The conscious and the unconscious
According to Freud, humor or creativity closely relates to the unconscious content of the individual and only results when the superego allows the ego to generate humor (Gaillard et al. 2006; Boeree, 2009). For Freud, the unconscious consisted of repressed thoughts and motivations, and as ChangingMinds (2002-2012) observes, the unconscious may also a source of creativity. In this light, my creativity originates from my interactions with the environment, inclusive of the people around me as well technological inventions such as the internet. However, the experiences or interactions I gain from the environment may at times be pushed to the unconscious, for instance if the experience may have caused one emotional harm. In the process of creativity therefore, I believe that my unconscious influences my manner of expression of my interaction with the environment. This would mean that whatever perspective I give of a certain event or phenomenon, the unconscious may have influenced such a perspective. For instance, if I was sexually abused by a man, I would tend to perceive all men, even with the conscious effort not to, as dangerous, and therefore even in a painting, use a man or a distinctive feature in men to portray danger.
Digital Natives
First used in July 31, 2006, by Stephen Colbert the term wikiality refers to a situation where, provided that a good number of people agree on a certain notion, then it automatically becomes accepted as truth (Labnol, 2009). This is true for Wikipedia where one is allowed to edit information on the site and once the individual’s information has enough users agreeing to it, then it is treated as true (Wikipedia 2012; “The Colbert Report”. Colbert Nation) I do not therefore place any importance in the information I usually get from Wikipedia. Instead, I prefer to use its references section in order to get access to other sources, usually credible and which I prefer to cite in my work. Once I open Wikipedia therefore, I hardly give any attention to the information on it. Instead, I first link to the citations usually available in the reference section to verify information on Wikipedia or alternatively, get the information I need directly from the link I get.
The place of Nature and Nurture in one’s Identity
While nature refers to an individual’s inborn qualities with reference to identity (Kenyon, 2006), nurture refers to one’s personal experiences and how these experiences go on to shape a person’s character (Tyra Marieza, n.d.). It is my opinion that one’s identity is not only influenced by their genes but by the environment around them as well. Nature may affect one’s identity with reference to height, eye color, skin complexion as well as other physiological traits as a parent’s or grandparent’s gene is passed from them to the child ("Nature versus Nurture." 123HelpMe.com). However, our identity is also influenced by the environment around us. For instance, a child who is brought up by an authoritarian parent grows up unable to make their own decisions, while the one brought up by an authoritative parent is trained from an early stage to make decisions and adapts this as part of their character. Other factors in the environment that may influence identity include peers, social and religious institutions around the child. A child’s peers may influence the child behavior and therefore identity for example. A child who joins a gang for instance may develop an aggressive behavior due to influence from the group.
Learning Styles
According to Kolb (1984), whether we choose to do a task ourselves or watch it being done as well as how we feel or think about an experience go a long way to determine the kind of learning styles an individual may prefer in the process of knowledge acquisition. Theodora Polito (2005) goes further to observe that this is seen even in infants as some prefer to watch an adult manipulate a toy while others prefer to play with the toys themselves. There are four learning styles which result from these two major issues that Kolb raises and they include diverging, assimilating, converging and accommodating learning styles (Greenberg 1987). As a student, I prefer to be given opportunity to gather data and make my own analysis usually after listening to the opinion of others as well though. I also enjoy working in groups and I am quick at coming up with solutions to problems. However, when it comes to anything practical, I prefer to watch rather than do the practical myself. I therefore consider my style of learning as diverging.
Normalcy and the concept of Personhood
The term normal may be said to be a set of rules usually unconsciously decided on by a group of people (Schimelpfening 2010). It is a term that is subjective and which is by and large based on the standards that that group or an individual sets for himself. Whatever falls outside of these standards therefore, to the individual or group, becomes abnormal. The view of society is that each individual should be like the other that is normalcy. A deviation from societal expectations by an individual therefore makes that individual abnormal (“What is a Disability?” hcdg.org). However, even psychologists state that the perceived normalcy, characterized by being happy and without tension is a fantasy. When related to personhood, which is defined as the self, made up of an idea that is socially agreed upon, then normalcy still remains subjective. Personhood is seen as being human and also as possessing certain capacities (“The Meaning of Disability” disability-discrimination.com). If one does not possess these capacities then he is regarded as a non-person. Due to its relativity, what is normal to one may be abnormal to the other.
