Right Brain, Left Brain (Blog from week of Dec. 2)

According to a Left Brain, Right Brain quiz, I have left brain dominance. This means that I like order and organization in my life. I feel comfortable listening to lectures and I am a pretty good test taker, all of these I do find to be true about myself. I do like class and asssignment directions to be clear and consise. This quiz says that I might be interested in pursuing a career in science and math, because I am good in those areas. This is completely true! Math and science are my best classes and I do plan on becoming a doctor.

This quiz also has some advice for left-brain students. Such advice includes studying in a quiet room, working on projects by yourself because that's the only way you know the job is well done. Also, take advantage of your math and science skills. I find this advice to be really helpful considering my left-brain qualities. If you would like to know some more facts and advice for left-brainers, click here.

Psychological Disorders

Learning about psychological disorders this week got me thinking about the movie Me, Myself, and Irene featuring Jim Carrey. When I first saw this movie when I was younger, I always thought Charlie (Jim Carrey) had schizophrenia. Of course I didn't know too much about psychological disorders, so that thought stuck with me until we started into this unit. I have now learned that schizophrenia is when you have difficulty telling real situations from unreal situations, and almost have hallucinations.

I now know that in the movie, Charlie had what was calling dissociative identity disorder, which is basically two personalities. Charlie's first personality was himself, who he has always been. But then there is Hank. Hank is the 'other' personality of Charlie. Hank is more risky and outgoing than Charlie, and doesn't care what other people think. I think Me, Myself, and Irene is a good movie that represents dissociative identity disorder.

Significance of Candle (Blog post from week of 12/13)

When I see a candle, it signifies hope, or a light at the end of a tunnel. A candle is so delicate and peaceful, yet so powerful all on its own. To every person a candle may show a different meaning or significance, and there may even be that person who just sees...a candle. But many will say what it truly means to them in their heart. Some people may feel love or happiness, usually something with good meaning. So for me, a candle tells me to never give up. Life is a great gift, one that many people take for granted. The candle is so delicate and shows how great life can be. So when I see a candle, I know that someday, I will find that light at the end of a tunnel because I know it's there, it's just a matter of when I find it.

Letter (Blog from week of 12/21)

Dear Mr. Dreier,
I think class is going pretty well. I don't really find any difficulties with it, even getting caught up doesn't seem to be too difficult. So far, I really like this class. I like learning about why people do the things they do and some different disorders that relate to psychology. Some disorders seem so unreal to live with that it is very interesting to learn about. I do enjoy video clips for examples, which seems to help explain things better. Outside of class...well, life is life. It is what it is. You just live each day and do your best, don't let anything get in your way, that's my perspective anyway.

Operant Conditioning

I am the type of person who is very tidy and organized. I usually like things done a certain way and that way only or I am not satisfied. One thing I always want done the same way is how my laundry is folded (yes, I know it's a little weird). Over the past years I have learned that when my mother does my laundry she folds everything, which is fine for some people but that is not how I like my laundry done. I like all my shirts to be hung up on hangers, except the loose fitting shirts, which can be folded. Then I like all my pants folded also. Since my mother does not do my laundry how I prefer it to be done, I have taken up doing my own laundry. I have been doing my own laudry for the past four years because then I know that I am satisfied with how my clothes are folded.

This is an example of operant conditioning. The behavior being shown is doing the laundry. From this behavior I get a positive reinforcement of being happy/satisfied at how my clothes are folded. The schedule of reinforcement in this case would be a variable interval because I might do my laundry after 3 days, then a week later, then 5 days later, it all varies.

People & Concepts

Carl Jung - Collective Unconscious & Archetypes
     Collective unconscious is a part of the unconscious mind in human beings. It contains inherited instincts, urges, and memories common to all people. A general definition that everyone has which may include what's good and bad.
     Archetypes are the models of inherited ideas based on the experiences of one's ancestors, which shapes one's perception of the world. An example would be Superman. Superman is considered an archetype of a hero and what goodness should represent.

Alfred Adler - Inferiority Complex
     Inferiority complex is a pattern of avoiding feelings of inadequacy rather than trying to overcome their source. This can be shown when you first start a job. You feel inferior because you are new and aren't quite sure of how things work, but once you get an idea of how everything works, and start to be good at it, you feel better about yourself. The satisfaction that comes from learning simple tasks sets up a pattern of overcoming inadequacies, a pattern that persists throughout life.

Karen Horney - Women vs. Men & Psychoanalysis
     Karen Horney did not believe Freud's idea of "penis envy." She felt Freud had found that women were jealous of men's power in the world. She feels that though women may occaisonally have "penis envy", men also have the same envy of women, which she called "womb envy." Horney felt that men were jealous of a woman's ability to have children. The way in which men are driven so hard to succeed in life is a substitute for the fact that they cannot carry, nurture and bear children.
     Psychoanalysis is the study of human psychological functioning and behavior, although it can also be applied to societies. Horney believed that cultural and social factors are very important in designing the personality of children. She agreed with some of Freud's ideas of psychoanalysis but differs on them slightly.

Clinical Trials - Ethical or Unethical?

     We all know that in psychology there are certain guidelines that researchers must follow when conducting an experiment. These guidelines are put in place to ensure that the experiment is ethical, mainly for the participant's sake. The ethical guidelines are created by the APA (American Psychological Association) in which every research experiment must follow to be considered legal. Such experiments may be clinical trials for a new medication for a certain disease or disorder. When clinical trials are conducted they are legally considered ethical because they follow the rules. Click here for a quick video on the safety and ethics of clinical trials. However, what if you look at ethics of a clinical trial based on a personal perspective?

     In a typical clinical trial, there are a number of participants (that qualify for the clinical trial with a disease or disorder) who are broken up into two groups. One group will actually get the new medication and the other group will get a placebo (a fake imitation of the drug), the placebo group is also known as the control group. The participants in these trials don't know if they are actually getting the placebo or the real drug. So if this medication does have outstanding results, half of the people in the trial could be cured or have a great health improvement, while the others have no results at all. The point is, some people feel that clinical trials are unethical because the people who are given the placebo get no benefit, if there is a benefit to the drug. Yet again, people know they may be given the placebo before participating in a clinical trial.

     Personally, I feel that clinical trials are completely ethical. Clinical trials allow people to participate and be a part of finding a cure and helping others, while possibly helping themself as well. I wouldn't change anything about how they are set up because they need that control group to determine the effects of the drug.

     So what do you think? In your own mind of what is right or wrong, do you agree with how clinical trials are conducted?