Blog Assignment - Week 11

Week 11 of 14...almost there!

Part 1:

Chapter 11 discusses the topic of gender.  Among the many topics discussed, is the issue of gender stereotypes.  I thought this week we'd do something a little more fun and find some comics that illustrate gender stereotypes.  Or, if you want to get creative and/or are into the new Bitstrips fad (or are otherwise creative), go ahead and make a comic illustrating a gender stereotype.

• What is a gender stereotype?  
• What are some disadvantages to gender stereotypes?
• Find three comics (or make, or a mix of the two).
• Describe the gender stereotype in each of the comics you choose.  You can just provide a link to the comic.

Part 2:

As in the previous weeks, please respond to any 2 existing blog posts (not including this one or posts that you have responded to previously) to get credit for you "blog comments."  Each post has its own instructions to follow in regard to commenting. Note: Replying to other students' comments on blog posts does not count toward your grade, although I encourage you to engage in conversation with your colleagues.

This assignment is due on Monday, November 4, 2013 at 11:59p.

Gender Differences

Chapter 11 discusses several areas where females and males differ, including in cognitive, mathematical, and spatial abilities, among others.  Should you choose to complete this assignment for credit, please do the following:

• Either choose an area outlined in the book which discusses gender differences OR
• Find an article that presents some sort of research in this area.  You can use Huffington Post, BBC, etc.
• Discuss the gender differences outlined in either the textbook or the article you chose.  Remember to use your own words whenever possible, and use quotations when directly using others' words.
• In your experience, do you find these differences to be accurate?  Why or why not.  It would be helpful to provide examples.  

Gender-Role Stereotypes in Advertisements

We have all seen advertisements, either in magazines or on television, that depict gender stereotypes.  Should you choose to complete this assignment, please do the following:

• Find two print ads (e.g., from magazines) or tv advertisements via YouTube.
• Describe the ads and the associated gender stereotypes.
• According to Goffman (1976), there are several ways in which stereotyping in advertisement can occur:
• Function ranking (tendency to depict men in executive roles and as more functional when collaborating with women)
• Relative size (tendency to depict men as taller and larger than women, except when women are clearly superior in social status)
• Ritualization of subordination (an overabundance of images of women lying on floors and beds or as objects of men's mock assault)
• The feminine touch (tendency to show women cradling and caressing the surface of objects with their fingers)
• Family (fathers depicted as physically distant from their families or as relating primarily to sons, and mothers depicted as relating primarily to daughters)
• Which of the above description(s) fit your ads?  Please provide an explanation, don't just say something like "this ad is an example of the feminine touch."

Toy Preference: Socialization or Hormones?

Why do boys play with trucks and girls play with dolls?  If you choose to complete this assignment for course credit, please do the following:

• Explain how socialization plays a role in toy preference in children.
• Read this article about the hormonal influences of toy preference.
• Summarize the article.
• Based on what you know about the socialization of toy preference and what was presented in the article, what are your opinions about why boys tend to play with trucks and girls with dolls?

Gender Dysphoria

Chapter 11's main focus is on gender.  For most, understanding their gender isn't an issue.  However, others struggle with gender identity.  In others, this struggle is distressful enough to be considered a psychiatric illness.  Should you choose to complete this assignment, please do the following:

• Read this article about Gender Dysphoria.
• What is Gender Dysphoria?
• The article discusses the change in not only name, but the focus of this disorder with the new edition of the DSM.  What was Gender Dysphoria formerly known as, and what changed between the old and new edition of the DSM?
• Do you agree with the change?  I realize this is a limited amount of information when considering a psychiatric diagnosis, but base your answer on the information given to you in the article, or feel free to do a little more exploration yourself!
• Do you think this change will affect the amount of stigma associated with this disorder?

  

Blog Assignment - Week 10

**I emailed you all with a diversity experience happening on campus Monday, Oct. 28 at 7:00p.  It's short notice, but I think it would be interesting given it will focus on diversity-related issues that have been happening on campus recently.**

Part 1:

For this week's assignment, I would like to you do a little digging and find an empirical research article from a peer-reviewed journal (like in Week 3).  Because you didn't have an extensive assignment last week over Chapter 9 topics, you can choose any material from either Chapter 9 or Chapter 10 for this assignment, giving you a wide array of options.  Please see the Week 3 blog for instructions for finding a research article.

