Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Picasso, Mozart, Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, Jimi Hendrix, Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, Robert Pant, Greg Allman, H.G.Wells, Lewis Carroll, Samuel Clemens, Jim Henson, Spike Lee, Franz Kafka, Friedrich Nietzcshe, Johann von Goethe, Aristotle, Mahatma Gandhi, Benjamin Netanyahu, Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, Isaac Newton, Benjamin Franklin, Albert Schweizer, Linus Pauling, Henry Ford, Jim Lovell, Buzz Aldrin; what is common to all these? Aside from being some of the most brilliant people in their fields, they are all left-handed.
We have seen in our readings that the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body as well as being responsible for creative, holistic, intuitive processing. This being the case, along with the staggering list of left-handed geniuses, makes it easy to see where the idea that southpaws are generally more creative and intelligent than the other 90% of the population comes from, but is there any validity to this notion?
A 2007 study, “Effect of Handedness on Intelligence Level of Students” sought to determine just that. Researchers at the University of Sargodha in Pakistan tested 150 under-graduate, graduate, and post-graduate students, half left-handed and half right-handed, using the Raven Standard Progressive Matrices Test. The results showed that the left-handers turned out to be more intelligent than the right-handers, scoring on average 44.2, where the right-handers average was 39.8. In addition, the right-handers took significantly more time to finish the test than left-handers (Ghayas and Adil, 2007).
Although the study cites several hypotheses that might explain this, more research is needed to prove or discredit these ideas.
The study consisted of 150 students from the Sargodha district only, lending to the possibility of environmental stimuli affecting the outcome. It also makes generalizing the results to the entire population impossible as the sample was not representative of the entire population.
medind.nic.in/jak/t07/i1/jakt07i1p85.pdf
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
On may 28th 2009 we discussed many things but one subject caught ny attention,the subject on behaviors.I too believe psychology should be objective focusing only on the relationship between observable behavior and ebviromental effects.. (or stimuli)...any behavior i believe can be explained to why someone acts the way they do what they do.
http://www.cell.com/neuron/home
http://www.cell.com/neuron/home
Freud was a beginning point
Even though Freud is criticized for his psychoanalytic development theory, his theory really gave way to defining developmental psychology. Freud believed a person’s problem was result of experiences early in life, while this can be true I don’t think they are as a result of the conflicts in the stages he defines, but rather they may be factors but not the cause. Freud did however open the door for others to dispute or enhance his findings so that the field of developmental psychology could develop.
While I don’t necessarily agree with the outcomes of the conflicts in his stages I do see some truth in the behaviors of his stages. In the oral stage the baby is rather fixated with sucking and putting everything in it's mouth, in the anal stage children do begin to become more independent and learn or begin to learn how to defecate, but I don’t believe they become as fixated with it as Freud thinks and in the other stages Freud defines there are behaviors consistent with that age of the child.
So, as I stated earlier that even though Freud’s Theory has been widely criticized it was the stepping stones for research in developmental psychology in which others could build upon.
While I don’t necessarily agree with the outcomes of the conflicts in his stages I do see some truth in the behaviors of his stages. In the oral stage the baby is rather fixated with sucking and putting everything in it's mouth, in the anal stage children do begin to become more independent and learn or begin to learn how to defecate, but I don’t believe they become as fixated with it as Freud thinks and in the other stages Freud defines there are behaviors consistent with that age of the child.
So, as I stated earlier that even though Freud’s Theory has been widely criticized it was the stepping stones for research in developmental psychology in which others could build upon.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
http://news.health.com/2008/11/03/violent-video-games-linked-to-aggression-in-children-teens/clear
On 5/26/09 we discussed aggressive behavior in 8 year old children. we measured aggression in terms of hitting and bruising. In the article "Violent video games linked to aggression in children" their is an in depth discussion on how violent video games increase aggression in children 9-18.
