hatred for African Americans where he lashed away with words that made a member of the audience uneasy. Comedian or not, his unemotional demeanor towards a particular group created tension. Honestly, we don’t know why other than he was interrupted during his skit. Either way, this careless act should have been stopped; however, it continued until he eventually stepped off stage.
The above photo illustrates a connection of race from all over with hands and arms interlocking. No matter the color of one’s hands and arms, this individual shows that a union can be bound by an act of will. Veins from everyone’s hands show a tight grip which further describes an act of meaningful deliverance. No matter our color, we are all human. The choice is up to us to not portray any acts of prejudice.
As for the comedian, we may never really know why he acted the way he did; it simply could have been anger for interrupting his skit, or maybe some deep-seated hatred that he was exposed to during earlier years of his childhood. If so, it may have developed from birth to the age of 5 and continued into his adult life. Honestly, no matter what the cause, it was up to him to make the right choice. As I’ve said before, and I’ll say it once more, children make mistakes, adults make choices. I, for one, will treat people with dignity and respect as they are given. In its natural state, it’s always a must until the other person proves you wrong.
Assignment Takeaway 2
Photographed by: Member One
For assignment two, I had the opportunity to deliver an inside scoop on myself through an evaluation of a half dozen or so photos. These photos helped me to analyze and share my overall development of the self throughout the years. With that said, how others view us is controlled by the way we present ourselves.
The attached photo was captured by a photographer during a half-marathon this past year. It’s a direct reflection of strength and determination to accomplish a goal I had previously set for myself. Honestly, who would pay for a race and run 13.1 miles? If you would have asked me in my earlier years of life, I would’ve decided against a half-marathon race. Of course, life has a way to deliver change upon you, and the photos I viewed displayed both happiness and sadness. I believe that everything happens for a reason and when we are in an uncomfortable position or situation, we must overcome the challenge so that we can embrace positive change, which was certainly something that I had to learn.
Additionally, my sacrifice and training with the military opened my eyes to a different perceptive. The experience I gained professionally equipped me with the attitude, desire, and eye-catching performance to impress those I meet for the first time. Without the various experiences I had throughout life, I would not have been able to capture them through a camera lens or perform the way I have been.
Lastly, those photos have shown me that life isn’t always easy. There are days that you struggle and don’t want to go on. It was certainly me during my half-marathon races; however, it’s the strength and determination that goes a long way to accomplish goals.
Assignment Takeaway 1
To better understand the first assignment, I had to think outside the box for examples of my own. Some were easy, while other examples took a little more thought. Overall, the first assignment paved the way for me to familiarize myself with the four different types of heuristics as we have dived into each heuristic that we use to help us make quick and complex decisions.
Over the years, this beloved dog has been scrutinized because of its perceived vicious natured that is portrayed by Americans who have previously been attacked. Bans are in place for those who want to become owners, leaving them with zero options as many apartment complexes don’t allow certain breeds. Pictures, videos, and even news reports about pit bull fights overstimulate the stereotype of this breed. I chose to display a photo of my dog Blux. He is one of many wonderful, loving, and playful pit bulls around; yet many are so afraid due to a long list of misinformation. Our experiences, plus the information that we gain about this breed allow us to decide how we react with this breed. How we choose to react, is a direct reflection of what we choose to understand; it’s no different from other instances in life.
The representativeness heuristic places pit bulls as a prime example because many people tend to see them as an aggressive breed. Those who want a loveable pet like Blux would have to break the cycle of representativeness, and status quo, a strategy that everything is the same. That would mean choosing the opposite of society. When it happens, the possibility that love for them can deliver a change in each heuristic against this breed.