Extra Credit

The process of writing this blog (although tedious and, at times, overwhelming) taught me a great deal about myself, my motivations and my past. It let me remember things that I had selflessly be pushed into the void of my past, and it felt good to come to terms with those things and realize I am totally different now: mature and responsible and flexible and someone who can love! Aspects that I am proud to say I have.
Basically, this project was good in teaching me the things I need to know for the course as well as relating them to personal experiences and feelings. This will, inevitably, allow me to remember the theories, etc, in the future because of their personal connection that I have made.
Also, it introduced me to concepts I would have never encountered without doing external research.
I enjoyed the flexibility and creativity of this project, although it was a really large endeavor for such a short period of time. And I think it would be more reasonable in an electricity and internet friendly environment in the future. But, overall, it was a good way to review and be introduced to new perpectives in psychology!

Entry 10

Case study:
–noun
1.
a study of an individual unit, as a person, family, or social group, usually emphasizing developmental issues and relationships with the environment, esp. in order to compare a larger group to the individual unit.
2.
A detailed analysis of a person or group in a psychological study.


Case Study: Luke StormoGipson

Four Most Important Events In My Life

#1: Going to Central America

Every year (or so) my family, or a part thereof, has gone to Central America to do volunteer medical work. We head down there to give locals treatment they would otherwise be unable to get, and I was exposed to this at a young age. This helped me to realize, right off the bat, as a prepubescent, ignorant kid, the situation of people all over the world in developing countries. It broadened my very closed view of things, and it also forced me to become involved in the world community as a volunteer who could feel the simple, yet empowering, satisfaction of generosity. My mindset and behavior has been forever changed: I no longer judge people by their backgrounds or financial situation (since so many of the people are destitute Guatemaltecos). I don't take necessities for granted (like food or clothes or fresh water). And I appreciate my home situation for every great thing it is worth! My perspective was changed at an unusually young age, but for the better... I understand what others go through in poorer countries, and know what I must do, as a more priviledged person, to make the world a better place.

#2: Coming to India

As a student at a small American charter academy, I wanted to branch out and experience something totally different my senior year of high school. By attending Kodaikanal International School I definitely got this experience, and in ways I would have never expected. My school back home was small, white, conservative and abnormal (we wore uniforms and didn't have cliques). But KIS is larger, so diverse, more open and more like a typical high school (complete with social groups, house divisions and a less strict dress-code). Just saying goodbye to people back home impacted me emotionally before I even left. And I know I will have to do that again at the end of this year! But KIS and travels around India have broadened my worldview once again, and have made me appreciate and love the beauty in life that I had never known before. After this year, I will love just lying on the grass for hours on end, doing nothing. Or I will appreciate good food! Ha Ha

But seriously: Behaviorally, Kodai has taught me, above all else, to be who I am, and to love the unique self I harbour and am developing as I write this. It has also let me appreciate that being, and not be ashamed or insecure about what that is, or where that is going. And so, it has made all the years of pscyhological, pubescent turmoil ("self discovery") worth it. Here, my realization has come to a sort of frution (although I know I will always be on the path towards critical actualization of my true nature).

#3: From Cougars to Panthers

In eighth grade I switched schools from a public middle school (6-8 grades) where the mascot was the cougar, to a public charter school (6-12 grades) where the mascot was the panther. I was ready to be done with my old school and move on to better and bigger things. But fitting into a new envrionment at the height of puberty was intense and life changing. At my old school it was looked down upon if you got good grades, or were considered "smart". But at Charter, everything, including who your friends were, was determined my GPA. I fit in really well since I set high standards and was motivated to do work. I loved the feeling of being applauded for an "A" average. But finding a secure friend group was hard: only the evangelical christians wanted to be my friends so they could convert me, and others saw me as a loner. Even my best friend (who had been attending the school for a year already) didn't give me a second thought. Socially, it was a hard transition. Psychologically, I had to buck-up and start making friends fast before I got fed to the religious vultures in the corner. So, then and there, I mustered up self-confidence and became more secure with myself enough to make other friends and become accepted into the school community I would call my own for the next four years. Of course, after the initiation my "friend group" had its ups and downs, but in the end (at least before I left for India) we were closer than ever. And I realized how important it is to stand up for myself and be confident in times of change. My growth and maturity levels certainly developed a lot under these circumstances.

#4: Losing My Religion

My whole life I have been through dedications, baptisms, initiations and matriculation ceremonies to signify the religious path I took with the rest of my family. But none of these ever appealed to me. I used to be Lutheran, than Methodist, than Unitarian and Universalist, but within the past few years I have reevaluated my beliefs and personal dogma, and realized none of these were for me. So I became a god-questioning, "don't know, don't care" agnostic, in hopes of not being affiliated with religion or faith in any way. Why do I need to believe in God? At that time in my life, belief in something metaphysical wasn't a priority or even on my to do list.

