Blog 10
Based off of my first blog, my initial course expectations were that I would gain an overall better understanding of how people relate to, and perceive others. I would say that this is true, whether it was the introduction to heuristics to a deeper psychological look into prejudice, I was able to form a better picture of myself and how I form opinions of the people I meet. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with social psychology at the start of the course, but as the semester concludes, I see it as vital explanations of human interaction, and the complexities that come with it. My attitude towards the subject was hopeful, and excited, since I love to invest in my personal and professional relationships. As the course progressed, I became more excited as what I learned impacted how I treated others, and I was able to identify things I learned in action.
If I were to take the class again, I would do it so I could thoroughly review, and immerse myself in the coursework material through better time management. One way I’ve grown academically is that I have a better understanding of my strengths and weakness within academia, and know the ways I need to improve for next semester. Through the many writing assignments, I’ve learned that I enjoy writing, and have even gotten better about completing written work faster. Next semester, my goal is to improve my study habits building up to the homework. One skill I learned from this class was how to better conduct myself in interviews and with future employers. Through managing first impressions, whether it’s in how I am dressed, how I speak, and my body language cues, I feel better equipped and more confident for future interviews,
Blog 8
Overall, I agreed with the article. Men and women possess different biological makeup with unique levels of hormones, this can result in tension, anger, and frustration within these relationships. According to the article, however, this essentially boils down to sexual frustration (or conflict) , based on the need for cooperation. Sexual conflict is rooted in the divergence of evolutionary interests of individuals of two sexes. This divergence can lead to tension, confusion, and anger, due to the feeling of unmet expectations. Lack of appropriate communication often exacerbates sexual frustration, and poor communication ends up angering both men and women alike.
For specific examples, men can anger women by being emotionally unavailable and unresponsive. They can also be more comfortable with casual hookups and one night stands. This can be a cause of anger if the woman had different intentions and expectations from the encounter. Visa versa, women can anger men by being perceived as clingy and needy within a relationship, and are often seen as overly emotional. So while women feel frustrated with men for being emotionally closed off or immature, men can feel frustrated with women for over-expressing, or being too emotionally sensitive.
In the examples above, this isn’t a one size fits all, but rather some examples of the stereotypes which pervade the interactions between men and women. They can be explained as the expression of biological differences and needs, resulting in the above conflict.
https://imgflip.com/i/3yzf0v
Blog 7
Emotional intelligence is a type of intellect that relates to our ability to manage, identify, and respond to the emotions of others, as well as our own. People with high levels of emotional intelligence tend to be more empathetic, observant, and intuitive towards the emotional needs of people. As was mentioned in the video, self-awareness is an important component of emotional intelligence, and sets the foundation for self-regulation. Self-regulation allows us to properly express or act on these emotions, instead of impulsively acting out on a “knee-jerk” reaction. Another term I often think of in relation to emotional intelligence is emotional maturity. It is understanding what you feel, why you feel it, and the act of processing it, or “regulating” your feelings. Rather than shoving emotions aside and ignoring them, an emotionally mature (or intelligent) person would work to understand them, so as to determine the best way to respond to them.
As you can see from the screen shot below, I scored fairly highly on my emotional awareness in relation to others, but pretty poorly in regards to my own personal self-awareness and regulation. This makes sense, as I have a hard time controlling and understanding my own feelings, but can easily meet others where they’re at. I easily perceive when a person is upset, and have taken on the role of councilor in many of my friendships. This stems from a strong desire to make everyone feel heard and understood. However, I tend to avoid my own negative feelings and emotions. Realizing this is one of the first ways to improve my EQ, as I can now find ways to combat this tendency to avoid feelings. Identifying and naming my emotions can improve EQ, as well as asking others for honest feedback on how I respond to stressful circumstances, my adaptability, my empathy, my perseverance, etc. This can improve self-perception, and lead to more clarity emotionally.
Blog 6
Jean Kilbourne’s TedTalk was an important speech on the ways women are represented in media and ads. As a woman, I am familiar with the sexual objectification that takes place within advertisements, and saw her talk as a form of confirmation: that this was, and still is, a problem. I especially loved the parallels she drew between the ramifications that come from the objectification of men vs women. For women (and young girls, especially) it often leads to sexual violence and acts of aggression, because, as she said, turning a person into a thing is almost always the first step in justifying violence against them. Through the use of images, she outlined the sharp difference in physical expectations placed on women and men, and the impossible standards we are expected to meet. Below are five images I found which demonstrate what Jean was discussing.
