Latch'n'Knit

It seems I've been bitten by a stupid posting bug ... and even though I have nothing really important to say or discuss, I still feel I need to post. What a frustrating feeling.

On my mind today: psychology. Or, in other words: why I will probably never look at anyone the same way ever again.

While the last few chapters in our textbook have been about the boring history of psychology, we're back to things about people. So far I've looked at memory, consciousness and now learning. So I can tell you exactly what I remember certain things and not others; I can tell you exactly what part of my sleep cycle I've likely woken up from on any given night; and now I can explain why you learn some behaviours and not others.

Unfortunately, the camera doesn't always stay inward, so I'm looking at others and applying the same ideas. Most notably S ... because I don't think there is a person in the world that knows him better than I do. Ever. In the history of ever.

Are you following me yet?

Specifically in our Learning chapter, we spoke of B.F Skinner, who - in a nutshell - proposed different ways of learning things through a "reward" or "punishment" system. And thus we can say that the same principles required to train a dog are the same as raising a child (that thought makes me chuckle as I think of the new "children" in my life).

HOWEVER - that type of learning does not stop. It continues well onto the rest of our lives. And so my concern is, that without realizing it, I've reinforce a negative behaviour as acceptable. Basically, that a behaviour I no longer want to accept in my life will be difficult to unlearn, and it might be because I PREVIOUSLY ACCEPTED IT, AND BECAUSE I ALLOWED IT TO HAPPEN MEANT IT WAS LEARNED AND REINFORCED.

Dude.

So I might have to result to extreme measures to have it unlearned? And the behaviour gets worse before it gets better ... every time.

Dude.

So it might not be you, it might be me?

Dude.

I am feeling disillusioned and utterly defeated.
~ J