It Has Only Just Begun

 "You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do." -Eleanor Roosevelt

On the Monday of this week, the senior class finally had a taste of what the end of senior year has in store for us, and boy was that taste sour. Once I entered the classroom you could feel the nerves everyone shared. "Are you ready?" "Did you practice?" Question floated everywhere and almost immediately after the clock struck 8 a.m., presentations began. First, Mr. Piggott took volunteers and the brave few rose their hands. Then, our order was to be chosen randomly out of a bag. I had chosen the number 6, I would be going after our first break. 

The night before, I began feeling sick and very unsure of myself. I kept practicing and attempting to reach time, but always ended up making it just under the required time. I wasn't sure of what order we would be going, so I decided it would be best to bring my props just in case, and I'm glad I did. As my turn came closer, I began feeling sick again and wasn't sure of how capable I was going to be to properly complete my presentation. 

I sat through the presentations that went before me and mentally realized everything I could have put in my PowerPoint, everything that could have been included to help me reach time. I had been very confident in my topic, Psychopathy, but I wasn't sure if I would be able to give it justice. The inevitable had arrived and I stumbled to the front to set up my posters and computer. The presentation flew by and I just spewed out as much information that I could. When it was over, I let out a deep breath. Then I thought to myself, this is only the beginning. The 30 minute and 2 hour presentation are still to come. If I had panicked so much over 10 minutes, I am going to need some major preparation time for the two other senior project presentations. 

Blog 8: Research & Working EQ

"When a rogue kisses you, count your teeth" -Hebrew Proverb

1.  What classifies a psychopath as dangerous or benefiting towards society?

2. Psychologist have used the DSM-IV, also known as The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual: Mental Disorders and The Psychopathy Checklist, to classify whether a psychopath can be considered dangerous or benefiting towards society

3.  My first interview with Andrew Williams helped me find part of the answer to my working EQ. Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of Psychopaths Among Us by Robert D. Hare went into more detail on both the DSM-IV and the checklist mentioned in number 2.

4.  Since I determined that I wanted my topic to be Psychopathy, I have been on a desperate search for a mentor or somewhere to volunteer that is even vaguely related to my topic, but it has been very difficult. I have been able to find a class to cover my Independent Component #1. I also found two separate people to interview to fulfill the interview requirements and both recommended me to other people, but once again none of them specialized in my topic. I am still emailing and calling for my references. 

Blog 7: Independent Component 1 Approval

The healthy man does not torture others.  Generally, it is the tortured who turn into torturers.” -Carl Jung

1. For the 30 hours required for our first independent component, I will be take a Young Scholars class at Cal Poly. The class is called Mind, Brain, Behavior: An Integrated View. It is a 10-week Psychology course that meets once a week for 3 hours and 50 minutes. The topics that are covered in the class vary from nerve cells to the bio psychology of ethics. The class was recommended to me by Mrs. Hunzeker during my Senior Meeting.

2. Meeting for about 4 hours a week, the 30 hour hour requirement is sure to be met. I plan to collect my notes that I will be taking during each class and all handouts or worksheets we are given. Of necessary, I can also bring in the 3 mid term exams taken throughout the course. We are also expected to write a 3-6 page book review(as listed in the class syllabus attached on the left), which I can use as additional evidence to show the completion of the 30 hours.

3. My topic is psychopathology. In the recent sources I have used, there are mainly examples and interviews based on research from professionals in psychology. In this class, I will gain a more scientific perspective on my topic. Also, there are othe related disorders that will mainly be covered in the seventh and eighth week of the class. I noticed that each week covers a component that I have found to be a branch from the symptoms of psychopathy based on my previous research. For example, Drugs and the Brain in week 3 and Hormones and Behavior in week 6. I recall a direct relation between substance abuse and the development of psychopaths described in Without Conscience, a vital piece of research I have been using. One of the main characteristics of a psychopath is having strong and emotionless sexual desires, explained more in week 3 of the class. I will become more well rounded on my topic, not only knowing about one aspect of it.

Mind, Brain, Behavior

This semester has been going by way too quickly. We have been in school for just over one month and we have completed so much in that short amount of time. We are already on our independent component. Since the summer, I determined to get a college class that was somehow related to my topic. When the class were put up, I first looked under the subject of psychology. I wasn't able to find anything directly linked, other than freshmen, general classes. When I went to my senior meeting with Mrs. Hunzeker, she recommended that I look into a class called Mind, Brain, and Behavior: An Integrated Study. From the name alone, I was already intrigued. I had found that the class perfectly fit my schedule and that other young scholars had successfully passes the class. I immediately emailed the professor and he quickly replied with a welcoming approval of me attending his class. I had asked him if the class would help me with my topic of psychopathology and he was slightly unsure. He claimed that it would not cover all aspects of the subject, but focus on the neurological science to the psychology.

When the independent component was officially announced, I wasn't sure if I would be able to use my class for it. I continued doing research on the class and also the professor and found that it is more related to my topic than expected. Also, based on the professor's credentials, I may be able to use him in an interview, if he allows. I was also unsure if I would feel comfortable taking a more challenging class by myself. I would have potentially been the only Young Scholar in the class. I later found that another senior was accepting to the class. I have a much greater confidence in this class and completing it successfully. It was a great relief to know that I had that matter out of the way. Now I would be able to focus on completely my mentorship hours.

