Personality Assessment Test: INFJ

In Psychology class this week, our professor asked us to take a "mini version" of the Myers Briggs Type Indicator, which is entitled the Jung Typology test. It's free, if any of you out there are also interested in taking it [click here]. I feel that the result I got hit the nail right on the head, so I'm posting it - mostly for me. I've posted three descriptions, by three different people, so it's quite lengthy; I'm not expecting anyone else to read this post in it's entirety, but if you are interested, it's here. Who knows? Maybe you'll identify with it, too.

INFJ
Introverted | Intuitive | Feeling | Judging

Also referred to as the "Idealist" and the "Counselor" personality.

You are:

• Slightly expressed introvert.
• Distinctively expressed intuitive personality.
• Moderately expressed feeling personality.
• Moderately expressed judging personality.


[INFJ type description by D.Keirsey]:

Counselors have an exceptionally strong desire to contribute to the welfare of others, and find great personal fulfillment interacting with people, nurturing their personal development, guiding them to realize their human potential. Although they are happy working at jobs (such as writing) that require solitude and close attention, Counselors do quite well with individuals or groups of people, provided that the personal interactions are not superficial, and that they find some quiet, private time every now and then to recharge their batteries. Counselors are both kind and positive in their handling of others; they are great listeners and seem naturally interested in helping people with their personal problems. Not usually visible leaders, Counselors prefer to work intensely with those close to them, especially on a one-to-one basis, quietly exerting their influence behind the scenes.

Counselors are scarce, little more than one percent of the population, and can be hard to get to know, since they tend not to share their innermost thoughts or their powerful emotional reactions except with their loved ones. They are highly private people, with an unusually rich, complicated inner life. Friends or colleagues who have known them for years may find sides emerging which come as a surprise. Not that Counselors are flighty or scattered; they value their integrity a great deal, but they have mysterious, intricately woven personalities which sometimes puzzle even them.

Counselors tend to work effectively in organizations. They value staff harmony and make every effort to help an organization run smoothly and pleasantly. They understand and use human systems creatively, and are good at consulting and cooperating with others. As employees or employers, Counselors are concerned with people's feelings and are able to act as a barometer of the feelings within the organization.

Blessed with vivid imaginations, Counselors are often seen as the most poetical of all the types, and in fact they use a lot of poetic imagery in their everyday language. Their great talent for language - both written and spoken - is usually directed toward communicating with people in a personalized way. Counselors are highly intuitive and can recognize another's emotions or intentions - good or evil - even before that person is aware of them. Counselors themselves can seldom tell how they came to read others' feelings so keenly. This extreme sensitivity to others could very well be the basis of the Counselor's remarkable ability to experience a whole array of psychic phenomena.

Psychology Essay: Motivation.

How will you use the material on motivation to improve your own motivation? Discuss some of the ways that you are already using to stay motivated and achieve your goals.

After reading the various motivation theories [Maslow's Eupsychian Management Theory, Herzberg's Two Factor and Expectancy Theory, McGregor's Theories X, Y & Z, the results of the Hawthorne Studies from 1927-1932, Locke & Latham's Goal-Setting Theory, and Holland's Personality-Job Fit Theory], I find myself mostly agreeing with the last two theories I've just mentioned the most.

I'll start off with the Personality Job-Fit Theory, which suggests that people are more satisfied with their jobs when it suits their personalities, and that as a result, there is a higher sense of loyalty, and people are generally more self-motivated. This is something that I have noticed within myself in these past few years of working in retail; the work that I am doing directly bears on how happy and content I feel, and this affects my productivity greatly. As important as money is in making ends meet, my personal job satisfaction does not actually stem from the pay itself. My being aware of this, has greatly influenced my decision towards the career I am now pursuing.

Holland brought out that all people have distinct personality types, and the closer a person is to a congruent occupation, the higher the level of job satisfaction. Incongruous matching can result in profoundly unhappy workers. For example, realistic types who go into the field of accounting are generally dissatisfied with their work, as the field affords few opportunities to apply his or her best personality traits in the workplace. Accounting work can be technical and tedious, and that may not provide the physical satisfaction desired by a realistic personality type. Personally, I'm foremost of the Artistic type [followed by Social at a close second, and lastly, Investigative]. While some people prefer defined rules and order in their work, something tedious, inflexible and unimaginative would not suit my personality type at all, and my lack of satisfaction would greatly affect my desire and motivation to do the work.

I also saw a lot of truth in the Goal-Setting Theory; it's a lot easier to stay motivated when you've given yourself a set of goals to accomplish, and feeling accomplished is directly related to successfully meeting those goals. Personally, I try my best to set myself up for more success than failure by being realistic in my goal setting, so I set small, 'bite-sized' tasks first. The more successes I've met, the more ambitious I'll then become, and seeing just how far I’ve come can be in and of itself an excellent motivational tool.

Of course, everyone is different, and each person will have their own formulas of staying motivated and creative. All I can say is, for me, staying as much as I can within my element [what is best for my personality type], and setting realistic goals for myself, works to keep my motivation strong and my creativity flowing.

Psychology Essay: Emotional Intelligence.

How do you see emotional intelligence connected to success? In what ways are you excelling in this area? In what ways can you improve?

Emotional intelligence means mastering these five components:

• Self-awareness, or knowing your emotions.
• Self-motivation.
• Self-regulation, such as managing your own emotions and behaviors.
• Empathy, which is recognizing and understanding the emotions of others.
• Social skills.

People who exhibit a high degree of emotional intelligence tend to avoid negative and dramatic relationships and maintain their own emotional equilibrium.

Personally, as I equate success with happiness, I see the abilities of perceiving emotions, using emotions to facilitate thought, understanding emotions and managing emotions as having a direct bearing on success in life. It recognizes the unique humanity of all people, and fosters compassion for others - so acquiring emotional intelligence would benefit those around us.

We would also be benefiting ourselves, too. Having a greater understanding of and being able to manage one’s own self, emotions, goals, intentions, and behaviors would reduce much needless stress and conflict, improve relationships and understanding, and result in increased productivity.

