For Good or for Evil?!

After reading about psychology being a potential danger, I realized that there is so much good that psychologists are able to do for people. They assist people with some of their greatest problems whether they are family or relationship issues or other world problems such as crime and war. I, personally, would never think of psychology as trying to deceive anybody because of all of the good that comes out of it. However, it is still possible that psychology, like all knowledge can be used for evil as well. It says in the book that Nuclear power has been used to light up cities and also to destroy them. So, it seems kind of frightening to think about it. If we see much of psychology as common sense, can't psychologists or researches use this to their advantage to manipulate us?

Surveys

After just one week of being in AP statistics and AP Psychology, I have learned that everything you read is not always so accurate. All over the internet, you see surveys and huge signs that read "95 percent of the people in your area have switched from Sprint to Verizon." Our initial reaction is "Wow! Maybe I should look into switching to Verizon." However, don't fall into that trap. You don't know how the survey was worded or who the people who were given the survey were. Maybe the survey was intentionally given to two hundred people in the area who have recently made derogatory comments about Sprint on their facebook page. Also, sometimes the way in which questions are worded can be interpreted in different ways. As we know, people look at things differently and make their own ideas about something. This is why on a test we are so inclined to always ask the teacher what exactly he/she is expecting for each question. Also, on a survey that is multiple choice, there might not be a choice that is exactly what you feel but if it is close enough, you'll 'check' it anyways. So, that is not really indicating your true belief. With that said, why are we always told to include statistics in our essays. Yes, they do add excitement and depth to our topic, but are they reliable?

Over Confidence and Hindsight Bias

The beginning of chapter one in the psychology book introduces us to "the hindsight bias." This is also known as the I knew it all along phenomenon. Essentially, it is a tendency to think events are more predictable than they really are. For example, you are at a Grizzlies game and you are sure they are going to win. They've been on fire and you know that they are motivated to win. You cheer the whole game and tell people that there is no chance the Grizzlies will lose. Three hours later, the Grizzlies have lost and you confidently tell your friend, "I knew that they would lose. It was obvious once he missed that shot right at the beginning."

You act as though all along you knew what would happen.

Question:
1. Why do you think that we pretend we knew all along what was really going to happen?

Which brings me to my next point and question:
Overconfidence. We tend to think we know more than we do. You make assumptions that you think are right, and even when you are proven wrong you tend to stick to your first assumption.

1. Why are we so unwilling to accept we are wrong?
2. How does overconfidence affect hindsight bias and vice versa?

Things to ponder:
How much of what we assume about other people is true? If you decide that you don't like a certain person because they are a snob, will you continue to think that even if the person proves they aren't truly snobby? And do we initially make these assumptions because we are overconfident?

Hello my dear fellow classmates,

I have been thinking a lot about the debate about nature versus nurture. I found it quite interesting actually that that theme was indirectly mentioned in a book that I read this previous summer. I thought that by explaining how the book brought forth this debate I might be able to add on to the mystery of whether we are born with certain characteristics or if the exposure to our environment will change us completely. I also used this book as a source to support my opinion about the subject (although I am certain the book can be used to argue against my opinion as well).

The Lord of the Flies by William Golding is an allegorical novel that takes place during WWII on a deserted island. A group of young boys crash on the deserted island and are left with no adult figure for numerous weeks. Immediately, the protagonist of the story, Ralph, seeks to establish an organized community with rules, morals and the value of good. Ralph is then voted as chief and together the boys create a peaceful society. However, a few weeks later, the antagonist, Jack, overthrows Ralph and influences the boys to become savages and to act violently and in a barbaric manner. This novel demonstrates that every human being is born with an inner savagery and the desire to live without rules and restrictions. This novel is trying to prove that because these young boys were isolated from their community at home, they felt no need to establish a civilization controlled by rules and a system by working together. Instead they gave in to their inner savagery because it seems much easier, effortless and undemanding.

Most of us do not give in to our savagery preexisting in us. We are raised and nurtured to suppress that desire and to instead yearn for an organized life with a system and regulations. Our environment has a great impact on our behavior and influences us to overcome our inner nature. It is only when the factor that nurtures us is taken away from us that our nature comes forth and takes over.

Ponder with Imagination

Imagine you were born in the time of Socrates in 470 B.C.E

Socrates and many other very wise philosophers had different and sometimes untrue ideas about psychology.

If you would not have any scientific proof, and you did not have this knowledge about the things that are true and untrue about psychology, how would you answer these following questions and why?

1. Are mind and body related, why do you think so?
2. Do you think nature shapes us more than nurture?
3. Are ideas inborn or are you born with a blank slate?

Question to ponder about: Socrates and Plato both believed that their mind continues existing after their death. Why do you think did they believe so, and don’t we have a similar belief with our soul? What does this mean?

Welcome to the AP Psychology Blog!

Welcome to the AP Psychology Blog!
In an effort to encourage collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking, each week you will be responsible to write one new blog post and to respond to two blog posts from your classmates.  In order to hold you accountable, you will be graded on these posts!

If there is a prompt on the blog, you will be required to respond to that particular prompt in your post (the prompt could be a video, article, question, cartoon etc.). If there is no prompt, you can be creative in your post and can bring in your own thoughts or resources concerning the topic that we are studying during that particular week.

I look forward to using this blog as a means to share ideas and reflections as we embark on our study of psychology.

Midterm Review

A great way to review the terms for the midterm is to go to www.quizlet.com and to click on "find flashcards" for AP Psychology. You can arrange the terms by chapter, refamiliarize yourself with them, test yourself on them, and even "play games" with them. Enjoy!

Videos on Consciousness

Please watch the following video and email me a response by 11/18 that indicates how it compares to the coverage of the material in chapter 7 of our book.

The Mind Awake and asleep at http://www.learner.org/vod/vod_window.html?pid=1510

[If you are interested in watching a second video that goes into drugs and hypnosis-watch this one as well- The Mind Hidden and Divided at http://www.learner.org/vod/vod_window.html?pid=1511 ]



Specifically, your email should include the following information:

1. What theories overlap with the theories presented in our book?

2. What new theories are presented?

3. How did watching the video enhance your understanding of the various states of consciousness?

Nature/Nurture Project and chapters 5-11

In place of a test there will be a small project on the nature/nurture debate. Please view the assignment by clicking on this link:
http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0Ad3wqDq6xohmZGc5dDloNWNfMTVmc3FyY3pjcQ&hl=en

The calendar and assignments for chapters 5-11 can be viewed by clicking on this link:
http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0Ad3wqDq6xohmZGc5dDloNWNfMTRndHpueHBkNA&hl=en

Biological Bases of Behavior

Check out this website to gain some insight into the influence of the brain on behavior:
http://thebrain.mcgill.ca/