PSYC 1020H: Introduction to Psychology Part 1

Reflection:

I wouldn’t actually say that my love for Psychology was sparked in this class, in fact I would probably argue against it. It is called “Introduction” for a reason. That being said, I was likely most diligent in this course with attending lectures, writing lecture notes, doing the readings and making the most comprehensive and beautifully colour coordinated reading notes of all my undergraduate classes. Highlighters, sharpies, a nice crisp black ball point pen and myself had many a date in my residence dorm room. If anything, this class sparked my love for a huge desk over which I could spread all my books, notes and thoughts across.

There isn’t much to comment on this course. Now that I am graduated and am looking back the initial hellos I said to Freud, Pavlov, Skinner and the like, it feels like shaking the hand of a familiar friend. I could list at least three popular TV shows that have had clips demonstrating Pavlov’s theories or teasing Freud’s ideas (I love the Office). The familiarity of the content included in this course is deeply engrained in me now, I can barely remember what it was like to look at these psychologists and consider these theories for the first time. It must’ve been at least somewhat interesting, because I flew through the class, smiled at the midterm and left the final exam confident in all but 3 of my answers on the scantron. I didn’t know it at the time, but this would be were I took root and had the first thought “maybe I like psychology”.

Rose, Thorn, Rosebud

Rose: I loved my note taking process for this class. Although long and often painful on my back, I found it very therapeutic to read and organize my notes in the manner I did. I still have (and likely will for a long time) my notebook containing all the content from this class.

Thorn: It was so general, many of these theories and names I was familiar with from high school, pop culture references and just general knowledge. I didn’t feel like I was introduced to anything new or exciting.

Rosebud: Second semesters psychology class: it promised opportunity for some content a little deeper, and hopefully a little more engaging.