In what ways do I see myself excelling? I think I'm fairly good with self-awareness; I'm pretty honest and open with myself about my flaws and things that I need to work on - some days, more than is considered healthy, even; but I've been improving. I'm pretty good at feeling empathy, too. I know how to put myself into another person's shoes, and how to look through another person's eyes before coming to any conclusions.

In what ways can I improve? Self-regulation. Being aware of where I need to make improvement, and handling it all perfectly in a stressful moment, are two very different things. It's been a continuous work in progress, especially in the past two years, I would say - and as far as I can see, it's something that I will be struggling with for the rest of my life. I've made a habit since I was about nineteen of saying how I feel 'as is' [which is a 360° turn from how I was as a teenager, when I allowed myself to be trampled on] - I see now, that while it's a very different approach, it is just as equally ineffective. Finding the happy medium in-between the two extremes is what I'm striving for now, and the more that I learn about human behavior, and the more I understand about myself and about people around me, the little bit closer I feel to finding that.

Psychology Essay: Assertiveness vs. Aggressiveness.

How will you apply the material on assertiveness vs. aggressiveness in your own life?

While it's important to stand up for one's self, an aggressive person does it in a way that violates the rights of others. An aggressive person is inclined towards threatening or intimidating others; malicious teasing; taunting or name-calling; gossiping and slandering; encouraging others to reject or exclude someone; acts of violence, from hitting and pushing to stabbing and rape; etc. In short, an aggressive person looks for some way to force his / her opinion onto someone else by bullying them.

Assertiveness, on the other hand, is based on a diplomatic communication style; it can be thought of as the sweet spot between being too passive and being too aggressive. It shows other people that you respect yourself [by standing up for your interests and you are expressing your thoughts and feelings], and it also shows that you respect other people [by being cognizant of the rights of others and willing to negotiate a mutually satisfying solution]. It creates a win-win situation.

While doing research on the benefits of assertiveness, I also came across this interesting point on mayoclinic.com:

"Some research suggests that being assertive also can help people cope better with many mental health problems, including depression, anorexia, bulimia, social anxiety disorder and schizophrenia."

Personally, there is a lot I am finding in my research of assertive communication that I would like to incorporate into my daily life. For instance, I'd like to revive my old habit of writing thoughts down, especially when they touch on a delicate subject of some sort, before voicing those thoughts out loud. This helped me to filter though my thoughts, so to speak, and to phrase what it was I wished to say in a much more tactful way.

I admit that, during disagreements, I do have a problem with using "you" statements, and I will be working on turning them more into "I" statements [for instance, saying "I disagree" instead of "you're wrong"]. All in all, what it boils down to, is focusing more on building mutual respect. Not only would communication be a lot smoother, but there would be a lot less of unnecessary stress, as well.

Psychology Essay: Conflict Resolution.

How will you use the material on conflict resolution to improve the way you handle conflict?

The truth is, conflict is a fact of life. We've all seen situations that have led to conflicts, and we all know the personal animosity that can result. Believe it or not, though, conflict actually can bear positive fruit - if resolved successfully. For instance, it can lead to increased understanding, increased cohesion [i.e., teamwork and respect], and improved self-knowledge. However, if not handled effectively, the results can be very damaging, and lead into a vicious downward spiral of negativity, recrimination and retaliation.

Above all things to avoid is force, or coercion; this involves compelling a person to do something s/he does not want to do through threats, intimidation, pressure or violence. This is self-defeating because it may result in discontent, counter-force, and renewed future conflict.

Make sure that good relationships are the first priority.

• As far as is possible: Be calm, be patient and have respect.

• Keep the discussion just that - a discussion. Not a debate, not confrontational.

• Do your best to remain courteous and constructive - not destructive - under pressure.

• Learn to separate the person from the problem - focus on the issue, not the individual. Recognize that real and valid issues may lie behind that person's position, so pay attention to the interests that are being presented.

• If you listen carefully [with empathy], and talk second, you'll most likely understand why that person is adopting that position.

• When you do talk, make sure that you use an adult, assertive approach rather than a [self-defeating] submissive or aggressive style.

• Focus on setting out the facts: Agree to the problem; identify the issues clearly and concisely; clarify feelings.

• Lastly, remain flexible in negotiating a mutually-satisfying solution.

This information is definitely practical, and while I'll be the first to admit that I'm not anywhere near perfect, I honestly really do try my best to follow these rules as much as I can. If people focused more on solutions instead of wallowing in their injured sense of pride, or obsessing over selfish interests, than the world would be a much nicer place to live in. While we can't change the entire world, we can at least do our part, and if these rules are followed, then conflict - both met in professional and in our personal lives - can be resolved effectively.

Psychology Essay: Communication.

What skills will you take from the material on communication to improve your own life? What do you see yourself doing well already? Explain. (Give at least three areas between the two questions.)

I really liked how the textbook broke down derails in communication when different opinions, high stakes and strong emotions take control:

• Masking is hiding one’s true feelings through sarcasm or forced pleasantness.

• Avoiding is talking about unrelated issues to avoid sensitive subjects.

• Withdrawing actions include ending a conversation or leaving a room.

• Controlling involves tactics that include changing the subject, cutting others off, or speaking in absolutes.

• Labeling involves stereotyping and name-calling.

• Attacking involves making threats or using belittling remarks.

People need to feel safe when they are communicating; good communication skills enable people to discuss controversial topics without creating anger or defensiveness. Personally, for me, this has been a massive roadblock in communication between myself and my parents; it's difficult to be open with someone when they only want to hear what they want to hear. In a personal relationship, this is bad, since - needless to say, when a person does not feel safe opening up, then they will stop being honest, and close up.

