Weekly Blog

Blog 10

I feel as though I’ve done well at achieving the course objectives. I feel that my attitudes about Social Psychology have become more informed. This course has allowed me to broaden my knowledge base and view social behavior on a broader spectrum. The only thing I may do differently if I took the class again is to find a hard copy of the textbook. Academically I feel like I’ve learned to balance more. Since the beginning of the semester I started working full-time and volunteering in a lab, in addition to taking a full course-load. The experience has shown me how to confidently split my time so that I can focus on wheat is most important and at the end of the day, not feel burnt out. I feel that the word press site has added to my skillset and is something I’ll be using in the future for other projects. It is something that I have truly enjoyed and something I’ve considered doing on my own for future classes.

The image I have chosen is one depicting growth, which I feel out of all the semesters I’ve been enrolled in, this one has seen the most.

Blog 9

The top three things I’ve learned include the role attractiveness can play in decision-making, about how we all have different “selves”, and how important the need to belong can be.

One thing that I’ve learned is the influence of attractiveness in decision-making, and how this can cause a negative effect on viewers. I point to this example because we recently discussed eating disorders in my Abnormal Psychology class. In a documentary we watched patients at an eating disorder rehab struggle with their societally induced negative stigmas of themselves, all of them believing that they weren’t good enough or thin enough to be liked or found attractive.

I think chapter four, which covers the self, and our relationships with ourselves and how we are viewed, very much carries the them for the e-Portfolio in general. There are items in which we have been assigned to discuss facets of our lives and personality which we may not have done before. In addition, we have to reconcile that we are being asked to provide these for public viewing and in so, we may be taking on a different identity. This of course speaks to our personal versus our social identities. This is a topic I’ve been considering at length lately. I started working again full-time after taking a year to focus on school, and now that I work and go to school, I feel like sometimes I switch my personality “gear” more often. I sometimes look at my “About Me” section, to remind my self that this job is just a means to an end, and not something that is forever.

Lastly, I feel that the assignment which asked us to do nice things for others helped build my affiliation just within the community. I am generally very introverted, but the feedback and the positive effects that were created helped me feel more at home in Norfolk. I’ve realized after moving so much, that the more I become involved, the more the new place will feel like home. Which, has both pros and cons, but sometimes it can be easy to make excuses, especially when you’ve lived in a new placing only during a global pandemic–it can definitely make things feel more isolating.

As far as the image for this blog is concerned, I’m not certain how to describe my process, but if I had one…Buzz and Woody in this scene come close. Woody, is not so sure, meanwhile Buzz just goes for it!

Blog 8

I think there could be some valid points in the article, however, I also believe that there is a lot more that should be evaluated. To attribute sexual conflict in relationships to evolutionary psychology I feel gives an excuse to potential inappropriate behavior. I think the role of testosterone, and its relationship between strength and potential for violence has largely contributed to the accepted relationship dynamics. As many older thought processes are phased out, the saying “boys will be boys” is hopefully coming to an end. As stereotypes and institutions have asserted for centuries, women are the weaker sex and must obey or not be upset with the wishes of that of men.

Thankfully, gender roles and stereotypes are becoming a thing of the past and a more modern picture is being forged. One could assert that women have been known to be upset with the way men don’t express emotions, and men are uncomfortable with how many emotions women express. Again, by default, this feels like it comes from patriarchal archetypes and standards that generations have self-imposed.

There are so many ways in which gender stereotypes have been portrayed throughout the years. For example, men are “supposed to be” mean, strong, assertive, good at sports, fixing cars, “getting” females, etc….etc. Women are “supposed to be” kind, gentle, good at cooking, weak, loyal, and quiet, so on and so forth. Men are “supposed to be” messier, dirtier, not care about picking up the house, and women are “supposed to be” upset with their male partners if they don’t pick up after themselves, and worried about making “the house a home”.

