Finally!!!! Yay!!!!!
Well I said that we were done in on of my other posts, but for this time it may be real... at least after we finish the THREE projects that were assigned this past week. The one I am looking forward to the most is the independent project. This is because we got to chose exactly what we wanted to do. I am writing a paper about the implications of nanotechnology for neurology. Starting out finding the articles was challenging, but now that I have a few it has gotten much easier. Now I can just use the references from the articles to find more articles. In fact, these articles have actually been better than the articles I originally found. I know I won't get through all of the references, though, since I have hundreds to sift though. Anyway...
The movie we are watching seems really pointless. It is high school musical with a 70's twist. I really don't see the psychological themes at all- besides drugs that is.
Well, I'm searching again, so I'm done. For good. At least as far as I know.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Friday, May 14, 2010
We're done!
Well, I'm glad that's over with. Finally, I can get a little sanity back in my life. Anyway, the test is about what I expected. The multiple choice that is... But I definitely liked the essays, and they seemed really easy.
The movie we watched in class was interesting, and it seemed hard for me to believe that it was based on a true story, even though I know it was. It was a fine movie- not my favorite but not bad.
As for the project, I'm looking forward to it. I am going to write a research paper about the implications of nanotechnology for neuroscience. This is because as of now I am planning on going into nanotechnology after college. While it won't be in the area of neuroscience, I am still interested in general information about the developing technology.
The movie we watched in class was interesting, and it seemed hard for me to believe that it was based on a true story, even though I know it was. It was a fine movie- not my favorite but not bad.
As for the project, I'm looking forward to it. I am going to write a research paper about the implications of nanotechnology for neuroscience. This is because as of now I am planning on going into nanotechnology after college. While it won't be in the area of neuroscience, I am still interested in general information about the developing technology.
Friday, May 7, 2010
AP tests
Well, last week my post was titled stress!!!... I definitely think that I am feeling better about all of my AP tests now that one of them is over. Also, the practice tests have been helping my confidence, although I am still a bit cautious since we did not factor in the free response. I still have been very stressed out about my physics test though...
I definitely thing that studying over the long-term helps to reduce stress. Since I have been reviewing psychology topics for some weeks now, I feel calm and ready to take the test. This could possibly be another thing that the book could mention. By the way... There are the same number of pages devoted to attraction as aggression (exactly seven), but that is really off subject.
I think the book does a really good job of explaining stress and ways to combat it. I forget if it was mentioned, but one way I have found is to get plenty of sleep, since I then wake up refreshed and ready to start studying again.
Well, if you can't tell, I'm grasping for things to talk about so I think I will end it here, as bad as this post is...
I definitely thing that studying over the long-term helps to reduce stress. Since I have been reviewing psychology topics for some weeks now, I feel calm and ready to take the test. This could possibly be another thing that the book could mention. By the way... There are the same number of pages devoted to attraction as aggression (exactly seven), but that is really off subject.
I think the book does a really good job of explaining stress and ways to combat it. I forget if it was mentioned, but one way I have found is to get plenty of sleep, since I then wake up refreshed and ready to start studying again.
Well, if you can't tell, I'm grasping for things to talk about so I think I will end it here, as bad as this post is...
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
STRESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, the reading for tonight has definitely gotten me thinking about my recent days. Starting last week, I have been really (really, really, really, etc...) stressed. With three AP tests, Solar Olympics, and Senior Night looming, I have been up to my neck in stressors. I need to build a solar cooker, I have tests every other day, I need to learn a piano accompaniment, and I need to make display boards. AGH!!!
Hopefully this will not shorten my life by too much, since stress does take its toll on the body, according to the book. Thankfully, I do take a little time to unwind, which the book said is extremely helpful. A lot of times when I have just had enough studying, I will play saxophone, exercise, or just lay on my bed and relax. I definitely helps to relieve some of the stress... Just in time to start studying again! I definitely cannot wait until the AP tests are in the past...
I am thankful, though, that I have close friends to talk to, which the book also mentions as something that helps. Also, I tend to be happy, which can definitely offset some of the stress. I do find myself extremely satisfied with life, because I feel like I accomplish a lot every day- there is no wasted time (except maybe my fourth hour, but I devote about a third of that class to studying physics, so it isn't completely wasted time). I guess to sum everything that I said up (you really didn't have to read all of the information before this), I have been finding many connections between stress and emotions in my life. When the stress happens, though, I use relaxation activities to unwind, and my close friends and my mostly cheerful disposition have helped me.
