Emotion has a severe impact on memory. In times of extreme emotion, a person will experience higher levels of memory attainment or loss. Many people remember happy times or upsetting experiences, but few remember the "dull" times. The story of Anastasia Romanov, how she experienced amnesia after an attack on her family, is probably the most well known in pop culture. Another story is found at http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=dXMs_dloSEcC&oi=fnd&pg=PR11&dq=emotion+and+memory&ots=zjyFfSReGX&sig=1gP8iCRcfiecjUdbxAMlr1kNAcs#v=onepage&q=emotion%20and%20memory&f=false, on the case of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania vs Anthony Gallagher, were a rape victim could not pick out her perpetrator after two weeks but could four years later.
High reason is the idea that humans can make accurate decisions without the influence of emotion. However, the somatic hypothesis says that emotion plays a large part in decision making, especially when a quick decision needs to be made. One example from pop culture is Michael Crichton's work The Andromeda Strain. When making a decision about destroying a biological testing facility, the person chosen to make the decision was a single man without children, because it was believed he would be least attached to the facility and more likely to sacrifice his life to stop the spread of a virus.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Thoughts and questions on language
Every teacher is a language teacher.
Home from Home
How does the banning of a common language change the way that people choose to interact and who they interact with?
How do different languages convey sounds that are heard in nature, and which one(s) is (are) most accurate?
Home from Home
How does the banning of a common language change the way that people choose to interact and who they interact with?
How do different languages convey sounds that are heard in nature, and which one(s) is (are) most accurate?
Emotion vs reason
Teen brains are not fully connected to the frontal lobe, the area responsible for decision making, Myline is responsible for making the electrical impulses flow smoothly, and the lack of this chemical means that teens do not form good decisions as quickly.
The cerebellum is used to regulate fear and pleasure responses. This means that it is what causes people to react to a situation in different circumstances.
Social interactions are the primary ways that babies learn. They learn how to behave, how to control themselves, how others should be acting. If all babies were allowed to see all of the world, then there would be a possibility of a universal moral code. However, each child has a unique experience, and a moral code that is understood universally is not likely.
When making a decision, most of the time it is clear what the outcome of the cost will be. Putting extra time into homework is likely to result in a better grade and understanding. Going to work is going to result in money to buy things like food, water, shelter and other nice things like tvs. However, it is not always clear where the outcome is worth the cost.
I have found, that with my parents, most of the time they will say "go do (insert chore)". And I will usually see the benefit. Taking out trash means that it doesn't smell, and there is more room to put stuff. Lately, however, I have been questioning this cost vs reward system, and it has gotten me into a lot of trouble. "go clean your room" is what they say, and I say, why? It doesn't bother me if my shoes are on a rack, or papers are stacked. The only reward I see is that it makes my parents, not happy, but they stop nagging me. But I don't see that the effort I make to clean my room gives as good of a reward. Unfortunately for me, my parents disagree.
The cerebellum is used to regulate fear and pleasure responses. This means that it is what causes people to react to a situation in different circumstances.
Social interactions are the primary ways that babies learn. They learn how to behave, how to control themselves, how others should be acting. If all babies were allowed to see all of the world, then there would be a possibility of a universal moral code. However, each child has a unique experience, and a moral code that is understood universally is not likely.
When making a decision, most of the time it is clear what the outcome of the cost will be. Putting extra time into homework is likely to result in a better grade and understanding. Going to work is going to result in money to buy things like food, water, shelter and other nice things like tvs. However, it is not always clear where the outcome is worth the cost.
I have found, that with my parents, most of the time they will say "go do (insert chore)". And I will usually see the benefit. Taking out trash means that it doesn't smell, and there is more room to put stuff. Lately, however, I have been questioning this cost vs reward system, and it has gotten me into a lot of trouble. "go clean your room" is what they say, and I say, why? It doesn't bother me if my shoes are on a rack, or papers are stacked. The only reward I see is that it makes my parents, not happy, but they stop nagging me. But I don't see that the effort I make to clean my room gives as good of a reward. Unfortunately for me, my parents disagree.
16th man
How can sport be used to "heal a country and save lives"?
One of my CAS activities has been participating in Boy Scouts. I believe that this program has the ability to change lives and breakdown barriers just as well as sport can. Many boys unfortunately grow up without a father figure, a male role model to aspire to become. Scouts provides many role models, some their age, some older, some who have been in Scouts for over 50 years! As to breaking down barriers, many boys would not interact with each other had it not been for scouts. Personally, I met by best friend in scouts, and would not have talked to him otherwise. I have also been brought in contact with people both older and younger than me, and have learned from them in ways that I would not have otherwise.
The pre-apartheid flag was chosen by a small group of people based upon how they felt the country should be represented. The current flag, which was only supposed to be an interim flag, was widely supported by the people, showing a more active role of all citizens of South Africa and the removal of oppression.
