Sensation/Perception and Development [WLOs: 1, 2, 3, 4] [CLOs: 1, 2, 4] To prepare for this discussion, please read Chapters 2, 3, and 4 of your textbook, as well as the Parental Ethnotheories of Childrens Learning chapter in The Anthropology of Learning in Childhood (https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/ashford-ebooks/detail.action?docID=480070), Culture and Point of View (http://www.pnas.org/content/100/19/11163.full), and Independence and Interdependence in Childrens Developmental Experiences (http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&an=66587838&site=eds-live&scope=site&authtype=shib&custid=s8856897). In addition, watch Perspective: Brain Games (Season 6) (https://go.openathens.net/redirector/ashford.edu?url=https%3a%2f%2fdigital.films.com%2fPortalPlaylists.aspx%3fwID%3d100753%26xtid%3d94770), Charlie Chaplin Optic Illusion (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbKw0_v2clo), and Babies (https://go.openathens.net/redirector/ashford.edu?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdigitalcampus.swankmp.net%2Fashford333083%2F%23%2Fplay%2F84043). Finally, review Instructor Guidance and Announcements. Instructor Guidance Week 2: Biological Basis and Development If the nervous communication be cut off between the brain and other parts, the experiences of those other parts are non-existent for the mind. The eye is blind, the ear deaf, the hand insensible and motionless. And conversely, if the brain be injured, consciousness is abolished or altered, even although every other organ in the body be ready to play its normal part. William James (1890) This week, you will be learning more about the brain, consciousness, and sensation and perception. As you can see from the above quote from one of the founding fathers of American psychology, these topics are interrelated. The physical stuff of the brain does no good without the intangible elements of the mind, and together the experience of consciousness allows us to interact with our world, sensing and perceiving everything around us. BIOLOGICAL BASIS AND DEVELOPMENT Discover the biological basis of behavior and mental processes. Interpret development from a psychological perspective. Explain individual variation in perceptual experience and development. Relate real-life examples to illustrate course content. Identify ethical considerations in academic writing. Predict application of skills developed through the study of psychology to various career fields. Illustrate knowledge of academic writing. Introduction Week 2 focuses on the biological basis of behavior and mental processes, including neuroscience and consciousness in addition to sensation and perception. You will also study development. We also want to encourage you this week to begin to further develop your study habits and time management skills so you will have increased success throughout your academic career. A Tip: Now that you are beginning to get more comfortable in the class and adept at research, I strongly encourage the use of additional scholarly resources to support your ideas and further inform dialogue! This may be especially important when the prompts are somewhat vague and will require quite a bit of thought on your part to really show that you understand the material in a meaningful way. Simple, obvious answers will not earn full credit. More about the Material This is your brain on homework pleated-jeans (2013) http://favim.com/image/607629/ Anatomy of a Toddlers Brain Illustration https://www.offthemark.com/image/data/cartoons/1998-07-19C.gif Anatomy of a Teenagers Brain Illustration https://www.offthemark.com/image/data/cartoons/2002-04-21C.gifLinks to an external site. Anatomy of a Parents Brain Illustration https://www.offthemark.com/image/data/cartoons/1999-08-15C.gif Culture How does culture impact the self, and how do different cultural constructions of the self shape thoughts, feelings and actions? Below, I am pasting a figure that illustrates independence and interdependence (Markus & Kitayama, 1991; follow the link I provide in the reference to the full article): Construals of Self Illustration Retrieved November 23, 2014, from http://www.phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/viewFile/554/830/5899 First, a clarification: I use the term construction of self to emphasize that these are just natural or inborn tendencies, but instead we learn what the self is as we are socialized and we actively apply this belief to every area of our lives, thus creating an environment that fosters the conditions of independence or interdependence. Cultural psychologists call this mutual constitution. The term used in the figure, construal, is similar, except it tends to focus on the mental elements. On the top (a), you can see a representation of voluntaristic independence. People in relatively affluent, mobile, and (sub)urban spaces (like the United States) tend to view the self as separate and distinct from others and relationships as voluntary, tenuous arrangements. Note that the xs (which indicate personal characteristics) are located within bounded, self-contained individuals (the circles) in this figure, illustrating the uniqueness of each individual. In addition, they are printed in bold typeface. On the bottom (b), you can see a representation of embedded interdependence. People who occupy rural or village settings, characterized by less affluence and limited mobility tend to view the self as inherently connected to others. Note that the boundary of the self (i.e., the circles)where I end and you beginis depicted with a dashed line that overlaps the self, indicating the fluidity and connectedness of all individuals. Much more could be said about this topic (e.g., how do these varied constructions of the self impact affect, behavior, and cognition?), and I suspect we will continue to explore the role of culture in the discussion board this week. For now, though, I want you to simply consider these constructions not merely as a set of ideas about the world, but rather as realities that are reflected in various practices and artifacts. For instance, the reality of life in a small African village is such that marriage may be arranged as a social contract. Many generations and/or extended families often live together in close quarters. People share communal meals, eating the same food from the same dish. All of these practices reflect and support a notion of the self as interdependent. Can you think of examples of beliefs or practices in the United States that might illustrate independence? Additional Resources (web links, videos, and articles): Here are some additional resources that pertain to the other topics at hand this week. CULTURE To learn more about cross-cultural research on various topics in psychology, see this online repository of articles: http://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/orpc/contents.htmlLinks to an external site. Our greatest human adventure is the evolution of consciousness. We are in this life to enlarge the soul, liberate the spirit, and light up the brain. Tom Robbins (n.d.) As a student, you probably find much truth in this statement. Your educational quest will be filled with many opportunities to light up the brain; try to maintain balance in your life and nurture your (or anothers) soul and spirit as well. References Feenstra, J. (2016). Social psychology (2e). Bridgepoint Education. James, W. (1890). The Principles of Psychology (Vol. 2). New York: Holt. (p. 4) LeFrançois, G. R. (2020). Psychology: The human puzzle (3rd ed.). Zovio. https://content.uagc.edu/ Markus, H. R., & Kitayama, S. (1991). Culture and the self: Implicatio Remember that this content is new to many of you, so really dive into your learning. Share your understanding and do not be fearful of making mistakes. This environment is designed to help us learn from our content and from one another. To complete this activity, Illustrate sensation and perception in individual experience from a psychological perspective, giving explicit definitions and examples. Interpret the impact that different environments might have on various aspects of development including (but not limited to) Nutrition and physical development Childcare arrangements and social development Parenting styles and emotional development Educational practices and cognitive development Analyze the relationship between perception and development. In other words, why do we see such great variation in thoughts, feelings, and actions when biological structures are so similar? What is the role of the brain? What are some biological, social, and/or psychological processes that explain similarities and differences within and between persons? To fully demonstrate content knowledge and critical thinking, the Sensation/Perception and Development discussion must Appraise course concepts explicitly, applying them to your personal experiences/observations, and cite the required readings as appropriate. Be thorough and specific, structuring your work intentionally (with an introductory and concluding sentence or two), providing clear context, and concisely and precisely explaining relevant course concepts. Use personal examples to illustrate as appropriate, but do be sure to provide an objective analysis too, referencing required materials and using additional credible sources as needed to support your insight. For more, see Summary vs. AnalysisLinks to an external site.. Use your own Academic VoiceLinks to an external site. and apply in-text citations appropriately throughout your post. For more, see APA: Citing Within Your PaperLinks to an external site.. Your original post should be a minimum of 300 words.