This Guess ad uses sexual desire to promote the product. The subject of that sexual desire: the woman. https://i.pinimg.com/originals/6f/a1/17/6fa117a1b3f0ac5fed307603390a5048.jpg
This SKYY alcohol ad portrays a man dominating over a barely dressed woman. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/advertising-fails-2012-worst-ads-for-women_n_2277773?utm_hp_ref=women&ir=Women
For this ad, PETA is taking advantage of the female body to promote an agenda, and has photoshopped the image until the woman is virtually perfect. https://i.pinimg.com/originals/7c/ae/28/7cae28f5dcebdc4e139df84338786472.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/117797346473743004/?nic_v2=1a2DnpFHc
Despite these discouraging images, however, there is a silver lining. More and more companies are realizing that young girls and women want to see people who look like them, not Barbies. There’s lower tolerance for oversexualization and misrepresentation now more than ever. Ads for companies such as Billie show women with *actual* hair, and the Dove ad that played before Killbourne’s very Youtube video showed women of all shapes, colors, and sizes, confidently using the product. So while there’s still a long way to go, Killbourne is right in having hope in the next generation.
Blog 5
For an ad representing perceived credibility, I chose Levi’s. Levi’s has a reputation for being the expert on curating reliable, classic, and durable jeans. Their advertisements exude familiarity with the subject, and have a natural, comfortable ease, just like their jeans. The man casually strolling while wearing a pair of Levi’s gives off a confidence and ease that we naturally attribute to the brand itself. The assuredness he displays translates to the assuredness we can have in a reliable pair of jeans, from a credible company.
This ad, for me, represents the exact opposite of a reliable or credible clothing brand. Shein is known for its incredibly cheap, but cute, clothing. The advertisement above plays off of this, drawing in the consumer with the promise of affordable but trendy apparel. Unfortunately though, it’s not difficult to understand why they’re so cheap. The quality of clothing is never promised, and its questionable just exactly what they do to make these clothes so cheap in the first place. As someone who is incredibly skeptical of their business/labor practices, this ad is nothing more than a reminder as to why it isn’t a credible source for clothing.
For the attractive source, I immediately thought of Coca Cola ads. As someone who doesn’t even drink soda, I still find myself craving a Coke after coming across any of their ads, and this is no exception. Not only does it utilize an attractive person (as most ads do) to hold their product, but the uses of reds increase desire. They even went so far as to give her outfit polka dots, a cute but subtle nod to the carbonation of the drink.
Blog 4
I’m usually not the best test-taker, and generally get very anxious before each exam. However, I was pleasantly surprised with the actual exam and the results that I got. Multiple choice did make the preparation process simpler, so after reviewing the material for the study guide, I felt more assured. Since the questions on the exam were based off of hypothetical situations related to the course materials, there were a few times I made an educated guess on the answers. However, now that exam 1 is through, I have a better idea on what to expect and how to study for the next one. While I’ve been reading the course material weekly, taking a night or two to go through the study guide was very helpful.
One question I got wrong was in regards to self-control, and how it relates to self-regulation. I remembered reading that self-control is a finite resource, and that if we exercise self-restraint or control at one point, we are more likely to cave in to our desires later on. I selected the wrong answer. Upon further exploration, I believe that the correct answer would’ve been that it depletes our energy, and limits our future ability to have self-control. Below is a picture that made me think of this concept.
When dieting, I have to exercise a lot of self-control to turn down something good, but unhealthy. Carbohydrates, such as donuts or pancakes, are some of the hardest foods for me to refuse. I’ve noticed when I exercise self-control and say no to them, I am far more likely to give in and eat an equally unhealthy food at the next opportunity.
Blog 3
Music has always been a means of connecting with others for me. It is a source of self-expression, and when you meet other people who groove to the same beat, an instant bond is fostered. I appreciate all genres of music, and have an open heart to any song that resonates with the people I care for. When someone shares music with you, they are sharing a reflection of themselves; their emotional state; what drives them. Many of my closest friends and family have music that unite us. I cannot listen to certain songs without instantly being brought back to a certain time of my life, place, or person that I shared it with.
