Human Relations Spring 2013

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Final Exam Info

Final Exam is Friday, May 10, 2-3:55PM, Business Adminstration 126. Be on time!

Here's some material to review. Look over your other quizzes and tests. Review material previously placed on the class web site, practice tests in book and on the book web site, review material at end of each chapter to make sure you've absorbed all the key "concepts", terms and key people. Don't forget to hand in your extra credit after the exam!

Chapter 1 Self-Direction in a Changing World

Are there any characteristics that the industrial age and the technological age share? Which ones?
What are some characteristics in our diverse society that are increasing? Declining?
It is important to take charge of your life, given all the pressures and complexities. Those who are "self-actualized" embody some characteristics worth noting. What are they, and who are affected?

Chapter 2 Research Methods in Psychology

In order for psychological research to be publicly reviewed and validated, there are some essential aspects that must be followed by the researcher? What are they?
One of the important aspects in designing an experiment is to make sure the design of the study allows the observer to be objective, and not biased in any way, otherwise what will occur with the results?
There are several study design types mentioned in your text. One method ensures that the observers and the participants have no idea who is being "treated", or subject to an "independent" variable that is being made available, and who is part of a control group that is not being "treated" by the variable. What kind of study is this?

Chapter 3 Understanding Human Personality

The results of early study of personality back in the era of the ancient Greeks live on today. What are the key understandings in those earliest days of scientific study?
Freudian psychology, the earliest of the modern studies of personality, has several key elements that are essential to the psychodynamic theorists. Know what these bases of behavior and personality are and how they function.
What are some of they key aspects of the humanist study of personality. What aspect of childhood and adulthood received the attention of Carl Rogers?

Chapter 4 Seeking Selfhood

What defense mechanism do we use to minimize the effect of negative information or threatening events to preserve our self-concept?
There are some interesting aspects of gender differences in gender role perceptions and expectations. How do men and women differ in terms of their clarity of self-beliefs?
How do the self-concepts of persons change as they mature, especially in terms of self-actualization? How do we respond if we are uncomfortable with ourselves, or deny that certain emotions and needs are present. How does this conflict translate to our relationships with others? Over time, do these struggles resolve themselves?

Chapter 5 Stress!

There are several types of stress. What function does each serve, and what are the identifying characteristics?
Coping well with stress is an important part of life in the 21st century. A couple of different ways or styles, of effectively coping are discussed in your text in terms of reacting to stress. What are they and how are they different?
Instead of modifying your internal response to stress, it is often best to consider modifying your environment instead. What are the several types of managing your environment?

Chapter 6 Toward Better Health

Attractiveness is something we're born with. Does it make us Smarter? Funnier? Friendlier? More sociable? More worthy? Just plain better? How come?
Being aware of our bodies,what we put into our mouths, and taking an active role in our wellness is a good thing. Being obsessed with every blemish, sore muscle, headache, sniffle, or occasional cold or virus is not so positive. Why isn't of being hyper vigilant about our health a problem?

Chapter 7 Affirmative Aging-Adulthood

As time passes, do we become more like everyone else, or do our differences tend to become more pronounced? Why? What has happened over the years to cause this differentiation?
Erik Erikson, a noted developmental psychologist, has identified some defining characteristics of certain periods in our lives. What two (2) defining characteristics does he designate as possible directions for middle adulthood?
As we age, varied aspects of our cognitive capabilities change, including types of intelligence. Some aspects are diminished, some are enhanced.
An aspect of older adults is the importance of having control over their lives. Being unable to drive, or maintain a house or apartment can have a negative effect on overall internal sense of well being and positive thinking. What is the aspect of control referred to in your text?

Chapter 8 Social Cognition and Relationships

Harold Kelley expanded on attribution theory, and covariation, by identifying three (3) things we analyze for each event. What are they?
A self-fulfilling prophecy is often made with an initial unsubstantiated (not based in fact) statement, followed by interaction with the target that reaffirms the initial statement such that positive or negative regard is enhanced. Who is affected mose significantly by this phenomenon, especially in education? Low or high-achieving students?
Know the special aspects of cognitive dissonance, and how it affects your reaction when something happens that you did which is in conflict with your beliefs, feelings and values.
Are stereotypes readily dispelled by factual information? Why not? If the information is at variance with your beliefs, will you accept this new information
Did the participants in the Stanford Experiment have any past exposure to some of the types of relationships they experienced in the prison? What are implications of this?
Social norms are very resilient to change. With norm crystallization, what occurs? What happens when the person leaves the group. Does the new information and beliefs he/she processed live on, or do the participants revert to an earlier "pre"-group basis?
It's very useful to know about in-groups, out-groups, majorities, minorities and group think processes. What is the "status quo" and Who defends it? How come? Why does factual information often not able to influence the "status quo" in group-think processes??