If you want to maintain good relationships in your personal life, it's crucial that you learn how to communicate about issues you deem controversial in a mature manner. Learn to control your emotions and watch for signs of unsafe communication [masking, avoiding, withdrawing, controlling, labeling and attacking]. Learn to be aware of your own and other people’s emotional states and behaviors. The most effective communication makes all parties understand that they and the others have various needs that the communication is attempting to meet, so establish mutual purpose between communicating parties. Demonstrate concern for others [this creates motivation to work for a common purpose], and since trust is the basis of any good relationship, keep in mind that trust is established through effective listening, building rapport, managing cultural differences, and empathy.

As far as communication goes in my personal life, in the past few years, communication [particularly with my twin sister] has been very positive; safe to say, we can talk about pretty much anything, at anytime. There are definitely days when our fuses are short, like anyone else; we feel tired, we feel stressed, or we don't feel good some days - but things are easily mended between us. This is because neither of us feels 'above apologizing' when doing so is necessary, we both know how to calmly express ourselves, and we both also show respect to each other by really listening to what the other has to say. We also praise each other often every single day. While we have always been close, our communication with each other hasn't always been like that, as we grew up in a household where our parents were constantly fighting and shouting. We weren't exactly taught to display patience and understanding; we had to teach ourselves as we got older. Growing up, I would often think nice things of people, but I never really voiced these thoughts out loud. I really didn't develop that trait of giving praise and compliments often in conversation until I was about nineteen years old. I actually picked up that habit from a very good friend of mine, and then I began to adapt this habit into my conversations with both of my sisters. As a result - especially with my twin sister - our relationships with each other have improved so much.

It's really amazing to me just how powerful communication really is; it almost seems silly, but just something as seemingly small as the way we phrase things, really can make a difference as to the quality of our lives. My relationship with my parents is still not exactly where I would like it to be - as much as I love my parents, my father is the avoiding and withdrawing type, and my mother is the controlling and attacking type. In all honesty, I'm a defensive person more than an offensive person [my family knows all too well how defensive I can get]; fighting is not my idea of a good time, though, so I try to avoid it as much as I can. However, I try my best to be honest and open, even when I know it won't be respected - this sometimes brings on a lot of drama in and of itself, but I believe that in the long run, it will prove to be the better course than a hypocritical one. When this happens, and when for whatever reason, I feel vulnerable as a result, my default reaction is either the masking or [counter]attacking type of reaction. But, I think that it has improved somewhat. It's difficult, but the dramatic fights aren't - at least- as often as they used to be.

I think that successful communication depends on everyone involved, but even one person trying hard does make a difference; it might not seem like it at first, but it really does.

From the school's discussion forum:

Day One:

I believe that it is very important for us to not just be good, but strong communicators. To what/whom do you owe your communication skills?

In my home, unfortunately, there has always been poor communication; lashing out and making assumptions is very common. What really trained it was actually working in retail; watching how my managers and co-workers spoke with one another and with customers really helped me to hone these skills - which, by the way, is a lot more than simply saying words that other people understand. Body language, eye contact, and voice inflection can say just as much as your words - if we're not careful, we can be sending messages through body language that we don't even realize we are sending.

What degree of importance do you attach to being a good communicator? What do you see makes for "good communication skills?"

Knowing how to communicate effectively is a massive determining factor in whether we will have positive, or whether we will have damaged, relationships with others - in our personal lives, and in our professional lives - so it is very important that we know what communication actually is, and how to communicate effectively.

Some key points in communicating effectively are:

• Think before you speak.
• Be confident when you speak.
• Be clear.
• Try your best to be relaxed [don't rush!] and open.
• Approach people in a non-threatening manner.
• Use proper grammar.
• Be aware of body language.
• Maintain eye contact.
• Listen. This is the other half of communication. Avoid the urge to blurt out what you're thinking while the other person is speaking.
• Last but not least, do not drone on. Get to the point. Be brief, and be gone.

Day Two:

Professor: Class, good feedback about communication skills. I would like to tie together both discussions and bring in again technology. It was mentioned earlier that technology maybe hindering our ability as a society to communicate well face to face with others. Do you agree or disagree and share your reasoning.

Me: I completely agree; it's a little ironic that in this day and age, technology allows us to communicate with others in ways that seemed impossible for ages - yet, there is also a massive breakdown in communication within families. The tendency seems to be to text rather than call; to watch tv rather than discuss with your family how their day has been; to play on the computer, or video games, rather than go outside; etc.

I think that what this really boils down to, is knowing how to keep technology in it's place. Yes, it really is helpful; it's nice to have a cell phone, and know that you can immediately call for help if you are lost or in an accident; it's nice to be able to communicate with colleagues or friends across the country in an instant; technology is wonderful! But how is our communication face-to-face? Are we still good at knowing how to express ourselves in person? In controlling our voice and body language? Are we good with listening to others? Are you allowing technology to create a breakdown of communication in face-to-face human contact?

Psychology Essay: Conditioning.

How will you use the material on conditioning to improve your own life? Your parenting of children? Managing of others?

As I'm hoping to get into the marketing/advertising field with my Web Graphic Design degree, learning about conditioning will really benefit me in my professional life, as consumer advertising relies on the principles of classical conditioning to create loyalty to a particular brand or product. It fascinates me how powerful advertising really can be; I've learned that when well-known brands are shown to subjects, their brains register a spike in overall activity and specifically higher levels of activity in the pleasure centers of the brain.

I'm very interested in learning which imagery, music and sound effects will encourage positive emotions in a target audience. I've learned that humor, in particular, often conveys a sense of belonging or shared experience, so this is a very effective means of reaching people. Successful advertising campaigns also generate strong emotions that have to do with basic human needs, such as belonging and love; this is often more effective than even repetition or relevance.

Learning about operant conditioning made me think more on the type of parent that I would like to become. The textbook brought out that affirming and encouraging positive behavior with recognition, praise and rewards is more effective than punishment without reinforcement; also, the re-framing threats of punishment into positive statements of choice is an effective technique. For instance, "No games until you do your homework!" could be restated as, "You may play games after you finish your homework." I can say from experience that this is effective, as well; for instance, when asked do to something like chores or to work on my homework, my grandmother tended to use the latter technique, whereas my mother relied more on threats and negative reinforcement. Generally speaking, the former technique would create a desire to please, and the latter technique created a desire to rebel - needless to say, the former technique was the more effective one.

