Self-assessment

During the last semester of studying english I had to do a variety of exercises including ESP vocabulary tests, online exercises, moodle tests, summaries, online listening and traditional listening, presentations, impromptu and prepare short talks. It is important to evaluate my performance on these tasks.

ESP vocabulary tests

Some vocabulary tests were easy to do but some were not. My performance on this taks was quite good and I am happy about it.

Online exercise

I did not perform on this taks very well because it was a team work. Although it is more interesting to do it in the class than at home, I found it useless to do.

Moodle tests

In my opinion this task was the most boring and useless of all tasks. My performance was good but I do not think that this exercise improved my english.

Summary writting

In my opinion writting summary is one of the most interesting and useful tasks. This task helps to improve comprehension of material, writting and grammar skills. Iam glad about my performance on this task, although sometimes I found it difficult to write a good summary. I think I still need more practise.

Online listening and traditional listening

I enjoyed doing listening because it was interesting and improved my listening skills. Even though listening tasks weren't very difficult, sometimes I needed to hear it twice. I can say that iam satisfied with my performance on online listening but I still need to improve traditional listening skills.

Making presentation

I found this task interesting but also stressful. The process of making presentation was interesting but presenting it caused me a little stress. Even though this task is beneficial because you have to find right information and present it creatively. Iam satisfied with my performance on this task but with more experience I could improve it.

Speaking impromptu

Speaking impromptu was probably the most difficult task for me. I found it hard to express myself and use material that I had read before. I still need more practise on this task.

Short talks

This task was pretty easy to do because we usually had plenty time to prepare for it. Althousome themes were not easy to talk about, I am happy with my performance on it.

All n all, I can say that this semester I gained more knowlegde and improved my english skills. Of course my performance in some tasks could be better but over all Iam satisfied with my performence.

Personality type versus behavior

Every personality is unique and has a dynamic and organized set of characteristics that influences his or her cognition, motivation, and behavior in various situations. Psychologists have attempted to find a relation between personality type and behavior. Although different scientists suggest different personality types.

One of the best known classification is simply extraversion versus introversion or in other words outgoing and physical-stimulation-oriented versus quiet and physical-stimulation-averse people. According to this theory, there are only two types of people, extraverts and introverts. Extraverts usually are initiative, open, and talkative. They tend to say what they think and make new friends easily. Whereas introverts are usually reserved, quiet and thoughtful. They prefer working alone and have difficulties in making new contacts.

Lewis Goldberg a five-dimention personality model, nicknamed the 'Big Five'. The first dimension of this model is openness to experience. People tend to be imaginative, independet, and interested in variety or people tend to be practical, conforming, and interested in routine. The second dimension is conscientiousness, in which people have the tendency to be organized, careful, and disciplined or disorganized, careless, and impulsive. The third dimension is extraversion. This dimension describes people as sociable, fun-loving, and affectionate versus retiring, somber, and reserved. The fourth of the 'Big Five' is agreeableness. This dimension describes the tendency to be softhearted, trusting, and helpful or ruthless, suspicious, and uncooperative. Finally, the fifth is neuroticism: the tendency to be calm, secure, and self-satisfied or anxious, insecure, and self-pittying.

Another way to describe personality is using behavior patterns. There are two main behavior patterns, Type A behavior pattern and Type B behavior pattern. Type A behavior pattern is a cluster of behavior involving hostility, competitiveness, time urgency and feeling driven. In contrast, the Type B behavior pattern is characterized by a patient, cooperative, noncompetitive, and nonaggresive manner.

All in all, it is clear that personality type is related to a certain behavior. Although it is hard to classify people into specific categories because everyone has very differen features.


References:

• Robert Feldman "Understanding Psychology", New York(N.Y.): McGraw-Hill,2008
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personality_type

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Psychology Of Handwriting

At a very young age children are taught to write and create their handwiting. But as a child grows older the handwriting also changes. Handwriting and handwriting analysis is an effective and reliable indicator of personality and behaviour which is used to interpret personality.

Handwriting is unique and individual. But there are around 300 features that can give valuable inpormation about a writer. Some basics are these features:

• Slant. Right slant indicates a response to communication. If the handwriting is generally upright, this indicates independence. A left slant shows emotion and reserve.

