Chapter 6- Personology

So today I was in the lunch room during work, and flipped to CNN. They did some bits about Obama's choices on universal healthcare and other economic issues, then there was this short bit on Personology. I know they covered a little bit about if your eyes are set close together or further apart means your either uptight or more laid back. I thought it was much like a horoscope. What does the site say about your personality? Think its true? :)

Chapter 5: In Honor of the death of the Adam Carolla Show (RIP 2/19/09)

I am horribly saddened by the news that I received over my trusty radio airwaves yesterday as I woke up to start my day. Adam Carolla's radio show was in the process of its final broadcast and they were letting everyone pitch their resumes out while taking calls of saddened callers. One might think it's a little funny for someone to be so bummed about a radio show disappearing, especially since it's not common to really even listen to the radio anymore, but, only like Carolla can, put it best when he said: "I love the relationships you establish in radio; tv does not have that. I love the fact that people know what my dog's name is, that Bald Brian is engaged and that T is pregnant. I like that part of radio, I like the connection part. I believe it's more powerful than anything else."

So it was like saying goodbye to a good friend who has stupid, funny, and insightful advice about our current culture, our behavior, and everything else.

I shared this depressing news with a pair of my fellow guy friends and ended up telling them about the Carolla wisdom that was shared with a female caller about why guys stare at women. She said "I went on a date with this guy, and everything went really well, we really hit it off. But one thing I noticed was that he couldn't stop staring at the hot bartender. Can you explain this?" Adam began "Men are visual. They can't help but admire things and have to stare straight at it. Women use more peripherals. Here's an example: When a guy admires a girl, its much like looking at a really nice car. Car shows are like guys grabbing their girlfriends and putting them on display for all the other guys to look at. So when you were sitting there, this guy has a georgous looking mustang sitting right in front of him, but he can't help admire the 1953 Pontiac [I completely made that up] over there there either. And guys don't know they do this. So if you call a guy on it, it can be embarrassing." After mentioning this, I proceeded to call my two guy friends on the girls they'd check out as we walked downtown. It was funny. So from now on if I say "You looked," now you know why.

On a positive note, Adam Carolla has been true to his word, and already had his Podcast site established and ready to go for Monday morning. The last few podcasts of the radio show are still on the show's site if you are curious. Here's to Carolla. And I'll close this entry like Adam did with Loveline and his radio show: To everyone- Mahalo. :)

Chapter 4: Social Phenomena

I stumbed across this topic at least two years ago while researching for my Analytical Writing paper, and was interested in the different ways we evaluate a situation as a group versus as an individual.

I read the most into is known as the Bystander Effect. Its also been known as Genovese Syndrome, named after a girl who was murdered in her neighborhood in front of her own apartment. Numerous witnesses heard her cries, but almost everyone assumed the other apartment residents were taking care of the situation, resulting in a lack of action, and her death. This was the first infamous example of the dispersement of responsibility in social groups, and the study of how we take less of it (responsibility) when part of one. This also led to some reading into mass hysteria and mob mentality.

Now you know what its called when you sometimes feel unable to act when somethings wrong. Aside from that fight or flight instinct, of course...

Chapter 3: A Thesis

A co-worker gave me a quick blurb about what her thesis would be if she had to write one for college, which was simply this: Girls are mean, and guys are stupid.

Girls don't have friends, girls have accomplices, aquaintances, and alliances. Their best friends are all three and even good friends can move to the bad list overnight. Also, some female insight: girls call dibs on boys. This dibsing was apparently news to our fellow male co-worker, which is how I became involved in her thesis in the first place. She was trying to explain how a girl can be with her friends somewhere, and if they go "Oh, hes cute," he's been called. Even if they don't know him, even if she has a boyfriend, its the way of the female mind and feminine nature. All her friends, back off, even if he's just something admired in passing, with no intent to actually be sought out or even talked to.

Boys just have one track minds, and if a girl pursuing him looks alright, the boy is ok with it and goes along for the ride. I also asked two guy friends for their opinions on this thesis and they claimed that boys also call, although they can also call FOR another guy, such as an unattractive girl. I actually admire guys' ability to set focus on one task and complete it whereas girls are all over the place, thus much more able to multitask. This is also speaking more in general, but it is very interesting to see the glaring contrast between girls and guys, and where behavior falls short in helping one understand the other.

I think my co-worker was pretty right on.

Chapter 2: Nature Vs. Nurture

According to Dr. Drew, and I'm sure the rest of the behavioral sciences, girls and guys grow up seeking out the environments they grew up around. If you grew up in a home of abuse and neglect, that behavior can be sought out in your relationships, like looking for someone who will abuse and neglect you. If you come from an environment that is strictly religious, most likely you will seek out someone more conservative, someone familiar. It's about the way you are wired, and what you are familiar with. Its interesting to watch the way other people act in social situations, that can give you a pretty good guess of how they grew up. Of course, there are always the exceptions to the rule and I believe that nature and nurture characteristics both play an equal part in our behavior, but I can't help but see it more and more often.

Chapter 1: Introduction

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