Weekly Blog

Blog 10:

I was out of school for quite some time, so I knew this semester was going to be challenging. The pandemic made things even more complicated. Trying to get back into a rhythm of working full-time, attending school full-time, while essentially homeschooling a teenager with a learning disability seemed impossible. Initially, I was not sure what to expect from this class. I thought I would struggle with most of the assignments, but I surprised myself. I feel that I have grown as a student from pushing myself. I have found the more I write, the easier it becomes. I see a huge difference in my writing abilities after comparing older assignments.

At the beginning of this course, I wanted to improve my communication skills and be able to understand the behavior and mentality of other people. My goal was to learn the reason behind peoples behavior in hopes that I would be able to more accurately assess what’s best for my friends, family, and potential future patients. I believe I accomplished this goal, among other course objectives such as being able to discuss the various factors which lead to close personal relationships. This will certainly help me in my professional life.

This course was tough. At times I wanted to quit, but I refused to be defeated. I am happy I stuck it out because I thoroughly enjoyed learning about social psychology and how it relates to my personal and professional life. Most of what I was learning in Social Psychology was relevant to my human services course, which helped me tremendously this semester. I have not only gained a better understanding of myself, but other people as well. The assignment we did on love was particularly informative. I pondered things that I had never thought of in the past. I was able to learn more about why I chose my past relationships and the factors that influenced my decisions.

My communication skills have improved vastly throughout this class, as well as my knowledge about self-concept and social influence. I believe what I have obtained will help me greatly in my personal and professional life. The only thing I would change if I took the class over is to manage my time better to avoid overwhelming myself. Pushing myself this hard did have an upside though. I achieved what I thought would be impossible which has greatly increased my self-confidence.

I chose this image because it shows all the ways in which I believe this course has helped me accomplish my goals. It also depicts how it has helped me grow as a student and person. This class renewed my passion for helping others and instilled a new sense of excitement for the field of psychology.

Blog 9:

In the beginning of the semester, I was unsure of how I would do with these assignments. I had so much going on at the time, but I surprised myself. I feel I gained useful information through our assignments and WordPress. I have an auditory learning style, meaning I learn more effectively through a hands-on approach and verbal instructions.  

In Assignment #2, I learned the importance of self-reflection. I was able to reflect on my behavior, mentality, and other aspects of what makes me who I am. It also showed me how and how my self-esteem is directly impacted by how I think other people view me. In the one of the items to archive from module 6, I needed to look at myself through different situations where I remained unchanged. Even though my self-esteem has been affected by others, I have always tried to remain true to myself and never change the core of who I am.

Assignment Takeaway #4 provided another good lesson which applies to my life. It taught me how view relationships from a different perspective to gain a better understanding of how and why things turn out the way they do. By self-reflecting on my own past relationships, I realize I had never really considered how I went about choosing my mate. I have always tried to simply follow my heart and do what feels right. The Love Style Questionnaire we took that week provided information that was familiar but allowed me to critically think about my experiences with abusive men and the part they played in how I view relationships. 

The third lesson came from Blog #7 where we discussed self-regulation and were tested on emotional intelligence. This was an important concept which helped me to better understand, control, and communicate my emotions clearly. Assignment Takeaway #4 is relevant to Blog #7 because the Styles of Love Questionnaire in AT4 revealed some facts about my emotional state of mind I had never really considered. I learned how my distrustful nature is a result of the abuse I have endured from people who have low emotional intelligence. This negatively impacted my ability to manage my emotions.

My human services class compliments the material we are studying in Social Psychology. We discussed the subject of self-concept and self-reflection in a recent chapter of my human services class. In Assignment Takeaway #2, we also talked about the subject of self-concept, self-presentation, and self-control. I learned in both classes how our self-concept affects our self-esteem throughout different stages of our life. Most importantly, these classes taught me that to grow as a person, self-reflection is essential to making positive changes in my life and the lives of those I love. This is the reason for my choice of imagery. The plant represents growth and progress, but also shows that it has plenty of room to grow.

Blog 8:

The article was interesting. I found it fairly accurate in how it portrays men and women as it relates to relationships. In my experience, some men lie about being emotionally involved with a woman to get them into bed and usually disappear soon after. I have come across women who are guilty of similar behavior, but not quite to the extent of men.

In my past relationship, everything was based on control. My ex-husband wanted things his way, no exceptions. He would invade my privacy by spying on me and reading messages on my phone. My ex-husband also cheated on me and never hid his intent to look at other women while I was around. His excuse would be that he was people watching. I used to get upset and even jealous at times. It certainly put more strain on our relationship. He was very abusive and always felt the need to be in control. Even after our marriage ended, he would follow me around and try to stake his claim in my life. He ended up getting remarried but continued to harass me and disrupt my new relationship. I felt like since he could not be happy, he set out to make me unhappy.

