March 13, 1980
DFF: 14
ID #23
In opening today's lecture, Dr. J. explained some of the important factors behind Negative Emotions. When an individual, for example, is with other people, either anti-social or social forces are created. If the latter occurs, there are usually Negative Emotions or feelings of Intimidation among the people involved. This concept opened my eyes in witnessing my reactions to others in my Daily Round. Frustration and Negative Emotions are an active part of my Daily Round. If I am in an unfamiliar group, for example, at first I would feel somewhat Intimidated. If anti-social forces are generated, I too would develop Negative Emotions due to Forming and Managing Impressions (2.1.a) and also my Standardized Imaginings (2.3.c)
I can recall an incident that I experienced that reflects these thoughts precisely: I took summer school one year and there was this girl who was in my class. We never talked to each other or even said hello (we both thought the other couldn't stand the other)--Standardized Imaginings and Forming Impressions. With fate as our shadow, it turned out the same girl was in my homeroom the following semester. We got to know each other very well and discovered that our Standardized Imaginings led us to false judgments of each other.
ID #23
DFF--March 13,1980
Lecture #15
It's ironic how experiences in my Daily Round correlate with the topics discussed in the lectures. Today, for example, Dr. J. introduced three concepts dealing with health: Iatrogenesis - Medical Nemesis, Body Balance and Survival, and Lifestyle. Recently, I've been going to the doctor for stomach problems and today's lecture made me realize how our lives are structured around medicalization--that we live in a medicalized society. Usually when I go to the doctor, he'll check me over, almost always give me a blood test (which I have very Negative Emotions towards)and has: not yet failed to give me a prescription for medication. I've also discovered that when I take the medication, I feel worse than when I first went to see the doctor. This leads to the point Dr. J made that "doctors cause illness".
Iatrogenesis relates to Intimidation in that visiting a doctor is one of the many role situations, where ones' Personal Space is invaded. The last time I went to the doctor, he took several tests and told me I had to get a shot (in the okole!) At once, my Interior Dialog went to work..."Why do I have to get a shot THERE?!? Why not on the arm? I haven't had one on my okole since I was about 10!" I felt very Intimidated and tried to overcome it by controlling my Negative Emotions of fear. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't overcome my Standardized Imaginings of the pain I would be receiving. In his explanation of a Speech Community, Dr. J claimed that "if you have control of speech, you have control of the forces." I don't think I have completely grasped control of my speech quite yet.
ID# 23
DFF: March 18,1980
Lecture #16
In today's lecture, Dr. James asked the community the question, "How do we avoid being in a dilemma where you feel appreciative to doctors when you are feeling healthy?" His answer--Nutrition. The term, Body Balance explains the basic function of the body--"you are what you eat." Dr. J. suggested that instead of eating foods with such chemicals as preservatives, food additives, etc., there are alternative foods to consume. "Live" food, which is the term used for raw food such as vegetables and other non-preservative ingredients such as kelp, soybean, sunflower seeds, granola and fruits are such substitutes. When an individual consumes "Dead" foods which are cooked, processed, preserved and spiced, they are injecting themselves with chemicals which will later result in an "imbalance of the body."
At the present time, these concepts directly relate with my own experiences. Recently I have been having terrible stomach pains and went to get them checked with the doctor. The doctor checked me over, told me I have Acute Gastritis, game me my Intimidating shot, prescribed several medications to me, put me on a diet that excludes all milk products... including chocolate (sigh!), eggs, and my absolute favorite. seafood! Now I am on a very bland diet and I'm going crazy! From the lecture, I gathered that Dr. J. has Negative Emotions in regards to medication, however, I've discovered that when I skip my medication, I feel very unbearable pains.
Spring 1980
DFF: Lecture #17
ID #23
At the beginning of class, Dr. J. discussed how we as individuals can overcome obstacles to our community building processes. He gave us some general conclusions derived from our various Progress Reports. I found that the concept Dr. J. defined as "Essentialism of the Individual" to be a very significant one. It stresses the importance of gaining a sense of "commonality" with our peers by communicating with each other and reading each other's reports. I feel this concept of Commonality has helped me in this class as well as the activities which occur in my Daily Rounds when I can relate with other people, I don't feel the presence of Obtacles which could interfere with my Daily Round Activities.
