Course Announcements


  • Research Credits:

    • Three research credits required for the course.

    • Can be earned through online surveys.

    • Each survey = 1 credit.

    • More online surveys available on the course website.

    • Additionally, in-person study during class on Thursday counts for 2 credits.

    • Complete one survey and attend class Thursday to fulfill credit requirements for the semester.

  • Reflection Paragraph Requirement:

    • After participating in a survey, students need to write just a single paragraph reflecting their participation.

    • Example structure: "I did this survey on [specific topic]."

  • Attendance Code:

    • The attendance code for the day is 4973.

Discussion of Jury Duty Experience

  • Personal Experience with Jury Duty:

    • The narrator shares that they had a negative experience with jury duty, recalling being summoned in Massachusetts during graduate school.

    • In Maryland, students can easily excuse themselves from jury duty; however, Massachusetts does not exempt seniors or students.

  • Jury Selection Process:

    • Process involves receiving a summons and being assigned a number (1-250).

    • More people are called than needed to account for no-shows.

    • The first phase includes general questions about prior convictions.

    • Followed by individual private meetings to disclose personal information.

    • Jurors are selected based on responses to questions from the prosecutors and defense attorney before entering the jury box.

  • Case Description:

    • Involved a criminal case where the defendant faced three charges:

    • Possession of a firearm without a license.

    • Theft.

    • Assault with a deadly weapon.

    • Incident occurred at a liquor store where a couple was followed in by three men.

    • Video footage showed a confrontation between the suspect and the victim, a corrections officer licensed to carry a weapon.

    • The conflict escalated to a violent interaction where the defendant pistol-whipped the officer.

  • Deliberation Process:

    • Deliberation took four days, marked by intense discussions and disagreements among jurors.

    • The process can lead to frustration, as jurors are often unpaid and people may leave the process.

    • Jurors ultimately convicted the defendant of assault but found him not guilty of theft and unlawful firearm possession, raising questions about the implications of eyewitness testimony.

Eyewitness Testimony

  • Reliability of Memory:

    • The discussion highlights that memory is not reliable; it can be manipulated and easily influenced by wording or context.

    • Example: Different phrasing about a car accident influences how people remember the event.

  • False Memories:

    • Introduces the concept of false memories, where individuals recall events that never happened.

    • Example study with a falsified picture inducing participants to create elaborate false memories about experiences related to that picture.

    • Research shows how memories can be altered through suggestion.

Memory as a Process

  • Nature of Memory:

    • Memory exists not to retain the past but to help predict the future.

    • Memories can be constructed from a mix of present context and prior experiences leading to fabricated memories.

  • Forgetting Mechanisms:

    • Decay: The fading ability to retrieve information over time.

    • Example: You may not perform as well in tests months later compared to the time the material was learned.

    • Interference: Competition between old and new memories that can interfere with recall, leading to proactive or retroactive interference.

    • Proactive Interference: Old memories impede the recall of new memories (e.g., learning World History after US History).

    • Retroactive Interference: New memories impede recall of old memories.

Brain Structures Related to Memory

  • Key Structures:

    • Hippocampus:

    • Essential for short-term memory and transferring it to long-term memory.

    • Manages organization and storage of memories within the cortex.

    • Amygdala:

    • Involved in the emotional aspects of memory, especially fear-based memories.

    • Connects to the hippocampus to record threatening experiences that lead to memory formation.

    • Cerebellum:

    • Involved in procedural memories (muscle memories) related to skills and activities.

Study Strategies for Improving Memory

  • Maintenance Rehearsal:

    • Common method of simply repeating information (e.g., reading notes multiple times).

  • Elaborative Rehearsal:

    • More effective method involving deeper understanding and processing of information.

    • Suggestion: Create study guides using bullet points to elaborate and reinforce knowledge.

  • Techniques to Enhance Memory:

    • Spacing out study sessions to allow for better memory consolidation.

    • Taking practice tests to reinforce memory retrieval and strengthen neural connections.

    • Ensuring adequate sleep, as it plays a crucial role in consolidating memories into long-term storage.

    • Using mnemonics to link new information to known facts for better recall.

Personality: Introduction

  • What is Personality?

    • Refers to the distinctive characteristics and patterns of behavior that differentiate individuals, typically stable over time.

  • Influences on Personality:

    • Notable change observed due to COVID-19 pandemic, indicating life events can influence personality.

  • The Five Approaches to Personality:

    1. Psychoanalytic: Freudian approach focusing on unconscious drives and childhood experiences.

    2. Dispositional: Emphasizing stable personality traits measurable in individuals.

    3. Cognitive Behavioral: Viewing personality as a reflection of learning and thought processes.

    4. Humanistic: Focusing on self-growth and the positive potential of personality development.

    5. Biopsychological: Considering genetic, biological, and brain factors influencing personality.

  • Freudian Model:

    • Describes personality structure as comprising:

    • Id: Pleasure-seeking part, driven by desires (3 F's: food, fighting, and physical satisfaction).

    • Superego: Moral compass aiming for ethical behavior.

    • Ego: Mediator between the Id and Superego.

Conclusion and Closing Remarks

  • Next Class:

    • The upcoming class will involve a study experiment and continued exploration of personality models, particularly Freudian conflicts.

  • Final Note:

    • A study guide for the next exam will be posted early. Emphasis on early engagement with materials for a better understanding before exams.

    • Students are encouraged to reach out for support and clarification on assignments and study strategies.