Reflective Thinking (QUT writing style)

Anindita Widhayaka Ma’rifah 111811133216 FINAL ASSIGNMENT: REFLECTIVE THINKING Word Count: 1,693 MY REFLECTIVE THINKING OVER THE HISTORY OF MODERN PSYCHOLOGY (Word Count: 74). The History of Modern Psychology is a standout amongst all the subjects I’ve learned this semester. The reason why is because I didn’t know how complex the development of psychology throughout the centuries starting from structuralism, functionalism, behaviorism, gestalt, psychoanalysis, cognitive, to humanistic. Reading the Schultz & Schultz’s book has been an eye-opening experience. I oftentimes relate the theories introduced in class with my own experience to help me study. So here’s my story. STORY (Word Count: 543). When I was little, I figured a lot of things on my own. Like for example, to keep myself away from fire because I found out that it burns when I was playing with a candle during a power failure. Curiosity kills the cat, they say, but I can’t help but to wonder all ridiculous things [1]. An old friend of my mother told me that I used to ask her whether the volume of a fish bowl will raise in if the fish inside it piss or cry. So I asked my mom to buy me a fish and its bowl. I waited so long for change to occur. But in a couple of weeks, the water had gotten so dirty because I refused to change it for the sake of experiment. My mother eventually told me to give away the fish due to poor management on my part. So I returned it to the wild through the sewers [2]. That was my first experiment, although it was a failure. Time for the next experiment. My father used to ask me to step on him—he liked having the pressure of my feet against his back after a long day of work. It was like receiving a massage but with my foot, he said. However, when my older sister lay on her stomach while watching television, she yelped when I began stepping on her back. No wonder, my sister were only five years older than me [3].I had only realized then that our bodies weren’t all that different in size unlike my father who was huge compared to me. It became clear to me at that moment that an experience is subjective and not objective [4]. The third experiment was a little mean [4].My driver used to keep his cigarettes in his satchel, but I hated the reek of cigarette. When he left his satchel, I took his cigarettes out secretly and destroy it. One day I placed his cigarettes under a soaked mat, and the next day I cooked his cigarettes on a pan, until after a week later he stopped bringing his cigarettes to my home altogether [5]. My sister eventually got fed up by my actions and chided me to my mother. Panicked and terrified, I told my mom that my sister was lying about the whole ordeal [6],but I didn’t really mean it because at the back of my head I knew what I did was wrong [7].I couldn’t bring myself to admit my mistakes because I was a coward. In retrospect, this must be why I didn’t get along with my sister all my childhood [4]. The only time I’m not doing antics is when I fell sick during rainy season. My mother asked me why I’m so quiet. I began to describe what my body felt like, and how my head was spinning as I tried to keep my sitting posture, and that the food felt tasteless on my tongue. She calmly said that I had a cold and told me to rest in bed [8]. There are still a lot of silly stories which I can relate to the history of modern psychology, but for now I have to end it. Thank you for reading. THEORETICAL EXPLANATION (Word Count: 981). Structuralism It is known that the father of psychology is Wilhelm Wundt. He believed that the mind could be studied effectively by studying the conscious thoughts of a person. Following his footsteps, his student Edward B. Titchener, expanded Wundt’s idea with the creation of structuralism. In this theory, like chemistry’s periodic table, Titchener said that any given experience have to be reduced to elements with introspection. He believed that if these components of the mind could be understood, defined, and categorized, then the structure of mental processes and higher thinking could be determined as well (Schultz, 2011). The story which are related to this theory are indicated with the color pink/ number [8]. [8] Upon hearing all the description of my point of view of why I didn’t want to get out of bed (dizziness, loss of sensitivity of taste buds, the feeling of burning up), all of which can categorized as the symptoms of a cold, my mother can draw the conclusion that I was sick. It is in line with Titchener’s structuralism theory, especially in the determinism of higher thinking by categorizing its elements. Functionalism William James is inspired by Darwin’s evolutionary theory which is natural selection when he created this theory. He said that mental life and behavior of individuals are based on their adaptation to an environment. Meaning that our mind have to develop to better the survival of its transporter. If not then an organism will die (Schultz, 2011). The story which are related to this theory are indicated with the color yellow/ number [1]. [1] In this story, we can see that I’m doing