--Original published at KatiesPerspectives

My name is Katie Hoff and I am a freshman Music Therapy major/Psych minor at Elizabethtown College. I live in Eastern Pennsylvania with my dad, mom, 3 sisters, and 2 dogs. I am very excited to be enrolled in this course this semester out of pure naivety and curiosity about learning more about what the field of psychology entails. I am eager to get to know more people who are interested in similar things and I am hopeful that going in with an open mind will lead to knew and amazing learning opportunities.

Why you chose to take this class? (It is okay to be honest) – A huge part of being in the Music Therapy department at Elizabethtown is being well versed in areas including music, psychology, science, and language. In addition to general psychology, we are required to take abnormal psychology in order to actively apply aspects of psychology into our musical practice. With these two classes under my belt by the end of Sophomore year, I will have time to take 1 additional psych class in order to fulfill the requirements for a psychology minor which could potentially make me more marketable and fierce in the eyes if future employers

What background, if any, do you have in psychology? – Besides prior interest in shows like NCIS and Making a Murderer, I had the opportunity to take a psychology class in high school. I have always been interested in several different aspects of psychology.

What do you think of when you hear the word “psychology”? – The study of the brain and how it works for different people in different ways. In layman’s terms, “We are going to be learning about the human brain and how it does things and why it does the things that does!”

Look at the course schedule on the syllabus. Which three topics look the most interesting to you? Why? Which three topics look the least interesting to you? Why? – I am most interested in learning about The Brain: Micro/Macro level. I am really interested in the scientific and anatomical side of psychology. Being able to actually see how and why something works within the human body is absolutely incredible to me. I think I am least interested in Classical/Operant Conditioning because from prior knowledge, I know there are quite a few people and terminologies to remember within this chapter.

What question about psychology do you want to answer by the end of this class? – How can one reverse/lighten the effects of mental health disorders for other people using psychology/psychological aspects?

--Original published at Manda's College Blog

My name is Amanda Maher (pronounced like the liberal tv host, Bill “Maher” and there is no relation. Thankfully.). I’m a 27 year old Army Veteran who never really liked school or even thought about going to college until now. I’ve met a few people in my lifetime that has recommended taking at least one psychology course because you learn a lot about yourself and not just others.   I will be attempting to major in social work but even with that in mind, I am quite unsure with what exactly I want to do in life. Besides doing college for the first time in my entire life, I am a very active person doing CrossFit about two hours 5 to 6 days a week. I am currently signed up in the CrossFit Open. If I didn’t have exercise in my life, my mind would probably go insane!

Why did you choose to take this class? 

Why I choose to study psychology may be out of the ordinary for some or maybe this is common. I’ve always had a sustained curiosity of the minds of the so-called negative influencers of history.  Such as Hitler, Stalin, Fidel Castro and those today such as Valdmir Putin to the “ordinary” Casey Anthony. People that even come from almost all normal backgrounds, what exactly creates the insanity? What and why would they be such a legacy today? The urges, the greed, and the lack of empathy. It is very interesting but very scary as well. I’m hoping the class sheds light on how this sort of mind set is created.

What background if any, do you have in psychology?

The only backgrounds I would claim to have related psychology is my past and present with being treated by psychologists, therapists, and other doctors relating to my mental health.

What do you think of when you hear the word “psychology”?

When I was younger I used to look at the word psychology as something negative. I always pictured in my head of those old and scary insane asylum‘s such as PennHurst  and their constant abuse of patients.  Now that I’m older and possibly wiser I know a bit better now due to being a patient to those type of people. I definitely have a lot more respect for my mental health providers, sometimes. But I do realize there is still a ton of common misconceptions the word alone has.

 Look at the course schedule on the syllabus. Which three topics look the most interesting to you? Which three topics look the least interesting to you? 

Mental illness, Personality and Stress are the three topics that I am very interested in. Being a veteran who has dealt with various traumas during service and still trying to deal with depression and anxiety and other mental health issues, I would love to learn more about ways to cope and maybe seek out why my brain responds to certain situations that are different to someone who doesn’t have any disorder.

Experiments/medications, Brain, Intelligence seem to be to be the least interesting.  I have a negative outlook on doctors and medication. Sometimes just learning about medications that can genuinely help people and seeing them not be used due to doctors refusing to prescribe them to those that need it but somehow the ones that abuse it still get that medicine. And due to the current opioid addiction, I feel like medication addiction will be in this topic which would make blood boil! Learning about your brain and intelligence are about the same for me, it honestly reminds me of science and the lack of practical thinking. Intelligence vs common sense would probably be interesting.

