Blog 11: Feedback Extra Credit Blog
As the semester comes to a close end, I begin to reevaluate and examine my ePortfolio blogs, artifacts, and assignment takeaway’s that I have published throughout the course. Professor Muth’s gave her students an opportunity to request feedback from the High Impact Practices ePortfolio Team regarding our ePortfolio on WordPress and how we can improve it. While reaching out to the ePortfolio Team, I sent them the link to my ePortfolio, asking them If my visual images published in my blogs and assignment takeaways visually enhance the message I am trying to communicate with the audience. I received a feedback video from a team member, Thomas Island. The video was a representation of Thomas reviewing the images I chose to upload to support the points I try to argue in each written blog and assignment takeaway. Thomas even evaluated my About Page and the photograph I chose to represent myself. Overall, feedback was positive but suggested being more “original” with photographs. Some changes I can make for the future is to use more of the photographs I have taken to describe the messages I am trying to communicate with audience.
The Photographs below are screenshots of the Feedback video from a member of the High Impact Practices ePortfolio Team.
Blog 10: Course Reflection
My expectations with this course was to gain a better understanding of how individuals socially interact with one another and the origins of how social psychology can influence life experiences personality, and self identity. Throughout the semester, each chapter has taken a deep approach on all aspects involved with social identity and psychology. The informative modules that the course provided explained how attitudes are formed and changed, how particular factors can influence how our attractions for other individuals can possible lead to closer relationships. Although I had the same attitude about the course all semester, some things I would have done differently if I could take the class again would be to read more material from the textbook to prepare better for the exams. Using WordPress and creating my own website based on the course and what I have learned has became and academic achievement and will someday become an asset to me. Using and experiencing the format of WordPress can become essential in my professional life. Overall, I enjoyed the course and all that it has to offer, and will be recommending it to other psychology students.
The photograph below is a deminstration of how social psychology can be visually represented
Blog 9: Social Perception, the Self, and Social Influence
Professor Muth’s Social Psychology course has taught me many interesting subtopics surrounding social psychology. The course examined topic’s such as social cognition, social influence, prejudice and discrimination, aggression, and attitudes and stereotypes. I have learned a lot so far, but the 3 most engaging topics that I enjoyed learning and desire to learn more about is body language from the Chapter 3: Social Perception, personal-versus-social identity continuum in Chapter 4: The Self, and 3 different types of unintentional social influence in Chapter 8.
In chapter 4: The Self, I was very intrigued with the personal-versus-social identity continuum. The chapter describes how according to social identity theory, we can perceive our self differently at any given moment in time, depending on where we are in the personal-versus-social identity continuum. At personal end of this continuum, we think of ourselves primarily as individuals. At the social end, we think of ourselves as members of a specific group. This concept was interesting to me because I thought about past situations and realized that my personal identity is very different from my social identity. This part of the chapter also mentions the idea of salience, which is a term I first learned about in Abnormal Psychology. The momentary salience – is the part of identity that is focused of our attention and can effect much in terms of how we perceive ourselves and respond to others.
In chapter 3: Social Perception, I really enjoyed reading about the body language section. This part of the chapter described body language as reflection of emotions through the position, postures, and movements of our body. For instance, people can express emotions through vocal effects, such as tone, pitch, and rhythm. Learning further about non verbal-cues, reading about vocal effects reminding me of a vocal condition I learned in my Psychology of Physiology course. I made the connection with a vocal condition called Spasmodic Dysphonia. The condition is caused by either physical or emotional trauma that creates spazzing in your vocal cords and leads to irregular flow of air coming.
The last topic that I learned and was really interesting to me in chapter 8: Social Influence was the three different types of unintentional social influence. Social influences are aspects in which people produces changes in others in their behavior, attitudes, or beliefs. This aspect is absolute in our nature and is something that happens inevitably. The first form of unintentional social influence is emotional contagion, instances in which our personal emotions are influenced by those of others even when they do not intend to produce such effects. The second form was known as symbolic social influence and occurs when are thoughts about others influence our actions or thoughts even if there aren’t present. The last form is modeling, which we learn from observing the actions of others and as a guide to our own behavior in situations where is not clear how we should behave. Learning further about the unintentional social influence reminded me of the 4th written assignment about of the styles of love. I made the connection with the social influence subject and the Styles of Love written assignment because there is a relationship between the role of social influence and romantic relationships/commitment.