The lessons about observational learning, modeling and mirroring [the process of observing and repeating a behavior] also stressed, to me anyway, the importance of being a good example for others, especially one's children. Higher primates - including children - have mirror neurons in certain areas of their brains. Mirror neurons fire when a physical action is performed, and the same neurons fire when a subject observes another performing the same task. A common example of this is when teenagers manage to drive a car without formal instruction.

As sort of a side point, I also really liked this:

"Children should be allowed the freedom to discover their own worlds instead of learning them from books alone. Children's playfulness and sense of exploration should be encouraged to nurture their natural predisposition to learn by discovery."

The information I read in operant conditioning could also be applied to the managing of others; effectively disciplining your employees and acknowledging their hard work is equally important. I like how the textbook emphasized that affirming and encouraging positive behavior with recognition, praise and rewards is more effective than punishment without reinforcement. Who wants to work in a place where they do not feel valued or appreciated? As a manager, you need to know how to properly motivate your workers to work for you; the 'atmosphere' within the workplace, and the quality of the work done, will be much better if you know how to create a feeling of loyalty within your workers.

Psychology Discussion: Learning.

How did your parents most influence your behavior growing up? Was it through classical conditioning? Operant conditioning? Social learning theory? Which theory had the biggest impact? Why? Give an example and state how it has impacted the person you are today:

As Jessie said, we both learned from our parents mostly through operant conditioning and the social learning theory. Our father was never the type to really sit down and verbally teach us lessons; he was mostly out, doing his own thing. Throughout primary school, not only were my parents separated for a few years, but my father was also in and out of jail constantly, so I didn't really get to know my father until about the seventh grade. The consequences that my father brought onto himself was a teacher to us, his children, in and of itself.

Also, because of this, my mother was the primary disciplinarian -- and discipline was the primary way in which she taught us. There wasn't very much positive reinforcement; my mother had a lot of stress, being for a long while, a single parent on welfare raising three children. Out of fear and anxiety, she would be quick to punish and give negative reinforcement.

I think that my father's example, while not being a very good one, had the strongest impact. I'm not the sort of person to take what a person says as an irrefutable fact; I need something to back it up. Therefore, with my mother, she was often 'challenged' by my sisters and I; not necessarily directly, but we often questioned it, as we were very sheltered by her, and she was also very sheltered growing up. But with my father - it was hard to question the facts so clearly presented, and it definitely has had a massive impact on the three of us.

And since I made reference to what Jessie said, here it is:

For me it was a combination of operant conditioning and social learning. Operant conditioning through my mom, for sure-- she was the disciplinarian. Through my mother and my father, I learned through observation. My dad abused drugs and alcohol all throughout my childhood and I learned by watching him get arrested so many times that living life the way he did was bad. Also, seeing how my mom lived a more responsible life, worked hard and supported the family, I saw how living life the way she did was more practical and made more sense.

I realize that everybody is different and other ways of learning have a bigger affect on certain people, but for me, what stuck in my mind was seeing and observing things for myself. I guess because it was like seeing proof of both the consequences and blessings of what your actions can do. Seeing all the things that happened to my dad was traumatizing to me as a child, and it made me swear to myself that I would never be that way. Now that I am an adult, I try to live my life as honestly and as practical as I can, and even if it doesn't necessarily "pay off," at least I can reap the blessings of having a clean conscience, and knowing I tried my best to live a good life.

From my school's discussion forum on Learning:

Me: I will agree with Amelia about "the three p's" [Amelia wrote, 'people will be more motivated to do their best, if they aren't pushed or punished or pressured'], and doing your best to create a stress-free environment. My home seemed to always be stress-ridden. My mother has a chemical imbalance; whenever she would come home, my siblings and I would always be shaking, and run the other way. It was difficult to please her, and this lessened our desire to want to please her. So, positive reinforcement really goes a long way. Discipline is very important, too, of course - but it really can depress a child when they feel that they are never good enough, or that they are going to be punished based on the things a parent *fears*, more than the actual actions or words. We eventually felt either apathy ["why bother?"] and underlying bitterness ["I wonder if I'm really loved"], which to this day [I'm now age 23], is hard for me to overcome.

So, a positive environment is very important, yes. Going with what I was saying earlier, too, about discipline being equally important - the current parental trend today seems to be along the lines of being your child's buddy and playmate, over being the disciplinarian - in the long run, you are really hurting your child. What they need from you, as the parent, is a mother or a father - not a sibling. You are responsible for their learning and development; you are responsible for protecting them in their youth, and teaching them to be successful adults. If you want respect from them, then don't act like a child yourself - give them a reason to look up to you. Share your wisdom with them; train them; love them - even if it sometimes means tough love. Yes, spending quality time with your children and bonding with them by having fun is important, but keep things in perspective and be balanced about it. Do not try to be, first and foremost, their "buddy". I cannot stress this enough.

Professor: Good points. Jamie. This leads us to wonder if people are living lives in their "roles" which would allow for overall better lives for all and less confusion. Roles of the parent; be the parent. Child, be the child.

Me: Yes, exactly - you worded that much more simply than I did. Children need to know and accept that parents are in charge. Honesty, truthfulness, sincerity, and other such virtues are not picked up by your child as time goes on - it is something that needs to be taught by the parent as early as possible. While I'm not suggesting that the parents become dictators - of course not; children need to feel loved and wanted - but parents also need to be firm and clear.

Benjamin: Jamie, you and your sister are correct and it really bothers me to see parents who would much rather be their child's best friend or would rather be liked by their child, then be respected by them. This really is a disturbing trend to me and I don't really know what this bodes for the future, but I doubt it is good. I am sure this kind of makes me come off sounding real right wing super conservative, which I'm not, but in some ways I am a little old fashioned; and while I respect my child as a person with his own personality and views, he is also my responsibility it is my job to teach him what he needs to know, clothe him, feed him and keep him safe until he is capable of doing this for himself.