Hopefully this will not shorten my life by too much, since stress does take its toll on the body, according to the book. Thankfully, I do take a little time to unwind, which the book said is extremely helpful. A lot of times when I have just had enough studying, I will play saxophone, exercise, or just lay on my bed and relax. I definitely helps to relieve some of the stress... Just in time to start studying again! I definitely cannot wait until the AP tests are in the past...
I am thankful, though, that I have close friends to talk to, which the book also mentions as something that helps. Also, I tend to be happy, which can definitely offset some of the stress. I do find myself extremely satisfied with life, because I feel like I accomplish a lot every day- there is no wasted time (except maybe my fourth hour, but I devote about a third of that class to studying physics, so it isn't completely wasted time). I guess to sum everything that I said up (you really didn't have to read all of the information before this), I have been finding many connections between stress and emotions in my life. When the stress happens, though, I use relaxation activities to unwind, and my close friends and my mostly cheerful disposition have helped me.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Disorders, Therapy, and Such
I guess I can start with my reactions to that test... Ouch. Thankfully it will be curved, but still. I really didn't think it was that bad, but I guess it was. As for the test today, I decided I really need to study up on some disorders and some therapies.
I know all of my posts have been related to personal experience, but I feel that it is the best way for me to discuss my knowledge of the concepts, so, again, here are some personal connections to psychology. I was reading an editorial in Time magazine, and it was talking about when it was necessary to receive therapy for a so called 'marriage disorder' or something of that sort. It was when a person gets married, five, six, seven, eight... a lot of times. It was also discussing drug therapy because it was talking about a patch to emulate the symptoms of marriage, much like a patch would be used to treat nicotine addiction. I just found this a bizarre article.
As for different disorders, I have found myself to be obsessive-compulsive at times, checking to make sure I locked my car doors, two, three, or even four times. While I can't say that I am as extreme as some of the examples in the book, I do have many obsessive-compulsive habits. However, they seem to come in spurts, so I will be obsessive for a while and then it will go away. For example, I will have a time where I have to brush my teeth right away after every meal, and then some extra times. While this isn't necessarily a bad habit, it does sometimes get annoying. Fortunately, I haven't been like this in a while. Another disorder it sometimes seems like I suffer from is Bipolar disorder. Some days I feel really motivated to study and do other things, while other days I feel like doing nothing of the sort (like this morning, although that feeling seems to have passed). Anyway, this is probably more just mild mood swings, since I am never really depressed, I just have days I am less happy. Also, if I am not motivated to do homework, I am motivated to work out, play piano and saxophone, or read. It just seems that I have different compulsions (used on purpose, by the way) on different days.
Basically, while I don't think that I suffer from any of the disorders mentioned in the book, I do feel that I exhibit some of the symptoms of the disorders, in milder forms. This probably can be seen in all of us, however, if we all look hard enough...
I know all of my posts have been related to personal experience, but I feel that it is the best way for me to discuss my knowledge of the concepts, so, again, here are some personal connections to psychology. I was reading an editorial in Time magazine, and it was talking about when it was necessary to receive therapy for a so called 'marriage disorder' or something of that sort. It was when a person gets married, five, six, seven, eight... a lot of times. It was also discussing drug therapy because it was talking about a patch to emulate the symptoms of marriage, much like a patch would be used to treat nicotine addiction. I just found this a bizarre article.
As for different disorders, I have found myself to be obsessive-compulsive at times, checking to make sure I locked my car doors, two, three, or even four times. While I can't say that I am as extreme as some of the examples in the book, I do have many obsessive-compulsive habits. However, they seem to come in spurts, so I will be obsessive for a while and then it will go away. For example, I will have a time where I have to brush my teeth right away after every meal, and then some extra times. While this isn't necessarily a bad habit, it does sometimes get annoying. Fortunately, I haven't been like this in a while. Another disorder it sometimes seems like I suffer from is Bipolar disorder. Some days I feel really motivated to study and do other things, while other days I feel like doing nothing of the sort (like this morning, although that feeling seems to have passed). Anyway, this is probably more just mild mood swings, since I am never really depressed, I just have days I am less happy. Also, if I am not motivated to do homework, I am motivated to work out, play piano and saxophone, or read. It just seems that I have different compulsions (used on purpose, by the way) on different days.
