sigmund freud post

After watching the film and reading the two articles about Freud, explain why Freud still matters in today's society, over 70 years after his death. What did he get right about human nature, about what drives us and makes us the way we are? If he was still alive, what would he say about the world we live in today, in 2010? Make specific references to the articles and the film.

Freud is still very prevalent in today's society. He is a theoretician that explored a vast new realm of the mind.

males vs. females

After reading and participating in today's discussion, do you think that males or females have a more difficult challenge growing up? Why? to what extent were the readings accurate? What were the most difficult challenges you personally had to face as a guy or girl growing up?

I believe that both males and females encounter their own difficult challenges as they grow up. Males do not express their emotions as much as females do and females are more prone to scrutinizing themselves as they grow older. Many girls become obsessed with the way they look and focus on how the media perceives women. But, both boys and girls find difficulties finding their true identities and what type of person that they want to become during their teenage years. Girls are very catty and nasty towards one another, whereas boys are much more physical and violent. The readings were not entirely accurate because many girls do not suffer from the "Bermuda Triangle" which is when they lose sight of themselves, and as a result their IQ scores begin to plummet. This is very extreme, and the loss of IQ points does not accurately represent a girl's level of confidence to being with. Some of the most difficult challenges I have faced is just being comfortable in my own skin, and trying to be my own person. I have finally been able to have my friends not dictate the things I do and how I act because I am strong enough to make my own decisions and satisfy myself.

birth order blog post

Think about the person you are today: your personality, your strengths and weaknesses, your attitudes, etc. In what ways has your birth order position shaped you? In what ways have your relationships with your siblings helped make you the person you are today? To what extent does the research about birth order that you read about last night reflect your experience? Be specific and make connections.

My birth position has shaped who I am today in many ways. Since I am the first-born child in my family I fit the stereotype of being a very high achiever and having few academic problems throughout my life so far. But, since my sister and I are 7 years apart, I do consider myself to be somewhat of an only child. I was extremely accustomed to having a lot of attention on me and I did not want to have a younger sibling when I was younger. In addition, based on the research I did about birth order, I feel as though my parents do pamper me and that I have gained an intellectual boost from mentoring my younger sister. I also am very responsible and take life very seriously, and also see myself pursuing a conventional career such as a psychologist or a lawyer. My sister on the other hand is the last-born child, and somewhat fits into that stereotype as well. Her future aspirations consist of being a cook or an artist, but she is just as smart as I am. She also does more chores around the house than I even do. Being the older sister to my sister has made me a very conscientious person that always thinks through my actions. I try to always make the right decisions because I know that my sister is closely watching every move I make and is ready to imitate it. Also, since we are 7 years apart, I feel as though my parents treat us as if we are both only children since they tend to spoil us.

nature vs. nurture

Examine yourself in the context of the nature vs. nurture debate. Think about your personality characteristics, your likes and dislikes, your strengths and weaknesses. Are you the way you are because of nature (heredity) or nurture (environment, parenting, education, etc.)? If you were to pick a side, which one would win out in your development as a person?

I believe that the way I am is because of the environment I have been raised in. My family is extremely involved in my life and has instilled many morals in me that make up who I am today. I feel as though the parenting that my mom and dad have conducted over the past 18 years has made me a stable and confident person that is finally ready to be an adult and enter college/live on my own. Also, my education has developed the way I think and execute myself when finishing assignments because the schools I have attended are highly ranked. The teachers I have had so far have shaped me to become a good student and have offered me numerous opportunities in order to broaden my horizons. I am very lucky to be surrounded by a healthy environment at home and at school, and it has influenced my personality as well as my ambitions to really make something out of myself. The constant encouragement from my parents have inspired me to always follow my dreams and make sure that I push myself to be the best that I can be.

personal blog

a. What are the major causes of stress in your life? What coping strategies do you use, and what could you do to deal with stress more effectively?

