ACE Class Report: Psychology – The Human Experience
Begin: 7/4/2023
Finish: 9/19/2023
Title: Psychology – The Human Experience
Author: Coastline Community College
Why I chose to take this class:
This is an opportunity for me to delve into something new where I have not much knowledge on this subject – Psychology. This Topic will help me understand behavior of others better. Also, it is a practice for me to train and teach others new topics.
What I learned from this class:
Psychology is the study of behavior and mental process. Psychologist observe and record how people and animals relate to one another and to the environment. They look for patterns that will help them understand and predict behavior, and they use scientific methods to test their ideas. The research findings of psychologist have increased our understanding of why people behave as they do. Psychologist focus on the workings of the nervous system, especially the brain.
Methods of psychology research: They develop theories also called hypothesis, which are possible explanations for what they have observed. Then they use scientific methods to test their hypothesis. The chief techniques used in psychological research include: Naturalistic Observation, 2) Systematic Assessment, and 3) Experimentation. Naturalistic observation involves watching the behavior in their natural environment. The psychologist looks for cause-and -effect relationships between events and for broad pattern of behavior. But observation alone seldom proves a cause-and-effect relationship between two or more events. So psychologist use the observation as an exploration technique to gain insight and ideas for later testing. Systematic assessment method use to examine peoples, thoughts, feelings and personality traits. Th reassessment include case study, surveys and standard tests. Experimentation helps a psychologist discover or confirm cause-and-effect relationship in a behavior. Usually divide subject randomly into two groups, experimental and control groups. Changes condition for the experimental group but does nothing to the control group. The experimental group behaves differently from the control group, the changed conditions probably cause the difference in behavior.
The Nervous System has three main parts: The central nervous system, the peripheral nervous system and the autonomic nervous system. The Central Nervous system controls and coordinates the activities of the entire nervous system. it consist of the brain and the spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system carries all the messages between the central nervous system and the rest of the body. The Autonomic nervous system is part of the peripheral nervous system which regulates automatic bodily process as breathing and digestion without conscious control by the brain. The nervous system is made up of billions of specialized cells called Neurons or nerve cells. The nerve form a pathway that conduct information rapidly throughout the body. The neuron has 3 basic parts, the cell body, Axon and Dendrites. Neuron receives and transmit information, through cell body, Axon and dendrite. Synapses help regulate and route the constant flow of nerve impulses. Neurotransmitters transmit nerve impulses across synapses across many neurotransmitters and different receptors.
Perception is the process which Human being sense, know and understand their environment. Various factors influence what and how we perceive. The ways our bodies are structured or receive and process stimuli from the environment influences our perceptions. Our emotions, needs, expectations and learning also affect our perception. Perception has three levels of complexity: 1) Detection, 2) Recognition and 3) Discrimination. Detection – people can sense they are being stimulated by some form of energy. Recognition – ability’s to identify as well as detect a particular pattern of stimulation. Discrimination – Ability to perceive pattern of stimulation as different.
Memory is the ability to remember something that has been learned or experienced. The Hippocampus is part of the large structure called the Cerebral Cortex. It controls higher brain function such as thinking, problem solving, decision making, and use of language. The memory system can be divided into three types: Sensory memory, Short Term memory, and Long Term memory. Sensory memory holds information for only a second or two. Short Term memory – what you actively think at any particular time. Long Term memory – can store facts, ideas and experiences after you stop thinking about them. Measuring memory, three methods: 1) Recall, 2) Recognition and 3) Relearning. Recall is to remember a list of names. Recognition – you can indicate which people were from the list. Relearning – memorize the guest list after forgetting it.
Stress : Is the body’s emergency response to real or imagined danger. A stress reaction prepares the body for a burst of action to fight or flee a threat. Stress that last a long time can weaken health and undermine happiness. An alarm reaction when a frightening experience activates the Hypothalamus, which send nerve signals to the Adrenal glands. These nerves signal stimulate the Medulla of the Adrenals to release hormones, like Epinephrine or Adrenaline. Epinephrine raise heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure and sugar in the blood. These effects increase alertness and deliver more blood, oxygen, and food to the active muscles. If stress continues, the body enters the final stage – exhaustion, leading to extreme fatigue and inability to resist new stressors. Managing stress by asking questions and sharing information, to avoid over exaggeration, relaxation technique, hypnosis, meditation, recorded relaxation program, Yoga. healthy lifestyle increases body ability to cope with stress. Talking with others help people sort through problems and explore possible solutions. Spiritual activities reduces stress.
How will this class contribute to my success upon my release:
This class has trained me to teach and train new materials to others. The knowledge gained from this class will allow me to relate to the Geriatric and immigrant communities to deal with their social issues. Also it will facilitate my teaching and mentoring skills.
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