Chapter 9 Communicating Effectively

We are witnessing great technological changes in communication. But talking to each other face-to-face or by email, etc. is still important. And words are even more important. Knowing how to interpret a conversation accurately is essential. Know the difference between the denotation of a word vs. it's connotation. It can get confusing in a conversation when the intended meaning of a word is not clearly specified.
The "Johari Window" is a useful paradigm relative to self disclosure. Know the 4 quadrants! Know some examples, too!
Verbal exchanges is often how we communicate. It can get complicated! How can you reply to someone, and devalue what she just said with what you say in reply?

Chapter 10 Making and Keeping Friends

Can we assume that persons who are not attractive are usually not smart and poorly adjusted?
Can we judge a persons character by their hair color, eye color, skin color or whether they have a disability?
Some people have a high degree of EI. What's that, and why is it important to survive in this world of relationships?

Chapter 11 Love and Commitment

So, are there any differences between friends and lovers?
Sternberg's Triangle of Love is a useful paradigm relative to a theory of how love works. What are the three (3) main points of the love triangle?
One of four women in our country experience domestic violence. Know the key defining characteristics.

Chapter 12 Sexuality

You'd think that sexual partners would be chattering constantly about their mutual experiences. How come there is such a lack of communication?
Your text lays out the standard periods related to sexual response cycles. Know what happens when, keeping in mind that there's plenty of variety and variation beyond what the text presents.
Paint a picture of the typical response to sexual abuse? Who is it, how do they respond, how long does it take to get well?

Chapter 13 Psychological Disorders

Know the subtleties of what is "normal" in earlier and present-day societies
One of the most severe Anxiety disorders if PTSD. Know the origins, symptoms and treatment programs available.
There are gender differences in many types of disorders. How about depression? Why might women be more vulnerable than men to depression?

Chapter 14 Therapies for Psychological Disorders

Was abnormal behavior always thought to be curable? Who led the way to the mentally ill being treated as persons with an illness to be cured?
The text discusses many treatment "modalities". Know key distinguishing aspects of each, including, for example, aspects of therapy with Freudian psychotherapists.
Certain therapies are particularly effective in treating phobias. What are some examples of aversive and social modeling therapies with phobias.

Chapter 15 Good Grief and Death

How can "grief" be good?
Is denial of one's eventual death a healthy characteristic? Isn't it better to be always thinking of your eventual death?
When do you fear death the most? As an infant? As a young adult? Middle age? Oldster?
Our culture has unique ways of dealing with the death of a family member, ranging from mourning the loss, experiencing grief, and dealing with the experience of the loss (bereavement). What role to undertakers play? Are funerals expensive? How expensive? Should they be expensive? Is it awful to shop around for the least expensive funeral in town? Are people vulnerable during the period of grief?

Saturday, April 20, 2013

FYI: Tips for Oral Reports

Oral Report Tips and Suggestions (half your oral report grade is on quality of presentation; the rest is on quality of content)

Pitfalls

Speaker

* No eye contact

* Seems like a robot

* Hides behind the lectern

* Speaks too loud/soft

* Sways/fidgets/paces

* Rambles or loses his/her place

* Never gets to the point

* Fumbles with notes, visuals or PowerPoint

* Too much material

Visuals

* Nonexistent

* Hard to see

* Hard to undertand

* Out of sequence

* Shown too rapidly

* Shown too slowly

* Typos and errors

* Too wordy, no pics

Setting

* Too noisy

* Too hot or cold

* Too large or small

* Too bright for visuals

* Too dark for your notes

* Missing equipment

* Broken equipment

* Ridiculously complicated equipment

Planning Your Presentation

* Two-three sentence “purpose of your presentation”

* Analyze your listeners

* Analyze your speaking situation

* Select appropriate delivery method

* Memorize-only if necessary

* Impromptu-off-the cuff

* Scripted-if very technical

* Extemporaneous with notes-best

Preparing Your Presentation

* Research your topic

* Simplicity & conciseness

* Anticipate Questions

* Outline your presentation

* Plan your visuals

* When will you show certain visuals?

* Which ones work best

* How many visuals are best?

* Are your visuals achievable? What hardware is available?

* What medium is best for your presentation (overheads, PowerPoint, handouts, foam boards, etc.)

* Prepare your visuals

* Be selective

* Easy to read & understand

* 1 point per visual

* Readable to audience

* Limit material on a visual

* Fewest words possible

* 18-24 point sans serif type best

* Each visual a title

* Use color sparingly

* Label diagrams

* Proofread!!!

* Check Room beforehand

* Rehearse Delivery

Delivering Your Product

* Work the “audience” They’re your friend!

