man, i have never enjoyed studying anything more than i enjoy studying psych. I know you are probably a skeptic like the rest of the masses: think psych is bull and not a valid science as there are explanations for everything and your own behaviour/thoughts/strengthes are unique (false uniqueness effect)and unpredictable. You are also wary of me turning into an over-analzing psycho-babbler who will make you sit on my couch and interpret your dreams while analzing while you wore that blue shirt with that disastourously ugly orange pair of slacks. ugh
However, I recommend social psych to everyone, you have no idea how applicable psych is to everything and how common sense it may be. For example, things ive learned:
1)
to make future girlfriend/boyfriend like you more , take them to a scary movie as they will think their arousal while watching the scary movie is due to attraction for you and not because they're scared.
2)
mild punishment vs serve punishment works better as severe punishment teaches child to avoid activity only to avoid punishment (but attractiveness of the activity is heightened and child may engage in it once you the evil punisher isnt around) but mild punishment teaches child to actually change their own view of forbidden activity as they're not threatened with severe punishment and therefore must not like it.
3)
Cognitive dissonace (caused by when u're actions are contrary to your values) can actually change your values. For example, two people both have initial values (think cheating is bad) want to go to med school, must ace final and realize they're not going to do well unless they cheat - cognitve dissonace created no matter what they do:
a)if you dont cheat (moral person) but low chance of getting accepted (i just ruined chances) = people who cheat are immoral despicable ppl.
b)If you cheat (everyone does it), good chances of getting accepted = change views to be lenient towards cheating.
4)people dislike others more after doing THEM harm (wars) but people like others more after doing them a favour.5)
people actually believe a lie they've told ONLY if there is no reward for lying - they actually change their beliefs to justify lying vs people who lie to others for a reward.
6)
Emotions are arbitrary : you feel arousal and then seek plausible explanations to explain what emotion that is. Also, you can change your emotion by changing the explanation of arousal.
7)
Subliminal messaging doesnt work even though ppl are convinced they have been influenced by them.
yes, i have a final tomorow therefore this is all vegetating in my head. i just randomly wrote those down, there's tons more like what type of advertising makes you buy products, where to places product to increase sales, how people justify their illogical actions, when do attitudes predict bhaviour. if you dont think this is super fascinating, wait till tomorow when i study abnormal psych. wooo
after psych is over, its going to be so depressing studyng for chem and bio :(
MUSIC: Wintersleep album - sweet indie goodness.