Blog 6: Second Interview Questions

I am planning on interviewing Blanca Flores. She has worked in the Fashion industry for just over 12 years. She is currently unemployed, but has gathered experience and expert knowledge of the inner workings of business deals and communications.

5 questions on her background:

1. I’m interested in studying International Business. What can you tell me about it?
2. From your perspective, what could I study that would be significant to other people?
3. Who else would you recommend I talk to?
4. What kinds of places or activities do you recommend I do for the mentorship component?
5. What books should I read in this field? Who else can I interview?

The status of this mentor is still not confirmed, but it is looking very positive. 

Blog 5: Project Reflection and Working EQ

"Just because I don't care doesn't mean I don't understand." -Homer Simpson

The Pentagon: 

1. Positive Statement: I have come to understand my topic more than I had when I chose it in the first place. I realized that there is so much more to psychopathology and it has many sub-topics within it. This is helping me narrow down what I would like to focus my essential question on. Also, from my interview I gained a place where I can hopefully fulfill my mentorship.

2. EQ Content: "Without Conscience" written by Robert D. Hare is my second most important piece of research I have collected. Other articles and books I have read have focused on personality traits of those who have the specific personality disorder, but this non fiction piece introduces hard evidence, research experiments, and several resources within itself.

My interview was also very useful. The process of finding a mentor and mentorship has become a more doable task with help from Andrew Williams, the interviewee from my first interview. I am planning another trip to the library to collect various resources he recommended.

3.  I personally love the research checks every week. As seniors, we have so much going on throughout the week and it's nice to have time to focus on what needs to be done and get it done as quickly and productively as possible. I find my research very interesting and it helps keep me focused, even though it may seem like a long time to just sit and stay quiet.

4. The hardest part of the senior project is finding a mentor. Then again, that does not have to do with the project, mainly my topic itself. It seems like we have just started school and we have several due dates given to us, but that is expected of senior year.

5. Finding Value:

• What determines that a person can be classified as "mentally ill" or as "psychopathic" in the law system?
• The person I interviewed has referred me to a lady named Dr. Jennifer Rousch. She works with clients directly admitted to BHC Alhambra Hospital, a private, for-profit psychiatric hospital. 

Scorpion & Frog

During the summer, I managed to collect various pieces of research. At first, I didn't think of them as research sources, but instead I enjoyed reading them on my free time. It was the books I collected over the summer that led me to choose my topic: psychopathology. I wanted to choice a topic that would intrigue people and they would enjoy watching my presentation In the end I fell in love with my own topic, too. Psychopathology isn't definitely not a subject everyone talks about, but it sparks their curiosity. Whenever I tell someone my topic, I always get the same response, "what's that?" I reply with, "it's the study of psychological and behavioral disorders, specifically psychopaths." With that, they immediately want to know more. As I continue my research, I learn something new literally everyday. Even though, finding a mentor and mentorship has been a bit difficult, I am dedicated to succeed with my senior topic.

My favorite piece of research and over all non-fiction books is "The Wisdom of Psychopaths" by Kevin Dutton. It was written in such a way that it is entertaining and informative. There is specific parable that involved a scorpion and turtle that perfectly portrays how a psychopath is know to socialize with society:

A scorpion and a frog are sitting on the bank of a river, and both need to get to the other side.

“Hello, Mr. Frog!” calls the scorpion through the reeds. “Would you be so kind as to give me a ride on your back across the water? I have important business to conduct on the other side. And I cannot swim in such a strong current.”

The frog immediately becomes suspicious.

“Well, Mr. Scorpion,” he replies, “I appreciate the fact that you have important business to conduct on the other side of the river. But just take a moment to consider your request. You are a scorpion. You have a large stinger at the end of your tail. As soon as I let you onto my back, it is entirely within your nature to sting me.”

The scorpion, who has anticipated the frog’s objections, counters thus:

“My dear Mr. Frog, your reservations are perfectly reasonable. But it is clearly not in my interest to sting you. I really do need to get to the other side of the river. And I give you my word that no harm will come to you.”

The frog agrees, reluctantly, that the scorpion has a point. So he allows the fast-talking arthropod to scramble atop his back and hops, without further ado, into the water.

At first all is well. Everything goes exactly according to plan. But halfway across, the frog suddenly feels a sharp pain in his back—and sees, out of the corner of his eye, the scorpion withdraw his stinger from his hide. A deadening numbness begins to creep into his limbs.

“You fool!” croaks the frog. “You said you needed to get to the other side to conduct your business. Now we are both going to die!”

The scorpion shrugs and does a little jig on the drowning frog’s back.

“Mr. Frog,” he replies casually, “you said it yourself. I am a scorpion. It is in my nature to sting you.”

With that, the scorpion and the frog both disappear beneath the murky, muddy waters of the swiftly flowing current.

And neither of them are seen again.