self-experimenting, and then my mental process adapt to my surroundings by staying away from danger to keep my mortality. In the story the danger is fire and my adaptation is to avoid fire. Behaviorism Rather than cognitive process and feelings which cannot be observed, behaviorist believed that psychology can be studied through observable behaviors (Schultz, 2011). The story which are related to this theory are indicated with the color purple/ number [5] In the story, following the operant conditioning, my driver was punished every time he brought cigarettes to my house although not physically. It is a successful example of smoking cessation by associating bringing cigarette in your bag with something unpleasant and disadvantaging. Gestalt Gestalt psychology accepted the value of consciousness while criticizing to reduce it to elements like structuralism. Immanuel Kant argued that the mind is not passive impression and combination of sensory elements, but an active and organizing elements into a coherent experience (Schultz, 2011). The story which are related to this theory are indicated with the color blue/ number [3]. [7] I didn’t understand that people’s perception of experience are different. So when my dad told me that he liked my foot massage, I thought my sister would like it too. But from this experience, I had learned that it is different depending on the person actually experiencing it. The evidence is that my sister felt pain from the same pressure I applied to my father, but felt heavier when applied to her. Psychoanalysis The father of psychoanalysis is Freud. He is best known for his theories of the unconscious mind, dreams, infantile sexuality, libido, repression, and transference (Schultz, 2011). The story which are related to this theory are indicated with the color grey/ number [6]. [5] The theory that is correlated with the story is a mistake of tongue which is called Freudian slip. It is a mistake in speech, memory, or physical activity that happens because of the obstruction of an oblivious repressed wish or inward line of reasoning. The idea is classic in psychoanalysis because it is an unconscious process. In the story, I defend myself and said the things that I didn’t mean unconsciously so that I can defend myself from my mother’s wrath. Cognitive But at the end of the nineteenth century, cognitive approach and movement are moving towards behavioral psychology that focuses on topics such as attention, memory, and problem-solving (Schultz, 2011). The story which are related to this theory are indicated with the color red/ number [7]. [6] Leon Festinger, an American cognitive psychologist, made the theory of cognitive dissonance. A dissonance is an inconsistency between thoughts that leads to discomfort or a guilt in your conscience. In this story, I was feeling guilty because I didn’t say the truth to my mother and calling my sister a liar, when ever since childhood I was always told that honesty is a virtue. Humanistic Humanistic psychology takes a more holistic approach, looking at the individual as a whole and stressing the desire for self-actualization. It is based on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs (Schultz, 2011). The story which are related to this theory are indicated with the color green/ number [2]. [2] In the story, I was looking for self-actualization by conducting an experiment on the fish. I’ve always wanted to be a scientist, and the hunger for knowledge drive the behavior. Transpersonal Psychology Ken Wilber characterizes "transpersonal" as "personal plus." He clarifies that transpersonal work incorporates both individual brain science and psychiatry however then "includes those more profound or higher parts of human experience that rise above the conventional and the normal—encounters that are, as it were, 'transpersonal' or 'more than individual, “personal plus” (Schultz, 2011). The story which are related to this theory are indicated with the color light blue/ number [4]. [3] In this theory, human mind will search for higher meanings in life, which move beyond the limited boundaries of the ego to access an enhanced capacity for wisdom, creativity, unconditional love and compassion. That explain why there are monologues in which I’m looking myself in retrospect—to the past, and find meaning and effect upon my behaviors. Also feeling guilt, which is a sin in my spiritual belief, and the process of learning from my mistake. 4. CONCLUSION (Word Count: 95). I will do better in my future professional practice because I’m more educated now. Psychology helps me analyze my past experiences and makes sense of it. I found out that I like to analyze my own experience with theories not only because it helps me study for tests, but also to acknowledge my own mistakes and search for a way to not repeat them. As a psychologist, it is best if we put thoughts in our actions and be self-reflective because doing so will constantly challenge our thoughts. I will do more reflective thinking now. REFERENCE Schultz, D. P., & Schultz, S. E. (2016). A history of modern psychology. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.