Report
1
Studying the Online Generational
Curriculum in Traffic Psychology
Research Output in Traffic Psychology
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Table of Contents
Section A: Driving Personality Makeover Legistics
Section B:
Standard Operating Procedures
Section C: Conclusions
Section A: Driving Personality Makeover
Legistics
What is out there?
While viewing
the information regarding traffic psychology, I was completely overwhelmed
with the amount of text that I had to read. Some of the generational
student reports were boring and monotonous simply because they either did
not have an attracting appearance or because the writing was not well
done. Nevertheless, I have developed an overall concept as to what
traffic psychology is all about. According to Jason Nakasoto (G2), it seems
as if traffic psychology is simply increasing one's affections,
cognitions, and psychomotor behaviors about driving. He makes the point
that many of us aren't aware of the existence of these three different
levels of behavior. If only we are better able to rationalize and
contemplate on the etiologies both physically and mentally, then we have
succeeded in the goals of traffic psychology Another
student from G2, Letitia
Lujan, reports what traffic psychology is all about with a little more
interpersonal aspect. She feels that traffic psychology helps us realize
the way that we drive. After this realization, comes the possibility of
understanding its causes and thus understanding ourselves. Only then are
we better able to understand others. And for an even better definition
seeDr. Leon
James' home page. A driving personality makeover can
be done for just about anyone, I would assume. Everyone that drives or
operates a motor vehicle could succeed in fulfilling a makeover. I can go
even so far as to say that you don't even have to be on a motorized
vehicle. How about a bicycle? Could you do a personality makeover while
riding a bike to and from school or work? Sure! The only requirement
that I can see is that it be an animal from the homosapien species on
anything used to traverse from point a to point b. But this is a little
carried away and extreme. In this case, a driving personality makeover
specifically relates to those that drive. Some of you
reading this report may think that this is quite dumb and a waste of time
and exit from my report. Be patient. Cynthia
Arashiro (G1) knows a little about being patient.
Let me just give you a little
food for thought before you decide to get the HELL out of here. The
majority of our histories greatest leaders were
very much in tune with themselves. They knew what they believed and stood
be it all the way. As a result, it's safe to assume that these
individuals knew a little about themselves. So I say to you," How are you
ever going to be a great leader in this society without ever
psychoanalyzing yourself?" So, when the question arises as to why would
anyone want to do something like this; the answer should simple be, "Why
not?". Walk the Talk!
As you can obviously tell
from the previous paragraph, I agree that it should be done. In fact, I
feel that I have already done this before, just in a different context.
Spring, 1996, I took a transpersonal psychology class. This class
required the in-depth look within one's soul for the main purpose of
increasing personal awareness on all levels of behavior- affective,
cognitive, and psychomotor. The class was great! I was able to
psychoanalyze and discuss my feelings with others doing the same. It was
an environment that was so conducive to open discussion that the learning
experiences went way beyond the realms of an ordinary academic class. It
was about gaining life experience. (Note: I'm leading the Fall, 1996,
1:30pm class; if you're interested) By applying the same principles that I
learned from last semester, I'm sure that I could do a driving personality
makeover. And if I could; I would!
Section B: Standard Operating Procedures
Driving Personality Makeover Protocol:
After absorbing all of
this information, you may be saying to yourself," OK, I agree with the
theory and everything; but how do I go about actually doing something like
this. Is there a step by step manual that I can buy at the bookstore?"
Don't worry! This must be your lucky day because I will give you this
information for free-99(costs nothing). Here's something else that
will cost you nothing, but you have to click on it first _____.
According to Dr. Leon James, there are
two stages of the driving personality makeover: 1) Becoming a Reformed
Driver and 2) Becoming a Facilitative Driver. Remember also that there
are three levels of behavior- affective, cognitive, and sensorimotor.
Each of these levels are applied to the two stages listed above. For
stage 1, the affective level means to overcome the resistance to change,
the cognitive level means to rationally analyze traffic situations, and
the sensorimotor level means to give the appearance as being a reformed
driver. For stage 2, the affective means to maintain loyalty to one's new
driving image, the cognitive means to reason like a traffic psychologists,
and the sensorimotor means to behave like a happily, reformed driver.
These are one individual's view on the main principles of a
driving personality makeover. Now, you are probably even more confused.
That's OK because through countless hours of research, I have found the
perfect step by step description on how to perform one of these tests. Michelle
Ota's(G1) report Michelle Ota's report gives this information plainly
and clearly. In fact, it seemed to me to be one of the better reports
that I have read! She states that on the affective level, you need to try
to understand your feelings along with the feelings of others in traffic
situations. On the cognitive level, try to look at what cues trigger your
brain to think the way you do. Try to continuously self-monitor your
thoughts while driving. And then after having done the previous two
steps, at the sensorimotor level, change your behavior into something more
positive. It's as simple and free as that! Psychology
concepts in Action:
There are many different psychological
concepts that could be applied to a driving personality makeover but for
the sake of thought, I will review only those that I have had personal
experience with. The first concept is reinforcement. Without having a
reference text to give a complete and accurate definition of what
reinforcement is, I will have to rely on memory for the correct concept.
