Drugs and Treatment

Using the drug you were assigned today in your group, research an article detailing treatment options for those who are addicted. You should summarize the article in your post and link the article. Please respond by Sunday (4/22) evening. 

Also, if you are using twitter, send a tweet using  #APsyIHA and/or @WrenPsych to share with the class. (If you have protected tweets, please email me proof of your tweet after you send it). 

Sleep Disorders

There are many common sleep disorders affecting millions of people. We've discussed Insomnia, Narcolepsy, Sleep Apnea, Parasomnias (e.g. Sleep Terrors, Sleep Walking), and Restless Legs Syndrome. Research one of these disorders (or another one that we did not discuss) that interests you and find an article/website offering suggestions for those who suffer from your chosen disorder. Post a brief summary of some of the suggestions (3-5 sentences) with a link to the full article for the class. Respond to this thread before 10:10 on Friday 4/20.

AP Exam Review Videos on You Tube

People to Know: History of Psych

check out the other videos on YouTube to help you prep for the exam 

Synesthesia

I just wanted to post this link here because we were talking about it only two days ago and this was posted on Aol.com from the Huffington Post just this morning...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/04/synesthesia_n_1404106.html?ref=science&icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl22%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D149434

What is Beautiful is Good

The attractiveness stereotype suggests that people assume the more attractive one is, the more positive qualities they possess. This idea dates back as far as Edward Thorndike's work in the 1920s on the "halo effect."  In 1972, Dion, Berscheid, and Walster published a critical study on the attractiveness stereotype: What is Beautiful is Good. 


After reading the study, What is Beautiful is Good, what are your reactions? Have you witnessed this theory at play in your own life?  Blog about your reactions to this study. 


Then, search for another article or study that relates to this topic. How do we continue to see this stereotype at play today? Has it changed? Write a brief summary of your article and provide a hyperlink (go to insert link in your reply so it is an active hyperlink) to your article in your post. (If you download an article from Ebsco and cannot post a link, give us the full APA reference and bring in a copy to class). 

References

Dion, K., Berscheid, E., & Walster, E. (1972). What is beautiful is good. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 24(3), 285-290.

Violate a Social Norm

Most of us follow social norms unconsciously, but if asked to break one, have a very difficult time. In order to understand how powerful these norms are, I challenge you to break one! Consider any of the following norms (feel free to create a new one!): board a public bus and sing out loud, get into an elevator with other people and face backward, join someone who is sitting alone at a restaurant, wear your clothes backward. This website offers a great list of common social norms to break.  

Describe your initial feelings; the events that occurred; others’ reactions to you; and your own reaction. 

After your experiment, describe your opinion on social norms? How do they affect society as a whole? Do we need them?  It will be uncomfortable, but fun!

• NOTE— please do not do anything illegal or unsafe (e.g. walking through a drive-through is creative but dangerous).  

Please write your post by Tuesday 3/27/12

Psychopaths Everywhere?

I'm sure we have all called someone a psychopath or referred to someone as a "psycho". Whether it be an ex-boyfriend, a teacher, or even your parents. But do these people really meet the criteria? Are we misdiagnosing people based on interactions that we have had? Are we passing judgment based on their true character or just on the situation that we have had where the person acts a little crazy or doesn't agree with us? (Oh yeah, I can be deep) :)

If you want here's the article: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/dirty-minds/201203/psychopaths-everywhere