Mrs. Halfen,
I have really enjoyed this class and the way you taught it. In my opinion, psychology is a very interesting subject that I would be interested in learning more about. My favorite project was probably the Sense and Perception Fair. The online blog and Play-Doh brain were also pretty interesting. I don't know if you should change anything for next year. I really appreciated the different extra credit you offered. A lot. :D
Friday, January 9, 2009
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Mental Health Year In Review
I read the section of this article that discussed how a person's brain structure can be altered by something other than drugs or other treatments, through repetitive actions. The idea of the brain's "plasticity" is not new, it has been observed many times in young children, but I had never heard of anyone actually increasing the size of his brain through pure repetition in an adult. Eleanor Maguire has done research on this phenomenon that dates back to 2000 using magnetic resonance imagin scans on taxi drivers' brains. Her data confirmed the belief that the posterior hippocampus can expand to accommodate more spatial representations. A taxi driver whose entire occupation deals with memorization and navigational skills would be expected to have an enlarged posterior hippocampus, and that is exactly what Maguire and her colleagues found. The brain's plasticity is a fascinating topic, and this article was further support of this theory.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Personality Tests
Jung Typology Test
ENFJ: Extraverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Judging
78% 62% 25% 67%
As an Idealist, I am described as being enthusiastic, authentic, giving, trusting, loving, and kindhearted, all traits that I would use to describe myself. Idealists are also supposed to make inspirational leaders, a description that I would like to have some day. I am naturally drawn to working with people, and I like to hold myself to a standard of personal integrity and kindness. I cherish my friendships and strive for personal growth, and I want to be able to help others achieve their goals as well. I believe that my description as an Idealist fits me.
As an Idealist Portrait of a Teacher, I am outgoing and expressive, and good with communicating with people. I don't hesitate to speak out let my feelings be known, and I have a lot of enthusiasm for my passions. I honor my commitments and I try not to be late. I identify with others easily, and I can read people well. I am also easy to get along with and tolerant of others. I agree with my classification as a Teacher.
Some of the careers listed for me are careers that I have considered. Psychology, education, politics, science, and being a physician.
http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp
Life Goals Test
Compared to other test-takers, I scored about the same on attractiveness, financial success, social recognition, and affiliation. I scored higher than other test-takers on community involvement, self-acceptance, and my value of intrinsic goals over extrinsic goals. I agree with my results for this test.
http://www.personalitylab.org/cgi-bin/goals_process_v10.cgi
Attraction Test
I scored high on the Counter-Culture Dimension, which indicates that I prefer people who are rebellious and non-traditional. I also scored aboved average on the Seductiveness Dimension and teh Trendy Dimension. On the Cheerfulness and Intelligence Dimensions, I scored below average.
I would agree that I prefer people who are well-dressed, well-groomed, and rebellious. However, I don't believe that I take seductiveness into high account, or that cheerfulness and intelligence is unimportant for me. I believe that this test displays results for immediate attractiveness, rather than attractiveness for longer relationships.
http://explainyourbrain.com/cgi-bin/attraction/attractiontest.pl
Hogwarts Sorting Hat Test
Hufflepuff - 88/100
Gryffindor - 81/100
Ravenclaw - 78/100
Slytherin - 54/100
Hufflepuff students are described as friendly, fair-minded, and hard-working, traits that describe me. Gryffindor students are described as brave and daring, which also describes me. I agree with these tests.
http://www.personalitylab.org/tests/ccq_hogwarts.htm
Advanced Global Personality Test
This test gave me high extraversion results, moderately high orderliness results, and medium stability results. I agree with all three of these classifications because I am generally relaxed, calm, and optimistic and I like to keep things organized. I do enjoy talking and being outgoing. Some adjectives that were used to descrie me were expressive, positive, assertive, and leadership.
http://similarminds.com/cgi-bin/cityx2.pl
ENFJ: Extraverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Judging
78% 62% 25% 67%
As an Idealist, I am described as being enthusiastic, authentic, giving, trusting, loving, and kindhearted, all traits that I would use to describe myself. Idealists are also supposed to make inspirational leaders, a description that I would like to have some day. I am naturally drawn to working with people, and I like to hold myself to a standard of personal integrity and kindness. I cherish my friendships and strive for personal growth, and I want to be able to help others achieve their goals as well. I believe that my description as an Idealist fits me.
As an Idealist Portrait of a Teacher, I am outgoing and expressive, and good with communicating with people. I don't hesitate to speak out let my feelings be known, and I have a lot of enthusiasm for my passions. I honor my commitments and I try not to be late. I identify with others easily, and I can read people well. I am also easy to get along with and tolerant of others. I agree with my classification as a Teacher.
Some of the careers listed for me are careers that I have considered. Psychology, education, politics, science, and being a physician.
http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp
Life Goals Test
Compared to other test-takers, I scored about the same on attractiveness, financial success, social recognition, and affiliation. I scored higher than other test-takers on community involvement, self-acceptance, and my value of intrinsic goals over extrinsic goals. I agree with my results for this test.
http://www.personalitylab.org/cgi-bin/goals_process_v10.cgi
Attraction Test
I scored high on the Counter-Culture Dimension, which indicates that I prefer people who are rebellious and non-traditional. I also scored aboved average on the Seductiveness Dimension and teh Trendy Dimension. On the Cheerfulness and Intelligence Dimensions, I scored below average.