Please complete the following:

• Find an empirical research article.
• Provide the correct APA citation for the article.  Please consult the APA manual or Purude Owl for formatting help.  There are also resources available on D2L.
• Overall, what are the researchers examining?
• Think back to our chapter on research methods, and use terms from that chapter (e.g., correlation) to describe your article.
• What did the researchers find?
• You may already do this in the steps above, but if not, please explain how your article relates to topics in either Chapter 9 or 10, and course topics from previous chapters where applicable.  
• What is your overall reaction to the article.

Part 2:

As in the previous weeks, please respond to any 2 existing blog posts (not including this one or posts that you have responded to previously) to get credit for you "blog comments."  Each post has its own instructions to follow in regard to commenting. Note: Replying to other students' comments on blog posts does not count toward your grade, although I encourage you to engage in conversation with your colleagues.

This assignment is due on Monday, October 28, 2013 at 11:59p.

It's Your Choice! (Week 10)

There are many topics in Chapters 9 and 10 that haven't been offered as options on the blog.  Some of these include: divorce, alternative relationship lifestyles, intimate partner violence, loneliness, among many others.

If you choose to complete this assignment for course credit, you can choose any topic from Chapter 9 or Chapter 10 and do a little searching of your own that is catered to your interest.  You can post a video, news article, etc. and tell me how it relates to the chapter.  Please provide a link to your article, video, etc.  Be creative!

Cohabitation

Chapter 10 discusses the concept of cohabitation.  Should you choose to learn more about cohabitation, please complete the following:

• What is cohabitation?
• Read this article.
• Summarize the article.
• Be sure to include some positives and negatives associated with cohabitation.  The article lists some, as does your textbook.  You can also give your own opinions, but please delineate your opinion from what the text/article states in terms of benefits and consequences.  
• If you have ever cohabitated, are cohabitating, or know a couple who is, you are welcome to add in personal experience (although this is not necessary if it makes you feel uncomfortable to discuss).

Evolution and Relationships

There is a lot of interesting research (in my opinion) about evolution and relationships.  Some areas include: sexual attraction, women's ovulation and attraction, and same-sex attraction, among many others.

In honor of upcoming No Shave November, I chose one article related to evolutionary views on relationships.  Specifically, this article discuses women's attraction to bearded men.  Complete to following for course credit:

• Read this article.  The article is short, so I advise you look more into these ideas if you are interested!
• Summarize the article and provide your reaction (being sure to link to course material whenever possible).

TED Talk

Many of you have expressed interest in and enjoyment of TED Talks videos.  Should you choose to complete this assignment, please do the following:

• Find a TED Talk video associated with either Chapter 9 or 10.  They both cover similar topics, specifically relationships.  I advise you just search the term "relationships" and you should have a nice variety to choose from.
• Summarize the content of the video.
• Provide your reaction.
• Be sure to link it to course material.

Blog Assignment - Week 9

Part 1:
Don't forget to take a couple of minutes to complete the midterm course eval located under the USD getting started tab on D2L!

Because you are all doing a great job on the blog (and it's around midterm time), this week will be a light one.  All I want you to do is find a recent news article OR think of an experience you have had recently and apply it to course material we've learned up to this point.  This is your chance to really show that you can apply course topics.  Think outside the box and really push yourself to make these connections.

• Find and article.  You can use Huffington Post, BBC, etc.  Provide a link to your article.
• OR talk about an experience you have encountered recently that you can relate to course material.
• Briefly summarize the article and/or give details about your experience and explain its connection to course material.
• Create a list of keywords...really try to stretch yourself here and strive to use more concepts from class than you have in previous weeks.

There are NO comments due for this week.  Completing the above assignment will earn you credit for both your blog reaction and blog comments, so 20 points!  

Part 2:

Part 2 is optional.  If you have missed doing a blog assignment thus far throughout the semester for whatever reason, here is your chance to make one up.  All you need to do (in addition to Part 1 to receive credit for this week) is go back to a previous week that you missed and complete that assignment.  You can also make up one week of missed comments in the same way.

**You cannot make up week 1 assignments - the week 1 assignment did not have any associated comments as it was just an introductory post.**

If you want credit for make up assignments, please leave a comment on this post including your Part 1 assignment, as well as what posts you made up.  For example,

I commented on Blog Assignment - Week 3, Do Good Feel Good, and Mindfulness.

If you don't tell me what posts you commented on for your make up assignments, you may not receive credit.  I anticipate it being difficult to keep up with and I may miss one if you don't tell me where to look.

Also, if you are submitting make-up work and do not want other students to know you have missed assignments, you are free to email me your work rather than posting on here for privacy sake.

Part 1 and Part 2 (make up assignments) are are due on Monday, October 21 at 11:59p.