There are lots of things that both men and women can do to upset each other, just like anyone in any relationship. I’ve been married for almost nine years, and I am in my thirties, and this topic feels incorrect and I don’t agree with what the assignment is asking us to do. If points are lost due to not answering the correct way, I understand, but I don’t agree with how the article calls the information presented, “cutting edge”. It is a very short-sighted article and subject to write about. The complexities of a relationship are much more than over-generalizations of conflict between males and females. If we want to do some “cutting edge” research, perhaps we should evaluate how women do not have universal freedom over their own healthcare, the fact that sex work is illegal in most places, and that sex trafficking is something we have to be wary of as females and something we have to teach the little girls in our lives about.

The picture I’ve included is a quote from Iliza Shlesinger’s comedy special Confirmed Kills. The bit is about how it wouldn’t have taken so long for women to be granted to right to vote if we had the same physical strength as men.

Blog 7

Emotional intelligence gives way to self-regulation by bringing awareness of our emotional state which affects our thinking patterns and our physiological states. EQ means being aware of my thought patterns and evaluating the circumstances before jumping to conclusions or getting worked up over a situation or stressor. One thing that has strengthened my EQ has been writing down everything I’m feeling when I am particularly emotional in order to put it in perspective. I have also been getting better at breath work.

I used to be annoyed when my “breath” reminder went off on my watch, but now that I’m in the habit of doing it, I find that I do it unconsciously and automatically. Another thing that has helped on days when I’m feeling anxious or upset for no particular reason, I will take a few minutes and retrace my steps and interactions leading up to that point to see if I can diagnose why I am feeling that particular way.

Blog 6

The first time I heard a talk like the one from the TED Talk was in high school in 2008. It was the same then as it always has been, it feels like very little has improved in over a decade. The examples they showed us then included a perfume ad, a watch ad, and the default, Burger King ads that were popular at the time. One reaction that I did experience while watching the TED Talk was a sense of relief for the ability to stream and not having to worry about ads. I remember in middle school we somehow got a free trial for Canadian tv and there were no ads, or if there were, they were abbreviated, which was incredible at the time. Now, the only time I watch ads is during the Super Bowl, on purpose. Even with the most recent game, there were a few Super Bowl commercials that were definitely pushing the limits and used sex appeal and sexual innuendo to grab the attention of viewers. It kind of feels like advertisers are more desperate than ever. I think the way we consume products has changed for many of us, with online shopping widely available and marketers are anxious. Thankfully, it feels like the younger generations are more immune to marketers’ attempts and clearly understand that when a company “comes out in support of X” that there’s a likely chance that they are doing so purely for profits sake. And thankfully there has be an increase in media literacy campaigns that highlight the use of photo-shop and editing techniques which help educate viewers about the unrealistic standards that advertisers promote. The objectification and stereotyping of women has been with us for as long as marketing campaigns have been. These can set harmful standards and create unnecessary comparisons that female-identifying individuals have to deal with throughout their lives.

Blog 5

Credible Example: Nick Jonas promoting a glucose device helps him regulate his intake and monitor his Type 1 Diabetes. This is credible because Nick has diabetes himself. Even though there’s a good chance he is making money off of the endorsement, he has a high credibility because people like him and though he’s not a doctor, he lives with the condition.

Not Credible Example: Jared from Subway promoting milk. When Jared’s Subway commercials were first on the air, they were somewhat credible and so was he. But, after years of the same advertisement, Jared’s popularity and credibility diminished because it was overplayed and the campaign was not creative. Had Subway and Jared continued a health journey and made Jared into a likable character he might have had a chance. Partnering with the “Got Milk” campaign was obviously a ploy for money. Any credibility that the Subway + Jared advertisements had when they first began have been all been but completely abolished due to his involvement in illegal activities and overall “ookieness” (if I may).

Attractive Example: Paris Hilton is one of many 2010s era females who was asked to be in commercials for fast food. It think the ad was effective in its goal, especially with Paris Hilton. She is attractive, but also, there is some comedy here as well. Around the same time this was made, Paris had a reality tv show that followed her and her friend, Nicole Richie, showcasing them doing “real jobs”. Both were very high maintenance and did not enjoy doing gross things (e.g. farming) or eating fast food. So, the ad was effective, not only because Paris is attractive but also because it was ironic.