Psychology Essay: Memory.

How will you use the material on memory to improve your grades? If you are already getting top grades, what in there did you see that you are already doing? (Discuss at least three things.)

While writing can be rich and sophisticated, it can be difficult for the brain to remember information when it is presented in this way. There are various mnemonic techniques - a.k.a., memory and learning aids - to mentally store information by creating an easy-to-remember pattern of letters, numbers, ideas, or associations among things. Relating information to pictures, sounds, smells, tastes, or tactile sensations is one of the most effective ways to accomplish this; this is called sensory memory.

Visual Memory - One idea of retaining information is by using vivid mental images. As the brain typically blocks out unpleasant images, specifically ones that may be linked to a personally painful memory [this is called motivated forgetting, in which your brain blocks out memories that are too painful to retrieve], it is best to keep your mental imagery positive and peaceful. Some people find that using mental images in which are scenarios out-of-the-ordinary [i.e., exaggerating the size of objects; making scenarios funny and peculiar; etc.] works well. Your mnemonics can also contain sounds, smells, tastes, touch, movement and feelings as well as pictures, so imagine these scenarios as vividly, colorful, and sense-laden as you can; this is much easier for your mind to remember than drab imagery.

To Improve Grades:

One effective use of this that we discussed in my Psychology class, was picturing a room in your house - your bedroom, for example - and incorporating things you need to remember, in ridiculous ways, into the mental image of your bedroom. For instance, if you have a test coming up in school, this could be one effective way to store key points into your brain.

Iconic Memory - This refers to remembering something one has just seen; it is short-term, usually only lasting from a few seconds to a minute. To effectively commit something you have just seen to long-term memory, focusing on a limited range of stimuli is best, as the capacity for sensory memory is very small. Even though people can remember an almost infinite number of ideas, facts, lists, sounds, smells, events and much more, the mind does not remember everything; therefore, the image must be processed further to become a permanent memory, or it will rapidly disappear. Much like in any other type of memory, exposure to the stimulus, conscious observation, relevance to the person, etc., plays a major part in memory retrieval.

To Improve Grades:

One effective way in aiding your iconic memory, especially for scholastic efforts, is the use of flashcards; writing down the material on cards aids your memory in and of itself, let alone repeatedly seeing the information.

Echoic Memory - This term refers to the 'echo' that remains in your head - an actual presence of sounds in your brain - after the original sound has ended, which only lasts for 2-3 seconds. A major factor in remembering a sound for longer than that is focused attention. Repetition also works your brain into organizing and integrating it into a long term memory. Rhyme is another great memory aid; there are several reasons why educators, authors, and song writers who target young children use rhyme so much. Personally, I have trouble remembering names, so I try to use this technique when I am introduced to someone; for instance, you meet someone named Mary Jane. You could think of: Very Vain; Cherry Cane; Faerie Plain; etc.

To Improve Grades:

The best way to turn what you are reading into a permanent memory is to read aloud to yourself; not only are you making excellent use of your echoic memory, but you are also making muscular impressions by the use of the vocal organs, which makes the lesson better recorded in your mind.

Psychology Essay: Cognition.

In the "Cognition, Self, and Others" section of the text, what three pieces of information did you find most helpful/interesting? Why?

• I have often wondered what leads humans to stereotype others, even subconsciously, and cognition explains some of the reasons behind this. In short, cognition is the mental processing of observation. Because people are constantly confronted by new social situations and an overwhelming amount of sensory information, they often rely on categories of thought and cognitive shortcuts; so people categorize other people and things by lumping those that have similar characteristics together. Categorizing things and people according to past experience and mental schemas leaves mental energy for taking in new or surprising information -- which leads to stereotypes. As mental shortcuts, stereotypes can be useful, but to keep from becoming an untrue prejudgment / prejudice, they require: careful consideration; recognition of the stereotype's existence and defining characteristics; re-evaluation after they are applied.

• I thought this was a curious fact about self-esteem:

Among all racial groups, white women have the lowest levels of self-esteem and, for related reasons, suffer from higher rates of depression than other groups. White women may have lower levels of self-esteem because of their perceptions of a male-dominant culture.

• I also learned that the study of cognition also includes the skills of imagination and creativity. The thalamus serves as a relay centre, filtering information before it reaches areas of the cortex - which is responsible, amongst other things, for cognition and reasoning. According to BBC news, Associate Professor Fredrik Ullen was quoted as saying, "Fewer D2 receptors in the thalamus probably means a lower degree of signal filtering, and thus a higher flow of information from the thalamus." He believes it is this barrage of uncensored information that ignites the creative spark. This would explain how highly creative people manage to see unusual connections in problem-solving situations that other people miss.

As somewhat of a side point, I thought that this fact on imagination was interesting; this was also reported on BBC news by a health reporter:

"Creativity is akin to insanity, say scientists who have been studying how the mind works. Brain scans reveal striking similarities in the thought pathways of highly creative people and those with schizophrenia; both groups lack important receptors used to filter and direct thought. It could be this uninhibited processing that allows creative people to "think outside the box", say experts from Sweden's Karolinska Institute. In some people, it leads to mental illness."

- [Michelle Roberts | Knowing Imagination | BBC - Creative Minds 'Mimic Schizophrenia' | May 31, 2010 | Link to Article]

Psychology Discussion: Stereotypes.

I normally wouldn't bother with posting in here my discussion from my school's online forum, but I really wanted to share this bit I wrote today, as I personally feel very strongly against the use of stereotypes. Over the weekend, I will be answering this question as well: 'Take a moment to think about stereotypes that you have formed. When did you form them, was it by someone else informing you or by your own personal experience?', and I'll share my answer to that in here, as well.


What exactly is a stereotype? Why do we form them? Are they ever acceptable?