This article relates to our discussion in that aggression in children can be influenced by outside sources. in our discussion we talked about the ways in which aggression surfaced in children like hitting and bruising. In one of this articles studies aggression is measured in terms hitting, kicking and fighting with other children.
I believe that the article was in depth in the description of the problem and its implications on the children involved in the study. I also believe that it was clear in its description of how children are desensitized by these daily violent influences. The link between aggression and video games is a bit vague but it seems as though the research is backed by numerous advocates and researchers.
On 5/26/09 we discussed aggressive behavior in 8 year old children. we measured aggression in terms of hitting and bruising. In the article "Violent video games linked to aggression in children" their is an in depth discussion on how violent video games increase aggression in children 9-18.
This article relates to our discussion in that aggression in children can be influenced by outside sources. in our discussion we talked about the ways in which aggression surfaced in children like hitting and bruising. In one of this articles studies aggression is measured in terms hitting, kicking and fighting with other children.
I believe that the article was in depth in the description of the problem and its implications on the children involved in the study. I also believe that it was clear in its description of how children are desensitized by these daily violent influences. The link between aggression and video games is a bit vague but it seems as though the research is backed by numerous advocates and researchers.
hippocampus and memory loss
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,24016885-5014717,00.html
The article I found talks about how the hippocampus over time may shrink and you could develop Alzheimer's disease and experience memory loss. Dr Michael Valenzuela from the
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Rubric for Class Posts
Assignments: All posts should use proper English grammar, spelling, and syntax. Acronyms should be avoided when possible. References to online sources must be linked. Student posts and comments should be respectful to others at all times.
Psychology in the Media: This posting should indicate how something we have talked about in class has been reported in the popular media within the last three years. The media itself should be included (either as an image, embedded video, or working link). A clear description of how this media relates to a topic we have covered. Finally, postings should include the writers take on whether or not the media has accurately portrayed the psychological phenomenon and research.
A “Cool” Study: This posting should describe a recent study (published 2007-2009) that relates to something we have talked about in class. The article itself should come from a peer reviewed source, and should be linked in the posting for the class to peruse. The description of the study should relate not just the studies abstract, but should link the study to what we have talked about in class. Finally, posters should evaluate the studies importance, strengths, flaws, etc.
I Could Do That Better: This post should propose a study that examines a phenomenon we have talked about in class (or read in an assigned reading). This post can include a criticism of a previous study, but must include a research design that corrects mistakes/biases/problems of previous examinations of the psychological phenomenon. At the minimum, your proposed study must include sample, methodology, and hypotheses. Finally, your post should include a clear rational for why this proposed study is superior to previous studies.
My view on a debate: This posting should include a short summary of the debate (including relevant sources) that clearly defines the argument. You should provide at least two supports for your view on the debate, and only one of these supports can include anecdotal evidence. Empirical supports should be cited/linked so that others can comment on them. Example debates: Genes vs. Environment, basic views of children, breastfeeding, preschool, girls’ aggression, role of parents, role of peers, homophily….
Psychology in the Media: This posting should indicate how something we have talked about in class has been reported in the popular media within the last three years. The media itself should be included (either as an image, embedded video, or working link). A clear description of how this media relates to a topic we have covered. Finally, postings should include the writers take on whether or not the media has accurately portrayed the psychological phenomenon and research.
A “Cool” Study: This posting should describe a recent study (published 2007-2009) that relates to something we have talked about in class. The article itself should come from a peer reviewed source, and should be linked in the posting for the class to peruse. The description of the study should relate not just the studies abstract, but should link the study to what we have talked about in class. Finally, posters should evaluate the studies importance, strengths, flaws, etc.
I Could Do That Better: This post should propose a study that examines a phenomenon we have talked about in class (or read in an assigned reading). This post can include a criticism of a previous study, but must include a research design that corrects mistakes/biases/problems of previous examinations of the psychological phenomenon. At the minimum, your proposed study must include sample, methodology, and hypotheses. Finally, your post should include a clear rational for why this proposed study is superior to previous studies.
