JOURNAL ENTRIES

Listed below are the most recent entries (Current Entries) and the cumulative list.  The list is designed so that you can access past entries.  Please do not go too far ahead because the list is updated and changed often.

 CURRENT ENTRIES

15 -  Take the IQ test at http://www.queendom.com. When you get there, click tests, then click IQ tests, then go to the classical IQ test. Answer the following: What type of intelligence test was this? What were your results? Do you think that the results are valid? Have you ever taken an intelligence test before? What do you think about them in general?

16 -  Who is the most intelligent person that you know? Use the textbook definition of intelligence (or one that you develop), explain this person’s history, and describe what about them makes them so smart.

 

1
 Who are you and why are you here? Describe yourself in as much detail as you can.   What interests you? What do you do? How would you describe your behavior? Include in your entry why you signed up for this class. What do you want to know about psychology?
2

Who were the people in your group? What role did you play—leader, follower, worker? Did you drop out, or take an active role? How hard was it not to talk? Who did you communicate with – most, next, next, least? Why? Explain your interactions – why do you think you interacted the way that you did?

Alternative if absent: Answer any question on page 50.

3
 After reading pgs. 17-19 explain which of the approaches you would most agree with in analyzing the case of your neighbor John?
4
 Psychology Today or Newspaper article review.
5
 Identify a stereotype that you have recently witnessed. Maybe a friend, parent, acquaintance said something that was a stereotype. Write about it. If you haven’t witnessed one recently, identify a stereotype that you know exists. After identifying one, explain how a psychologist could test the stereotype using the scientific method.
6
 Which of your brain hemispheres is dominant? According to common psychological theory, how has this affected you? What type of specialized skills should you be better at (see page 65)? Do think that the thought of cerebral hemispheres is valid?
7
  In class memory, visualization exercise – The House. Describe your house in detail. After you are done describing all facets of your house, determine what part or parts of your brain may have been used in this exercise.

Alternative: Imagine that you are a psychologist. Your boss would like you to determine if students who regularly skip lunch misbehave more often than students who regularly attend lunch. Explain how you would proceed (ie. how would you start your study, what would you do?). 
8
 In response to reading the brief article, “Coffee: Can It Kill?” answer these questions: What type of psychologist might be most interested in studying the topic? (Note that there could be more than one; just explain one). Does this study affect you in any way? In the second half of the entry explore one of your habits that you think you ought to change.
9
 Answer question #4 on page 86.
10
 Name two of the “illusions” that you see today that you think are neat, describe them, and then attempt to explain what is happening in your brain during these. Be sure to define the difference between sensation and perception, and mention at least one part of the brain that is stimulated.
11
 Describe in detail a time when you felt intense emotion – rage, anger, fear, jealousy, pain, hunger, thirst, etc. Explain what parts of your brain played a role.
12
 Describe your typical Saturday (actually, make a list of your actual actions this Saturday). Begin with your wake-up and continue through the time that you go to bed, making sure to note the time of each action. Define circadian rhythm and attempt to determine what your entrained schedule is. On a typical weekday (say Wednesday), when do you wake up, when is your high point, your low point, and when do you go to sleep. When was your high period and low period? Did your day follow your entrained schedule or not?
13
 Tell the story of a lesson that you learned as a child. What parts of your brain do you think you used?  What type of learning took place?
14
 Write a story about your favorite memory of a holiday. Why do you think that you have been able to remember that story? Apply some of the ideas from Chapter 8.
15
 Take the IQ test at http://www.queendom.com. When you get there, click tests, then click IQ tests, then go to the classical IQ test. Answer the following: What type of intelligence test was this? What were your results? Do you think that the results are valid? Have you ever taken an intelligence test before? What do you think about them in general?
16
 Who is the most intelligent person that you know? Use the textbook definition of intelligence (or one that you develop), explain this person’s history, and describe what about them makes them so smart.
17
20
 Take these two personality tests. When you are finished, write an entry that discusses your results and evaluates the validity of the tests. Some questions that might help with your entry: Were the results of both tests similar? Do you think that the test results have value to your personally? Do you think that an employer should use a test like this to evaluate you? What type of tests was this? The two sites are below: http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp and http://www.win.net/insightsys/question.htm
21
 Describe your most familiar coping mechanism. Describe a recent stressful event that provoked that coping mechanism. 
22
 Choose one psychological disorder from Chapter 17 that you have had experience with or have heard the most about and write about it. Does the text mesh with your experience? Explain. 
23
 If you ever decide to seek the help of a therapist, which kind of therapist would you be looking for.  Would you be looking for Psychoanalytic help (page 541-543), for Humanistic help (pages 544-545), for Behavioral help (pages 546-548), for Cognitive Behavioral help (pages 549-550), or for some other form of therapy.  Explain why you would prefer the specific style.

Full list.