I chose the Distracted Boyfriend meme because even though men and women have similar reactions when they find out their lover is dishonest; women typically hold a deeper grudge than men. Women by nature are more emotional than men. I believe the girl’s facial expression reflects her anger.  

I chose the other meme because some men place more value on machinery then their mate. The man looks disgruntled with his girlfriend after making a joke about wrecking the car. I know that I used to get angry with my ex-husband because he was more protective over his car then our relationship. He valued his possessions, but not me as a person or what I brought to the relationship.

Blog 7:

In a previous chapter of my human services class, we discussed the subject of emotional intelligence and self-regulation. Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand, identify, and express emotions. Self-regulation is the ability to manage our emotions and impulses. Understanding emotional intelligence and self-regulation improves our ability to communicate and monitor our emotions to ensure we remain in control of our actions.

The picture above contains the results of my test in which I scored an 84/100. I agree with the results and believe I have high emotional intelligence. The report states I can effectively identify and express my emotions to others, but also understand how they feel. I can generally read people and what they are feeling based off their nonverbal communication.

An example of personal self-regulation happened at a time when my boyfriend’s sister was talking about how much money she was receiving from unemployment as a result of COVID-19. It made me angry because I was struggling to work full-time without getting any form of assistance or relief. It seemed as if she was trying to make me feel bad that I was not bringing in as much income as she was. I felt she was looking for a reaction and that it was best to just walk away. I noticed that she tends to build herself up at the cost of someone else’s self-esteem. I believe this has to do with her insecurities, but also because she has a low level of emotional intelligence.

I do my best to avoid situations and people who act this way. I do not believe it does me any good to surround myself with those who have no empathy. She speaks without considering how her words can affect those around her. To improve her emotional intelligence, she would need a serious reality check to learn empathy. I consider myself to be an outspoken person, but I also think about the consequences my words can have on someone’s emotional state and well-being. The last thing I want is to give someone the wrong impression or come off offensive.

Blog 6:

After watching the ted talk video, I found myself in agreement with Jill Kilbourne. For years I have seen women being sexualized in almost every manner. Even more concerning is that it has become part of our everyday lives and has set an unrealistic standard of beauty. Ads, beauty competitions, and other promotional material which portray exceptionally high standards of physical beauty are hurting the self-esteem of women, particularly younger girls. For example, I believe that competitions such as beauty pageants make women feel they need to fit a certain image to be beautiful. I have always disagreed with young girls being subjected to wearing makeup and parading in front of judges. Society has normalized sexualizing women, even those at a younger age.

I chose these advertisements because they show what I found to be the most important message of the ted talk, women being sexualized, dehumanized, and the manipulation of information to sell products. The first advertisement is a Loreal ad for anti-aging cream in which they use a noticeably young model to promote the product. Women looking into products that help with the effects of aging can be deceived by ads such as these. One of the Abercrombie and Fitch advertisements uses a woman in nothing but a bra and panties to promote their clothing line. The other Abercrombie and Fitch ad shows a before and after image which is borderline pornographic. On the bright side, it does seem like they are trying to change their image by showing a more conservative and less controversial style of fashion. The Dolce and Gabanna ad promotes cologne by using an image of a half-naked woman in an artic climate. Lastly, there is advertisement used as an example in the ted talk video which promotes a hair product in a teen magazine that essentially body shames young teen girls’ breasts. Many of these advertisements have a negative influence on girls from an early age. Some of these women will buy products because they feel it may help them feel sexy or better about themselves, but in reality, they are being manipulated through the use of imagery by companies whose only goal is profit.

Blog 5:

The picture presents information based on scientific studies. There is also no personal financial gain for the people who created this ad. It also increases awareness of an important issue and presents information that only benefits the reader. I believe these factors make this a credible advertisement.

This is a non-credible advertisement used to make a comparison between being forced to get a vaccination and rape.

This ad sounds like it is coming from a group of people who have a personal or political agenda. It is understandable that some people feel it is a violation of their rights to be forced into being vaccinated. However, this is a horrendous advertisement. Making a comparison between something that can save lives to being raped destroys their credibility.

The Abercrombie and Fitch ad is an attractive source due to its image of an athletic torso. Oddly enough, this is a clothing line advertisement and the model is not even wearing any clothes. I believe playing to the perception of physical appearance makes these types of ad’s more persuasive. In some cases, people are influenced by models more than their personal fashion sense. I think people typically try to envision themselves with the same body type as the models.

Blog 4:

Exam One Study Habits

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The above photos were chosen because they depict some of the study material. I tend to highlight the key points from our textbook and exam reviews to focus on things I find essential and believe to be the most important information to focus on during my review. I watched the jeopardy videos, modified my study guide with my notes, and focused on the “key points” and “summary” while studying the textbook. I studied as much as I could between work and my other tests for over a week. However, I did the study guide in one sitting instead of spacing it out, which I think caused some information overload.