* Know your audience!

* Display enthusiasm and confidence

* Be reasonable and considerate of others

* Don’t preach. You’re not a preacher. Avoid jokes and wisecracks….not cool.

* Keep your listeners oriented. Let them know where you’re going.

* Introduce your topic clearly

* Establish common ground

* Provide good transitions between points

* Give examples!

* Review and interpret what you’ve said

* Leave people with something to remember

* Thank your listeners!

* Ask for question

Friday, April 19, 2013

Oral Report Schedule

Let me know if changes need to be made! Good Topics!!!!!

Tuesday, April 23 (after test)

Courtney and Mark-Why Do People Cling to Religion?
Sarah and Sarah-Changing Attiudes Towards Homosexuality in America
Eric and Amber-What Is Marital Cheating? (time permitting)

Thursday, April 25

Justin and Nick-Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder
Brian and Kathy-Panic Attacks
Besin and Emily-What Is the Cause of Obesity?
George and Ricky-Is Pain Mental or Physical?

Tuesday, April 30

Chris and Travis-Behavioral Patterns of Young Adults and Children re: Video Games
Alyssa and Danielle-Schizophrenic Disorders
Brad (and Ian?)-How My Friends Help Me Cope With Stress

Thursday, May 2

Carly and Ronderica-What Causes Someone to Be Insane?
Deveny and Retu-Differences in Male/Female Socialization
Simone, Donte and Steven-Borderline Personality Disorder

Missing: Keri, Dillon, Aayanakaye, Krystale, Kaitlynn, Jacob

Thursday, April 18, 2013

FYI: From Rabindranath Tagore's "Fruit Gathering"

For those dying or in fear, suffering or pain:

"LET me not pray to be sheltered from dangers but to be fearless in facing them.

Let me not beg for the stilling of my pain but for the heart to conquer it.

Let me not look for allies in life's battlefield but to my own strength.

Let me not crave in anxious fear to be saved but hope for the patience to win my freedom.

Grant me that I may not be a coward, feeling your mercy in my success alone; but let me find the grasp of your hand in my failure."

FYI: Near Death Experience

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Study Guide Chapters 13-15

Here's some areas to study carefully for the test upcoming on Chapters 13-15. This listing is not all inclusive, but is intended to give you an idea of how well you know the material now. If some or all the questions make no sense, you need to continue to carefully review the material. Caution: this is not a list of questions on the test!

Don't forget to use the study tools in your textbook and at your textbook web site, too!

Review your notes, especially for material not in the book, but on the class web site or part of class discussions.

Studying as part of a small group helps, even if it's just 2 persons.

Chapter 13 Psychological Disorders

What are the seven (7) criteria to indicate an "abnormal" condition?
Mental health/abnormality is a continuum? What does that mean?
You may want to review some of the problems with objectivity over time re: abnormality. What did Thomas Szasz say about the mental health profession?
Some key figues in the history of classifying mental disorders were ________________?
The 5 Axes in DSM-IV are____________. Know what each one describes.
The etiology of psychpathology refers to what aspect of mental illness?
Whhat are the four (4) basic approaches to the cuases of mental illness? Describe a lttle bit about each one.
Have a good sense of the types of Anxiety Disorders. Are phobias a rational fear of __________? What is social phobia? What is a compulsion? How do the persons view their compulsions? What causes PTSD? How many people hace experienced a traumatic event? What % of our population experience a PTSD in a lifetime? Have good sense of the four basic treatment aproaches for anxiety disorders. Be cognizant of the genetic basis for these and the other disorders.
Have a good sense of the 2 basic types of Mood Disorders, and the causes and genetic heritability. Who suggested the notion of "learned helplessness? What is the cogntiive triad of depression? How about explanatory style. How does this affect one's response to situations? How well do depressed persons remeber happy occasions?Why are women more often depressed? Is youth suicide a "spur-of-the-moment" thing?Guns vs. pills: who uses what?
Personality Disroders (10 types): know what each characterizes. (See Table 14.4). Know more detail about borderline, antisocial, somataform and dissociative personality disorders. What are the nown aspects of causation for each? Hypochondriasis, conversion and somatization disorder. what are these?
Schizphrenic Disorders: Five (5) types. Pay particular attention to the possible causes of schizophrenia, including brain markers and family aspects( incl. expressed emotion factors).
Psychological Disroders of Childhhod: Autism and ADHD. Key distinguishing aspects of each What are the possible causes of these mysterious disorders? Why is the diagnosis of ADHD particularly difficult?
Mental Health Stigma: what role does the media play? Society in general? Self-fulfilling proecy at work here? Is it beneficial to have some contact with these individuals? Have you had experiences interacting with persons having a significant disrder?