The photographs below are visual representations of body language, personal versus social identity continuum, and self influence.
Blog #8: Sexual Conflict: How Men and Women Arise Conflict From One Another
The article, Sexual Conflict: Uncovering the Mysteries of Mating Battleground is based on sexual conflict in human mating which was originally covered by David Buss. The article starts off discussing how many people view relationships and wedding vs how David Buss signifies marriage. According to David Buss, weddings signifies entry into another arena in the mating battleground, one in which men and women evolved different preferences that often sexual conflict. Sexual conflict in a relationship occurs when an individual’s sexual interest clash with a potential mate’s sexual interest. In the article, author Nathan DeWall, reveals ways that these conflicts may form in a relationship. As a activity to unravel certain aspects that apply to the subject, DeWall gives his class an activity to nominate ways in which men and women have come into conflict with each other. For instance, “How do men upset women and how do women upset men? I decided to think about these questions and come up with answers of my own.
I believe that men upset women by:
- Lying
- Lack of Listening or Interest in a situation
- Controlling
- Being under appreciated
- Being taken advantage of
I believe that women upset men by:
- Wanting to many things/ being needy
- Not saying or sharing what she really means or feels
- When women try to upstage men “Power Struggle”
- Acting a particular way in the beginning and then changing at the end.
These are all summed up situational issues that I believe can lead men and women into having conflict with one another. The two photogrpahs below are visual representations of when men upset women and when women upset men.
Blog #7: Self Regulation & Emotional Intelligence
Self Regulation is the ability to manage all thoughts, emotions, and behavior. Emotional Intelligence refers to the ability to manage, understand, and recognize and regulate emotions to promote personal growth. These are both vital skills that I believe can enhance who we are and who we become in our life. In my perspective, emotional intelligence is important because I believe it is essential to have strong relationships and having the ability to manage difficult situations and effectively. These skills can help you in so many ways in life, especially in roles of being a leader. The photograph below is a picture of my Emotional Intelligence results that I took from a small online website. After looking at my results, I believe that I do need to Improve and develop my skills a little bit more. I think this comes down to the fact that I try not to be too emotional and seem to be very down to earth and realistic. But I need to find a balance between these skills to better improve myself.
Blog #6: Killing Us Softly
Activist Jean Kilbourne describes how advertisements throughout the years can dehumanize and manipulate images of both women and men all over the world. In the video lecture, Kilbourne mentions that advertisements influence society form attitude which later shapes and determines behavior. Advertisements sell more than the product itself, it sells perspective, images, and predetermined idea’s. Jean Kilbourne reveals all the uncomfortable truths about advertisements. Some controversial topics that were discussed were gender roles; women being represented as frail and naïve while men are represented as dominant providers and incapable of emotions. Other controversial topics are how beauty is perceived, the violation of sexual behavior culture, skin color, weight, and age. Advertisements have a way of conditioning our perspective of believing one thing over the other and its perception of right from wrong.
Some current advertisements that came to my mind after seeing this video had a lot to do with perspective and image. The first advertisement I thought of when Jean Kilbourne talked about how women are perceived and how, “advertising reflects on a mythological world, a world where everyone is white.” I thought of an advertisement from the American romantic comedy sitcom The Mindy Project that I had seen a while back. The series follows an American late 20’s to early 30’s female doctor who tries to balance her personal and professional life. The lead role is played by American comedian Mindy Kaling who is of Indian decent. The Mindy Project TV Ad above stood out to me because of how the photograph of actress Mindy Kaling was altered. Naturally, the actress has a dark completion but in the photograph above, photo editors brightened and contrasted her skin to give a much lighter and paler completion. This is an example of Jean Kilbourne has talked about in the video Killing Us Softly. I remember after seeing this advertisement, thinking ‘why would they want her to have lighter skin?’ “What is the problem with her natural skin?”