I learned that taking online classes for me is harder, especially with the pressure of being put under a clock as I am trying to focus on the questions being asked. After reviewing the test, it revealed that I got confused with some of the terms, specifically the influence of affect on cognition aspect. This feedback will help me in the future when taking test because I will dedicate extra time to focus on my critical thinking skills without feeling the pressure of being timed. In addition, I will space out my review sheet by doing one chapter a day instead of trying to do it all at once. I will also try to make sure I do not overload myself with so much information at one time. I will watch the jeopardy videos at least once or twice a week starting at the beginning of each chapter ahead of the exam schedule to allow more study time. Another thing I will do is try some breathing exercises to help ease my anxiety before each test. I think these steps will help me greatly for remainder of the semester.

Blog 3:

Music has always been an important part of my life. I started singing in the second grade and I was in chorus until my second semester of community college. Singing and writing songs has helped me whenever I was going through a rough time. I love singing whenever I can. No matter what your values or beliefs are, I believe music can bring people together. My friends and I bonded over karaoke nights and we have remained friends ever since. My boyfriend is a musician, so we connected on a deeper level because of music. We went to see Bohemian Rhapsody in the theater for our first date. Even though our taste in music is different, we still enjoy some of the same bands and have a great deal in common musically. We not only share a love for music, but we have the same values and ideals in life. We both share the value of what loves means to both of us and the importance of friends and family, this has only made our bond stronger.

The songs on my soundtrack were chosen for personal reasons. When my son was a baby, I used to sing to him. One song we played frequently was a song called “My Wish” by Rascal Flatts. That song became an anthem for how I feel about my son and my hopes for him in the future. I am hoping to hear this song played at his wedding for our dance together. Every time I hear it, I think back to when he was just a little baby. Hearing the song still brings tears to my eyes. It is hard watching him grow into a young man.

My boyfriend is my best friend, so I chose “You’re my best friend” by Queen. I also chose this song because we bonded over the movie Bohemian Rhapsody. The song I chose for my friends was, “I won’t let go” because of the lyrics. No matter what my friends go through, I always want them to know I am there whenever they need me. I chose Katy Perry’s “Part of Me” as my life anthem and “Roar” as another choice for one of my songs. Both songs gave me strength to pick myself back up after walking away from an abusive relationship. Those two songs are so empowering. I still listen to them when I need something uplifting. For my family, I chose Kacey Musgraves “Family is Family”. No matter where you are in life and what you go through, your family is always there. Music is powerful and beautiful. I believe it can heal and bring people together, especially if they already have a passion for music.

The picture above is from my boyfriends music room in his apartment. The reason for my choice is because we both share a love for music, and this room is where he records his original compositions.

Blog 2:

What kind of student am I?

I consider myself to be determined, passionate, and fairly confident student. My time working in pharmacy helped me to quickly assess and adapt to various situations. I try my best to stay organized and keep my priorities straight. I currently work and attend school full-time. Distance learning is new to me, so it has been challenging. COVID-19 has certainly made things increasingly difficult, but I am hoping this situation will help me in the long run by changing the way I think. It will test me in ways I had never considered and push me to do better.

I believe if I were in a position to step back and work part-time, it would be far less stressful to attend school full-time. At times, trying to do both is overwhelming, which is a confidence killer for me. This is the reason I chose this photo. Whenever I am depressed or feel like giving up, it helps boost my confidence by reminding me of what I have achieved. Of course, my greatest accomplishment has and will always be my son. I am a firm believer of the quote “Whatever doesn’t kill you, only makes you stronger.” and although we face tough times, I believe there are some positive things that we can take from this situation. It causes us to shift our priorities around and rethink what is important.

Blog 1:

I have always loved this field, so I am excited to continue my education in psychology. My hope is to expand my knowledge of how people think and feel to better assist those I care about. I believe this course will improve my ability to reason, communicate more effectively, and better understand the behavior and mentality of others. I hope to integrate what I learn throughout this course into my experiences outside of the classroom. Professionally, I think it is most important to learn the reasoning behind specific behavioral patterns and attitudes in order to accurately assess the best course of action to help others. I believe this class will do just that. My strategy for ensuring my success in this course is to dedicate a specific amount of time on each assignment and hopefully get about one to two weeks ahead.

Pg. 65-Figure 2.15- Emotions can color our experiences and memories

In chapter 2, we learn about feelings and thoughts being shaped by experiences. During these trying times, we tend to get stressed which can affect our thoughts and feelings. This can cause depression or anxiety. For example, school has been a struggle for myself and my son who was diagnosed with a learning disability. Online learning has made things a lot harder on him, which has worsened his anxiety and depression. When I am feeling sad, I will throw on a movie that reminds me of happy times. I chose this picture because I feel it depicts the chapter well and my son and I loved watching the movie “Inside Out” when he was younger. We often watch movies together to bond, but also because it is a great stress reliever.