Category Archives: Personal Psychology

The Xtreme Zone

The Game of Death: Inflict pain to win a TV game show? Controversial documentary examines whether people will administer potentially fatal electric shocks to win a game show based on the famous Stanley Milgram experiments.

Research the Milgram experiment, read about the game show “The Game of Death“.

What ideas about obedience to authority and societal dependance is Shakespeare suggesting in Hamlet?

Watch the CBC documentary.

http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/passionateeyeshowcase/video.html?ID=1851450627

http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/passionateeyeshowcase/2011/gameofdeath/

February 2013 Update:

I am unable to find an online version of the entire video at CBC.CA

I did find a BBC article with audio clips.

The Perils of Obedience

“Since you been gone”

Write about a time when a friend or relative returned from an absence and seemed to have a very different personality. Did you believe that the change was real? What circumstances might cause a person to change greatly in a short period of time?

False Flattery

Write about a time when some one used flattery to manipulate you into doing something. Have you ever tried to manipulate someone else through flattery? What were the results?

Under Pressure

Write about a time when, under pressure, you acted in away that surprised you.

Traumatic Screenplay

Suppose you are writing a screenplay about someone your age who has a mental breakdown as a result of a traumatic experience. Write about what that person’s appearance, conversation, and actions would be like.

Stand on Principle

Reflect on a situation where you took a strong stand on principle about an issue that other people did not think was important. What did you gain or lose by doing this?

Spontaneous Laughter

Sometimes people find themselves laughing and/or joking in a situation where they are expected to be serious. How would you explain this unexpected response? Have you ever found yourself in this situation? If so, explain why you think you responded the way you did.

Just Soaking Things In

If you were sitting on a bus and overheard a conversation in which one person call another person a “sponge,” what would you think it meant?

Too Wrapped Up in Your Own Problems

Describe an occasion when something terrible happened to someone close to you (a family member or a friend), but you have been too wrapped up in your own problems to think about that person’s troubles. What was your first reaction to the other person’s bad news? How did you behave toward him or her? In the future, would you try to deal with similar situations any differently? If so, how?

Do’s and Don’ts

Most of us have had, or will have, reason to confront another person and express a lot of anger that we have been storing up. In your blog make a list of “do’s” and “don’ts” about this type of confrontation. Then think of a confrontation you have already experienced. How many of your “do’s” and “don’ts” did you follow? If a similar situation were to occur, how would you handle it this time?

A lie, then another, and then another . . .

Write about a time when telling one lie or doing one wrong thing put you in a situation where, to cover your first lie, you had to tell more. How did you finally break the cycle of lies? (If this hasn’t happened to you, think of a time when it could have happened.)

Conscience Caught

Write about an incident when you trapped someone (or when someone trapped you) into admitting guilt about something. How did you feel?

A Sensitive and Deep Friend

Imagine you have a friend who thinks deeply and reacts sensitively to events around him or her. Your friend has just written you a letter saying that human life is full of more problems and sorrow than joy and hope. Your friend goes on to say, “What’s the use of living in such a ‘sea of troubles’?” Write a response to your friends letter.

Your close friend has been acting strangely

Suppose your close friend has been acting very strangely. Your friend’s parents ask you to find out the reasons for the strange mood and then report back to them. Under what circumstances would you be willing to do this? How would you feel about this request? Would you tell your friend what you were doing?

Support

If a parent is supporting a son or daughter living away from home, do you think the parent has the right to “check up” on the child’s behaviour? If so, what methods of “checking up” would you consider acceptable or not acceptable?

Reflection

Reflect on a moment when you received some unexpected news and thought, “This news will change my life?” As you think back, to what extent did it change your life?

Danger In The News

Write about someone in the news lately who has attempted something dangerous, despite the warnings of others. It could be a political figure, an athlete, or a daredevil. What qualities made this person act, despite the dangers? What is your opinion of these qualities?

Old Advice

Write about a time when an older person gave you advice which you knew that person would not follow him or herself. What were the results? How did you feel afterwards?

Family Crisis

Write about a time when you and your parents reacted differently to a family crisis. How well were you able to communicate your feelings? If you could relive that time, would you change anything?

snowflakes

try to catch one of these on your tongue