Blog #5

I have always had a positive outlook on situations that I am presented with even when it seems to be easier to focus on the negative.

  1. I am…goal oriented.
  2. I am…creative
  3. I am…outgoing
  4. I am…an animal lover
  5. I am…an employee at Best Western
  6. I am…a daughter
  7. I am…sister
  8. I am… ambitious
  9. I am…positive
  10. I am… organized

 

The statements that I think are associated with the dimension of “independent construal of self” are 1,2,3,8,9, and 10.

The statements that are associated with the dimension of “interdependent construal of self” are 4,5,6, and 7.

An English proverb that reflects “independent” construal of self would be the expression “Express yourself”. This is because it focuses on showing the outside world who you are as an individual and expressing that regardless of what others are doing around you.  One proverb that reflects “interdependent self” would be “Birds of a feather flock together” which to me means that groups tend to stick together and are dependent on one another. It was easier to think of the proverb for the “independent self” I believe because as Americans we are all raised to be fairly independent and self-reliant and do not focus so much on the collective. I believe I am more independent because of being raised in a family culture of supporting myself and being taught to not rely on others as much as myself.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blog #4

 

The chapter on Enculturation seemed to be where my notes were lacking.

Looking back on exam one and the answers that are incorrect, I realize I need to pay more attention to detail when formatting my notes. On the questions I got incorrect, it was not a matter of not recognizing the information, it was about the details of the information I was missing. In the future, I will make sure all notes are detailed as possible and that I fully understand all the information. I spaced out the review sheet over a week prior to the test to make sure I was not trying to cram the information in just one or two nights. This feedback gives me an idea of how information will be presented in the next exam and to look for small details that I may think may not be on the test. I have had success in previous classes by reviewing the test and figuring out exactly was incorrect. It gives you a different perspective of what exactly in your notes was either not written correctly or not in enough detail to help you understand it completely. With the next exam, I plan on utilizing flash cards into my studying method since that has worked in the past.

 

 

Blog #3

 

Being highly introverted I enjoy time alone by reading and drinking coffee

The NEO personality test describes my personality fairly well. I scored high on openness which fits my personality. I enjoy new experiences and am always open to new ideas. I enjoy learning new things about other cultures and hearing peoples ideas and stories of their lives. I scored high on agreeableness as well. I believe this represents my personality well also. I always look for the good in everyone regardless of the situation. I avoid conflict at all cost, however, that is impossible to do. I always try to see the other persons side of any situation especially if they are upset. I scored low on extraversion which matches up completely. I am highly introverted and loathe being in large crowds with people. I have never enjoyed spending long periods of time surrounded by numerous people that I either do not know at all or do not know well. I scored average on neuroticism which is the only aspect that I feel does not match up with my personality well. Personally, I feel that I do not handle stress well whatsoever. When I am stressed everyone in the room can tell it radiates off of me. I feel as though I should rank higher on neuroticism. Lastly, I scored average on conscientiousness. This matches with my personality well because I like to think of myself as a very dependable person. I do my best to be there for everyone and help in any way I can. I agree that I am moderately organized, though I could do better. I know when I need to get down to work and also when it is okay to take a break and relax.

 

 

 

Blog #2

 

 

While growing up, attending college was a huge topic of conversation. There was never any doubt I would be attending college and obtaining my Bachelor’s degree. My cousin and I will be the first members of our family to hold a degree of any kind. My family is incredibly supportive of my choices regarding higher education. I decided to further my education because I knew what I wanted to pursue as a career would require at minimum a graduate degree. I am from a small town in central Virginia. I knew that if I did not obtain a degree and move, I would be stuck. I believe the support that I received from family and teachers influenced my decision the most. My family wanted more opportunities for myself than previous generations had. My mom especially instilled the values of hard work, determination, and responsibility. I knew early on that I could achieve anything I wanted to do so long as I stay focused on my end goal. My high school English and Government teachers especially inspired my drive to further my education. These teachers taught students how to use resources such as community college and scholarships to enhance our college experience for the better. Another influence that aided my ability to pursue my degree is being able to take online courses. Online courses have enabled me to do my coursework from anywhere, practically any time. Being able to complete coursework from home allows more flexibility in my schedule which allows me to work to support myself through college.

 

 

Blog #1

 

Image result for culture around the world

 

Becoming acquainted with the influence culture has on psychology around the world will help me in the future to better understand the diverse cultures that I will be exposed to while working in psychology. Being able to understand cultural diversity will allow a better understanding of why people do what they do. Each country has its separate culture. Culture plays a role in what people eat, how they dress, whom they marry, and in general how they live their lives. Being able to respectfully interact with individuals outside of our own culture is crucial. Utilizing the skills that we will learn during this course will allow me to be more respectful towards cultures other than my own during research. Throughout this course, I plan to learn about the diverse cultures we are surrounded by and how the diversity can allow different perspectives to be combined to achieve a collective goal. I plan on utilizing my calendar to record important dates, checking blackboard daily for new updates, and reading ahead to make sure I understand the material thoroughly to ensure success in this course.