Blog Assignment - Week 8

Part 1:

Please note the different due date for this blog assignment.  Because Monday, October 14 is a University Holiday in observance of Native American Day, this blog assignment is due on:

Sunday, October 13 at 11:59p.

I have posted a short survey on D2L under the USD Getting Started Tab.  Because it's almost midterm, I want to get a sense of how the class is going for you in case I can make some improvements to make this class a better experience!

Chapter 8 discusses various elements of interpersonal communication.  For this week's blog assignment, I want you to focus on communicating with individuals different than you in ethnicity, race, gender, age, etc., with particular interest in the concept of microaggressions (something we all engage in, typically without awareness that we are doing it).

Please complete the following:

• Read this article.  
• What is a microaggression?  Please keep in mind that microaggressions extend beyond racial microaggressions presented in this article.  They can include subtle aggressions according to one's gender, race, age, sexual orientation, etc.  If you are interested in one of these areas, feel free to look around for some information, there is quite a bit out there!
• Explain the different classifications of microaggressions.
• What is the potential impact of these subtle acts of aggression?
• Have you experienced being microaggressed against (or have watched somebody get microaggressed against)?  Explain the situation and how it made you feel.  Again, keep in mind that microaggressions extend beyond racial aggressions.  It may be difficult to think of a time as you may not even realize it at the time, but I guarantee it has happened to you (or someone you know) at some time or another.
• As in past weeks, please compile a list of keywords.

____________________________________________________________________

Part 2:
As in the previous weeks, please respond to any 2 existing blog posts (not including this one or posts that you have responded to previously) to get credit for you "blog comments."  Each post has its own instructions to follow in regard to commenting. Note: Replying to other students' comments on blog posts does not count toward your grade, although I encourage you to engage in conversation with your colleagues.

Understanding Body Language

Some will say that what is most important in communication is not what you say, but the nonverbal aspects of communication. 

Should you choose to learn more about nonverbal communication this week, please complete the following:

• Read this article that touches on some aspects of body language.
• Please choose 4 of the aspects of body language discussed in this article and describe in detail how to interpret these nonverbals.

If you are interested, there is an interesting Ted Talk video related to body language and how it shapes you, as opposed to how we interpret body language in others.  Here is the description of the video:

"Body language affects how others see us, but it may also change how we see ourselves. Social psychologist Amy Cuddy shows how “power posing” -- standing in a posture of confidence, even when we don’t feel confident -- can affect testosterone and cortisol levels in the brain, and might even have an impact on our chances for success."

Google Glass and Autism

Autism Spectrum Disorder is characterized by deficits in social communication and social interaction.  Recent technology has provided a potential breakthrough in treating autism spectrum disorder through facilitating more social communication.

Should you choose to complete this assignment for course credit, please do the following:

• Read this article.  Please also browse through the facts of the autism spectrum disorder slideshow at the bottom of the article.
• What is autism spectrum disorder (ASD)? 
• (Please note that with the release of the DSM 5 this past summer, the field transitioned from a categorical approach to a dimensional (spectrum) approach.  Therefore, it isn't called autistic disorder anymore as it has been replaced with Autism Spectrum Disorder.  Additionally, we no longer refer to the higher functioning form of Autism as Aspberger's Disease...it has been lumped with Autism Spectrum Disorder, which is broken down into levels depending on the severity of symptoms.)
• Summarize the article.  Be sure to include how the new technology can help treat ASD.  It wouldn't hurt to throw in some of the facts from the slideshow at this point!
• What are your thoughts?

When referring to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, please do not called them "autistic."  In other words, when you are writing, don't say something like, "Autistic children show deficits in communication." Rather, please substitute with "Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder show deficits in communication." Use person-first language when describing anyone who has a mental illness, please!

Are One-Sided Conversations Distracting?

Do you ever find yourself getting irritated and distracted by people around you having a telephone conversation, but not when two people are physically together conversing a table away?  If so, the following article may help you understand why.

Should you choose to learn more about the distraction of one-sided conversations, please complete the following:

• Read this article.
• Summarize the article.
• According to the authors, why are one-sided conversations, opposed to two-sided conversations, so distracting?
• Have you ever experienced this?  Maybe in the MUC, at the library, riding in car, etc.?  In other words, do you buy into the idea set forth by the authors?

It's Your Choice! (Week 8)

There is quite a bit of interesting stuff in the interpersonal communication chapter and I had a hard time narrowing down topics for this week's blog postings.  

If you choose to complete this assignment for course credit, you can choose any topic in the chapter and do a little searching of your own that is catered to your interest.  You can post a video, news article (with or without a research component), etc. and tell me how it relates to the chapter.  Be creative!  Please include a link to your article/video/etc.

