Hello all, my first couple weeks of graduate school at the University of West Georgia are officially in the books! This blog was created to detail my learning throughout my career as a graduate student. As a reader you can expect the pace of this blog to drastically increase. I will post new topics when I learn something worth sharing with the general population and when research papers/projects, etc... are completed. The title format for these types of posts will be "Course Name" - "Post Topic" - "Part #" (part numbers only when applicable).
I have about four different research projects going at this time so there is not enough space in the general posts to go into depth about everything I find "interesting." Though I suspect it would be quite intriguing for the rest of you to read as well. I'll try to keep rambling to a minimum and stick to bullet-points and relatively short summaries. If you're interested in anything particular, feel free to contact me.
Current Research Interests:
- Hamlet and Psychology
- Relationship between Perfectionism and Depression
- Why do we pursue and/or research paranormal/supernatural/exceptional experiences?
- Why Philosophy is Relevant to Psychology
It is very easy for many people to find an erratic pessimism in the readings of Nietzsche, Sartre, and other predominant "existential" writers. However, I believe that this is ill conceived. The case can be made that the existentialists combat a fear of the unknown by fleeing to extravagant and adamant dismissal of that which they dread. When I began my career as a "philosopher" I wrote an early essay about this possibly being the case for Nietzsche.
But books are more than mere words printed on paper. They are metaphors and symbols for ideas. Quotes you found in a Google search do not (usually) give context to what the author is saying. Rather than be despaired by a life without meaning there is a captivating vindication accomplished. A liberating release from social, religious, and cultural restraints and expectations is an inexplicable freedom that is the core of existentialism.
In physics and in metaphysics friction is what moves things. How passionate would you be about a life without any struggle? Would you appreciate tranquility without first knowing agony? If life is indeed meaningless, as Sartre would say, we are (still) condemned to be free. Free to do what? Well, I am fairly certain that you have not given in to this "friction" if you are reading this. We have an, even if only perceptual, innate pursuit of happiness regardless of its attainability or meaning. The pursuit itself may even be meaningless. As we are we are being. When the focus shifts towards doing and finding we are attempting to objectify that which is not an object.
Furthermore the existentialist derives serenity from meaninglessness rather than despair from hopelessness. Existentialism is not about attaining a higher purpose, it is about making the most out of what you have, an existence. Do you want "new age" or do you want the truth? Our cognitions, precepts, and rationale are binding. Existentialism seeks to break those ties.
Jungian Personality Test:
Just for entertainment I went online to www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes1.htm to take a personality typology test modeled after Carl Jung and Isabel Briggs Myers' approach to personality. One should note that such tests make good ice-breakers and "elevator speeches." These are mainly the reasons I took the test. However, it can also be used in a much more functional way such as suggesting potential careers that match your personality. As in any test of this fashion, I think the best results come "off the cuff." You should not try for a certain personality type or act in the mode of an inspirational figure, nor should you take the test multiple times until you get a result that appeals to you.
Results: I thought it would be a good idea to take the test to document if there were any changes in my personality between beginning my studies here at West Georgia and my graduation.
My Type: ENFJ
Extravert: 33% - moderate preference of extroversion over introversion.
Intuitive: 62% - distinctive preference of intuition over sensing
Feeling: 38% - moderate preference of feeling over thinking
Judging: 44% - moderate preference of judging over perceiving.
I thought the results were accurate for the most part. I certainly enjoy an active (both socially and physically) lifestyle but take great pleasure in small doses of solitude. I do feel that my actions are based much more on intuition than my physical sense (ie: go with your gut), but still try to remain rational and unbiased in most situations. I do have some very neurotic and analytic tendencies but on the whole prefer to feel and perceive rather than observe and formulate. The only thing that surprised me a bit was the "moderate preference" for judging over perceiving. I consider myself a very perceptive person and only judgmental in a few case-specific situations. But perhaps I'm just trying to preserve my self-image (no time for a psychoanalytic rant here :-D )
Career Choices: I got a real kick out of this one. In absolute honesty these were my results.
1) Counseling - I am planning a career in counseling!
2) Psychology - I am working on my M.A. in psychology and planning on earning a PhD.!
3) Education - I do have connections with our Counseling/Education department in tandem with Psychology
4) Management - I've been told that I am a natural leader, but this has never been my choice.
5) Politics - let's not get into that...
6) Science / Technology - I do occasionally deprive the humanist in me and go on recreational study tangents in physics, neuro-biology, and chemistry.
7) Computer Programming - I am a total closet-nerd when it comes to rooting phones and computers.
Famous Persons Sharing My Type: Ronald Reagan, Pope John Paul II, Tony Blair, Abraham Maslow, Sean Connery, Gene Hackman, Tommy Lee Jones, Michael Jordan, Oprah Winfrey, Peyton Manning, Johnny Depp.
Brain Teasers:
Project Alpha -
Washington University in St. Louis, MO is highly regarded for their rigorous psychology program. In 1979 the University received a large grant ($500,000) to research para(normal)psychology. The University held a sort of open tryouts for anyone claiming to have psi-abilities and wishing to participate in testing with the University. There were about 300 applicant, of whom two white males aged 18 and 17 were selected to be tested according to Washington University's standards and conditions. The testing lasted for nearly two years before Washington University claimed that the boys were "verified psychics." In late 1981 well known skeptic and magician James Randi announced to the public that the two boys had been hand picked, trained, and sent by him to infiltrate the study and deceive the researchers with "common trickery." Randi's announcement was confirmed by the boys. (For more information please see an account of the project at one of the participant's website)
What we can learn from this is not that we should all be staunch skeptics, rather, we can observe how arrogant yet inept science is at both confirming and dismissing paranormal abilities. I suspect that this is just as true today as it was 30 years ago.
Your Lunch -
In reading an analysis of Martin Heidegger by Horst Seidl I thought of a fun little "coffee-shop philosophy" question to present to you. Before starting you should know that the particular article I'm referencing has to do with Heidegger differentiating between "being" and "thinging."
Now, I want you to think about what you had for lunch yesterday; a sandwich, pasta, salad? Consider that your thoughts or ideas of those objects are not the objects themselves. Your thoughts of your sandwich are not the sandwich, correct? There is a difference between the "being" of your sandwich and the thoughts of things you recall to represent the sandwich. We attribute things to beings as a method of recognition. Now, remember that your thoughts are not tangible objects. They are chemicals being processed throughout your brain. Modern neuroscience tells us that we never have the same memory twice, our memories are not tape-recorders, they are lucid and alter slightly each time they are processed. Take a minute to ponder the neuro-chemical thing for minute... Now, I'll ask again; what was yesterday's lunch? Do you even really know? I mean after all, you're answer is only an attributed thing that is not the being itself. Have fun with that one.
**That's all for now, hope you all enjoyed the update and I look forward to sharing more information with you before it becomes my "day job" and I need to contact your insurance company and send you a bill for these kinds of things!
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