Some of the major causes of stress in my life mainly include issues that I encounter at school. Since I take advanced courses, I am constantly under the stress to do a lot of homework each night, as well as prepare for multiple AP tests. I put a lot of pressure on myself to get high scores on all of my tests and quizzes, and easily stress myself out. In addition, applying to colleges has also added a lot of stress to my life. I want to make sure that I send out all of my transcripts on time, as well as be accepted into a college! I stress everyday about when my acceptance or rejection letters will come, and whether or not my college essay and scores will be good enough to get me into the schools that I want to get into. Also, I get easily stressed out by my friends. I feel as though I fall out of friendships and cannot trusts people sometimes, and fight to make sure that I am not left out. It should not stress me out but I always want to make sure that I am accepted by my peers. I put pressure on myself to make sure that I am always "in the loop" and it takes a big toll on me. Lastly, I sometimes find myself stressing out about my family. I do not want to leave them when I go to college, and also there are fights that occur in my family that are not quickly resolved. Some of the coping strategies I use are just going on long drives to clear my mind and also getting enough sleep and watching my favorite television shows. I could deal with stress more effectively by expressing what is on my mind more, rather than keeping it to myself so that I do not keep it all bottled up and take action about what bothers me.

b. Examine your film notes and homework notes. After watching the film and reading the article about stress, explain why stress is so dangerous to your health in a variety of ways. Why do you think America leads the world in stress-related diseases?

Stress is so dangerous to your health in a variety of ways because it causes the walls of people's arteries to become damaged and also restricts blood flow which will ultimately cause heart attacks. In addition, chronic stress can kill brain cells and it affects the ability for a person to remember things. Also, chronic stress impacts body weight and shape because stress impacts the way that fat is distributed and leads to more weight in the abdominal region. Chronic stress is also damaging to chromosomes since it will cause the telomeres, which are located at the ends of chromosomes to diminish and causes earlier aging. In addition, America leads the world since status affects stress and currently the world is highly focused on competition these days.

The Brain: A User's Guide

What are the three most important insights about the early development of the human brain (from birth to the teenage years) that you would include? Explain each of your choices in detail, and why these ideas were of particular interest to you.

1. One of the most important insights that I would include would be that regarding the baby's brain, being born prematurely can cause future problems. When a baby is born prematurely, the brain is not done wiring itself, and is not ready to enter the world just yet. It also may cause children to encounter problems later in life, such as having difficulties paying attention, inability to prioritize, and also being hyperactive or overly sensitive. This is important to know because doctors are currently enhancing the environments that premature babies enter, since the loud hospital rooms are too much for them to handle. The environment in which they need to be placed should somewhat mimic that of a mother's womb; dark and quiet.

2. Another of the important insights I would include would be that child's brain is highly plastic. The child's brain is very susceptible to being influenced by outside experience. It is the best time to help them develop a skill since it is harder for them to learn how to do a specific sport or acquire a certain talent later in life. Also, it is the best time for the children to learn languages. They are considered to be "citizens of the world" since they are able to pick up on the same differences between different dialects and languages.

3. Lastly, I would include that teenagers are constantly in conflict with their parents due to the fact that their pre-frontal cortex is undergoing maturation. They are also susceptible to developing different mental problems such as schizophrenia and it is so stressful for teens since they are undergoing chemical, hormonal, and anatomical changes.

Personal Blog #3

In your opinion, to what extent should problems like alcoholism and drug addiction be considered "diseases of the brain" or personal failings (moral, willpower, etc.)? Feel free to discuss your own real-world observations and experiences. What about other issues, like depression?


In my opinion, alcoholism and drug addiction can sometimes be considered as "diseases of the brain". It is common to find families in which alcoholism is a genetic problem, and can be passed on to other family members. When people have alcoholism running in their families, it is harder for them to resist alcohol once they begin drinking. But, there are many people that do not have the willpower to stop drinking due to the fact that it serves as an anti-depressant for them. Some people drink excessively in order to numb the pain that they feel.

Drug addiction is similar to alcoholism since it can also be passed on to other family members genetically. If a child is born from a mother that has been addicted to a drug, they have an inborn inclination to be tempted to try that drug. On the other hand, people become addicted to drugs in order to escape the negative qualms of their everyday life. For example, teenagers are often inclined to try drugs at an early age because they are unable to handle their personal problems. Their addiction becomes more serious, and they then try to use more dangerous drugs, eventually leading to medical issues.