Another advertisement that came to mind surrounding the topic of image and gender roles was the Calvin Klein Underwear advertisement that singer Justin Bieber shot in the Summer of 2015. I remember this advertisement being the talk of the talk back then, especially when the “untouched” photos of Justin Bieber were released. The enhancements that were made on the photographs were color and size. Although the photograph was black and white and didn’t have the same situation as Mindy Kaling’s advertisement, photo editors took it upon themselves to make Justin Bieber seem more “built” or muscular than he actually is. They even managed to edit the size of his arms, hands, and below his torso to give it a more “accepted masculine look.”
The third advertisement that received a lot of controversy about “accepted image” that came to my mind is the “Are You Beach Body Ready” campaign from health supplement supplier Protein World. The ad was also released in 2015 all across Europe and America. The issue with the Ad above was how the Protein World promoted the acceptable beach body form; as in ‘if your body does not look like this, then it is unready or not accepted as a beach body.” I remember the Ad campaign receiving a lot of backlash from consumers and from the public.
The fourth Campaign Advertisement that came to my mind was the Burger King Coupon Ad “It’ll Blow Your Mind Away.” The Advertisement above shows an image of a woman and a Burger King Super 7- Incher sandwich towards her mouth. The issue with this ad speaks for itself. The sexualized slogan “It’ll Blow Your Mind Away” and the performance of the photo indicates the action of a blow job; a huge violation in the code of ethics.
The last advertisement that came to my mind after watching Jean Kilbourne’s video Killing Us Softly was the H&M Kid’s advertisement “coolest monkey in the jungle.” The clothing retailer released the photograph above on it’s online store in 2018. The Company was criticized for publishing a photograph of a black child model wearing a sweater shirt that said “coolest monkey in the jungle.” The company quickly took the image down after receiving backlash to its racial reference and ethnic slurs. I remember thinking to my self at the time wondering why the company wouldn’t see the issue or evaluate this photograph before publishing.
Blog #5: Communicator Credibility & Attractiveness
The science of persuasion has the ability to create opportunity and enlighten an individual’s logical thought process. Throughout life, we are surrounded by advertisements that influence our belief, our choices, and our lifestyle. Although advertisements can be positive or negative, some are meant to be attractive, while others are meant to be credible ads or not credible at all.
Picture A above is an advertisement that was created by Nike, Inc. the American footwear and apparel multinational corporation. The “Find Your Greatness” campaign was first launched in the Summer of 2012 and was known to be one of the inspirational advertisements of all time. The moving and sentimental campaign was meant to be an inspirational message to motivate, improve, and achieve individual’s personal goals from all ends of the world. The campaign also represents all measures of individuals can do there best and still flourish. This ad is an example of a credible source because the communicators of this add knows what they are talking about and knows how to grab consumer’s attention with a positive and meaningful message. This message is effective because it has the ability to change people’s attitudes. I found this ad attractive for all the reasons I stated early. The Nike, Inc. is a brand that can be trusted and respect from individuals from all parts of the world.
Picture B above is an advertisement of a premium hair care company called MONAT that I chose to represent my non-credible source. The company was created October 2014 and sells hair products such as shampoo, conditioner and natural hair oils. Since the company first launch, they have promoted their products as being “healthy, hydrating, and natural based.” Although their advertisements and product labeling was very chic and attractive for consumers looking to improve their hair, they came across major issues between 2017 to 2018; numerous lawsuits against the company took place on a normal basis for false advertisement and for consumers having scalp irritation and significant hair loss after using hair products. After hundreds of consumer’s experienced the same issues, information was released stating that the MONET hair products were never even approved by the FDA. Due to all the issues that consumers have experienced, the company has decreased in sales and and has lost trust in clients and in other companies.
Picture C above is of an attractive advertisement of a fragrance called Acqua di Gioia (Water of Joy) by Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani. The fragrance was presented in March 2010 but started to gain popularity in 2012. The perfume is moderate in strength and has a very unique fresh scent. Acquia di Gioia contains brown sugar, lemon, jasmine, mint, peony, pink pepper, cedar wood, and labdanum. Giorgio Armani’s purpose behind the fragrance was to represent strength, dignified, free spirited women in perfect harmony with nature. The communicators of this add were selling natural beauty and while having model Emily Didonato as the face of the fragrence campaign.I chose this add for my attractive advertisement because it was one of the ads that attracted me into constantly purchasing the perfume as my signature scent for years.