My view on a debate: This posting should include a short summary of the debate (including relevant sources) that clearly defines the argument. You should provide at least two supports for your view on the debate, and only one of these supports can include anecdotal evidence. Empirical supports should be cited/linked so that others can comment on them. Example debates: Genes vs. Environment, basic views of children, breastfeeding, preschool, girls’ aggression, role of parents, role of peers, homophily….
For this course, students will be graded upon three posts and five comments. Posts will make up 30% of their final grade, and comments will make up 10% of their final grade. Students are encouraged to post and comment as often as they like; grades will only be taken from the "highest scoring" posts and comments.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Rubric for Class Posts
Assignments: All posts should use proper English grammar, spelling, and syntax. Acronyms should be avoided when possible. References to online sources must be linked. Student posts and comments should be respectful to others at all times.
Psychology in the Media: This posting should indicate how something we have talked about in class has been reported in the popular media within the last three years. The media itself should be included (either as an image, embedded video, or working link). A clear description of how this media relates to a topic we have covered. Finally, postings should include the writers take on whether or not the media has accurately portrayed the psychological phenomenon and research.
A “Cool” Study: This posting should describe a recent study (published 2007-2009) that relates to something we have talked about in class. The article itself should come from a peer reviewed source, and should be linked in the posting for the class to peruse. The description of the study should relate not just the studies abstract, but should link the study to what we have talked about in class. Finally, posters should evaluate the studies importance, strengths, flaws, etc.
I Could Do That Better: This post should propose a study that examines a phenomenon we have talked about in class (or read in an assigned reading). This post can include a criticism of a previous study, but must include a research design that corrects mistakes/biases/problems of previous examinations of the psychological phenomenon. At the minimum, your proposed study must include sample, methodology, and hypotheses. Finally, your post should include a clear rational for why this proposed study is superior to previous studies.
My view on a debate: This posting should include a short summary of the debate (including relevant sources) that clearly defines the argument. You should provide at least two supports for your view on the debate, and only one of these supports can include anecdotal evidence. Empirical supports should be cited/linked so that others can comment on them.
General: Genes vs. Environment, Behaviorism, ethics of animal testing, ethical treatment of participants, Freud’s contributions, Piaget’s stages…
Psychology in the Media: This posting should indicate how something we have talked about in class has been reported in the popular media within the last three years. The media itself should be included (either as an image, embedded video, or working link). A clear description of how this media relates to a topic we have covered. Finally, postings should include the writers take on whether or not the media has accurately portrayed the psychological phenomenon and research.
A “Cool” Study: This posting should describe a recent study (published 2007-2009) that relates to something we have talked about in class. The article itself should come from a peer reviewed source, and should be linked in the posting for the class to peruse. The description of the study should relate not just the studies abstract, but should link the study to what we have talked about in class. Finally, posters should evaluate the studies importance, strengths, flaws, etc.
I Could Do That Better: This post should propose a study that examines a phenomenon we have talked about in class (or read in an assigned reading). This post can include a criticism of a previous study, but must include a research design that corrects mistakes/biases/problems of previous examinations of the psychological phenomenon. At the minimum, your proposed study must include sample, methodology, and hypotheses. Finally, your post should include a clear rational for why this proposed study is superior to previous studies.
My view on a debate: This posting should include a short summary of the debate (including relevant sources) that clearly defines the argument. You should provide at least two supports for your view on the debate, and only one of these supports can include anecdotal evidence. Empirical supports should be cited/linked so that others can comment on them.
General: Genes vs. Environment, Behaviorism, ethics of animal testing, ethical treatment of participants, Freud’s contributions, Piaget’s stages…
Introduction to Psychology Blogging
For this course, students will be graded upon three posts and five comments. Posts will make up 15% of their final grade, and comments will make up 5% of their final grade. Students are encouraged to post and comment as often as they like; grades will only be taken from the "highest scoring" posts and comments.
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