Basically, while I don't think that I suffer from any of the disorders mentioned in the book, I do feel that I exhibit some of the symptoms of the disorders, in milder forms. This probably can be seen in all of us, however, if we all look hard enough...
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Psychological Disorder Articles
The first article I read is found at:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100325131600.htm
This article is about the current inaccuracies of diagnosing Borderline Personality Disorder as Bipolar disorder by using the most common mood disorder test, the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ). The MDQ is a brief questionnaire used by clinics in order to identify if a person has Bipolar Disorder. However, as a research team discovered, The MDQ is four times more likely to diagnose a person with Bipolar Disorder than is a Psychiatrist using the DSM-IV. Borderline Personality Disorder and Bipolar share many same characteristics, such as changes in mood and impulsive actions. However, the treatments for these disorders are very different. The risk in diagnosing a patient wrong is that they will receive the wrong treatment. As these researchers found out, the most common mood disorder test is misdiagnosing many Borderline patients following just the guidelines in the DSM-IV (assuming the psychiatrists are making the correct diagnosis, but that's just my opinion).
The second article I read is found at:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090928141957.htm
This article is about the connection between being creative and being at a higher risk for psychological disorders. The key gene appears to be neuregulin 1. This gene has been found to strengthen communication between neurons. Also, a slight variation of this gene puts a person more at risk for disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar. For this study, the researchers found people who considered themselves to be creative. Then, using a general creativity scale, the researchers rated each person. After taking blood was taken from each person and then analyzed, the researchers found a significant correlation between creativity and neuregulin 1. This correlation implies that perhaps a gene that has been found to cause mental illness also has a useful biological function (creativity).
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100325131600.htm
This article is about the current inaccuracies of diagnosing Borderline Personality Disorder as Bipolar disorder by using the most common mood disorder test, the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ). The MDQ is a brief questionnaire used by clinics in order to identify if a person has Bipolar Disorder. However, as a research team discovered, The MDQ is four times more likely to diagnose a person with Bipolar Disorder than is a Psychiatrist using the DSM-IV. Borderline Personality Disorder and Bipolar share many same characteristics, such as changes in mood and impulsive actions. However, the treatments for these disorders are very different. The risk in diagnosing a patient wrong is that they will receive the wrong treatment. As these researchers found out, the most common mood disorder test is misdiagnosing many Borderline patients following just the guidelines in the DSM-IV (assuming the psychiatrists are making the correct diagnosis, but that's just my opinion).
The second article I read is found at:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090928141957.htm
This article is about the connection between being creative and being at a higher risk for psychological disorders. The key gene appears to be neuregulin 1. This gene has been found to strengthen communication between neurons. Also, a slight variation of this gene puts a person more at risk for disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar. For this study, the researchers found people who considered themselves to be creative. Then, using a general creativity scale, the researchers rated each person. After taking blood was taken from each person and then analyzed, the researchers found a significant correlation between creativity and neuregulin 1. This correlation implies that perhaps a gene that has been found to cause mental illness also has a useful biological function (creativity).
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Two-track mind and personality
Well I will start this with a "news connection." The other day I was reading the comics when I noticed that there was a psychology related comic. Further down the page was another psychology related comic. Psychology has really been entering into my everyday life lately. Also, I was reading a book over break titled Apocalypse Watch by Robert Ludlum. In the book, Ludlum discussed conditioning. Again, it seems that I am finding psychology in everything.
This personality chapter was a bit more difficult for me. There were so many names and everything that I kept getting confused of who did what. I have been finding myself analyzing everything in terms of psychoanalysis recently, though. I seem to have a weird habit of trying to find unconscious desires in the things people say. I wonder what that could say for my desires?
Basically, at the beginning of the course, I was mainly in the class for credit for college, with a little bit of curiosity. Now, however, I have really begun to enjoy the class and all of the connections I can make to everyday life. My motivation has switched from mainly extrinsic to mainly intrinsic. Now if this could only be reflected in my test grades...
This personality chapter was a bit more difficult for me. There were so many names and everything that I kept getting confused of who did what. I have been finding myself analyzing everything in terms of psychoanalysis recently, though. I seem to have a weird habit of trying to find unconscious desires in the things people say. I wonder what that could say for my desires?
Basically, at the beginning of the course, I was mainly in the class for credit for college, with a little bit of curiosity. Now, however, I have really begun to enjoy the class and all of the connections I can make to everyday life. My motivation has switched from mainly extrinsic to mainly intrinsic. Now if this could only be reflected in my test grades...
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