Formal Blog 13

In the asch experiment students viewed four lines. One line was by itself and the other three were labeled A, B, and C. The students were asked to decide which line, a b or c, was the same length as the line by itself. In the experiment one student had no clue of the experiment and the others knew. At one point in the experiment the students who knew about the experiment purposely guessed the wrong line. So when it came the one student's turn he to guessed wrong even though he probably knew what the correct answer was. It is interesting how people's answers and thoughts can be changed just because of what majority says.
The prison experiment was also very interesting. It's mind blowing how people can get into their roles so much that they become their roles. I was shocked to learn that the students pretending to be prison guards actually started to be like real guards. It was surprising to learn that the guards humiliated and tortured their fellow students. It's crazy how people can become what they are pretending to be.
The milgram experiment was interesting because it showed how some people do things just because an authority figure told them to. I guess it depends on what the figure asks you to do. I like to think that I wouldn't do anything outrageous, but who knows until an authority figure asks.

Social influence occurs when an individual's thoughts or actions are affected by other people. This happens to everybody one way or another. I know that I am socially influenced all the time. Sometimes a bunch of people will guess one answer and I will have another one, but of course I change mine just because the majority says otherwise. I like to think that I would stand up and say my own answer but I just want to blend in with the other people so I take their answers.

One of the most interesting things I learned during this class was learning more about myself. This class gave me an opportunity to understand why I do many of the things that I do. I now understand more about my social behaviors for example. I understand more about why I choose the answers that other people choose even if they are not the answers that I believe. I am glad that I could learn more about the mind and why we do the things we do.
Thank You for teaching me.

Formal Blog 12

I do not believe that people who act abnormally should be diagnosed with a psychological disorder. Not right away, at least. Sometimes those who act abnormal do have psychological disorders but others who act abnormal just act abnormal. Some time people try to act like they have a disorder just for attention. Just because you act the way you do, doesn't mean you have a psychological disorder.

Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder in which the person alternates between the hopelessness and lethargy of depression and the overexciting state of mania. This disorder was once called manic depressive disorder. During the manic phase, the person is typically over talkative, overactive, and elated. They have little need for sleep and show fewer sexual inhibitions. During the depressive phase the person feels useless and sad. They do not feel the sense of life or the need to be there. I believe that bipolar disorder wouldn't be as bad to live with as some people make it seem. I would have my ups and downs but I wouldn't have to worry about multiple personalities or the antisocial serial killer problem.

I found it very interesting to learn about the different psychological disorders there are. I am glad that I got to learn more about bipolar disorder. This also gave my friends an opportunity to learn about, so now they can stop calling me bipolar whenever I have a "bad" day and then have a "good" day. If I truly had bipolar disorder my "bad" day would last a much longer period as well as my "good" days.