What question do you want to answer by the end of the class?

Besides the general, “is psychology for me?”, one question I’d like to have answered is “do I have a better understanding of myself and can I change it?”

--Original published at Max'sPHY105blog

Hi, my name is Maxwell Billante. I prefer to be called Max. I am looking forward to this psychology course. I have never taken a psychology course before. I chose to take this course here at Elizabethtown College because it fulfills the social studies core requirement. I never really had an interest in any social studies course I had taken in my high school career and wanted to try something different. I have heard some things about psychology which I think is interesting, so I decided to take this psychology course. I had never taken psychology before, but I have heard that it is the study of individual behavior. I have taken a sociology course in my high school career which it the study of group behavior. The teacher I had for this course told me about how how sociology is different from psychology in these terms, so when I think of psychology, I think of looking at reasons why individuals do what they do. Of the topics listed on the course syllabus, the three topics that sound most interesting to me are Why do We Forget, Copping with Stress, and Mechanics of Sleep. The topic, Why do We Forget, sounds interesting to me because I usually do not forget things, although it happens from time to time. I am interested in finding out what psychically happens in the brain when I forget something. I am also interested in the topic, Copping with Stress, because I know that I will have to do this many times throughout college and later in life as well. I am always open to learn about how stress occurs and how to cop with it. Finally, I am interested in learning about mechanics of sleep as this is also something I should know for college. I understand that a lack of sleep decreases a person’s academic performance, but I look forward to looking even deeper in how this works. The topics, Psychology Then & Now, Why Research Design Matters, and Power of Experiments sound least interesting to me. The topic, Psychology Then & Now, probably implies looking into the history of psychology. As I mentioned earlier, I have never had an interest in any social studies course I had taken. The majority of these courses dealt with history, which is not what I am interested in. The topic, Why Research Design matters, probably implies talking about research papers. I am able to write a research paper well, but it is not something I normally enjoy the most. The topic, Power of Experiments, sounds like it talks about why psychologist use experiments. I have taken science courses before and have heard over and over why scientists use experiments. So the material in this topic probably will not be new to me. One question about psychology that I have right now, that I hoped to be answered by the end of the course is; What exactly do psychologists look at when they study behavior? Do they look at past reasons for behaviors or do they look at exactly what happens in the brain as people process why they do what they do?

--Original published at Miguel's College Blog

Good afternoon, my name is Miguel DeCastro and I am a Sophomore Biology/Pre-med student. Taking this class was inevitable for my major, however, I think that the study of Psychology is interesting. This would be the first Psychology course in my student career. Hopefully through other courses I have taken and topics I have learned prior will aid me in grasping the concepts taught this semester.

When I hear Psychology, I clearly hear an automated voice telling me, “the science of the mind.” I am not exactly sure if what I hear is correct, but that is what first comes to mind.   Three topics I am interested in learning about is: Psychology Then & Now, The Brain, and Why Do We Forget? I would say I am pretty interested in learning about how medical and psychological practices have evolved over the years and why some practices have yet to evolve so learning about those said practices should be interesting to learn about. I have a vague recollection of information I have learned about the brain so learning more about the brain piques my interest. Honestly, I am interested in learning why we forget things because if I had a superpower it would be forgetting information. Learning about the reasoning behind that could help me find ways to remember information. Learning about Addiction, Mechanics of Sleep, and Emotion I find a small degree less interesting than the rest but that is just from initial judgement and I could actually enjoy those topics as well.

I have done a previous high school project on some famous serial killers and my question that I want to know if there is an answer to is: what is happening in a serial killer’s head that makes them commit their acts?

--Original published at Brittany's Thoughts

Hi! I’m Brittany Freed, and I’m a first year Music Therapy major!

I decided to take PSY 105 because it was a requirement to take this semester. That does not mean that I didn’t want to take the course though. I love psychology, and it really is an interesting topic for me. I took it my senior year in high school, and I really loved the material. Just not the teacher.

When I hear the word psychology, I immediately think of the definition of it. The dictionary definition is the study of the human brain and its functions. Psychology is more than that though. It’s all the functions and dysfunctions of the brain and how it works with and against your body to create the person that is uniquely you.

Of all topics, I am most excited to learn about mental illnesses. As dismal as that may sound, the dysfunction of the brain and chemical imbalances within it is a fascinating topic that is too stigmatized due to may people lacking proper information and understanding on them. Next, I would have to say I am excited to learn about personality theory. I love to analyze the personality of people, real and fictional and think about why they act the way they do and do the things they do. I was not aware until looking at the syllabus that personality had a whole theory classified just for it, and I am very excited to learn all about it. Finally, I am looking forward to learning about the psychology of addiction. Just like mental illnesses, addiction has a harsh stigma in society and is not usually understood by most people. Learning how addiction occurs will open up a whole new world of understanding for me since I am not sure what all happens inside the brain to create an addiction.