Blog Assignment - Week 7

Part 1:

Week 7, you're almost halfway there!  

The next chapter we will discuss in class discusses a lot of research areas in social psychology (Social Thinking and Social Influence, Chapter 7).  One of the topics discussed in the chapter is the fundamental attribution error.

For this week's assignment, I want you to familiarize yourself with the fundamental attribution error, as well as apply the concept in relation to individuals who live in poverty (as we often use the fundamental attribution error for this population without even realizing).

This assignment may take you a little longer than most, but I think it's fun!  Please complete the following:

• What is the fundamental attribution error?
• Read this blog entry on the fundamental attribution error and the poor.
• Here's something fun...take a poverty simulation online here.  The website will direct you through the simulation, but it essentially gives you a taste of what it is like to live in poverty.  Please pay attention to the little tidbits of information they sometimes give you after you make a decision on what to do, as they sometimes relate to information we've discussed in class (try to incorporate these in the step below).
• Provide your reaction to the simulation (e.g., was it difficult, what did you learn, etc.). 
• Read this brief blog post on poverty and the fundamental attribution error, paying particular attention to the last paragraph.
• What are your thoughts on this way to approach policy making concerning poverty?
• Again, I want you to make a list of keywords you used in this assignment.

Just a fun little tidbit:

I just saw this article that presents some research that looked at word clouds on Facebook.  It's pretty interesting and relates to a lot of things you have been discussing on the blog (social media and narcissism, introversion/extroversion online, etc.).  It also looks at gender and age differences in the type of things one posts on their status.  Enjoy :)

If you don't already, you should consider following The Huffington Post and/or HuffPost Living on Facebook.  They frequently post things relevant to what we have discussed in class.  

Part 2:
As in the previous weeks, please respond to any 2 existing blog posts (not including this one or posts that you have responded to previously) to get credit for you "blog comments."  Each post has its own instructions to follow in regard to commenting. Note: Replying to other students' comments on blog posts does not count toward your grade, although I encourage you to engage in conversation with your colleagues.

This assignment is due on Monday, Oct. 7 at 11:59p.

Ingroup/Outgroup Stereotypes

Chapter 7 discusses the concept of social categorization, specifically, our tendency to form "ingroups" and "outgroups."  Should you wish to complete this assignment for course credit, you'll look more into these two concepts.

Please complete the following:

• What is an ingroup?  Outgroup?
• Although these stereotypes are beneficial in that they help us categorize quickly, they can without a doubt cause havoc.  Please read this article.
• (You are also welcome to watch the link to the blue eye/brown eye experiment, but just know that it was originally aired in the 1980s, so they use some language a lot of people would cringe about today.  Nonetheless, it's interesting!  Here is a direct link to it.) 
• Summarize what you read.  Please use concepts discussed in the book or previous class periods (where applicable) in your summation.
• How does the article suggest you combat the tendency to fall into the "ingroup-outgroup trap"?

Implicit Association Test

A hot topic in Social Psychology right now is prejudice, which is covered in Chapter 7 of our textbook. In addition, the Implicit Association Test is a very popular way to test one's prejudice, and is also briefly discussed in the text.

Should you choose to complete this blog for course credit, please complete the following:

• Define prejudice.
• What is the Implicit Association Test (IAT)?  In other words, what does it measure?
• Visit this website and take one of the listed IATs.  You have several options to choose from, but you just need to complete one.  They take about 10 minutes or so.
• Although you don't need to share your results as it can at times make people uncomfortable, I do want you to discuss your experience taking the test and whether you believe your results were fairly accurate.

Stereotyping on TV

Stereotypes are all around us, yet we often don't realize.  This could be a fun and eyeopening experience for you, so have some fun with it!  Should you choose to complete this assignment for credit, please complete the following:

• What is a stereotype?
• Why do stereotypes exist?  Do you think they are positive or negative?
• Go to YouTube and find a clip of a television show that displays some sort of stereotype.  Please include a link to your video.
• Describe the stereotype in your clip.  What do you think of this stereotype and what implications does it have for members of the stereotyped group?

Self-Fulfilling Prophecies

Chapter 7 discusses the concept of the self-fulfilling prophecy.  This is a pretty popular term throughout psychology, so should you choose to complete this assignment for course credit, please do the following:

• What is meant by the self-fulfilling prophecy?
• Read this article.
• Summarize the article.
• What is the difference between confidence and arrogance? 
• How can you use the concept of self-fulfilling prophecy in your life?