A stereotype is a commonly held oversimplified, generic image assigned to a group of people related to their race, nationality, age, sexual orientation, interests, etc. - to name a few. Generally speaking, they are not based on objective / verifiable truth, but on prior assumptions and prejudices.

I chalk up the forming of stereotypes to ignorance and fear of the unknown. People fear what they do not understand, and when they feel threatened, they feel a need to become superior somehow; so certain one-dimensional characteristics are noted, and then turned into caricatures / labels that represent an entire group of people. As a result, most stereotypes are derogatory in nature, i.e., racist, sexist, ageist, etc.

There is such a thing as a positive stereotype [i.e., all black people are good athletes], but since stereotypes generally tend to not be based on truth, I disagree with treating them as such. We are all guilty of using stereotypes at some point; often, this is due to never having more than second-hand knowledge of a group of people while growing up. However, once you have added knowledge to the contrary, and you are more aware of the uniqueness and individuality of the group, and yet, you still choose to categorize people in stereotypical ways - you are suggesting that you cannot accept anything positive about that group of people, and you are participating in prejudice. This is when stereotypes especially become damaging and offensive.

Psychology Essay: Addiction.

What in the material on addiction did you find most useful? What are the three most valuable things you found that you would share with a friend who struggles with such issues?

Addiction is treated by most professionals as a disease, since it alters body chemistry; treatments for it even follow a disease model, which is based on an understanding that restraint cannot easily overcome the biochemical forces at work in the body of the addict.

It often begins with the innocent use of a prescription drug for a legitimate medical reason - i.e., Oxytonin and Vicoden [pain relievers]; Xanax [an anxiety drug]; etc. Some users have the illusion that because a drug is legal and obtained with a prescription, it's abuse is somehow not the same as abuse of illegal drugs.


• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy treats the thought processes and habits that foster addiction. A therapist can help a substance abuser discover alternative coping strategies to avoid relapse into drinking or drug use, and also can help the patient find new support systems and activities that can help lead to recovery.

• Changing the circumstances linked to drug abuse is an important first step in overcoming addiction; this means avoiding friendships, places, and situations that may spur them to indulge, and replacing a bad habit with a good one.

• The American Psychiatric Association prepares guidelines for substance abuse and drug addiction treatment. This guide is updated regularly to take into account new procedures, treatments, and, especially, new drug regimens. The guidelines also indicate a set of best behavioral practices that can help a substance abuser overcome addiction.

Psychology Essay: Stress.

Why should you be concerned about too much stress? Give details.

If the stress becomes too great / unresolved, over time, the body's ability to respond to any kind of resistance collapses into exhaustion.

Stressors can be sudden, traumatic episodes with long-term collateral damage [i.e., an unexpected job loss] or they may be ongoing daily challenges [i.e., the illness of a spouse who requires extensive care], but even less acute daily stress can add up to big mental-health trouble if the noise, pressures, and demands of everyday life are not taken in stride. If left unchecked, a stress-related disorder could be the result, such as: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder; Panic Disorder; Generalized Anxiety Disorder; etc.; some 20-30% of people with anxiety disorders also suffer from depression, as well.

In short, if do not know how to handle your stress, your health could be in great risk; it is definitely worth the time to learn how to control your stress level and/or speak to your doctor about stress, and see what he or she recommends.

What did you learn about stress that you will use to improve your own life? What were you already doing right regarding stress that you aim to continue using? (List at least 5 things between the two questions.)

♦ Meditation, during which the mind empties of thought, has actual physical benefits to the body. Thoughtful reflection can also help the body respond to a stressor.

♦ Social / emotional support [friends; family; peers] contributes to psychological well-being; those who have a sense of belonging and feelings of security experience an increased sense of self-worth. It's comforting to know that you have people to turn to in times of need; therefore, learning to build and maintain healthy relationships has far-reaching benefits to your health.

♦ Cognitive awareness [i.e., keeping a stress journal] is useful for turning around negative thinking; personally, I've written in a journal consistently since I was about fifteen years old, and it's worked pretty well for me; in the past two years, my writing in it has lessened somewhat, but I still have one. It's nice even just to know that I have a private place for my thoughts when I really need to let some steam out.

♦ Guided imagery can help you to feel at peace; personally, I think of places I've been to before that have made me feel peaceful, such as the Pacific Northwest - I'll envision tall redwood trees covered in low mists, with waves crashing against the dramatic cliffs; a fond childhood memory; etc. I often look at photos of beautiful places in my spare time, so my mind is pretty good at picturing someplace quiet and dreamy. No matter what it is that you're picturing in these moments, keep it peaceful and lighthearted, and imagine it as vividly as you can.

♦ Aromatherapy and relaxing music [personally, in these moments, I prefer classical, or something ethereal, i.e., Enya] goes a really long way for me. A few moments like these, often coupled with deep, cleansing breaths, is sometimes all I need to relax and counterbalance stress.

From my school's forum discussion on Stress:

Matthew: I have a question for Jamie and Jessica... Given that a lot of biological conditions are hereditary and that there is a higher chance of expression with identical twins, how similar are your reactions to stress? I.e. do you both tense up the muscles in your back when you stress out? Get depressed? Have increased stomach acid, etc?

Me: In case you don't know, identical twins occur when one fertilized egg splits in two, so my twin sister and I share the same genetic material. Because of this - as studies of twins have confirmed - if a twin has a mood disorder, an identical twin is about three times more likely than a fraternal twin to have a mood disorder as well. With that having been said, my twin sister and I both struggle with depression [and the same type of depression, at that - unipolar] and anxiety issues.

Psychology Essay: Insomnia.

What did you learn from the material on sleep that you will use to improve your own life? What did you see in the text on sleep that you will continue doing?

As an insomniac, I am only too aware of the damage that lack of sleep can inflict on a person. Sleep deprivation depresses the immune system, raises levels of the stress hormone cortisol, along with other physiological consequences; an extreme lack of it can even cause severe short and long-term consequences - namely, psychosis, paranoia, and hallucination. Even after sleep resumes, the person may suffer depression.

