Blog 10:
Over the last few months, I have improved in time management and creating a schedule that I follow weekly in order to ensure I complete all assignments needed for my classes. I feel that I have also improved my overall reading skills by focusing on what is important in the text rather than following word for word and wasting time. My attitudes have not changed much about the course; however, my goals have changed. At the beginning I believed I would be examining specific cultures, and while sometimes this is true, I am mostly studying aspects of all cultures and how they differ. These include health, gender, personality, etc. I think I have achieved the course objectives well because I have thoroughly explored each chapter’s important aspects and applied them to my life on a weekly basis. If I took this class again, I would probably space out studying the book and PowerPoints rather than both at the same time in order to broaden my knowledge intake. I have gained brief writing skills in this class and using them to analyze my life and how culture influences it daily. I will use this in the professional world in order to compare my culture and life and other’s cultures and how they determine their own behavior.
Blog 9:
This course has allowed me to dig a lot deeper into culture and understand just how significant of an influence it has on personality and relations. Overall, the top three things I have learned in this course so far are understanding the variation in values among cultures, how misconceptions can create a seemingly unbreakable barrier between people of different cultures, and how my ways of expression can be very alien to someone else. I think my blog posts and assignment takeaways are similar because my blogs allow me to express my opinion on culture and its influences while the takeaways encourage me to fully understand how culture develops. These are very similar in terms of analyzing factors that influence culture. This course and my Social Inequality course both have learned about the concepts of culture and social class and how it affects personal lives such as health and personality factors.
I chose this photo because most of what I have learned in this course is how complex culture and its influences are beneath the outside surface, much like an iceberg.
Blog 8
I have not had much experience with people from different cultures especially in the emotional realm, however I do feel that there are differences in emotional expression between cultures. Certain cultures have limitations on what can be discussed or expressed, especially for women. I think that certain emotions are more respected and acceptable in some cultures compared to others, so someone crying in public may be more likely in America rather than East Asia for instance. However, I think that all cultures experience all emotions. As human beings, emotions cannot be stopped or controlled to an extent,; therefore, all cultures experience emotions, they simply express them differently.
Blog 7:
I feel that fairy tales do reflect a set of cultural norms and values that are shared in term of the cultural norms of the United States. Women are seen as the domestic, distressed role who needs a man to save them and in return they provide womanly duties to thank him. However, in today’s society, feminism is peaking in terms of women’s equality in education, the workplace, and even in realms of self-success in home life and relationships. I agree with the article that fairy tales today are changing to meet these ideas that women are intelligent and brave and do not need men to save them or to rely on. Older fairy tales follow the domesticated view of women, and are transforming as a reflection of the changing view of women in society.
I chose this picture to represent inclusiveness because Tiana is the first African American princess, so one can see that society is changing fairy tales to meet sexuality ideals but also racial inclusiveness as well.
Blog 6:
Academically, I feel I have always been very autonomous. I prefer to complete assignments individually, so when given choices I choose those that do not include working in groups. Similarly, I desire to follow a specific routine of using a planner, providing myself with a quiet space, and laying out my materials in order to feel accomplished which results in me doing my best. For competence, receiving feedback from professors stating the well done pieces of work I turn in motivates me to continue to excel academically. Individually, I provide myself with rewards when I receive good grades or complete all assignments such as buying an outfit I have been wanting or engaging in leisure activities that I enjoy; therefore, I aim to work efficiently in order to obtain these rewards. In terms of relatedness, I ensure that I place myself in familiar settings and work with friends or students who have similar values to me when working in groups. This provides me with comfort and social acceptance that allows me to focus on learning new material and working efficiently.
I chose this photo to represent my study space. I like working privately in quiet, aesthetically pleasing areas because it makes me feel success, thus driving me to do my best as efficiently as I can.
Blog 5:
- I am a hard worker.
- I am domesticated.
- I am a people pleaser.
- I am caring.
- I am a good listener.
- I am family-oriented.
- I am devoted and willing.
- I am faithful.
- I am always ready to love.
- I am strong.
Based on my statements, I feel that I am more of an interdependent self. I often compare my characteristics to others and think in context to my own life. However, as explained by my characteristic of people pleasing, I am likely always thinking how I should be in regards to making another person happy with me. For instance, with my boyfriend I aim to please him domestically as well as show him how loved he is, whereas I am extremely family orientated when it comes to my parents and sister. With friends, I am always a listening ear that gives advice, and I always show my hard working dedication to employers. However, I do wish that I could be more of an independent self sometimes. I chose this photo in relation to number two. I got an apron for my 16th birthday. What 16 year old girl gets an apron for her birthday? I do because I am good at cooking and baking so I do it often to make others happy.
Blog 4:
Over the weeks prior to the test, I took notes as I read through the chapters and PowerPoints. However, I found that I still had to go back through the chapter in order to complete the test review. Unfortunately, I procrastinated and did not complete the test review until the very last days before the test, so I was generally stressed going into it. I specifically remember panicking over the questions that I missed because I could not remember what I had read about them in the book or put on my review. I think my panicking and second guessing my answers caused me to overlook the simplicity of the questions and get them wrong. I think now I learned I need to space out the test review and take my time going over each chapter of the material so I thoroughly understand it before taking the exam.
Blog 3:
According to the NEO personality test, I am sensitive and emotional, sociable but like privacy, set in my traditional ways, warm but also competitive, and organized but can set aside work. Each of these dimensions is almost exactly correct from my perspective of my own personality. I often like to be by myself when working or not working, but also enjoy others company when I am comfortable. I am sensitive, and take into account others emotions as well. I generally stay away from conflict and am kind to others but will stand by my opinion and fight for myself. Overall, I think this test was accurate because I answered as honestly as I can, while many times people may answer with bias so this test might not show their true personality. I chose this picture to show that I like being around people that I can be myself around, and look forward to special occasions like this annual Christmas party, but on other weekends I generally like to have my privacy and relax by myself after a long, hard week.
Blog 2:
Growing up, my parents taught me to work hard in order to get good grades, take responsibility in and out of the household, and strive for big self-success. I felt pressured to get good grades during grade school, and I knew that for my career path I needed higher education. Therefore, I decided to keep my grades up, get into a good college program, and work hard for achieving success in a well reputed career, which will be nursing. My parents as well as my teachers saw that I had a good work ethic and pushed me to make goals for big college and career plans. Out of school, I had many chores and responsibilities around my house as well as began working as a babysitter at a young age. Doing my part around the house helped me be a good babysitter because I learned how to clean and be responsible, and being a babysitter helped me mature because I was acting as the children’s parents for the time being. Valuing good work ethic, responsibility, self-efficacy, and finding my dreams on my own through classes and volunteer programs showed me that I must continue to work hard in higher education to reach the goals I set for myself.
Blog 1:
Psych 420’s course objectives in the syllabus are specific to the goals of the class rather than the exact assignments that the students will be submitting. I look forward to being able to use my learned skills and understandings of other cultures in the medical field as I will be interacting with various cultures and people. Using the critical thinking skills I will establish in this class will aid me in emergency situations that involve culture barriers in the hospital and how to properly handle an adrenaline spiked patient. During this course I expect to examine cultures that are known as well as learn about other cultures I am unfamiliar with. I also am striving to open my mind to different lifestyles and beliefs that take place in various cultures around the world. I intend to keep up with the assignments that are due in the course as well as do my own background research into the various cultures we learn about as well as their qualities and how I can apply them in the medical field.
