I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas. What are you dreaming of?

You might be dreaming of a "White Christmas" but chances are you're dreaming of a lot of other things, too! Sigmund Freud (who we DID NOT talk about in Unit 6, ha ha) says that our dreams have Latent Content, or that there are underlying meanings and symbolism to our dreams.

In a blog post labeled "Dreams & Latent Content," I would like you to describe three dreams you have had recently or have had reoccurring throughout your lives.

Then, I would like you to look up on a web site or using a dream dictionary, their possible latent content.

*NOTE* Latent content of dreams may be graphic in nature. Please keep your blog school appropriate. See me with any questions.

And, may all your Christmases be white.

Happy Holidays!

Ms. Johnson

Operant Conditioning

We have talked about Classical Conditioning, learning with out thinking, and Operant Conditioning, B.F. Skinner's work which pairs reinforcers and punishments with behaviors.

Complete this PsychSim 5.0 assignment in class today, and fill in the corresponding worksheet I will give you in class. Then, staple it to your Operant Conditioning Study Guide, which is due Monday, December 14th.

Have fun!

Ms. Johnson

Operant Conditioning Psych Sim:

http://www.worthpublishers.com/exploring5e/content/psychsim5/Operant%20Conditioning/PsychSim_Shell.html

Little Albert

Just like the game of telephone, Psychology can get distorted along the way.

Who HASN'T heard of the "Little Albert" study conducted by John Watson and Rosalie Raynor? But...what we thought we knew is not quite the whole truth.

Watch Michael Britt's podcast here to find out the truth (according to Britt.)

Here's episode 47:

http://www.thepsychfiles.com/2008/02/episode-47-the-little-albert-study-what-you-know-ismostly-wrong/

If you want to know what happened to Baby Albert (there's many theories of this, too...), Britt has also investigated this Psychology theory.

Here's episode 114:

http://www.thepsychfiles.com/2010/01/episode-114-video-finding-little-albert/


ADD TO YOUR BLOG: The three questions at the end of the "Little Albert" reading (pink sheet.) Title this blog post "Little Albert."

Classical Conditioning

Wow. That Pavlov was on to something. I know it can be confusing, though. SO let's practice some more.

Use this Psych Sim web module to go through the information, again.

http://www.worthpublishers.com/kolb/content/psychsim/index.htm

Complete the worksheet and submit it to me.

Here's a fun Pavlov Game. Try it out! 

http://nobelprize.org/educational/medicine/pavlov/

Bullying, Harassment, & the Need to Belong

We have spent several days talking about our need to belong (to groups, to a family, to clubs) and why students get ostracized from the group.

• Has anything we have discussed with Mr. Verboomen, Office Schuette, or seen on MTV's "Flipped" opened your eyes to bullying, harassment, or how we treat other people?

• Is their a line between ACCEPTABLE bullying or teasing and UNACCEPTABLE bullying? How do you know?

• How can you as a KHS student make KHS a better place for all who attend? Can you change any of your behaviors to make all feel more accepted? Will you stop being a bystander?

Blog about your impressions & thoughts about what we've discussed this week.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! - Ms. Johnson

Social Psychology Review

Here's some study resources for tomorrow's Social Psychology Exam. USE THEM! Good luck!


Study Stack is great!
http://www.studystack.com/menu-15060


Use quizlet to help with vocab!
http://quizlet.com/622065/chapter-18-myers-social-psychology-flash-cards/




Psych Site activities! Yeah!
http://www.abacon.com/psychsite/social.html


Quiz yourself with Social Psych jeopardy
http://jeopardylabs.com/play/enter-title24029


Social Psych Terms:
http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072413875/student_view0/glossary.html

The Lobotomist

Was Walter Freeman a "genius" or a "mad man" in his treatment of the mentally ill? Explain your thoughts on Freeman's lobotomies with specific case details and your impressions.

If you missed The Lobotomist in class, view it online:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/lobotomist/

Beauty...is in the eyes of the beholder

Your mom always says this, or at least my mom does.

• Blog about your impressions of the Twilight Zone episode we watched. Were you surprised at the end?
• Is beauty subjective? Does it change? Explain.
• According to your standards of beauty, what is "beautiful" in 2010 in Kimberly, Wisconsin? (Is this realistic?)

I look forward to reading your thoughts & ideas on beauty!


Ms. Johnson

Role Playing

Social Psychology: Role Playing

Part A: Over the course of the past three days, we've discussed role playing and how it can change our attitudes and our actions.


Cite an example of when "playing the part" changed your attitude or your behavior. You may cite:
-Our class simulation.
- Other "real life" examples in which you've played a role.
- If you ABSOLUTLY can not think of an example, see me. 

Part B:
Which of Zimbardo's subjects role-playing  behavior suprised you the most? Prisoner? Guard? Parents? Explain your thoughts on Zimbardo's "Stanford Prison Study" and role playing behavior. Explain how the subject's attitudes and actions were altered.

My Personality Video

Ms. Johnson's Personality Video

Rorschach Ink Blot

My ink blot reminds me of the face of a beetle. Or a Mardi Gras mask.

Trait Theory Personality Tests

Personality Tests - Complete the following personality tests in class. Then, add your results to your blog under the blog title, "My Personality Test Results ." You may cut & paste your results or retype them to summarize.

This test is based off of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.

 http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp

Does this test (based on the Big 5, too) give you the same results?
http://www.testcafe.com/per/?affil= (you need to sign up for Test Cafe, it is free, but you'll need to make a password & enter your school email, too.)

