Thought-Provoking Question #8

Psychology 130

Due Wednesday, July 26th

Please take the Perfectionism Scale (below). Upon completing the scale, please tally your score. Note that plus numbers and minus numbers cancel each other out. Upon completing the scale, please indicate why you feel this is relevant to the chapter on psychopathology. Are perfectionists more prone to certain mood disorders such as depression and loneliness? Please be prepared to discuss your findings in class.


The Perfectionism Scale

Decide how much you agree with each statement, using the following scale:

+2 = I agree very much
+1 = I agree somewhat
0 = I feel neutral about this
-1 = I disagree slightly
-2 = I disagree strongly


Fill in the blank preceding each statement with the number that best describes how you think most of the time. Be sure to choose only one answer for each attitude. There are no “right” or “wrong” answers, so try to respond according to the way you usually feel and behave.

____1. If I don’t set the highest standards for myself, I am likely to end up a second-rate person.
____2. People will probably think less of me if I make a mistake.
____3. If I cannot do something really well, there is little point in doing it at all.
____4. I should be upset if I make a mistake.
____5. If I try hard enough, I should be able to excel at anything I attempt.
____6. It is shameful for me to display weaknesses or foolish behavior.
____7. I shouldn’t have to repeat the same mistake many times.
____8. An average performance is bound to be unsatisfying to me.
____9. Failure at something important means I am less of a person.
___ 10. If I scold myself for failing to live up to my expectations, it will help me to do better in the future.


Reference: Burns, D.D. (1981). Feeling good: The new mood therapy. New York: New American Library

Thought-Provoking Question #7

Psychology 130

Due Tuesday, July 25th

In studying personality, psychologists have often debated whether behavior is due to innate personality traits or based upon certain situations.
Please read the attached article and respond to the following questions. Do you feel that the tendency to react violently to a particular situation is due to innate personality traits or the situation itself? What does this article say about antisocial personality disorder? What do you feel are the limitations to this strength? What do you feel are the strengths?




Reference:
Kim, M. , Cogan, R., et al. (2005) Defense Mechanisms and Self-Reported Violence Toward Strangers. Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic, 69, 305-312.

Thought-Provoking Question #5

Psychology 130
Due Thursday, July 20th

Please answer one of the following questions by July 20th:

1. Chapter Nine discusses the functions of emotions. Go to www.queendom.com/ and click on the “emotional IQ” icon to check out your own emotional intelligence. (Note that you may choose to sign up with them and may later choose to take more in-depth tests for a fee, but it’s not necessary to do that to take many of their free tests-the short version of the emotional intelligence test is free). Link to the emotional intelligence test and answer the questions, then read what they say about your emotional intelligence and the effect that can have in your life. This is a fun thing to do, but do not ever take too seriously any personality test you take on-line. However, it can offer some useful insights. While you do not need to share the specific results of your emotional intelligence, please indicate what you learned about yourself from taking the test. Did you agree or disagree with it?

2. Plutchik is a psychologist who has done a great deal of research on emotions, and through the emotion wheel, stressed that emotions can be either primary or blends. Using this model, please choose a song and analyze its emotional content as well as its emotional impact on you.

Thought-Provoking Question #3

Psychology 130
Due Wednesday, July 12th

Please answer the question that follows by July 12th:


Chapter Four discusses lifespan development, and within that, how children acquire language (pages 144-147). Linguists, such as Noam Chomsky, have asserted that humans possess an innate understanding of grammar, which is unique to the species. Recent research could potentially alter some of these theories. An example of some of this research is available on the National Public Radio website:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5503685

Please read the article and, if possible, listen to the accompanying story (you will need windows media player or another service to listen to this-it is only about 14 minutes long) and answer the questions that follow.

What are your impressions of the NPR story? Do you feel that findings from this research contradict or compliment some of the theories as discussed in the text? Please compare and contrast the innateness theory of language with the theory as discussed in the NPR story.

Thought-Provoking Question #2

Psychology

Tuesday, July 11th

Please answer one of the questions that follows by July 11th:


Chapter Three in the course text discusses states of consciousness, including psychoactive drug states. The questions below relate to this topic. Please choose one and answer it fully.


1. Considering what you have learned about the effects of drugs (legal or not) on the brain, have you changed your ideas about drug use? What is your current attitude about the use of drugs? If you were to tell your younger brother, sister, cousin, neighbor-or anyone else about whom you care-about using drugs, what would you say? Do you think explaining any potentially negative effects of drug usage to someone else would change your own behavior?

2. Timothy Leary, among others, conducted research with college students to study the effects of hallucinogenic drugs, such as LSD. Have you read any studies by Leary or by other psychologists, psychiatrists, or doctors concerning their research either with college students or with mental patients? What have you heard about this type of research? Do you know anyone who has participated in these clinical studies? What legal and ethical concerns do you think might be or have been raised in this research? What might be the dangers and the benefits of this research both for the individual participants and for society? (More information on Timothy Leary can be found on the internet). One site is: http://www.popsubculture.com/pop/bio_project/timothy_leary.html

Thought-Provoking Question #1

Psychology 130
Due Tuesday, June 27th


Please answer the question that follows by June 27th:


The second half of Chapter 1 discusses how psychologists acquire new information (the scientific method/conducting research). For each example which follows, please indicate which research method you would utilize and briefly describe why. (Research methods include; survey, experiment, correlation, naturalistic observation and case history).


1. Determining why a housewife gave up a flourishing career.

a. Method-
b. Explanation-

2. Determining the favorite food of adolescents.

a. Method-
b. Explanation-

3. Determining how teenagers behave on their first date.

a. Method-
b. Explanation-

4. Determining if frustration causes aggression.

a. Method-
b. Explanation-

5. Determining if level of education is associated with crime.

a. Method-
b. Explanation-

Welcome to the Psychology Blog!

The What's up with Psychology Blog is an opportunity for students to share their thoughts and feelings regarding psychological concepts and theories discussed in class. On assigned dates, the instructor will present a thought-provoking question for the following class chapter and discussion. The student, then, is expected to respond to this question.

"Education is not just the filling of a pail, it is the lighting of a fire."
~ B. F. Skinner (1904-1990) , American psychologist