Adjusting my schedule so that I have enough time to wind down at night is definitely something I'm going to be working harder on; I used to work in retail, so having a regular sleep schedule was difficult, but my circumstances are different now. Also, drinking more [non-caffeinated, of course] tea would be helpful. I used to light scented oils at night, or play soothing music; that's something I could start doing again.

Suppose that you have a friend that asks you for some tips on getting a better night's sleep. What would you tell him/her? (Give at least 5 specific recommendations.)

Proper room temperature is very important; my insomnia used to be most severe during the summer season, but now I have an air conditioner in the room, so I no longer have to worry about the heat preventing me from sleeping. Having good ventilation is in the same strain as proper room temperature; I also have a fan in the room, so the air is constantly moving; this is important, as I cannot open my bedroom window anymore [because of the air conditioner], and because I have six cats, I prefer that my bedroom door is shut as well - which leads me to another point: it's probably best if you do not have animals in your room while you are trying to sleep.

Try to also figure out which stimulants for sleep -- and which counteractive stimulants you need to avoid -- that will directly appeal to your five senses. Personally, I have to make sure that the room is very dark; whether you like some light in your room at night or not, though, make sure that the lighting is adequate for sleep. Having scented oils, such as lavender, or I even had a scented oil named "Rain", can help induce sleep. Having soft music playing in the background may help; I used to have a piano concerto play softly in my room every night. If that doesn't work for you, perhaps a loud fan - I highly recommend this, as it helps to drown out other noise, such a traffic, plus the monotonous humming can lull you to sleep as well.

Psychology Essay: Schizophrenia & Bipolar Disorder.

What did you learn from the material on schizophrenia and bipolar disorder that will help you deal with individuals that are afflicted with such?

SCHIZOPHRENIA:

I've learned that Schizophrenia, contrary to popular belief, is not a split personality disorder - it is a type of psychosis in which the sufferer cannot tell what is real from what is imagined; this person suffers from delusions, hallucinations, hears voices, and/or has disorganized thoughts and speech. As a result, the sufferer often loses touch with reality. This is usually coupled with episodes of hyperactivity or lethargy.

It's symptoms usually develop in adolescence or early adulthood, but it can appear earlier or later in life. It affects 0.6% of people worldwide, and there is a genetically inherited predisposition to the disease; for instance, if both parents have schizophrenia, their offspring have almost a 50% chance of developing it.

More awareness should definitely be raised about this illness. Schizophrenia is a very frightening disease for the sufferer, leaving him or her extremely paranoid and withdrawn; more likely than not, that person is unable to function in normal society as a result of the illness. Understanding how to help a friend or family member with it is very important; it cannot be cured, but it can be controlled with the proper treatment.


BIPOLAR DISORDER:

The term Bipolar Disorder, also known as Manic Depression, refers to the two extremes of behavior identified with this neurological syndrome: one is a manic high, characterized by an excessive energy and strength, sleeplessness, and reckless behavior; the other is depression, involving listlessness, lack of emotion and interest, and drowsiness. It is a serious illness, in which many episodes may occur with no apparent trigger. It typically begins in adolescence or young adulthood, but some studies indicate that it can start in childhood. 5.7 million Americans, or 2.7% of the population, suffer from bipolar depression in any given year, and there is a genetic component; for instance, if a parent has the disorder, his or her child has a 25% chance of also having it.

This disorder should be treated as early as possible, and the consequences of neglecting to treat it at all, could be very great. Family and friends need to be aware that suicide is a very real risk with both mania and depression; a bipolar individual having suicidal thoughts, ideas and gestures requires immediate emergency attention.

Psychology Essay: Neurotransmitters.

This is another essay assignment for my Psychology class; I'm mainly posting them in here for my friend Wave, as she is interested in becoming a Psychology major, but I'm happy to share this information with anyone that is interested. I think that all of this is very interesting. :)


Name at least three things you learned from the material on neurotransmitters and specify how you will apply them in your own life?

[1] Neurotransmitters are chemicals that help ferry signals across the divide between nerve cells.

[2] Four of the most important or common neurotransmitters are: Serotonin; Norepinephrine; Acetylcholine; and Dopamine. Each in the proper amounts and presence is important in maintaining healthy physical and mental functioning.

[3] Synapses are essential to neuronal function; synapses are the means by which neurons pass signals to the individual target cells. It is in the synapse that outside substances can enter the nervous system.


I was particularly interested in the four most important/common neurotransmitters, specifically, Serotonin and Norepinephrine.

I've heard of Serotonin, but didn't quite know exactly what it was until now: "A calming force that affects the mood, hunger, temperature regulation, sensory perception, arousal and sleep patterns, and emotions"; I also learned that too much Serotonin can cause out-of-control aggression, and for this reason, anti-depressants prevent the re-uptake of Serotonin so it remains in the synapse and keeps a person's mood elevated.

As for Norepinephrine, I learned that is is "the controller of arousal and alertness; helps regulate moods, affects dreams, prepares the body to fight or flee a threat by constricting blood vessels in times of stress or shock, increasing heart rate and blood pressure, and releasing more fuel into the bloodstream in stressful situations." I did not know until now that the absence of Norepinephrine has been linked to depression, and that antidepressant drugs called Serotonin and Norepinephrine Re-uptake Inhibitors [SNRI's] increase the neurotransmitter's levels.

I am always interested in how anti-depressants work, as depression is something that I combat, so this is definitely knowledge that I can use in my own every day life.

Psychology Essay: Depression.

This is one of five essay assignments I'll be writing for my Psychology class, due tomorrow:


"Depression is something that all of us go through, but how does "normal" depression differ from what is experienced by those who struggle with this throughout their lives? What three tips would you give someone who has depression?"

