Counterintuitive Spring 2024

The concept of BitCoin is one that, to me, seems very counter-intuitive. The idea that we can buy what is essentially money, with actual currency that we already own initially strikes me as kind of ridiculous. Unlike the currencies of any world countries, bitcoins are completely virtual. They exist only online and are not controlled by a central authority like the Federal Reserve. That means you can’t get them from a bank, or drop them in a wishing well. All transactions take place in an online marketplace, where users are untraceable. You hold bitcoins in an online “wallet.” This is an account set up on a secure third-party website. Like cash, bitcoins are untraceable, which makes drug dealers like them. Unlike cash, however, bitcoins can easily be transferred anywhere in the world. For now bitcoins are legal, so long as they’re being used for legal purchases

It seems like everybody has a different opinion about BitCoin, which is why I feel like there will be a lot of material to talk about and debate.

Sources:

• The Bubble Bursts On E-Currency BitCoin
• BitCoin Has No Place In Any Portfolio
• What Are Bitcoins? Virtual Currency Explained
• Bitcoins: Benefits and Risks
• What is BitCoin?
• Is Bitcoin the Future?
• Bitcoin – New Money

Organized descriptions 

• Why euthanasia is out of control
• Belgium extends euthanasia laws to youths
• Children are given the “right to die”
• Will euthanasia laws trigger “death tourism”

Working Hypothesis #1

The passing of the bill to allow euthanasia in children is respectable.  People have the right to complete control over their own lives and should have the right to end it if they are living through constant pain and suffering.

Working Hypothesis #2

The passing of the bill to allow euthanasia in children is unethical.  People who commit suicide or “assisted suicide” are only passing their pain and suffering onto those that love and care for them.

Current state of research

I am reading and re-reading my first five sources and starting to develop a side.  I have not yet decided from which point of view I agree with enough to be able to argue that side, although I am starting to lean in the direction of the pro-choice side.

Helping Heroin Addicts in Vancouver by Supplying Free Heroin

A clinic in Vancouver, Canada has started giving heroin addicts free heroin as a form of medication. By giving addicts the heroin they believe that it will help their addiction. Vancouver isn’t the only country that has started to do this, many countries in Europe have adapted this treatment for their addicts as well. Not everyone is on board with this treatment by claiming that this treatment is giving up on the addicts. Studies have found that this treatment does in fact lower crime rates.

Working Hypothesis 1:

Everyone is different and everyone reacts different to treatments. So when certain treatments aren’t successful for certain people what do you do? Giving heroin to heroin addicts who have tried everything else seems to be the only treatment that will work for them.

Working Hypothesis 2:

Heroin addicts can end up hurting more people than just themselves. When they did a fix they will do anything and the need for a fix leads them to commit crimes. These crimes consist of robberies and sometimes can be murder. If these addicts don’t have to worry about getting their next fix it will not only help them but save others as well.

Topics for smaller papers:

• Who pays for the heroin to be supplied?
• Can anyone get free heroin?
• What qualifies an addict to be eligible for this treatment?

Current State of Research Paper

I am a little behind on my research paper. I haven’t given it much thought and feel like I still have a lot of work ahead of me. This white paper has helped me get my thoughts more organized and on the right path for my paper.

The

Organized Content Descriptions 

• The lesson behind the test
• Secrets of self-control
• controlling impulses and making strategies
• A new interpretation of the method
• Delaying gratification

1. Working hypothesis 

Can a simple test really describe attributes of a child? This test seeks the strengthen of  children controlling their impulses, in a simple test but for results of a larger picture. The results from this test can calculate how a child is going to behavior later on in life such as in a relationship or as a scholar in school simply by the fact of impulses. If a child can’t control his impulses now, later on in life he will be tempted to cheat on his signficant other or go to a party instead of studying for a test.

Topics for smaller Papers

What is really being tested in the marshmallow Test?

The test  was created to show if a child can control their impulses,but there have been other thoughts of what this test really shows. Some say that this test shows signs of lack of trust that children have for strangers. The instructor is someone who the child has never seen before and might question why he or she should even believe that they will be reward a second trait for waiting the time. In return the child would eat the treat without waiting simply because lack of trust.

Content Descriptions (So far)

• Cognitive Psychology: Human Memory
• AS Psychology: The Multi-Store Model of Memory
• Creating False Memories
• Repressed Memories
• HM, The Man with No Memory
• Forgetfulness- 7 types of normal memory problems

• Working Hypothesis 1

The way the human brain interprets memories, may be drastically different than some may believe, without researching the subject closer. The belief that humans are in full control of their ability to store and retrieve memories, is a widely agreed upon notion. The conflicting idea that the brain can often fool us when we’re processing memories, may make humans feel apprehensive and possibly, even skeptical. Humans like to feel in control of their physical actions and mental processes, without disagreement from others. However, professional psychologist trained in the study of the human brain, argue that the mind is a complicated matter. The brain selectively stores information in multiple different ways, and often distorts information before it’s cognitively stored.