Blog #4 Reviewing Test 1 Results
I have never been the best test taker during my educational career. Since I’ve started college I have improved in taking test by exploring different studying techniques that best suits me and the type of course I am taking. Usually the first test in each class is never my best. Most of the time its because every professor executes a test differently. Usually during first exams, I become the blind guinea pig. After the test answers became viewable on blackboard, I reviewed all the answers I missed. The majority of my missed answers were either questions that had tricky answers, or questions that I misunderstood. During the past couple of weeks, I’ve based my notes heavily on the power points but didn’t spend as much time reading the actual chapters in the textbook. By reading the chapters, I would have grasped better ideas through multiple examples and could have used the additional information to increase my notes. I also didn’t complete the study guide until the day before. For future exams, I know now what I should pay closer attention to and what I should be prepared for in terms of studying. This will better my testing strategy and could help me earn better test grades in the future.
The photograph below is an template of Conrell notes. Cornell notes is a note taking process that I learned in middle school. This technique always helped me to study for an exam and was super helpful in each subject. For future exams, I plan to create my very own study guide using the Cornell notes format.
Blog #3: Soul Meets Boy
After reading the article Soul Meets Boy, I was able to look back on moments when I truly connected with my closest friends and my fiancé over a song, or music in general. The article discussed how music preferences reflects on a person’s core values. The articles display’s that there is a large significance in how effective “music bonding” with a close friends or romantic partner can truly be. While reading this and looking back on past experiences I can agree with how essential these moments are. Reading about how its more than sharing similar music taste between your friends or a loved one was refreshing to learn about. The loved ones that I share similarities in music taste with, I also share similar values and ideals with. There are also some songs that remind me of a specific loved one or may remind me of an experience associated with a particular person. For instances when ever I hear the song “Take a Picture” by Filter or “Do You Realize??” by The Flaming Lips, I think of my fiancé and all the times we would sing those songs in our car. An example of hearing a song that leads you to thinking about a specific person or experience associated with a person is an example of conditioning.
The photograph below is a clip from Bruno Mars’s “Just The Way You Are” Music Video. I believe this photograph shows a good description of how music can do more than just make you feel something. 
Blog #2: Self-Efficacy
Since I can remember, I have always been determined as a student and as a person. From Elementary to High School, I wouldn’t be able to sleep unless any homework or assignments that were due the next day were completed. I’ve always been organized and preferred to do things in order. It wasn’t until my first job that I realized efficiency, organization, and determination will also be essential in my workplace and everyday life. As I became older and experienced much more in life, my self confidence grew and has benefited me in many ways. With determination, I have become a better worker and a better student. Although I am very sure of myself, I have also failed multiple times and have some things I could work on like any individual. My mistakes and failures hasn’t necessarily knocked me down but its made me become determined to improve. With my work ethic and determination, I’m always able to pick myself back up and become more sure of my self. My mistakes and overcoming fears are the reasons why my self confidence is very high.
I completed a Self Efficacy Questionnaire that determined my self confidence level and The ability to grow with effort. The picture below is a screenshot of my results from the assignment. I scored a 95% in the Believe in yourself category and I scored an 100% in the ability to grow category.
Blog #1: Social Psychology
Social Psychology is one of the topics I’ve always been interested in. I’ve always been fascinated with behavioral psychology and how individuals act when they are with others vs how they act when no one else is looking. I chose this course to complete for my degree because I want to learn more detail about the process though which individuals perceive and attempt to understand others or even themselves around others. My expectations for this course is to become more familiar with the major factors that influence our likes and dislikes for other individuals. I want to learn how some relationships form and others don’t. I want to be able to connect the dots on how people think of themselves and think of others. Some strategies that I plan to implement this semester is to thoroughly read the chapters and case studies that can show all the results of this form of behavior. I’m truly excited to see what this course has to offer this semester!
The photo below is a representation of social activity and excitement with a group of peers. I chose this picture because it shares the same excitment I have with my expectations in the course.