"Normal" depression - or as I like to call it, "just a case of the blues" - is a side effect of life, and anyone may suffer temporarily from one or more of it's symptoms without having a serious problem, such as: a drastic change in mood [anxiety; anger; melancholy; etc.]; aches and pains; change in eating or bowel habits; change in sleeping habits; total hopelessness; feelings of total worthlessness; nothing gives you pleasure; loss of weight; suicidal thoughts; etc.; however, if several symptoms persist, or if any is severe enough that it interferes with your normal activities, you may have a physical illness and need a thorough examination by a doctor, or a serious mental disorder - major depression.

I've had depression since I was about fourteen years old; mine is of the low-grade unipolar sort, but there are many other types of depression as well: chronic depression; manic depression; dysthimic depression; post-partum depression; seasonally-affected depression; anxiety depression; a-typical depression; double depression; endogenous depression; situational/reactional depression; agitated depression; psychotic depression; melancholic depression; catatonic depression; and many other sub-types of depression.

I won't delve into every single type of depression, but I can tell you a little bit about the sort that I have personally: Unipolar. It is similar to bipolar, minus the episodes of mania and hypermania; when it kicks in, I normally only feel a low-grade level of the one low extreme. It can make daily activities difficult, but for the most part, I have learned to cope with them. I don't feel it chronically, thankfully -- I do feel happiness often -- but, unfortunately, it is easily triggered, and can be very difficult to snap out of. Sometimes, it kicks in out of nowhere, when everything is going fine. Finding ways to cope with it has not been easy; for many [fellow] sufferers, ways of trying to hide it commonly include going on pleasure binges; substance abuse; self-abuse; etc.. One thing I would really like to express is that a major contributing factor to these unhealthy, 'alternative' ways of dealing with depression, is an extreme lack of understanding and lack of empathy by society in general.

Lack of understanding:
Many people, when they hear the word "depression", they think back on their own sad moods, how they snapped out of them, and don't understand why sufferers of depression "aren't" doing the same thing. However, many people do take the time to understand it, and doing so is not difficult, so ignorance is not an excuse. One thing, more than anything, I wish people in general would understand, is that depression is not a weakness. It's a disease.

Lack of empathy:
When sufferers of depression need help the most, that is often when people around them act their cruelest, and personal experience has taught me this. Society in general tends to be very selfish; most only want to be around people who are always happy ["fair-weathered friends", I call them]. Depressed people are often looked at by non-sufferers as though they were polluting their air; most do not understand and they do not want to understand - all that matters, is that no one brings them down.

Ironically, I have found the greatest comfort in fellow sufferers of depression [who are trying their best to fight it, might I add]. Unless someone has been in similar shoes -- and not just because they experienced a bad break-up, but because they suffer from it often [if not chronically], and really know how hard it is to find things to be happy about, and yet they are still making that effort -- than you really have no idea what sufferers of depression go through, and how awful it is.

What I would say to a fellow sufferer of depression -- believe it or not, there is actually a positive side to depression [as oxymoronic as that sounds]. It's a disease of the spirit; it attacks your thoughts - however, the more that you recognize this, and the more that you battle it and overcome it, time and again, the more you can work at controlling your thoughts and manipulating them into thinking and focusing on the more positive things. At times, this can be an extremely difficult thing to do - trust me, on the very severe days, even I would scoff at what I'm writing, and when you're going through one of those days, it is very important to find a "plug" of some sort for what you're feeling; for me, this has been creative writing. Maybe keeping a journal would work better for you, or painting; whatever works for you, in releasing those emotions, embrace it. Those feelings need to have a healthy way of getting out of you, for you to successfully ride those waves out.

However, back to what I was saying about positive thinking - as much as you can, practice this; what you choose to focus on, even when it comes to focusing on your depression, is extremely powerful, more so than you may realize. Practicing peaceful thinking can really go a long way in battling your depression. On my really bad days, when I simply can't find anything positive about myself, I try my hardest to find it outside of me; I've trained myself to focus on and celebrate the beauty around me, and to surround myself with it as much as I possibly can. This is one positive part of depression; I've noticed that fellow sufferers tend to be the most wonderful people when it comes to appreciating beauty; we force ourselves to find the beauty in everything, even in the darker aspects of life, in a way that people with healthier brains cannot fathom. We feel more intensely than the average person, and conversely, are connected to beauty in a much more intense way, as well. It is how we train ourselves to cope. Some of the most beautiful people I have ever come across are people who know from experience the truth of what I am saying.

Also, honor your spirit as much as you can, and distance yourself as much as you can from anything vexatious to your spirit. I know from experience that when you suffer from depression, no one can cut your humility sharper than the mental knife that you already own, so remove yourself from people who will only tear you down; the damage can be extremely devastating to people who already suffer from depression.

I also cannot stress the importance of increasing your knowledge of the type of depressive disorder you have, as well; learn as much as you can about yourself, and understand that you are by no means alone - and this is another positive part of your suffering. According to ABC news, depression is a very common illness and, in the United States alone, affects one in seven to eight Americans every year. Contrary to popular opinion, emotions and feelings really are important; if depression teaches us anything, it is the undeniable truth of that statement. Learn to accept who you are, depressive disorder and all, and that you, too, have a right to be here.

Lastly, recognize that your depression is a recognized, treatable illness, so do not be afraid to seek help, support and understanding. It really is out there.

Psychology - Introduction Questions.

• Discuss at least three things you hope to learn in this course? Why do you want to learn them?

- I hope to have a much better understanding of response to stimuli; I wonder how much of our behavior is influenced by our senses. It completely fascinates me.

• What are you willing to do to get the most out of this course? How much time and energy are you realistically going to put into this course?

- I am willing to set aside at least two hours [ideally, three] for three different days in the week, to devote them to my studies in this course. The structure of the human mind fascinates me very much; it is so complex; so intricate and wonderful - there is so much that I would love to understand about how our own minds work.

• To achieve your academic goals, for this course, what study habits will you keep? Which will you change? (Give at least 5 total - and explain why you chose them.

[1] Work on not cramming all of my studying to one specific time, but space it out.
[2] Plan specific times for my studying.
[3] Set specific goals for each personal study session.
[4] Work on taking notes in class for study later.
[5] Work on being consistent with my personal study time.