I would agree that I prefer people who are well-dressed, well-groomed, and rebellious. However, I don't believe that I take seductiveness into high account, or that cheerfulness and intelligence is unimportant for me. I believe that this test displays results for immediate attractiveness, rather than attractiveness for longer relationships.
http://explainyourbrain.com/cgi-bin/attraction/attractiontest.pl
Hogwarts Sorting Hat Test
Hufflepuff - 88/100
Gryffindor - 81/100
Ravenclaw - 78/100
Slytherin - 54/100
Hufflepuff students are described as friendly, fair-minded, and hard-working, traits that describe me. Gryffindor students are described as brave and daring, which also describes me. I agree with these tests.
http://www.personalitylab.org/tests/ccq_hogwarts.htm
Advanced Global Personality Test
This test gave me high extraversion results, moderately high orderliness results, and medium stability results. I agree with all three of these classifications because I am generally relaxed, calm, and optimistic and I like to keep things organized. I do enjoy talking and being outgoing. Some adjectives that were used to descrie me were expressive, positive, assertive, and leadership.
http://similarminds.com/cgi-bin/cityx2.pl
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Personality Disorders
Dear Lilly,
College has been awful so far. I wish you were here with me. You told me to tell you about that food here. The food is great for a cafeteria, but I know the cashier has something against me. Twice now she's messed up my order and I'm afraid the next time I order mac and cheese she'll do something horrible like poison me or make the cheese too stretchy. My math professor is also being weird. When he taught the Pythagorean theorem to the class, instead of using a, b, and c as his variables in the equation, he used x, y, and z! I am sure that he is plotting something horrible. My roommate took my shoes away from where I took them off next to my bed and placed them inside my closet. She said that she was only trying to help me so I wouldn't trip over them, but I can't believe she would insult my sense of style like that. I really hope you don't tell anyone what I am writing to you about. And could you please discreetly try and find out if Ben is cheating on me with that new blonde girl he's working with? He mentioned her once, three weeks ago, as a new friend, and now I’m afraid he might like her more than me.
Love,
Maya
College has been awful so far. I wish you were here with me. You told me to tell you about that food here. The food is great for a cafeteria, but I know the cashier has something against me. Twice now she's messed up my order and I'm afraid the next time I order mac and cheese she'll do something horrible like poison me or make the cheese too stretchy. My math professor is also being weird. When he taught the Pythagorean theorem to the class, instead of using a, b, and c as his variables in the equation, he used x, y, and z! I am sure that he is plotting something horrible. My roommate took my shoes away from where I took them off next to my bed and placed them inside my closet. She said that she was only trying to help me so I wouldn't trip over them, but I can't believe she would insult my sense of style like that. I really hope you don't tell anyone what I am writing to you about. And could you please discreetly try and find out if Ben is cheating on me with that new blonde girl he's working with? He mentioned her once, three weeks ago, as a new friend, and now I’m afraid he might like her more than me.
Love,
Maya
Friday, November 21, 2008
Case Study 2: Hannah, age 55, was in a major car accident 20 years ago during a cross country trip. Ever since, she has been unable to drive on major highways. Although she does drive, she goes to great length to travel only on back roads and scenic routes. She is able to go where she wants but it often takes her much longer to get there than it should.
Hannah seems to be experiencing symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The major car accident was a traumatic event in which Hannah had a life-threatening experience. Hannah suffers from psychological distress whenever she is exposed to an external cue, driving on major highways, and cannot travel on major highways anymore. She makes an effort to avoid driving in situations similar to those that resulted in her major car accident like driving on major highways, and travels only on back roads and scenic routes.
To help Hannah manage her trauma, she should talk to someone she trusts about the car accident she experienced to help her cope with her Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. By helping her manage her anxiety and teaching her relaxation techniques, Hannah can begin to deal with her anxiety disorder.
I do not believe Hannah needs any medication to help her manage her anxiety disorder because her symptoms are not irrational or violent. Hannah is not endangering herself or others; she is only using more time to travel and avoiding major highways.
http://www.behavenet.com/capsules/disorders/ptsd.htm
http://www.medicinenet.com/posttraumatic_stress_disorder/page5.htm
Hannah seems to be experiencing symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The major car accident was a traumatic event in which Hannah had a life-threatening experience. Hannah suffers from psychological distress whenever she is exposed to an external cue, driving on major highways, and cannot travel on major highways anymore. She makes an effort to avoid driving in situations similar to those that resulted in her major car accident like driving on major highways, and travels only on back roads and scenic routes.
To help Hannah manage her trauma, she should talk to someone she trusts about the car accident she experienced to help her cope with her Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. By helping her manage her anxiety and teaching her relaxation techniques, Hannah can begin to deal with her anxiety disorder.
I do not believe Hannah needs any medication to help her manage her anxiety disorder because her symptoms are not irrational or violent. Hannah is not endangering herself or others; she is only using more time to travel and avoiding major highways.
http://www.behavenet.com/capsules/disorders/ptsd.htm
http://www.medicinenet.com/posttraumatic_stress_disorder/page5.htm
Friday, November 7, 2008
Stephen Fry
Stephen Fry is most well-known as a comedian and an actor in the United Kingdom as the star of various shows such as A Bit of Fry and Laurie and Jeeves and Wooster with Hugh Laurie. Most American fans know him as Dr. Gordon Wyatt in Bones. Fry has also been the voice behind the Harry Potter audiobooks and several video games. Recently, in 2006, Fry fronted the Emmy Award-winning BBC documentary The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive, a program that explores how he and other people have dealt with their experiences with bipolar disorder.
As a sufferer of bipolar disorder, Fry must deal with harsh mood swings and his several suicide attempts and try not to let them interfere with his life and work. Fry is fortunate because his disorder is not severe enough to require him to take medication. Fry's form of bipolar disorder, hypomania, is a form that affects his energy and vitality, which results in his depressive states and mood swings.
Bipolar disorder is a very difficult disorder to have a deal with in everyday life because one never knows when the next mood swing or depression is going to occur. However, Stephen Fry has obviously been able to overcome his hypomania in life and become successful in his career.
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