Dr. J. also informed us that he broke up our Learning Cells into Quartile Teams. I found his definition of the separation of the cells to be very scientific and interesting! He described the process as "Fitient", in which each student represents the breaking up of atoms, rearranging to form energy. Dr. J. then showed U8 a chart that demonstrates the flow of forces that are obstacles to communication and the community forces that prevent them. The Anti-social forces are what he described as Separative, Solitary, Independent, Anonymity, Secrecy. The Community Building Forces are the Bonding and Revitalizing aspects which break the obstacles to communication. When individuals participate in a Collective Activity, there is Mutual Involvement and the formation of Syncronous Activity (such as the DRA).
ID #23
Quiz: Lecture #17
Spring 1980
DFF Quiz-
Analyze the obstacles I've witnessed in the community-classroom and propose techniques to overcome them.
The obstacles I've witnessed in the community-classroom are:
1. A slight lack of effort in achieving the class goals (such as handing in DFF's and Annotations on time) by some of the community members.
SOLUTION: other students should help encourage the others to do their work.
2. There seems to be quite a lot of confusion in the community as to when certain projects are due and what the contents of the projects are to consist of. This creates an imbalance in the functioning of the community.
SOLUTION: The Class Managers and Professor could perhaps clarify a bit more clearly on the projects.
3. There is a slight problem with communication in the community because students do tend to stick with peers they are acquainted with.
SOLUTION: At the moment, I can't really think of one that I know would be very effective. All I can suggest is perhaps a little more time in the teams.
April 3,1980
DFF Quiz #18
ID #23
DFF QUIZ: Witnessing Process leads to awareness of Social Forces, and this leads to their control. (Document for myself in my own observation.)
Through the various reports that we have already completed, I have discovered that the witnessing process does lead to a greater awareness of the Social Forces that affect my life. By becoming conscious of these forces, I have been able to control my actions by reviewing the forces around me.
As an example, the Money-Thoughts project made me aware of my money-thoughts that were never noticeable to me before. Being aware of my money-thoughts led me to be alert to the circumstances that led to my money-thoughts Finally, I also discovered the factors that led to my "foolish spending" and found out that poor planning and emotional releases (such as frustration) always led me to spend. Once these "hidden" factors were brought out, I began to review the situation carefully whenever I had money-thoughts, which led to better control of my spending.
April 3, 1980
DFF #l9
ID #23
Today's lecture concentrated on the last l/3 of the course. We have already completed establishing relationships within the community and now we must focus on completing our individual files with the help from our mixed quartile teammates.
Dr. James explained that after we have checked our files with the inventory sheet, we must gain consensus from the other team members . In order to get the maximum amount of collective points, everyone's work must total to 80%.
The first step in this process would be to check my inventory sheet and leave it in my file. When checking my teammate's files, I am to take notes and act by asking myself the following questions: l) Is the item there? 2) Is it long enough? 3) Does it have all the parts?
An example of this would be one of the projects we've done in class. Did the student complete all seven objectives required in the "A" paper?
After we have gained all the information regarding the missing or finished work in each other's files, we must add the missing parts, make additions, and phone our other team members and help them with their files. The most important factor in doing this, is so that I can see my own work cumulatively and witness myself as a student. I should be able to compare myself with the other students. am I above or below the standard?
DFF: Lecture #20
ID #23
Today was Day one of the Poster Convention. In the beginning of class, Dr. James gave a mini-lecture on the Methodological Issues of a Student-run Field Lab. He gave us the sentence: "Student run field lab serves to materialize social forces acting upon students, who collectively produce the generational curriculum of community-classroom, thereby being enabled to see how the Bonding Forces operate to produce social organization.