• Size. Large size can mean extravert and outgoing, or it can mean that the writer puts on an act of confidence, although this behaviour might not be exhibited to strangers. Small size can, logically, mean the opposite. If the writing is small and delicate, the writer is unlikely to be a good communicator with anyone other than those on their own particular wavelength. These people do not generally find it easy to break new ground socially.

• Pressure. Heavy pressure indicates commitment and taking things seriously, but if the pressure is excessively heavy, that writer gets very uptight at times and can react quickly to what they might see as criticism, even though none may have been intended. These writers react first and ask questions afterwards. Light pressure shows sensitivity to atmosphere and empathy to people, but can also, if the pressure is uneven, show lack of vitality.

• Word spacing. Wide spaces between words are saying - 'give me breathing space'. Narrow spaces between words indicate a wish to be with others, but such writers may also crowd people and be intrusive, notably if the writing lacks finesse.

• Angle. Angled middle zone is the analytical style, the sharp points, rather than curves, give the impression of probing. The angle writer, is better employing talents at work and for business or project purposes, rather than nurturing.

• Thread. These writers are mentally alert and adaptable, but can also be elusive and lack patience.

• Wavyline. Wavyline handwriting is usually written by people who are mentally mature and skilful. It shows that they can call on a variety of responses, to suit the occasion and indicates good coping mechanisms. They are adaptable and resourceful.

All in all, handwriting can provide useful information about a writer. The interpretation of handwriting can be used in understanding personality and behaviour. Also it is a useful tool for many organizational processes, such as team building, counseling, and career-planning.

References:

http://www.businessballs.com/graphologyhandwritinganalysis.htm

http://www.archive.org/details/graphologypsycho00downuoft

Self-assessment

This semester during english classes I had to do moodle tests, ESP tests, write summaries, make a power point prezentation, do some listening and speaking. I am going to evaluate my performance on these tasks.
Moodle tests
I think moodle tests were not very difficult to do and my performance on them was good. However, i think these tests were useless because they did not require any understanding. Answers were supposed to be very accurate, right from the text so most of the times I had to look up at my notes to find the particular word or phrase.
ESP tests
My results on this task have improved because I learned that it is important to understand first and then learn the material. I think this task is useful because I learn important definitions that I need in my studies.
Summary writing
After a few summaries I have realized how summaries are supposed to be written and my writing have improved very much. I noticed that writing goes easier and takes less time than it was before. Both Restatement and Informal summaries were evaluated very well.
Power point prezentation
I think that my prezentation was better that the last one. I am glad about my performance on this task this semester. It was not only useful but also interesting for me to do it because I had to find some additional information and share my topic with others.
Listening
My listening performance haven't improved much because we didn't do much listening this semester. I could say that my listening skills are average and I should do more listening so as to do better on this task.
Speaking
My speaking skills have improved a little. But I still need to practise on this task so as not to be nervous to talk and clearly share my thoughts in front of others.

All in all, I am glad that my performance on summaries writing and prezentation making have improved because it is very important to know how to share your thoughts on various topics. I also noticed that i need to practice more on listening and speaking taks. However, I do not value moodle tests as beneficial task.

Psychology of laughter

Laughter is an audible expression of the appearence of happiness, or an inward feeling of joy. It can be caused by jokes, tickling or other stimuli. Laughter is a social phenomenon and people who laugh much are thought to be more optomistic, happier and friendlier.

Laughter is universal but it varies in age and gender. It is because different people find different things to be funny. People cannot control what they laugh at and what sounds come from their mouth. Although we might think jokes make people laugh the most, it is known that only 10% of laughter is caused by jokes.

People are 30 times more likely to laugh in the presence of others than alone, reinforcing the idea that laughter is a social phenomenon. Females laugh more than males because males tend to do the most laugh-getting and not laughing itself.

Scientists categorize laughter in these five categories

• Snorting: a snob expressing disaproval.
• Sniggering: intensive, unsympathetic and immature laughter.
• Cacling: loud, ape-like shrieks, enjoying the misfortune of other.
• Chuckling: kind and thoughful laughter.
• Belly-laugh: open and trustworthy laughter.
  