Blog 4

Thankfully my study habits paid off for test one, I aced it! The best practices that I have come to learn throughout my years of school largely involve repetition. I try to review materials at least three times, much like writing a paper. The first review, I read and take a couple notes. The second time I read through, I examine it more carefully as though I have to write a paper on the subject I’m learning about. My last time through I delve deeper into the subject topics and do some casual research to learn more about the things that interest me the most. By time the test comes around I feel prepared enough to the point I feel I could easily write a couple test questions about the topic myself.

I enjoy reading the textbook for this class because of its simple, straightforward format. I have also been using the Revel application to listen to it on my way to work and back home for a further understanding. This especially helped me on the test because I hadn’t quite made my way through the last chapter a second time reading through, but I listened to the chapter the day before which helped me quickly remember a few key concepts from that chapter.

Overall, I think my study plan is working so far so I will stick with it. But, in the future, if I find that it’s not working, I’ll reexamine my process! I chose the image/meme because my math teacher in high school made us do math in ink because she wanted to help us learn from our mistakes. She made making mistakes part of learning and not something that was a character flaw.

Blog 3

I have noticed a similarity in music preference between myself and my husband. We will oftentimes send each other new songs that the other has already added to a playlist. I think it’s safe to say that we share similar values and ideas and that music was something we bonded over when we first met. From the time we met we’ve been building a playlist that reminds us of different times in our relationship. It’s been almost ten years, and we have a playlist of over two hundred songs. It’s fun to revisit some of our times together musically. It’s like having a photo album in song form.

As for songs that I associate with key people, I have two hundred with my husband of course, but my favorite and one of the very first on the list was “Sand in Your Shoes” by This Providence. The song “American Honey” by Lady Antebellum is one that my best from of technical school would karaoke, so it definitely makes the cut. My friend and I from work would listen to the Mowgli’s album on repeat at work, but use their song, “I’m Good”, as a coping mechanism. Anything by the Bob Dylan makes me think of my dad, he would sing “Mr. Tambourine Man” on his guitar when I was younger. “Mickey” by Toni Basil takes me back to high school driving to a basketball game with my best friend trying to hype ourselves up to cheer for what we knew was going to be a losing game. Lastly, “Jack and Diane” by John Mellencamp reminds me of the countless groups of people I’ve been in, surrounded by strangers, who have stopped and come together as a whole to sing the lyrics and bring the crowd closer together.

Music can truly have magical effects and create memories that we can escape to in a whisper of a lyric or the hum of a tune.

Blog 2

I am generally a pretty astute student. Though, in the past I have had some difficulty staying on task when faced with difficult problems or subjects do not particularly enjoy. In these situations, I have learned how to approach tasks gradually without allowing myself to avoid them, otherwise I will procrastinate. Things I could do to increase my confidence is learn to be more proactive and set stricter deadlines for myself.

I believe I have a moderate level of self-efficacy. My total score on the General Self-Efficacy Scale resulted in a total score of 30 and a mean of three. I have been a student for a long time and enjoy school, I believe that this increases my level of confidence. The questions answered on the scale are somewhat broad and to fully assess all possibilities, I was hesitant to rate my abilities too high.

The photo I chose to showcase this week is from when I was working full-time and going to school while trying to take a vacation with some of my closest friends. The vacation was three days long and it took the first two to really unwind and start to enjoy my time. My friends would tease me but they really are the best and didn’t hold it against me. I call this picture, “frazzled with a cause”.

Blog 1

I look forward to learning about all of the course objectives this semester. It feels extremely vital to garner as much understanding about these topics given the social tensions that seem to have evolved and deepened over the last five years. Between politics and the pandemic, navigating interactions with both strangers and longtime acquaintances and family has become increasingly stressful. I hope to gain a better understanding of how to build common ground, as I truly believe that we are more alike than we are different.  

The WordPress site is a takeaway I am especially excited about! So much of the time I’ll get through a course and only have a desktop folder full of papers that I’ll likely never read again, but the WP site is something I look forward to visiting and sharing with others.

Strategies I intend to implement to ensure success in this course include asking for feedback from my peers and allowing myself sufficient time to work on assignments. I also recently downloaded the Revel app and have been able to listen to the text on a regular basis. I like this feature and wish more textbooks had this tool available!