Reinforcement is the positive or negative consequences of a specific
behavior that causes it to be more or less likely repeated in the future.
For example, If I receive praise from Dr. Leon James for getting an "A" in
his Psy.409 class(positive reinforcement), I am more likely to take
another of his classes in the future. Personally, I drive at or above the
speed limit, never more than 5 mph above. But all of my friends drive at
however fast they can, completely oblivious to the many more possible
dangers that could arise as a result of their stupidity. Everyone,
please be careful for little children. There was this one time where I
was driving like a lunatic. Why? Who knows? Anyway, I was and I
almost hit this one kid. Believe me! It will change your complete
perspective on your driving behavior. Shane
Akagi(G1) has a little bit to say on chidren killed. Anyway, back
to the main topic. My friends must think that I am such a slow poke
when I drive. Alan Furukawa (G2)
has a little exerpt on slowpokes. It always seems
to be the case that whenever one of these daredevils catches a ride with
me, I am always persecuted for going the speed limit. In fact, I
sometimes tend to mentally curse that individual, just like how Shane
Akagi(G1) does to his professor. This negative
reinforcement by my peers would lead me to drive at a much higher velocity
and thus being as stupid as they are. But yet, regardless, I do it. The
second concept deals with conditioning. I love pretty much all types of
music. And it is my personal experience that whenever I am listening to
some loud, alternative, grunge music like Pearl
Jam; I tend to drive a little faster, a
little more recklessly, and am little more easily angered by other idiots
that like to play games on the freeways. Just the opposite occurs when I
am listening to some classical music. Now there are two solutions to this
scenario: 1) either I always listen to classical music or 2) condition
myself to act as if listening to classical music while yet listening to
grunge rock. The last psych. concept that I have experiences deals with
the following of society's norms. Upon driving on the Los Angeles freeway
system last summer, even though the speed limit was like 60mph. or so;
everyone definitely was going at least 70mph. How do I know this? Well,
after getting honked at, sworn, at and even had a gun pointed at you; you
tend to be a little more aware of your surroundings. In fact, it seemed
as though I was creating more of a traffic hazard than anything else.
I also realized that everyone there drives in packs. If you get
passed by a car, you can be damn well sure that about 3-5 more cars
are right behind. We aren't talking about those cars going above the
speed limit- say 65mph. They all must be going upwards of 80-90mph.
REALLY CRAZY SPEED RACERS. Take
Robin Miller(G3)for
example. I wouldn't want to be walking on the streets when she's
around.
Kendell Matsu (G1) has a few words to say about driving in packs.
Another example, that I just couldn't believe was going on was when one
of those speed demons that whizzed by me was talking on his cellular
phone. Of course, he was driving a silver Porsche 911
Carrera so you
know he was rich. (Click on the Porsche 911 link to see his car). Anyway,
how can you do such a dumb thing. Do using cellular phones
distract a driver and cause that person to not be 100% aware of his/her
surroundings? I definitely think so but GTE MobilNet
may not. Click GTE and fly! Jae Isa (G1)
has a little report on cellular phones' effects on driving. What do
you do? My suggestion, if with wolves; be a wolf. If with crazy,
psychotics that don't think twice if they run over someone or something,
be a crazy psychotic. I have found a pretty funny report from
Caroline
Balatico(G1). She talks about giving people the "finger". Do you get
the point?
For more information on how to be a crazy psychotic, drop me an email. Enough
Already:
After countless hours of research and sweat, my eyes
have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord. Yes, that's right, ladies
and gentlemen. I have seen more information and personal reports on
traffic psychology that I am more than satisfied and confident that I
could do a driving personality makeover. There is only so much that past
generations can tell you before you get the point. I would be willing to
try one out maybe in a couple of weeks. Only because I'm tired of traffic
psychology right now. As for others, I'm sure that they would have no
problem at all if they had to do it for a grade. Honestly, to do a
driving personality makeover on my own free time, isn't something that I
would consider quality time spent. But it really depends on the person, I
think.