I grew up with many long-distance friendships, and having similar love for musical genres connected us, while each of our unique perspectives and preferences kept the exchange exciting. As suggested in the article, I share the sentiment that similar preferences in music isn’t about personalities, but about core ideals, beliefs, and values. Regardless of what genre each of my friends’ enjoy, we can share our music with each other and appreciate the sentiment behind it, recognizing the music as a hint into who the people we love are. It’s a way to share our most intimate feelings and our most adrenaline pumping experiences. From road-trips, concerts, and private moments, to study dates, adventures, and late night conversations, it has strengthened my memories and connections between people of similar values.
Pink Skies by Wally: Eva
Glory by Bastille: Jordan
Hallucinogenics by Matt Maeson: Ian
Exist for Love by Aurora: Corrine
Dreamland by Glass Animals: Childhood and nostalgia
Agnes by Glass Animals: For any and all heartbreak
You Belong with Me by Taylor Swift: My sister
Eye of the Tiger by Survivor-My mom
I chose this image because music is often a sharp, colorful, and fragmented expression of another person, or a reflection of yourself. Though the many broken pieces are unique, there is also uniformity in color and material. We are unique, but fundamental values and experiences are unified and reflected through the music we love.
Blog 2
Overall, I believe myself to be an average student. I usually strive for well-written, thorough assignments, but do not always put in the amount of time needed to excel. Since my first year of college I’ve handled a full-time job and school, which meant I had to learn to balance my responsibilities as a student. Because of this, I cannot always be as invested in my studies as I’d like, but I have a strong desire to learn and do well academically. As far as confidence goes, I’d say I’m a little under moderately confident. Typically it depends upon the assignment, and the time I’ve been able to put into it. Even though I’ve been told they don’t define you, grades relate directly to my confidence levels as a student, so if my grades fluctuate, my confidence does as well. Factors that could increase my confidence would be allotting more time for my required reading throughout the week, so I can feel prepared for an assignment, rather than tackling it headfirst at the last minute. Constructive feedback also clues me in to how to proceed with homework, such as what about the submission was good, and what wasn’t, so I can improve on upcoming assignments.
In regards to the self-efficacy test, my score was 28 (so a mean of 2.8 out of 4). If I need to get something done, I can typically do it, and believe that I can. However, I also know that I have a habit of starting something, getting distracted, and never finishing. That knowledge impacts the confidence I have in myself to get something done. I enjoy problem-solving, but in the moment I can doubt myself. Despite this, task accomplishments for school are pretty consistent. I know I can get most assignments done, and usually do so within the necessary time-frame. It’s simply the process of getting it done that can be daunting.
Studying increases my confidence as a student, and new learning spaces increase my productivity. This is when I feel capable and organized
Blog 1
After reading over the course objectives, I can see several ways in which this course will help me in the future. From a relational standpoint, being familiar with the process through which people perceive/understand others will allow me to more easily relate to people. An especially pervasive course objective would be learning about the origins and effects that prejudice or discrimination can have. This will be very important, both from a professional and personal perspective, in recognizing the debilitating harms of prejudice, and being an instrument for healing rather than furthering the problem.
Beyond the expectations from the course objectives, I expect it will be necessary to put in several hours each week for reading and assignments. I expect that, being online, what I get from this class will largely be based off of what I put in. Overall, I’m hoping to gain a more well-rounded understanding of how we work together, what the motivation is behind our social behavior, and expand upon the limited intuitive knowledge I possess. I’m passionate about my relationships, my work, and how I work with others. So from this class I hope to learn things that can be applicable to how I interact with my coworkers and any future teams I lead or work with.
To ensure success in the course, while balancing a full school and workload, creating a weekly schedule/spreadsheet is very important. This helps me keep track of the time I allot for each set of responsibilities, between work, school, social engagements, and housework. Through this I can set aside a portion of time each week to cover the weekly course materials. In addition to a weekly schedule, I’ve also started to map out my assignments for each course, and have a calendar for when my assignments are due. This will be key to making sure my submissions for this course are submitted on time. I also plan on utilizing my connections, between friends, family, and coworkers, to talk to them about the course material, and use them for the questions from the archive assignments.
This quick sketch was an image that came to me while I read about Representativeness Heuristics: judging by resemblance. She shows no verbal cue that she’s a college student, but based off of representativeness heuristics, it wouldn’t be difficult to assume she’s a student (and probably a design major).