Some scientists say that there are only two types of laughter: the kind that comes from pure glee, and the kind that is meant to send a social message.

Laughter is said to be the best medicine. It reduces pain, reduces blood sugar levels, increases glucose tolerance, improves the immune system and leads to drop in levels of stress hormon. Moreover it is a safe method for the release of emotions such as anger and sadness. It can also improve job performance and stop bad dreams.

However, laughter can be used in negative way. There are slapstic, sadistic, mocking, nervous laughters that reveal the negative laughter. Laughter can be used to keep someone out of group, to humiliate someone that is different and so on.

In conclusion, pure laughter is a wonderful thing that makes people's lives much more amusing, entertaining and exciting. But people should be very careful with laughter that causes pain and sadness for others.

References:

http://health.howstuffworks.com/human-nature/emotion/other/laughter.htm

www.psychologytoday.com/articles/20011/the-cience-laughter

http://stress.about.com/od/stresshealth/a/laughter.htm

Psychology of conflict

The phenomenon of conflict is probably known to everyone. From time to time everyone has various disagreements. Psychologists define conflict to be a state of opposition, disagreement or incompability between two or more people or groups of people, which is sometimes characterized by physical violence.

Conflicts mostly refer to the existence of the clash, which can be interests, values, actions or directions. Psychologically, a conflict appears when one motivating stimulus reduces and another increases, so that a new adjustment is demanded.

There are many types of conflict. The most common conflicts are emotional, interpersonal, group, organizational, military, workplace and others. Although conflicts are different, people tend to apply these conflict solving methods:

• Avoidance: one ignores or refuses to aknowlegde the existence of conflict.
• Accommodation: one side wants and does everything to satisfy another side needs.
• Competition: both sides want to win without negotiation.
• Compromise: both sides give up part of what they wanted or needed to settle the problem.
• Collaboration: both sides work together to find an agreeable solution to the problem. This is the best conflict solving method.

Conflicts affect people's lives hugely. Especially relationships between collegues, family members and friends. Moreover it can bring unpleasant feelings such as sadness, self-doubt or arrogance. Sometimes people can feel mental and physical pain of unsolved conflicts.

Nevertheless, conflicts have some benefits too. During conflicts people can learn how to give up something for others, how to cooperate with others and control themselves. Also after conflicts peolpe understand some issues about themselves.

All in all, conflicts are unavoidable because people have very different interests, needs and values. It is very important to use right conflict solving methods so that everyone would be satisfied.

References:

www.three-peaks.net/annette/Solving.htm

www.foa.org/docrep/W7504E/w7504e07.htm

www.colorado.edu/studentaffairs/fsap/conflict.htm

Psychology study at Mykolas Romeris University and University of Southampton

There are many universities in the world that suggest psychology studies. Even though the science is the same, different universities suggest different ways of learning. I would like to compare psychology study between Mykolas Romeris University and University of Southampton.

First of all, these two universities have some similarities. During psychology course students are introduced to psychology as a science. The programmes include the basics of contemporary psychology - clinical, cognitive, health, development, learning and social. Also both universities require to select additional non-psychology subjects so that students would widen treir perspectives.

However, there are differences. One of the most important difference is the duration of study. At Mykolas Romeris University the bachelor course is 4 years long, whether at University of Southampton only 3 years.

Another difference is subjects. MRU programme includes subjects such as Logics and Methodology of Science, Language of Specialty and Mathematics that are not included in Southampton University's programme. Also University of Southampton suggests bigger variety of optional subjects such as Archeology, Arts, Geology and many other.

Also it is very important that students at University of Southampton are encouraged to work within teams, in secod year of studying students try experimental work which reguires to show their knowledge in a practical way. Mykolas Romeris University suggests only very little of practical work.

To sum up, students graduated from Mykolas Romeris University or from University of Southampton are able to understand human behavior, collect, analyze and interpret data and so on. Although studies at University of Southampton are of a higher quality and gives practical work which is very important for every student to become a proffesional psychologist.

References:

http://www.mruni.eu/

http://www.soton.ac.uk/