My Thoughts On My Life

PSY 360 Week 1 Individual Assignment Cognitive Psychology Definition Paper Cognitive Psychology Definition Paper (12 points): This paper should be posted as a Word attachment in the Assignment Section and should be consistent with APA guidelines. Prepare a 700-1050-word paper in which you define cognitive psychology. Be sure to address the following topics in your paper. Identify at least four key milestones in the development of cognitive psychology as a discipline. Discuss the importance of behavioral observation in cognitive psychology. PSY 360 Week 2 Individual Assignment

Holt N., Bremner A., Sutherland E., Vliek M., Passer M., Smith R. (2012), Psychology The Science Of Mind And Behaviour; The psychodynamic perspective, 565.

It's fascinating that humankind has had an easier time entering outer space than trying to develop a complete understanding of the human brain; and this paucity of information is what drove me to pursue the field of psychology, the fact that resting in my head is one of the world's most ironic enigmas. How can we know so little about the thing that makes us who we are? On the first day of my AP psychology course, my teacher informed us that “In this class you may be left with more questions than answers, and if you can't handle that, this may not be the class for you.” And when he said that, it was clear to that I was in the right place. You see, a riddle is no fun if the solution is obvious.

T., & Freberg, L. A. (2013). Discovering Psychology The Science of Mind. Belmont, CA Wadsworth Cengage Learning. Retrieved from www.betheluniversityonline.net

Throughout the course of history, the phenomenon of psychology has drawn countless psychologists and scientists to further comprehend the depths and fascinations of the human mind and body. Using experimentation as a source of obtaining and recording desired information regarding the new realizations of the mind, cognitive scientists continue to fathom at the intricate revelations the mind has to offer. Although the complexities of the mind have brought scientists to puzzling conclusions, scientists have used a series of experimental steps to conclude how and why the processes of the brain can change the actions and personalities of an individual.

Personal Statement I have been fascinated with how the mind works from a very early age. For instance, in elementary school I would try to guess how someone would respond differently to a given scenario depending on irrelevant details, like the color of someone’s sweater. Of course it took years to put a name to it, but I was actually deeply interested in psychology—in this case the mechanisms of perception. During my senior year of high school, I decided to self-study AP Psychology because my school did not offer the course.

Psychology. (2010, March 16). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 19:58, March 17, 2010, from

Every behavior begins with biology. Our behaviors, as well as our thoughts and feelings, are produced by the actions of our brains, nerves, muscles, and glands. In this chapter we will begin our journey into the world of psychology by considering the biological makeup of the human being, including the most remarkable of human organs—the brain. We’ll consider the structure of the brain and also the methods that psychologists use to study the brain and to understand how it works.

Cognitive psychology is the study of mental processes surrounding learning, memory, perception, and thought. Though it is still a relatively new formal branch of psychology, its roots extend back to Descartes who sought a way to explain how the mind worked, proposing the analogy of a “hydraulic system of nerve function” (Willingham, 2007, p. 26) after he observed animated statues in Saint-Germain-en-Laye. It has been the restless pursuit of not only the idea of how the mind works but also what exactly constituted the mind that eventually led to the foundations of cognitive theory. As psychologists examined how

The lectures in psychology captured my interest like no other subject had. I vividly remember thinking to myself how incredible it was to think about the science behind why we think. Not only did psychology answer some of these questions, it’s also rapidly changing. Contrary to my love of having questions answered, I love how much is still unknown in psychology. With the progression of technology, the landscape of psychology is shifting; videos we watched in class from five or ten years ago posed questions that couldn’t be answered until recently. Our teacher was able to incorporate new evidence into her presentations, removing the feeling of stagnation felt with other

I have always been intrigued by the mental processes of humans and animals. As a young child and into adolescence, as a student and teacher and as a caregiver, I have always been interested in psychology in one form or another. This essay will reflect not only the development of my interest in psychology, but the development of myself as a person.

Burton, L., & Westen, D. (2012). Psychology (3rd Australian and New Zealand ed.). Milton, Qld.: John Wiley and Sons

My personality has significantly changed over time from the time I was a teenager till now that I’m an adult. Age has significantly contributed to how I view things, how I react to issues, and how I interact with other people. Some of the factors that have contributed to changes in my personality include entering into committed relationships and advancement in my careers. I have developed increase in positive traits like conscientiousness and a decrease in traits that are considered negative, such as neuroticism. Compared to the time I was a teenager, I have significantly become more responsible, more agreeable, and more emotionally stable. I remember I used to fight a lot when I was a teenager but as I grow into adulthood, I have learnt how to handle issues and control myself as well. In essence, my personality has significantly improved. When I was a teenager, I used to be irresponsible, unsociable, and shy. However, I have since become friendly, responsible, and outgoing. This has made me live a happier life compared to the life I was living before. Living a happy life has improved my personality in the sense that it has made me become more conscientious, more emotionally stable, and more agreeable. My pattern of feeling, thinking, and behaving has since become consistent over time and in different situations.

Everyone has their own unique beliefs and motives that push them through their lives. I have many different beliefs instilled in me that mold my day to day life. These beliefs have been formed either by learning from my parents, or by personal experiences. One major conviction of mine is the pursuit of happiness. There are many ways to strive for happiness, and all people are unique in the fact that no one shares the same goals. My happiness comes from a core of beliefs. Religion is an extremely important part of my life, and I can thank my mother and father for that. Another belief of mine is that hard work pays off; in many situations I have been shown that a good work ethic goes a long way in being successful. I also believe in being an optimist throughout life’s trials and tribulations. Many things can upset me in day to day experiences; however, I believe it to be crucial to obtain a joyous attitude. These beliefs have become priorities to me and carry me through my life, and help me to succeed.

One of my spheres of influence is my family. I am both a wife and a mother. I have been married to the same wonderful man for 20 years and we have two beautiful daughters together. Our oldest daughter, Heather, is 19 years old and our youngest daughter, Rebecca is 17 years old. Heather is a senior in college and started student teaching this week. Rebecca is a senior in high school and currently trying to decide which college to go attend. Both girls still live at home with me and my husband. As a mother it is my job to guide my children in making the best choices for their future. When Heather started 9th grade I helped her weigh the benefits of graduating early. Since Pre-K she had always been bored with school, because she was a gifted child and the assignments were too easy for her. I helped her decide that taking dual credit courses in high school and graduating a year early she would be able to take more challenging classes and get an early start on her career. As a spouse, it is my role to be understanding and supportive of my husband. I would consider both myself and my husband as equal leader of our family. This is because neither of us makes major decisions without input from the other person. As a leader I try to act as a good role model for my children. I want them to see what a good mother and wife should be. I also want them to see what a Christian should be.