Time to get down.
These questions are tough, but answer honestly, otherwise--what's the point?
What's the worst thing you have ever done to someone? What do you consider it the worst thing? What were the consequences/rewards to doing this thing? Was the sacrifice (doing something awful) worth the reward (whatever you got out of it)?
What's the meanest thing you have ever said to someone? Why did you say it? What was the outcome?
If you could go back in time and have a "do over" for either of the above worst things, which one would it be? Why?
Sunday, October 23, 2016
Monday, October 10, 2016
How We Learn
Ok, so I'm not trying to steal any thunder from any psychology teacher around here, but this week we are going to talk a bit about social learning theory, especially as it applies to how all of you think about things, but more specifically, how you learn about things.
So, first, the basics: social learning theory was developed around 1976-7 by Albert Bandura. Up until then, the general thoughts about how kids learned centered on behaviorist theories (think Classical and Operant conditioning--or if you have absolutely no idea what I am talking about, click here to educate yourself on the topic):
No clue what you're talking about, Bunj.
So, Bandura pretty much agreed with Watson, Skinner, and Pavlov about the components of learning, but he wanted to add what he thought were 2 key ideas: 1) there is a connection between stimulus and response, and 2) people learn through observing others.
So. to recap, social learning theory suggests that you all learn from watching people around you, mimicking them, and catologuing the response you get. An example people use has to do with what is known as the BoBo Doll experment, where kids watched adults either hug, and kiss and speak sweetly to a doll, or punch, and kick and speak harshly to it. When left alone with the doll, the kids mimicked what they saw the adults do.
So, Bandura used the results from this experiment to further hypothesize that it wouldn't just be adults that kids mimicked. He believed that if the kids got a positive reaction (response) from other kids after doing things (stimulus), they would learn that those things were the "right" things to be doing. Basically, we can blame him for the concept known as "social awkwardness" then, because he taught us to guage the reaction of those around us in order to set up ideas, boundaries, parameters or whatever you want to call it, about how to act in public, and around our peers.
So, let's test the theory. Think back to your most awkward or embarassing moment. How did you know it was awkward/embarassing? Talk a bit about that, about how you recognized the awkwardness or knew to be embarassed. What did that experience teach you about your actions?
So, first, the basics: social learning theory was developed around 1976-7 by Albert Bandura. Up until then, the general thoughts about how kids learned centered on behaviorist theories (think Classical and Operant conditioning--or if you have absolutely no idea what I am talking about, click here to educate yourself on the topic):
No clue what you're talking about, Bunj.
So, Bandura pretty much agreed with Watson, Skinner, and Pavlov about the components of learning, but he wanted to add what he thought were 2 key ideas: 1) there is a connection between stimulus and response, and 2) people learn through observing others.
So. to recap, social learning theory suggests that you all learn from watching people around you, mimicking them, and catologuing the response you get. An example people use has to do with what is known as the BoBo Doll experment, where kids watched adults either hug, and kiss and speak sweetly to a doll, or punch, and kick and speak harshly to it. When left alone with the doll, the kids mimicked what they saw the adults do.
So, Bandura used the results from this experiment to further hypothesize that it wouldn't just be adults that kids mimicked. He believed that if the kids got a positive reaction (response) from other kids after doing things (stimulus), they would learn that those things were the "right" things to be doing. Basically, we can blame him for the concept known as "social awkwardness" then, because he taught us to guage the reaction of those around us in order to set up ideas, boundaries, parameters or whatever you want to call it, about how to act in public, and around our peers.
So, let's test the theory. Think back to your most awkward or embarassing moment. How did you know it was awkward/embarassing? Talk a bit about that, about how you recognized the awkwardness or knew to be embarassed. What did that experience teach you about your actions?
Sunday, October 2, 2016
Blurred Lines of the Acceptance of Rape Culture
This week, we are going to start tackling some of the pretty weighty issues prevalent in our world today. These issues do not only affect women as you will see; all too often society has a way of excluding the men from the victimology of sexual assault, abuse and harassment, and some of the things we will read about and look at will show how damaging that can be.
First, we need to talk a bit about the notion of "rape culture" and how we can define that. So, you guessed it--I'd like you to take the first stab at making sense of something that should really not make any sense to anyone.
What exactly is "rape culture"?
In class we are going to be taking a look at songs and their lyrics, and to that end, we will be examining the 2013 summer jam "Blurred Lines" by R. Thicke, that everyone and their uncles were singing 3 years ago.
Are there other books, movies, songs, videos that you feel may send mixed messages about what constitutes appropriate sexual behavior. expectations, etc? Give some examples.
Finally, the link below will take you to an article about Project Unbreakable. Give it a read. The images are powerful. We will talk about it in class throughout the week.
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/09/25/project-unbreakable_n_3989621.html
First, we need to talk a bit about the notion of "rape culture" and how we can define that. So, you guessed it--I'd like you to take the first stab at making sense of something that should really not make any sense to anyone.
What exactly is "rape culture"?
In class we are going to be taking a look at songs and their lyrics, and to that end, we will be examining the 2013 summer jam "Blurred Lines" by R. Thicke, that everyone and their uncles were singing 3 years ago.
Are there other books, movies, songs, videos that you feel may send mixed messages about what constitutes appropriate sexual behavior. expectations, etc? Give some examples.
Finally, the link below will take you to an article about Project Unbreakable. Give it a read. The images are powerful. We will talk about it in class throughout the week.
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/09/25/project-unbreakable_n_3989621.html
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