The first on my list for least interesting topics is classic conditioning and such because I already know a lot about Pavlov’s work with classic conditioning. Next, I would have to choose the theories of intelligence because it does not interest me that much to understand why some people are just naturally more intelligent than others. Finally, I would choose the scientific method and experiments because I have learned about the scientific method so many times in high school that it has already gotten old, has retired and has four lovely grandchildren.

By the end of psychology class, I would like to understand why our brain falls out of chemical imbalance and why dysfunctions, addictions and mental illnesses occur. I want to gain an understanding of the commonly misunderstood and use it to understand my clients and to educate other people about these misunderstood topics.

I hope to get to know you better throughout the semester. Trust me though, my conversation isn’t as smooth or charismatic as some of my responses were in this post. I’m usually quite quiet and class and refrain from answering because I second-guess myself a lot, especially if I don’t feel comfortable. I will try my best to participate and let myself blossom! I cannot wait for this semester in PSY 105!

--Original published at Emily's Blog

My Background in Psychology

My name is Emily Spangler. I am a first year student and I am super excited for this class. I chose to take this class because I believe it would be helpful in my Occupational Therapy Major and also it will be beneficial if I decide to Minor in Psychology. I do not have an extensive background in Psychology but I enjoy reading about people’s thought processes and the human mind. When I think of Psychology, I think about how people think. The topics that I believe will interest me the most are how to get good sleep, coping with stress, and how to improve memory. These interest me because I suffer with sleeping well, handling stress, and also short-term memory loss. The topics I believe that will interest me the least are theories of intelligence and assessing intelligence. Simply because I believe people are all intelligent in different ways. I would like to understand why I feel tired after sleeping numerous hours in a night.

--Original published at Site Title

Hello! I’m Sidney Gordon, and I’m a first year student with an intended major of occupational therapy. I chose to take psychology not only because it is required for my major, but also because I want to figure out where I want to go with my minor. Psychology has always peaked an interest in me. I have taken a general psychology course and a childhood psychology in high school, but neither of them were very in depth. I do not remember very much from the classes either. When I hear the word “psychology,” I think of the way humans think and their mentality. How to Make Memories is a topic that seems interesting to me because I value memories, and it would be neat to see how they form. The topic of Emotions would also interest me to see why we feel the way we do. Another interesting topic would be all of the Mental Illness and Disorder topics. These interest me, and I would like to learn about exactly what they are and what all illnesses and disorders that there are. Some topics that wouldn’t interest me as much is the Scientific Method, Why Research Design Matters, and Power of Experiments. They wouldn’t interest me as much because we’ve gone over them in biology. By the end of this course, I would love to know if there are certain things that can cause a mental illness, or if it is hereditary, or both. I would also like to know why the human mind works the way that it does.

--Original published at Madison's Blog

I decided to take Psychology 105 this semester because it is part of the core, and I am also required to take it for a pre-dental major course track. I have taken an introduction to Psychology class in high school, but it was very basic and only the major topics were covered. I usually think of the mind and how it works when I think of psychology. It makes me think about the brain and how it interconnects with other parts of the body to make a person who they are. Topics that peak my interest are “Memories and Why we Forget” and “Mental Illness”. These topics are interesting to me, because they incorporate the brain functions and how one small disturbance can effect someone. Topics that don’t interest me are “Scientific Method”, “Psychotherapy” and “Sleep” because I have already learned about these topics before. When I learned about them the first time, they did not spark my interest. A question I would like answered by the end of this class is, “How can a college student best cope with their stress?”

--Original published at Nadia's Blog

I decided to take Psychology this semester because it is apart of core and it also is required for my major and my future career path. Along with those factors the class seems very interesting. I do not have any background in Psychology unlike some other individuals. When I hear the word Psychology I immediately think about the brain and how it functions as well as its behavior and compatibility with other factors. The three most interesting topics to me seem to be “How to make memories”, “Motivation” and “Theories of intelligence”. I personally seem very interested in each of these topics because they are all topics I have never been introduced to before. The least interesting to me is “Scientific Theory”, “Power of Experiments” and “How to get good sleep”. These are all topics I have previous knowledge of and have learnt about them in the past. One question I would like to have answered during this course is to know how dreaming works.