Now, however, I have once again looked within myself to discover that I am no longer questioning the supernatural or God, but in complete disbelief. I have gone through a revelation (or antirevelation) that has led me to understand myself as an atheist, without faith or belief in a God. To me it's liberating, opening myself up to experiences and a comprehension I have of the world that would otherwise be limited by my religious obligations. And I no longer feel trapped by the quesitons or quandaries of the agnostic mindset. I am firm in my lack of religion, and I belive this has helped me cope more logically with life and what it has thrown at me. Psychologically, it has made things more rational to me, and has allowed me to express myself in the context of where I am/who I am at the moment (as opposed to what I believe in). So this was a major mental growth development in my teen years.

Sources:

ME!

Destination 360. "Central America." Map. http://www.destination360.com/maps/central-america-map.gif

Stock Photo. "Panther." Drawing. http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/%202518655/2/istockphoto_2518655_panther.jpg

Unscrewing the Inscruitable. "Is your housemate an atheist?" Cartoon. http://www.unscrewingtheinscrutable.com/images/housemate_atheist.jpg

Science Blogs. "Atheist." Diagram. http://scienceblogs.com/evolvingthoughts/atheist_chart.gif

Online Dictionary. "Case Study." Definition. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/case%20study

Entry 9

The phenomenological perspective of psychology was first practiced by Wilhelm Wundt, who developed the idea of introspection (where an individual would actually record and evaluate their own subjective thoughts). This became an important aspect of the psychodynamic approach to realizing what one's unconscious thoughts were, and how they controlled one's behavior. However, humanistic psychologists in the mid twentieth century took Wundt's theories to another level by stressing the validity of subjective experiences to one's own free will, and how we shape our own self-actualizing development.

Like the humanisitic perspective, the phenomenological notes how everyone is good by birth, and on a path towards perfection no matter what. All humankind strives for some kind of growth and maturity in life, with a final, end result being a more whole, complete person. Thus, it focuses on the more positive and open apects of anyone's life, and thier achievements towards gaining a clear outlook on their true self.

"The major themes and underlying assumptions of this perspective are:
There is a ‘self’ which has beautiful and unique form.
It is changing and growing. Everyone’s self is unique.
Once we provide a nurturing outer and inner environment, growth towards our higher selves occurs naturally.
We have enormous potential, possibility, and choice.
Uniqueness of Individuals: we view the world from our own unique perspective and our subjective experience of reality is very important. Phenomenology means 'the subjective experience of individuals'.
We can and must exercise our free will. Some people think that they don’t have the capacity or ability to make life HAPPEN for themselves. Or they believe that past problems are insurmountable. Or they spend so much time regretting the past that they are blinded to the possibilities of the here and now and the future. This perspective takes the view that this is due to people losing sight of the free will they possess and not recognizing their own potential for change and growth." (Neill 5).

As an ever-growing individual I see myself having unlimited potential. I know, personally, I have changerd throughout the years. Just over the past year, after coming to India and opening my eyes to so many amazing experiences, I have matured and seen not only the beauty and optimistic side to myself, but also the wonders of everything around me (not to sound cheesy, but it's true!). Becoming more independent, secure, creative and caring has been the biggest part of my time here, and I feel like these parts of my newer, changing attitude and personality are what will help me get through the next four years at university and the rest of my adult life. In essence, the things I have learned and been exposed to in just 10 months will stay with me the rest of my life. And, although these experiences are very personal and subjective, they affect and will continue to affect my behavior unless something changes them in the future. But I am happy now with myself, content to be this way, but also willing to change (because, as my dad told me before I left, "The only thing in life that is permanent is change.").

At the time being, my inner environment (as mentioned above) is very nurturing and unique. My outer environment could do some work, and in the months to come I will be adjusting to very dramatic changes when I get back home and then take off to college a couple months later. So, until I settle down again (in about 6 months) my external relationships and stimuli will not be very suitable for spontaneous or self-sustained growth (according to this perpective), but I will encounter challenges and experiences that will motivate me to develop in ways I have yet to think of. That's why this period of transition is so necessary for me: I will be living life first hand without much adult supervision, simply because I am an adult; simply because I am unique; simply because I have free will! I CAN'T WAIT!

Sources:

Neill, James. Introduction to Phenomenological Perspectives on Personality. 2003. http://wilderdom.com/personality/L10-0PhenomenologicalPerspectivesPersonality.html Using the sources:

(Carver, C. S., & Scheier, M. F. (2000). Perspectives on personality (4th ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
Funder, D. C. (1997). The personality puzzle. New York: Norton.
Keutzer, C. S. (1978). Whatever turns you on: Triggers to transcendental experiences. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 18, 77-80.
Maslow, A.H. (1970). Motivation and Personality (2nd ed.). New York: Van Nostrand.)

Digital Scrapbook. "Graduation." Word Art. http://store.digitalscrapbookplace.com/ images/wordart/04_Graduation_WordArt_Sample.jpg

McClamrock, Ron. "Dilbert: 'Free Will'." Cartoon. http://profron.net/fun/Dilbert_FreeWill.gif

CWU. "Wilhelm Wundt." Picture. http://www.cwu.edu/~warren/images/Wundt3.jpg