Friday, March 1, 2013
Fallacies
Biased Sample Fallacy
This fallacy makes claims based upon certain data without taking into account other factors that could be affecting the data. For example, on page 282 of Richard Muller's book Physics for Future Presidents, there are two graphs showing the monetary damage caused by hurricanes on the US east coast from 1900 to 2004. The first graph is rather alarming, showing that the damages were almost non existent in the 1900's, and have shot up recently. However, when adjusting for inflation and more people living on the coast, there is no specific trend. http://books.google.com/books?id=6DBnS2g-KrQC&pg=PA283&lpg=PA283&dq=%22physics+for+future+presidents%22+hurricane+graphs&source=bl&ots=_0nTQEzmDs&sig=0FP7n98O4Qw14jlCR3_VPaymvjc&hl=en&sa=X&ei=SrAwUZzoBJCp0AHQtYDwDQ&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22physics%20for%20future%20presidents%22%20hurricane%20graphs&f=false
Prisoner's Dilemma Fallacy
This fallacy is that two people in jail are given an option of either staying silent or accusing their partner. If both stay silent, they get a light punishment each. If one talks and the other doesn't, the one that talked gets away free and the other gets a heavy punishment. If both talk, they both get a medium sentence. It makes sense for them to stay silent together, but to each individually it makes sense to talk. So if both trust each other, they will be better off than if they act in their best interest. This is shown in the stock market crash of 1929. People had the option of doing nothing, in which they might lose their money, or rushing to the bank and pulling their money out. Since many people took the latter option, they all lost money when the bank couldn't pay them all. However, if they all had done nothing, then their money would have been fine.
This fallacy makes claims based upon certain data without taking into account other factors that could be affecting the data. For example, on page 282 of Richard Muller's book Physics for Future Presidents, there are two graphs showing the monetary damage caused by hurricanes on the US east coast from 1900 to 2004. The first graph is rather alarming, showing that the damages were almost non existent in the 1900's, and have shot up recently. However, when adjusting for inflation and more people living on the coast, there is no specific trend. http://books.google.com/books?id=6DBnS2g-KrQC&pg=PA283&lpg=PA283&dq=%22physics+for+future+presidents%22+hurricane+graphs&source=bl&ots=_0nTQEzmDs&sig=0FP7n98O4Qw14jlCR3_VPaymvjc&hl=en&sa=X&ei=SrAwUZzoBJCp0AHQtYDwDQ&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22physics%20for%20future%20presidents%22%20hurricane%20graphs&f=false
Prisoner's Dilemma Fallacy
This fallacy is that two people in jail are given an option of either staying silent or accusing their partner. If both stay silent, they get a light punishment each. If one talks and the other doesn't, the one that talked gets away free and the other gets a heavy punishment. If both talk, they both get a medium sentence. It makes sense for them to stay silent together, but to each individually it makes sense to talk. So if both trust each other, they will be better off than if they act in their best interest. This is shown in the stock market crash of 1929. People had the option of doing nothing, in which they might lose their money, or rushing to the bank and pulling their money out. Since many people took the latter option, they all lost money when the bank couldn't pay them all. However, if they all had done nothing, then their money would have been fine.
Monday, January 7, 2013
Vegetative state patients and Art
1) There has been research and experiments done that show that doctors have been able to comunicate with patients in a vegetative by asking yes or no questions. Certain parts of the brain light up on a certain MRI when the answer is yes and different parts like up when the answer is no. At the moment, simple questions are mainly what is being asked, but one doctor did ask a patient if he was in pain. The answer was no. The answer to a question like this could lead to questions that could determine treatment and whether or not to continue it.
There are several knowledge issue questions that arise with this topic.
Is it ethical to rely so heavily on technology for life and death decision?
What is required of someone to make life or death decisions?
Should the life of a person be determined by the person, who might be less mentally capable, or an outside group?
2) Art may have healing powers. Art therapy can help autistic kids communicate as well as children recover from dramatic incidences. In some instances, people overcoming drug and alcohol addictions use art to help them overcome the addiction. Art can be a gentle way to express oneself and this can go along nicely with healing.
How important are emotions to healing? Are emotions important?
Does art change the scientific or mental healing?
"To what extent can belief play a role in the outcomes of medical treatment?"
"Which aspects of the creative process may have a positive, healing impact on the human body?"
"Should a piece be considered art if it has been produced by a non-artist?"
Does the art stimulate healing or the connection people have with art stimulate the healing?
Does art needed to be experienced passively or actively in order for it to help healing?
Friday, November 9, 2012
Reading reflection on "What every baby knows"
1. Inferential learning mechanisms are the ability of babies to create, revise and discard theories about the world they live in, making predictions and changing them as it suits the environment.
2. Within the first few days, babies will recognize and imitate others. After a year, they will understand other peoples actions and emotions to external objects. At 18 months they will understand that other people want other things. By three they will tell things in such a way as to fit reality, not realizing that when they are older this will be called lying, and by four years old they will understand what it means to lie.
3. This article assumes that babies are consciously forming these theories about the world, and that they will continue to change to fit the environment until they are about four years old. It also assumes that babies learn based upon interaction with other people. This implies that it is necessary for humans to be part of a group, and that we build upon each other. It also implies that children that receive no contact will not develop as well as the children who do.
2. Within the first few days, babies will recognize and imitate others. After a year, they will understand other peoples actions and emotions to external objects. At 18 months they will understand that other people want other things. By three they will tell things in such a way as to fit reality, not realizing that when they are older this will be called lying, and by four years old they will understand what it means to lie.
3. This article assumes that babies are consciously forming these theories about the world, and that they will continue to change to fit the environment until they are about four years old. It also assumes that babies learn based upon interaction with other people. This implies that it is necessary for humans to be part of a group, and that we build upon each other. It also implies that children that receive no contact will not develop as well as the children who do.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)