Challenging Assumptions
According to Kitchener and King (2002), there are seven developmental stages of the Reflective Thinking Model. Individuals at each of these stages usually hold a set of assumptions about knowledge and the process of its acquisition (Ski, 2010). These seven stages may be placed in three broad levels namely: pre-reflective level which includes stage 1-3, the quasi-reflective level made up of stage 4 and 5, and the reflective reasoning stage that consists of stage 6 and 7 (“Quasi-Reflective Thinking (Levels 4 and 5)”. missouri.edu). I recognize that knowledge or the claims of knowledge usually contain some amount of uncertainty which is why not all the information is usually provided and this uncertainty may also result from the method used to gather the already existing data. In my thinking therefore, I am at the fourth stage of the reflective thinking model in which case, to arrive at solutions in my life, I put into consideration the already existing information (though it might be incomplete and unproven) as well as any other existing opinions on the same matter and come to a solution of the problem (“Quasi-Reflective Thinking (Levels 4 and 5)”. missouri.edu). This solution however, only remains so until I am able to gather more information after which I reevaluate the situation.
References
Boeree C. George (2009) “Sigmund Freud”, Personality Theories. Retrieved from
http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/freud.html
ChangingMinds (2002-2012) “Freud's Personality Factors” Retrieved from
http://changingminds.org/explanations/personality/freud_personality.htm
Cultural Impact of the Colbert Report. Last modified (2012, April 17) Retrieved from
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Gaillard R. et al (2006). "Nonconscious semantic processing of emotional words modulates
conscious access". Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. Retrieved from
http://www.pnas.org/content/102/21/7713.long
Greenberg Daniel (1987), A New Look at Learning, The Sudbury Valley School Experience. Retrieved from http://books.google.co.ke/books?id=-UMqvLEcH0wC&pg=PA41&lpg=PA41&dq=Daniel+Greenberg+A+New+Look+at+Learning+The+Sudbury+Valley+School+Experience&source=bl&ots=V0mMuj1zE0&sig=L-O9UKKRoqz3W0uh-ekJj3pXorA&hl=en&ei=G-S0S-eAA6TqmwOA2_U5&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false
Kenyon, C. A. P. (1994-2006) Sex and gender: Nature or Nurture? Retrieved from http://www.flyfishingdevon.co.uk/salmon/year1/psy128psychosexual_differentiation/sexdiff.htm#nature_nurture
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http://www.umich.edu/~refjudg/reflectivejudgmentmodel.html
Kolb Learning Styles: David Kolb’s Learning Styles Model and Experiential Learning Theory.
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Labnol (2009, Feb 3) Should College Students Cite Wikipedia in their Academic Papers?
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"Nature versus Nurture." 123HelpMe.com Retrieved from
http://www.123HelpMe.com/view.asp?id=169126
“Quasi-Reflective Thinking (Levels 4 and 5)”. missouri.edu. Retrieved from
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Schimelpfening Nancy (2010, July 30) What Is Normal? Retrieved from
http://depression.about.com/b/2010/07/30/what-is-normal.htm
Ski (2010, October 9) Exploring College Student Development Theory. Retrieved from http://collegestudentdeveltheory.blogspot.com/2010/10/king-kitcheners-reflective-judgment.html
“The Colbert Report”. Colbert Nation. Retrieved from http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/72347/july-31-2006/the-word---wikiality
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“The Meaning of Disability” disability-discrimination.com. Retrieved from http://www.disability-discrimination.com/pages/home/disability-discrimination-law/the-meaning-of-disability.php
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