Extra ...STRESS!

Get prepared for Tuesday's class by checking out some of these links dealing with stress. Here's a little animation that does a pretty good job of explaining  what happens physiologically during the stress response.

Also, you should check out this general overview of stress and then click on the "Stress Assessment". Tally up your results and respond to this link discussing your current stress level.

Although I think I could guess which of you would qualify as "Type A" personalities, there's nothing like fun psychological questionnaires to self-diagnose! It's a fairly long test, but if you're up for it, respond with an overview of your score and your opinion about it's validity.

big scary ancient stressor!

For those of you really ready to explore the wide world of stress and earn a little extra credit towards S2, check out the APA's page on stress, chose an article and respond.

As always, when you respond make sure that you clearly state which piece your response is about. Also for those of you who haven't already done so, PLEASE finish your break work, which is all conviently located in the post below.

Break Assignments: Updated 12/28

Questions for the last part of Chapter 8 posted


Chapter 9Questions RIGHT HERE

 start reading "How and why do we experience stress?" pages 336-353. Then check out "Psychological Development" pages 359-394, an easy chapter I believe in which you'l find some things you've encountered before.


Here's the  Chapter 8 "How and why we Experience Stress" Questions.

If the AP Exam were today....

As requested, the results:

If the REAL AP Test were given today, the following people would receive passing scores:






TAYLOR VANCE (5)

 Joellen Quinn, Deshandalyn Meridy, Cravionne Hatcher (4)

Shawn Baptiste, Janae Taylor and Terrian Augustine (3)

Mizer, Landon, Edric, Willie, Brianyell, Jazmine and Jazmine are VERY close to passing scores.

Having said that, 4 out of the 7 people with passing scores purchased the AP review book, there seems to be a positive correlation.

Please do not be discouraged. We're only half way through and haven't really started serious review. I'm totally convinced that most of you will be able to pass the exam in May, but not without work. From here on out ALL of you need to not only be focused on our current topic (over the break: Stress (Chapter 8, part 3) and Development (Chapter 9)), but also regularly take a look back on EVERYTHING we've already covered.

Although the scores could have been better, only 5 people scored below a 70 (modified)  and 15 people scored above 80 (not as a percentage on the exam, but as translated). I'll let whoever is motivated calculate the mean, median, mode and SD!

Break assignments given tomorrow or Friday and posted here.

Hunger and Motivation: Check it Out

Just in time for the holidays: can thinking about eating help you eat less? This was on NPR this morning and speaks directly to Hunger motivation. It's a short and sweet little treat.

Taylor, Derrick and other undercover artists should love this animated piece about the effect of rewards on motivation.

Share what your thoughts!

Take this one to Heart! (or to the Cerebral Cortex, or wherever)

What's more important brains or determination? You may or may not be surprised by the findings of a research team from the University of Pennsylvania.

Read the article "Self-Discipline Outdoes IQ...."  . This article is typical of some that you may find yourself encountering next year, so I'd like to hear your opinion about three things; the results of the research, how it is related to what you've looked at withing the field of motivation and how you feel about the level of the article itself (comprehension difficulty, presentation of statistics etc.)

This Emotional Life

 PBS ran a really cool series at the beginning of this year called "This Emotional Life". Take a look at the companion website.

Click on topics, scroll down to see all that are available, choose one (example “Anger”, “Forgiveness”, “Grief and Loss”) and then select a subtopic (if necessary). Read the overview of the topic provided by PBS and then find the area within your topic that is titled “Additional Resources” and select an article that looks interesting to you. Read the article. Respond on this blog in the form of a short review.

If you're truly interested in the topic and want to take it a step further AND could use a lil extra credit, read three of the articles, prepare a 2-3 minute INTERESTING overview and presentation for one of my General Psych classes.