 

OCEAN (BIG FIVE) Personality Test

http://www.outofservice.com/bigfive/

Does this test (based on the Big 5, too) give you the same results?
http://www.testcafe.com/per/?affil= (you need to sign up for Test Cafe, it is free, but you'll need to make a password & enter your school email, too.)

An introduction to me!

I really stink at tennis. I find myself in the public library at least once a week. I like the outdoors. I love my job (most of the time!)I have one Christmas ornament from every year I've been alive - except the year I broke one on the hardwood floor - I think it was 1984. I am a romantic at heart. I hate county fairs. I can cook some pretty mean dishes – but revert to burgers on the grill in a pinch. I want a wiener dog. I prefer salty over sweet any day. I love sitting at a coffee shop drinking a Harvest Chai Latte. I like my family. I I love (yes, LOVE) doing laundry. I ran a half marathon in 2010! I make mistakes, but also learn from them. I like reading books. Live music makes me happy. I live in an 800 square foot cottage - but its all the room I need (for now.) I can’t wait to travel the world with my partner. The first snowfall of the year is one of my favorite days. I’m pretty liberal. I don’t get Sci-Fi. I kinda like painting. Clean floors rule the world. I could never own enough pajama pants. I can't wait to marry Aaron. I still attend high school dances - and love it. I like sitting in front of a campfire. I don't own a iPhone. I secretly love hearing Christmas music before Thanksgiving. I usually mean what I say. You probably hate meatloaf, I love it. Malls stress me out. I rejoice when the first leaf on my big maple changes color and signals fall is here! I love teaching. I love my life.

"Crazy" Celebrity Blog Post #2

The “Crazy” Celebrity and Psychology’s Perspectives

Learning Target: To explain behaviors by using psychology's perspectives.

Directions:

• 
  
  Choose a “crazy” celebrity (one who exhibits irrational, strange, or just plain weird behavior.) For each psychological perspective, explain their behaviors based on the theories of that perspective.

• 
  
  A brief Lindsay Lohan example is provided.

• 
  
  These explanations need not be truthful, and you may take creative liberties to work the celebrity into the perspective – but be school appropriate! You must correctly USE and DESCRIBE the celebrity behaviors AND the perspective.

• 
  
  Banned celebrities: Brittney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, and Michael Jackson (Banned due to overuse by previous classes.)

Sample Assignment:

Name: Lindsay Lohan

Behaviors Exhibited: Heavy drinking, partying, drug use, alcoholism, provocative dress, unsuccessful relationships, questioning her sexual preference (while not "crazy" it may be distressing for the person experiencing it), tantrums & drama on the set, flipping the judge the bird while wearing sassy language painted on her nails, etc…

Psychoanalytic:

Because Lindsay was a child star, she never got a chance to “be a kid.” Lindsay is now regressing to a childlike state, called regression, and acting immature.

Cognitive: Lindsey thinks that if she goes out and is a “party girl” then people will assume she’s happy and fun-loving.

Biological: Hormones and neurotransmitters in her brain have caused her to be depressed. She is on medication to right the neurotransmitters.

Humanistic: Lindsay’s parents want her to “be the best she can be” so they encourage her and love her no matter what midnight stunts she pulls – they believe they’re encouraging Lindsay’s true self.

Behavioral: Lindsay is rewarded for her stupid antics…she continues to get publicity and press for being drunk, crashing her Mercedes-Benz into walls, etc…

How to set up your blog

Setting up your blog

Part I of your Technology Project for Unit 1

The Content of Your Site: Creating Your Academic Blog
Even though many of you have social blogs (i.e. Facebook), when you create your academic blog it will have a distinctly different look. You will have to create a free gmail account if you don't already have one. (The district has set this up for you via your login. SEE ME!)

Go to Blogger.com to create your site, please be sure to go to the Settings portion and select NO when it asks you if you want your site to be profiled in search engines, etc. (I want you to remain private!)


Once you have created your site, please email me your link at ajjohnson@kimberly.k12.wi.us so I am able be create a link to it on my master site, creatively titled, "Ms. Johnson's PsychoChatter" (That's as good as I get, sorry!) You can find it on http://www.msjohnsonpsychochatter.blogspot.com/



Requirements:

*Your site should be appropriate for an academic setting, following code of conduct guidelines.

*Do not put any personal identifying information on your site (no last name, age, place of residence, etc.)

*Your site should have a title - Make it unique, relevant and creative.

*Make sure fonts are easy to read and the page is not too busy -- this is an academic blog, remember!

*Always write in complete sentences and proofread your work before posting. Use the spell-checker that is part of Blogger.

*Each assignment should be specifically titled with the assignment number as well as a descriptive title.

Part 2 of your Technology Project for Unit 1:

Blog Post #1 - Introduce yourself to the class and to your Psychology teacher. Make it interesting, fun, and informational. Tell me what you like to do, what makes you tick, what your plans are post-high school. I will try to comment on everyone's post just as soon as I can.

Blog Post #2 – Follow the directions for the “Outrageous Celebrity” Assignment & post it to your blog.

Welcome

Welcome to a new school year and to your Psychology-FVTC class blog.


The purpose and point of using a blog is many-fold.

1. It is paperless! Go green!
2. Let's face it - the world is getting only MORE technologically advanced. So why not embrace it? That means in education, too.
3. You can access the internet & blogs from most anywhere. They're very convenient!
4. Sometimes it is fun (and frustrating...and annoying...and hard) to embrace something new. Challenge yourself to go beyond a pen & a piece of paper!
5. You can interact easily with your fellow classmates & your teacher!

See information under "Creating your blog" to learn how to make your own Psychology Blog! (Follow directions carefully & be willing to make some mistakes along the way!)

Good luck & let's have a great semester!

Ms. Johnson