• Working Hypothesis 2

A common misconception about psychology is the idea that many of the concepts are “common sense.” However, this belief is proven wrong when researching the topic of memory. Memory may seem like common sense but that’s far from the truth. A person who views the psychological concept of memory as common sense may claim, “If I experienced something, I can remember it years later.” The individual claiming they can recall small details may not know about simple memory problems such as: transience, absentmindedness, blocking, misattribution, suggestibility, information bias, and persistence. These seven memory sins are common errors the human brain makes. It’s counterintuitive to believe that humans often create detailed memories about life experiences that may never have occurred. How can a person swear they’ve experienced something that’s nonexistent?

Topics for Smaller Papers

• Case studies that changed history and the way psychologists around the world view the brain- such as the story of “HM”- The Man with No Memory. I could include similar case studies and experiments and the importance of these research breakthroughs in psychology.
• The different ways our brains can often trick us, such as: transience, absentmindedness, blocking, misattribution, suggestibility, information bias, and persistence. (Mentioned in my hypothesis) I would also provide examples of how the “seven sins of memory” can easily affect anyone.
• I can describe the areas of the brain where memory is stored and the reasons why different information gets placed in each specific area.
• Personal experiences and why traumatic events are often “forgotten.” The ability to write about my own experiences with memory will allow me to elaborate on life events that are meaningful to me. I could provide information on repressed memories.

• Current State of the Research Paper

I found several interesting articles to use for my paper and I’m continuing to look for more sources. I find the concept of memory to be very intriguing, especially because I’m a psychology major. I find the counterintuitive aspects of psychology to be fascinating because it makes people think outside the box, and changes perspectives. However, I’m feeling confused and overwhelmed with the research paper. I read over the example provided and I glanced over other students’ papers, but I wasn’t clear on what the assignment was actually asking for. There’s so much information to process at once. The reason I may be confused is because I’m not use to writing papers step-by-step and the way we’re doing things on the blog. Also, research papers tend to be more difficult than other styles of writing. Many times, there’s multiple paragraphs of directions and I feel like I should easily understand the assignment with the amount of information provided, but it is often challenging to draw a conclusion after reading so much. Sometimes I feel as though, “Where do I begin?” However, I’m looking forward to writing about my exciting topic and I hope I’m following the necessary steps correctly.

Content Descriptions:

• The clinic involved in the experiment
• Affect on Vancouver’s drug and crime problem
• Affect on addicts
• What makes someone qualified for the program
• Public view and perception of the experiment

Working Hypothesis 1

• Giving addicts heroin is more affect full than giving them methadone in regards to treating their addiction

Working Hypothesis 2

• The patients being administered the heroin at the clinic are able to function normally in society

Working Hypothesis 3

• Giving the addicts isn’t helping their addiction it’s only sustaining it

Topics for smaller paper:

Heroin usage in Vancouver

Vancouver has a huge drug market and heroin is their popular drug of choice. Will the clinics be able to give enough people the treatment?

Will Vancouver try this with other drug addictions?

They believe that they can treat heroin with heroin. Could they also use this type of treatment with other drug addictions?

Current State of Research Paper

I haven’t really done too much work on the research paper. Having this white paper assignment helped me get started on developing my paper.

Life and the pursuit of a more meaningful life.

The pursuit of happiness is one of the most iconic and provocative journey’s that society can provide.  Each day we are urged to be on our own pursuit of happiness throughout our lives, but is happiness really what we should be pursuing?

Happiness vs Meaning

How we live our lives is a large part of what it means to be human.  Some choose to live a life of selflessness and charity, while others choose to forge their own path to happiness.  A Prominent Jewish psychiatrist Viktor Frankl postulated that the pursuit of happiness had nothing to do with leading a meaningful life.  Society should be pressuring people to live a life that they would be proud of or happy with, rather than based on immediate feelings in the present.  A satisfying lifestyle of “taking” was typically found to be a happier one.  People who have found meaning in life are usually giving and make sacrifices to happiness in order to benefit others.  The meaning derived from a selfless lifestyle comes from the sacrifice to something greater than oneself.  While happiness is temporary and fades, meaning lasts in life through the past and future.

Short-Term Happiness and Self-Control

-Explain why instant gratification is detrimental to people’s happiness.

-Explain why Self-Control is directly related to instant gratification and why it leads to overall unhappiness.

Society and the Pursuit of Happiness

-Explain how society revolves around telling people to be happy.

-Explain how society wouldn’t survive if everyone was always happy.

Working Hypothesis 1:

Society is becoming less happy because of it pressures people to achieve their pursuit of happiness.

Working Hypothesis 2:

Topics for Smaller Papers:

-Happiness is fleeting but meaning is forever

-Instant Gratification is the Leading cause of Dissatisfaction

Current State of the Research Paper:

My research paper is still in the early stages.  I still have to complete the research to procure a second hypothesis and refine my first.  In addition I need to research further to analyze each of my sources to further the content.