In my own words, I feel that this means that through the process of the community-classroom, where we witness each other's work and are able to observe each other's progress, we learn to have a greater awareness of the social forces around us that affects our lives. Through the DRA, which includes the collective work of the students of each generation, one is able to see how the Bonding Forces such as, Socialization (l.l.a.4.), Language and Collective Thinking (1.3.a.4.) and Relationship Dynamics (l.l.b.3 ) operate to produce social organization within the community.
I enjoyed seeing the various posters at the convention. I found it most interesting to compare the different topics that were chosen for the project.
May 1,1980
DFF: #21
Today was the first day of the Poster Convention on the DRA index from the 1980 generation. In the beginning of class, Dr. James explained that the Poster Convention illustrates the concept of the "Citizen Scientist." Using the term, "Methodological," which is a way of doing something that is true to the word, Dr. J. explained the difference between Subject/Experimental data versus witnessing data. In Subject Data, the data is obtained by the experimenter. The subject of the experiment does not know the objective of the scientist and is a guinea pig in an artificial setting. In Witnessing Data, however, the subject is the subject and experimenter , The data collected is "Testimonial Data.", measuring the subjects' response.
In the Poster Convention, the posters represent the Witnessing Data. The four procedures used by the experimenter uses is as follows: (1) The gathered data must be placed (2) systematized in a graph, arranging observations and looking for patterns, (3) Transform the data into conclusions and sentences. (4) Take the sentences and theorize: integrate into dynamic theory. This demonstrates that Social Psychology is the study of the dynamic forces of life because the citizens are the scientists in witnessing data,
The posters were good examples of what the various skills the students have obtained thus far, Through the use of integrating the collected data, they were able to form some strong theories regarding Social Psychology.
April 22,1980
DFF: Lecture #22
ID #23
Today was the second day of the Poster Convention. Before the community viewed the various posters, Dr. James gave us a mini-lecture on the "Subject Data Obtained by the Experimenter versus Witnessing Data." In Experimental Data, the subject is unaware of the objective of the experimenter; the individual is placed in an artificial environment, where he/she is observed and has no further participation such as his/her response to the experiment.
In Witnessing Data, however, the subject is both experimenter and subject. Another term Dr. James used was "Testimonial Data," which measures the subject's response; making the data and experiment as subjective as possible.
In relation to the Poster Convention, the posters are a representation of Witnessing Data. The subject (1) gathers data (2) "Systematizes" the data into a graph, arranging his/her observations (3) Transforms the data into conclusions and sentences (4) Takes the sentences and theorizes, integrating into the Dynamic Theory, which is the whole basis behind Social Psychology -- the study of dynamic forces of life.
Dr. James brought out an interesting fact, that in Witnessing Data, the "citizens" of the community are the "scientists." We never really see ourselves as scientists in Soc. Psychology, only students contributing to an experiment and being a part of a community.
April 24,1980
DFF: Lecture #24
ID #23
In the beginning of class, Dr. James lectured on the "Three Stages of Community Building" or another term he used, "Community- Management Techniques". The first, which he labels the "Initial" stage, describes the atmosphere in a traditionally instructed class. "Competition" is the key focus and that everyone is in a "race" to beat the other. The symptoms of the "Initial" stage are: (1) anxiety (2) dispute (3) envy (4) hostility (5) fights. Dr. James claimed this stage takes place not only in the school, but also in the family, business or any form.
The second stage is the "Advanced", which is a system that is formed to break the initial stage. In the community-classroom, the solution is the collective point system. Here, an individual can release his individual interests and work together with the other students instead of against them. In the "Advanced" stage three symptoms occur: (1) relief from negative emotions (2) acceptance (3) indifference. I feel most of us have reached this stage but occasionally regress back to the "Initial" stage.
The "Professionalized" stage is the last and highest achieved. The key technique for achieving this level is "Objectivity and Idealization." Dr. James explained it in terms of "idea + actualization" or the transition of abstract to the concrete. In the "Professionalized" stage, (1) love (2) honor (3) energy-where the individual has the ability to do work without feeling over-compelled (4) creativity are the symptoms.