Section C:
Conclusions
Overall Reactions:
Overall, I
really enjoyed doing the research for this report. At first, I was a
little apprehensive because of the many questions and unfamiliar things
that I had to deal with. But after a couple of days, it seemed to ease in
difficulty. In fact, I have realized a small increase in my confidence
level regarding computers and such. As they say, practice makes pretty
good. :):):) Today, I feel pretty good about my abilities of course I
haven't even scratched the surface in regards to riding the information
super highway. But that's all right because everyone has to start
somewhere, right? Claudia
Kaneshiro(G1) learned a few things also from the Driving Personality
Makeover. The only thing that I didn't like about this experience
is the overload of useless information that I was bombarded with. This
is kind of the same thing that Braden Kato(G2)experienced-
confusion. After
about three reports, I was already bored out of my pants with some of
these reports that I had to read. Imagine trying to do quality work when
only about 25% of your references are quality material. The rest is just
a lot of the same jibber-jabber. Of course, take into account that the
references were from a traffic psychology class; so of course, all of
their reports has to deal with just traffic psychology, nothing
else. Don't get me wrong about the system of using the
online generational curriculum. It is the best information resource that
I have ever seen! In some areas, it is not so much the system that is
boring but rather the content. The system has many advantages including
unlimited resource to the world, quick and expedient delivery of this
information, and you don't even have to ask anyone for help. But the
system is not foolproof. There are limitations like cost. It can cost a
lot of money to get online from home as I do or it can cost a student
nothing if you want to inconvenience yourself to use the university's
computers. And if you don't know what you're doing, you can be easily
frustrated and turn into an evil, crazy, psychotic. Like one of those
animals that I experienced on the Los Angeles freeway. Nevertheless, this
is great source for learning, not only about traffic psychology, but also
about practically anything else in this world. Working 1
on 1 with a computer terminal is completely different than the regular
mode of learning in the academic realm. Probably not more than 10 years
ago, you and I would've never thought that computers would be used by
children even beginning in kindergarten. (Well, of course, I was only 14
yrs. old at the time) Regardless, it seems so much like a self-learning
mode of education. Here you are, on a computer terminal. No one is
lecturing to you. You are probably taking notes primarily by copying and
pasting onto another document. You are talking to no one but yourself,
like how I always do. This is quite different than the type of learning
system that I am used to. Check out Cyberhigh:
A Look at Online Education. Suggestions for the Future
Crazy,
Cyberspace Maniacs:
I thought the Generational Curriculum was
very helpful in some parts and as I have mentioned before, very boring in
others. I wasn't suprised by its existence. Something like this, I
thought, is the norm for this type of resource. This is an Information
Age! Why not be a pack rat of information? Everybody, else is. After
doing a search for useless information via Alta Vista, I have found a list
of useless
websites. Check it out if you have time. The only
piece of advice that I can give to the future generations is this. If the
first couple of paragraphs aren't to you're liking ,or if there isn't any
cool pictures on the screen, or for some other reason you're not excited
about reading the page; escape, leave, beat it, do what ever you can to
turn that page out. Chances are that if the beginning is boring, it isn't
going to get any better. you will only waste your time and time is money,
as they say. I guess it wouldn't matter if you had a lot of both, would
it? TIRED:
TIRED is the
acronym that I would use to define this approach in teaching. It stands
for Totally Interactive Research Education. Pretty cool name, huh? I'm
not an education major and will not comment on the history of TIRED, in
other words, focus on the past. But what I would like to do is keep your
eyes focused on the future and the potential that TIRED has of becoming
the worlds mainstream educational force for all. It's a great, unlimited
tool that I think everyone will see its capabilities. Some of this
nation's largest industries like medicine have already began using this
type of online education. It's only a matter of time before it catches on
like wildfire. FIRE!FIRE!FIRE! (Beavis & Butthead
Rules)I feel very much privileged to being a part of such
pioneering educational system. And now that I'm infected, so to speak,
there's no turning back now. The sky's the limit.
Application in High School Curriculum
Positive change is
inevitable in society's future. TIRED will definitely work for high
school students. In fact, it may increase their drive for learning. Even
if they are the least bit interested in education, using online curriculum
can only benefit them. The only problem that I foresee is the difficulty
in simply getting some of our future generations at the computer. It
really depends on one's environment, whether or not the child will have a
driving motivation to want to learn. The computer can't make them learn.
They have to be willing to sit down and want to be educated. Once some of
these hard cases get over this hump, there is no stopping what online
curriculum can do. What to Expect From Future Generational
Curriculum
As Dr. Leon James had mentioned during the first
week of class. What we are doing today is taking what was done from the
previous class and building upon that. I would expect to see two years
from now, so much more complicated and advanced reports that what I do
this whole semester will be obsolete like the video game, PacMan. That is
just the way things are. This field is moving with leaps and bounds into
the future. There is no stopping something this powerful!
Words to the Man Upstairs
Great Job so far in this class.
The lab attendants are a tremendous factor in the enjoyment of this
experience. Definitely do your best to continue to have them even with
all of the educational cuts and stuff. Finally, when surfing
the net,
always make sure to stay in front of the whitewash (WWW) or else you could
get screwed up, fall down off your board, get dragged along the bottom of
the reef, gashes all over your body, held under for a couple of minutes,
until finally, the wave lets you back up to the surface and you'll be left
behind. Drop me an email.
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