September 2010 Archives

What's in the News?

What I would like you to do is to start applying what we are learning in class to real world matters. Some might ask, "What good is learning psychology if we can't apply it to real world matters?" So that is what we are going to do with this divergence assignment.

What I would like you to do is to either go to NPR (http://www.npr.org/ ) or the BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/ ) and read, watch, or listen to something that is interesting to you and relates to what we have been learning in the class.

Please respond the blog by telling us what the piece you chose was and why you picked it (what made it interesting for you)? What did you expect to see? What did you find most interesting about the piece?

Next discuss how it relates to the class using terms, terminology, and concepts that we have learned so far in class.

Include the URL in your post.

Make a list of key terms and concepts you used in your post.

Let me know if you have any questions,

--Dr. M

After reading chapter #5 please respond to the following questions:

Of the various aspects of the social psychology of humor presented in the chapter, which did you find the most interesting? Why? Which did you find least interesting? Why? What are three things you read about in the chapter that you think will be the most useful for you in understanding the psychology of humor? Why?

Which of parts of the social psychology aspects fit best  into the Theory "Z" your group came up with (make sure you say what group it was)? Which fit least and why?

Please make sure you use the terms, terminology and concepts you have learned so far in the class. It should be apparent from reading your post that you are a college student well underway in a course in psychology.

Please use spaces between your paragraphs to make your post easier to read - thanks in advance.

Let me know if you have any questions.

How does that guy in the back keep a straight face? Would this be funnier if the audiance was laughing? What have we learned from our studies about why or why not this is funny?

 

Is this picture funny? Why or why not? Which theories or perspectives best explain the potential humor in this photo?

 

http://imgfave.com/view/65254

Please find a video of something you find funny. In terms of the material we have been reading for the class - discuss why it is funny. For example, which of the many theories and perspectives would account for (or explain) why it is funny? Which theories or perspectives cannot or have difficulty accounting for the humor?

Make sure you include a link to the video in your post.

Let me know if you have any questions.

After reading chapter 4 please respond to the following questions:

Of the various aspects of the cognitive psychology of humor presented in the chapter, which did you find the most interesting? Why? Which did you find least interesting? Why? What are three things you read about in the chapter that you think will be the most useful for you in understanding the psychology of humor? Why?

Which of parts of the cognitive psychology aspects fit best  into the Theory "Z" your group came up with (make sure you say what group it was)? Which fit least and why?

Please make sure you use the terms, terminology and concepts you have learned so far in the class. It should be apparent from reading your post that you are a college student well underway in a course in psychology.

Please use spaces between your paragraphs to make your post easier to read - thanks in advance.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Find a topic that relates to the material covered in chapter 4. Research the topic using at least three internet sites of content (not fluffy sites). These can include a video if used as an example.

After viewing the web sites, please take a moment to synthesize what you read/saw and then integrate it (along with the material from the text) into a quality post of what you read. When you write assume your reader has limited knowledge on the topic. Give the reader detail and background material so they can follow along, read and learn from what you are writing (i.e., explain things).  It is OK to have fun and to be creative with this blog post.

Please make sure you use the terms, terminology and concepts you have learned so far in the class. It should be apparent from reading your post that you are a college student well underway in a course in psychology.

Please use spaces between your paragraphs to make your post easier to read - thanks in advance

Let me know if you have any questions.

 

How can you explain the humor in this clip based on what we have covered in the class so far?

 

Based on the theories we have read about so far, how would you explain why this may or may not be funny.

This is one in a series of 6:

Drunk History vol. 2 - Featuring Jack Black

Drunk History vol. 3 - Featuring Danny McBride

Drunk History vol. 4 - Featuring Paul Schneider

Drunk History vol. 5 - Featuring Will Ferrell

Drunk History vol. 6 - Featuring John C. Reilly

 

Find a topic that relates to the material covered in chapter 3. Research the topic using at least three internet sites of content (not fluffy sites). These can include a video if used as an example.

After viewing the web sites, please take a moment to synthesize what you read/saw and then integrate it (along with the material from the text) into a quality post of what you read. When you write assume your reader has limited knowledge on the topic. Give the reader detail and background material so they can follow along, read and learn from what you are writing (i.e., explain things).  It is OK to have fun and to be creative with this blog post.

Please make sure you use the terms, terminology and concepts you have learned so far in the class. It should be apparent from reading your post that you are a college student well underway in a course in psychology.

Please use spaces between your paragraphs to make your post easier to read - thanks in advance

Let me know if you have any questions.

After reading chapter 3 please respond to the following questions:

Of the various theories presented in the chapter, which did you like the most? Why? Which did you like the least? Why? What are three things you read about in the chapter that you think will be the most useful for you in understanding the psychology of humor? Why?

How do these theories fit into the Theory "Z" your group came up with (make sure you say what group it was)?

Please make sure you use the terms, terminology and concepts you have learned so far in the class. It should be apparent from reading your post that you are a college student well underway in a course in psychology.

Please use spaces between your paragraphs to make your post easier to read - thanks in advance.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Some of you thought the clip on the boat where the lady ran into a pole made the clip not funny. He is a clip where people don't get hurt - is this funny & why?

 

Theory "Z"

The class met yesterday and examined the different perspectives and theories that we have covered so far. Each group got together and came up with their own theories: 1) Swarm Theory, 2) Equilibrium Theory, 3) Playdoh Theory, 4) Some sort of anti Freud Theory, and 5) PSSC Theory.

I would like the spokesperson for each group to post a brief overview of their theory so we can document what we have come up with so far.

Let me know if you have any questions about how to procede.

 

 

 

 

You should by now have your text book (http://www.psychologicalscience.com/humor/book.html). If you don't please let me know (otto.maclin@uni.edu). After reading chapter 2 please respond to the following questions:

Of the two theories presented in the chapter, which did you like the most? Why? Which did you like the least? Why? What are three things you read about in the chapter that you think will be the most useful for you in understanding the psychology of humor? Why?

The Humor of Mark Twain.

Please visit the following web sites:

http://classiclit.about.com/library/bl-etexts/mtwain/bl-mtwain-howto.htm
http://www.pbs.org/marktwain/learnmore/writings_story.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQTaq3FqzSE

After viewing the web sites, please take a moment to synthesize what you read/saw and then integrate it into a brief overview or synopsis of what you read. Next try to explain Twain's humor based on what we have learned so far on the psychology of humor. This might be difficult, but give it your best shot. It is OK to have fun and to be creative with this blog post.

Let me know if you have any questions.

"Comedian Don Hepner has 90 seconds to capture his audience. When the light turns green, they're gone.