Module 4 Artifact 

The majority of society depends on news media outlets for reports on crime. Each day billions turn on the television to hear about what tragic event happened for that day. Based off what people watching the news see they walk away fearful and concerned about the condition of the world. The video above shows how news media portrays inaccurate data that causes people to be extremely worried. They decide that the crime is increasing each day and more people are falling victim to the evil of the world. When in all actuality this is not the case. The news media platforms create a heightened sense of fear regarding crime. Some media platforms even report that crime is increasing and that things are getting worse, but the foundation of the reports are not entirely stable. The news job is to inform the people, but often time things are exaggerated to bring more attention to a story. This messes with the perception of the people when they think about crime.

For instance, when people think of terrorists and what they are, many people automatically correlate terrorists to Arabs and Muslims. This is because of the exaggerated news reports that scare society into perceiving ever Arab and Muslim as a terrorist. However, recent events in the world show that individuals born and raised in America are becoming more responsible for mass murders in the United States of America. The media does a great job of playing on society fears as well as contributing to the availability and representativeness heuristics that society frequently uses. Reports on crime and other tragic events from the news make people feel that certain events are more likely to happen to them than they are actually are. The information that the media displays also contributes to the frequency that individuals use news media info to make informative decisions. Therefore, it is very important to watch the news, but equally important to check the sources and facts to ensure that individuals are well informed.

Module 8 Artifact 

As I reflect on the past and they examine the present world today, I can honestly say that not much has changed. Someone once told me that “life is lived in cycles the everything is recycled and reused one generation to another”. I believe that those words are true about the world and stereotypes. I think that the same stereotypes of yesterday are the same stereotypes of today in disguise. About African Americans, the stereotypes have not changed they have been dressed very nicely, but every once and while racism shows its ugly face. I think that when people are asked directly blacks and the stereotypes associated with us, people are not very truthful. We live in a day and age where racism is more openly frowned upon than back in the day. I do not think stereotypes about blacks have changed but I do think that people have learned to not openly and blatantly attacks blacks because of the ridicule that comes with it. But, even public ridicule does not stop people from expressing their opinions and values in private. I would like to think that stereotypes about blacks are getting better, but society is constantly negating that notion.

Module 10 Artifact 

In my fall semester, I participated in a sociology class and my professor had us break certain social norms in public, around strangers. I remember for that assignment I wore little clothing on the coldest day of the week, which was a bit extreme in my book. So, due to that experience, I have mad the decision to take a less extreme social norm and break it for this assignment. Interpersonal behavior specifically avoiding eye contact was the social norm that I broke for a couple of days around my friends and to a few strangers. Before starting this exercise,  I had to dissect the impact of eye contact. I realized that eye contact is essential, for a few reasons, especially when engaged in discussion. Eye contact shows attentiveness, respect, and a general interest in a mutual discussion. So, I knew the responses would be for the most part negative. For an entire day, I went around campus, class, and friends avoiding eye contact while still engaging in discussion. I would focus on another object or person in the area, anything other than the person I was directly speaking with. As I broke this social norm I felt the cognitive dissonance because I had been taught by society that eye contact is necessary. When I analyzed the reactions of others I noticed that people felt the need to adjust their physical position to where my eyes were set. Others simply ended the conversation altogether and carried on about their day. My friends would just laugh because they thought I was playing a game. Reactions varied, but strangers took it way more offensive and personal than my friends. One interesting thing that I discovered about myself is that I felt the need to conform and make eye contact. I kept trying to self-correct myself like a machine almost, which is a testament to how societal influences has shaped people.

Module 11 Artifact 

As I predicted before the assignment, the happy and unselfish category had the most people in it (8). The happy and selfish category had the least amount of people in its category. There is a common saying that I have heard while growing up and it goes something like this, “no man can severe two masters.” This quote when I learned it was concerning Christianity, serving God or the devil, but I believe that this concept is applicable here. Happiness and unselfishness run hand and hand in terms of positivity, they represent the light. While unhappiness and selfishness run hand and hand, they represent darkness. Light and darkness can never co-exist because one will allow show over the other. The people who experience happiness usually results from serving or helping others. This is proven true because the human’s natural disposition is to help others to feel better individually. Therefore, I believe that the two positive aspects are closely related, and the two negative aspects are related. The image above is a quote about happiness and how it is unselfish and how the world must share it with one anymore.

Module 14 Artifact 

The questions did not take that long to answer because I am a happy person all the time. No matter what occurs throughout my life I have always found joy and happiness instead of pain and sadness. There are sometimes where I don’t feel my best, yet I take on a happy mindset and attitude. Everything that I do or participate in I try to have a positive mindset. Even when I unhappy nobody would ever know unless I verbally expressed it. I often hear the quote, “Fake it until you make it”, I believe that quote is powerful because sometimes when you don’t even like being happy. The fact that you choose to try to be happy causes your whole attitude and perspective to change. Therefore, I think that happiness is a choice that society must make every day no matter what is going on. My score for the scale was 6.5, which is high being that I am a college student. But, I contribute that to my faith, the joy of the Lord is my strength.