Career Fair Reflection

A. Rank your three favorite psychology career fields. Summarize what you learned about them, and explain why you personally would enjoy these fields in detail.

My three favorite psychology career fields after participating the career fair are 1) family psychologist 2) clinical psychologist 3) consumer psychologist. I learned that family psychologists meet with families in order to work through divorces and other issues that affect both the parents and children of a family unit. I would definitely want to pursue this sub field of psychology because I feel that helping families work through problems definitely has a positive effect of children, and creates a healthier environment for everyone to come home to. Also, clinical psychologists are responsible for conducting appointments with patients in order to listen and offer advice on serious issues going on in the person's life. They do not prescribe medicine, and therefore do not handle patients with serious mental illnesses that require medication. I have always been a good listener and love trying to enlighten people in order to lift them out of a dark place. In addition, consumer psychology interests me as well. Consumer psychologists are responsible for studying how consumers think, feel, reason, and select between different alternatives such as brands, products, and retailers. I also find it interesting that consumer psychologists conduct research on product positioning and branding, persuasion, consumer behavior, and public opinion sin order for their results to be applied to marketing, advertising, sales, and product development.

B. Do you think that you might consider majoring in psychology? Why or why not?

I definitely have considered majoring in psychology because I find the human mind so complex and interesting. I find myself constantly analyzing why people act the way they do, and pay close attention to people's expressions, attitudes, and physical movement. Also, I love learning about the various types of mental disorders that a person can be diagnosed with and how it is even possible to develop some of these illnesses. But most of all, I really want to be able to help others, and make a difference in someone's life someday by listening and offering the best advice that I am able to give.


C. In what ways do you think that the study of psychology is useful outside of work?

The study of psychology is important because it makes us all learn how to live a healthy and fulfilling life, and learn how to treat others with respect. This is because the more people learn about how complex the mind is, the easier it is to connect with others and really adapt to how other people think. It is eye opening, and really should be a requirement in school to take psychology class.

Questions About Me

1. How important have your early childhood experiences and relationships been in shaping who you are today?

My childhood experiences have greatly contributed to the person I am today. My personality reflects the free spirit that I was as a child; a child that would always ask questions and possess good intuition. An experience that I remember the best would be the birth of my younger sister when I was seven years old. At first, I was very unhappy with her entrance into my only-child world, but soon developed a healthy relationship with her. If I did not have her there as a child, I would never learn that the world does not revolve around me. The relationship with my sister has also taught me that cooperation and caring for others is an integral part of life itself. I have become a role model for her, and take that role very seriously since I want her to be able to follow in my footsteps.

2. Explain how the following factors have influenced who you are today: religion, ethnicity, gender, hometown/state, country.

Living in River Vale since I was five years old have greatly influenced who I am today. I feel as though I live in a bubble where I do not have to worry about finances or high crime or any other problems that are evident in other communities. As a young woman, my father thinks it is important for me to be very independent and pursue a career that will make me self-sufficient. He always tells me that I need to be independent in the future, but still rely on my husband for family support. There are not as many restrictions for the careers and decisions that women make nowadays; however there still tends to be inequality amongst the genders. Also, since I come from an Italian family, traditions are of extreme importance. We are all Roman Catholic so every holiday is meant to be celebrated with family and food. My uncles are extremely over protective of me because they hold very high standards for my future endeavors. They are very supportive of everything I do, and also tend to say exactly how they feel.

3. To what extent do you believe that you have made the important choices for yourself that have made you who you are today? To what extent do you feel that you are “the master of your own destiny?”

At this point in my life, I do not feel as though I have made many “adult decisions” just yet. Yes, I am in the process of preparing to further my education and pursue a career in my future, but I have not encountered a scenario where I have made a life changing decision. I do feel that I have a lot of control over my destiny because I am very driven as a person and will go after something that I want. But, I also think that fate cannot be controlled and causes things to happen for a reason.