Learning and Development & Social Influences

Ed Psych And You, back at it again, ladies and gents!

Do you know how to drive a car with a stick shift?  If you do, how did you learn to do so?  If you don't, why not?

All right, so this question is related to the section regarding learning and development depending on experience.  Individuals are going to understand things differently in regards to what they've experienced.  Example; to learn how to write effective essays, we need experiences with writing; to solve problems, we need experiences with problem solving.

So, do I know how to drive a car with a stick shift?  I could say kind of, but at this point I'm just going to say "no" because it has been six years since the last time I tried.  Whether it was yes, or if it was no, it all revolves back to the fact of "experience."  At one point, I was dating someone who every time I saw them made me practice driving their stick.  I don't now because I don't practice - meaning I don't have any experience with doing such.

You notice that your two best friends have gained a considerable amount of weight.  Will this influence you in any way?  Are you more likely to be careful about what you eat, so the same thing doesn't happen to you?

I, personally, feel that this would influence me in multiple ways.  First, I might start avoiding them as people because I get slightly uncomfortable around heavier people.  It looks extremely awkward and, is in fact, hard on the body and therefore, watching a person struggle to walk up a set of stairs or hearing them weeze heavily makes me want to run away.  I would also probably start eating less because I don't want to end up like them.  That though plays a part with my self body issues.

It's interesting because the chapter informs us that, "Researches have found that if your friends are overweight, you're also more likely to be overweight.  And, if you go out to a restaurant, and your friends are heavy eaters, you're likely to eat more than if your friends order light meals."

Going off on a related note, positive influences exist as well!  I know this from first hand experience.  My freshmen, sophomore, and junior year of college I was dating a very negative individual, and I was also friends with people who were just Debbie Downers constantly.  It was amazing to purge them out of my life because in doing so, I became happier!


On a more fun note, I introduced my two cats today!  Well, one is a cat, and I guess, the other is still considered a kitten.  It is going well, I feel.  Kit (the grouchy old one) after day two has stopped growling constantly and instead just does so when Coconut gets within a foot.  (This is even better than the previous days where the growling would intensify if he came within three feet.)  While she swipes at him, she also jumps on top of the chair and rolls on it while swatting at him - something that resembles playing.  Today, we were all able to take a nap with no cat freaking out and no growls to be heard.  It was glorious.  They might never become best buds, but I think we are on a good path to them getting along/tolerating each other. :)