Interview Profile Mark Spencer Axia College BEH 225

This course, BEH225, has spent the past nine weeks introducing us to different human behaviors and specific types of mental disorders. When exploring theories and concepts associated with the psychology of the human mind, you quickly discover that genetics does play as big a role as does one's upbringing. I specifically enjoyed the section that explored different types of motivation an employee may or may not display. Another area that I found to be enlightening delved into the various psychological disorders that we may encounter during our life. I am going to apply what we have studied throughout this course to my interview with Dorothy. Certain aspects, methods, and attitudes are going to be explored, such as memory, learning, intelligence, personality, cognition, motivation, and testing of Dorothy and myself.

In order to retain information, some people prefer to read the data while other people prefer to listen as the data is read. "Once you know your own natural learning preference, you can work on expanding the way you learn, so that you can learn in other ways, not just in your preferred style. And, by understanding learning styles, you can learn to create an environment in which everyone can learn from you, not just those who use your preferred style." (www.mindtools.com) One of the first questions I asked Dorothy as we began our interview was how she remembered information. I offered two options; reading about a behavior or observing the behavior. She explained that she does like to read, but if she needs to recall the information, she prefers to observe the behavior. As I am a visual learner also, I too prefer to watch a behavior taking place. This helps me remember the information easier than I would be able to had I only read about it in a text book. In discussing this further, I discovered there was a difference in the way we learned. Yes, we both preferred to observe the behavior, but it goes further for me. I also need to be involved in the process if I really want to be able to repeat the action. Dorothy stated that she does not. She simply needs to watch and she can recall the information. We both like to work around the house, fixing things, or remodeling a room. Many times, we will get an idea to change something while watching one of the design programs on HGTV. This is a very good way to expose ourselves to new ideas, new designs, and processes that otherwise we would have never known about. Dorothy can watch one time how to fix a faucet and then repeat the process to perfection. I, on the other hand, can watch the same program and still not know how to do it until I actually try the process for myself. I may mess it up a time or two until I get it right, but I need to be involved in order to properly recall a process. Learning styles is a very important part of who we learn. But, as important as the learning styles are, where we study can be just as important. Some people prefer the quiet of a library, where there is only minimal amounts of distraction. If you were to ask them to study at home or in a coffee shop, they would be completely unable to focus and would then be unable to recall any of the data they were studying. I am one of those people who need quiet if I ever hope to retain information. We have three children at home who range in age from 9 to 12. They are in constant motion, and their mouths are always going. Unless I do something to block out the noise, the chaos, and the distractions, I might as well shut the books, turn off the computer and give up. I cannot process what I am reading with the noise. Dorothy is a totally different story when it comes to coping with the distractions. She seems to have no problem blocking out the extra noise of the two younger boys arguing and rough-housing 5 feet away from the computer she is using to study. I asked her how she is able to block out all the extra commotion that seems to distract me. Her response pointed to something I had never thought of before. She indicated that she is able to multi-task much more efficiently than I am. She seems to have no issue working on two or three things at the same time. Whereas I have a singular focus, she can focus on multiple items. This point opened my understanding as to why I need the quietness of a library or of my office after everyone has gone to bed. As a man, I have a singular focus. I can only concentrate on one major task at a time. Is it possible that men and women have different learning abilities based on physiological reasons? "A substantial body of research confirms higher verbal ability in normally achieving females and higher visual-spatial and mathematical abilities in normally achieving males. However, the specific nature of these differences varies by age, specific measure, magnitude, and variability within the groups."(Vogel, Susan, 1990) There are some differences in the way a man and a woman learn. But, much of the differences are not based on biological reasons, rather it is based on the individual personality traits of each individual. Personality reveals characteristic behaviors and a person's behavioral traits which can be measured through various personality tests. (Morris & Maisto, 2005) One of the more popular personality tests available at this time is called the Myers Briggs test. While the Myers Briggs test is widely accepted, there are still many people who feel it is not an accurate test. During our discussion, I asked Dorothy if she had ever taken the Myers Briggs test. She indicated that she had in fact taken the test and she scored as an ENTP. A person who scores as an ENTP is thought to be an Inventor, a non-conformist, and innovative. In addition, she is sensitive to possibilities and has an enthusiastic interest in many things. According to Dorothy, while she agrees with the various qualities the test assigned to her type of personality, she is rather skeptical of any personality tests. I asked her why she is skeptical and she indicated that it may not be an accurate indication of a person's true personality. She feels as though personalities change over time based on environmental changes, societal changes, family backgrounds and one's upbringing. I also have taken the Myers Briggs test in the past and scored much different than Dorothy did. My assigned type turned out to be an ESFJ. My personality type is characterized as a Seller and being sociable with all other types. My strongest preference is in sensing with the ability to promote harmony and to be an outstanding host. I feel as though this is an accurate portrayal of the type of person I really am. I seem to have no problem getting along with all types of people and have no problem with fostering relationships amongst different personality types. I found that Dorothy and I share the same beliefs as to what influences personalities. There is no test that is 100% accurate in determining specific personality's traits, but they help in getting an overall picture of what makes a person who he or she is. Dr O'Neil stated "an individual's personality is the complex of mental characteristics that makes them unique from other people." O’Neil believes that the potential factors involved in shaping personality include values, beliefs, and expectations that are genetic and environmental. (O’Neil, 2006) According to research, there is a theory that a person's race, gender, or ethnicity may play a role in determining the type of personality or behavioral patterns a person demonstrates. When I began this class, I was unsure how these different factors would play into the overall determination of one's personality. I have discovered that a person's attitude can play a large role in developing a personality trait. The course material defines attitude as our foundation of beliefs, our feelings, and our behavior toward a specific object. (Morris & Maisto, 2005) It goes on to describe two tendencies that play into the shaping of a behavior; high self-monitoring and low self-monitoring. Dorothy can be loud at times, and she is very extroverted. But, she always appears to be in complete control of her social behavior. This demonstrates a higher level of self-monitoring as she is able to adapt to her surroundings and conform her behavior to whatever the situation requires. However, I wanted to explore further her self-monitoring abilities, so I introduced sexual abuse into our discussion. As Dorothy is my wife, I knew this topic would elicit a strong reaction. While being careful of how far I pushed this discussion, I wanted a better understanding of how she maintains her composure in light of the fact that she was molested by a male friend of her parents. When I first introduced this topic, she had a very negative reaction. She indicated that she was uneasy discussing this topic. She appeared to be withdrawn and didn't wish to express her beliefs on what type of punishment should be handed down on a person found guilty of molesting a child. It took me several attempts before she agreed to discuss it further, albeit, with reservations. My first question centered on how she thought her attitude was influenced. Dorothy indicated her attitude was heavily influenced by her personal experience. Her surroundings and the environment she was brought up in lead her to be very trusting of those people who had some ties to her family. This person took advantage of her naive understanding and used it to harm her. She believed that since this person had gained the trust of her parents, she could trust him as well. Looking back on that time in her life, she stated that family had a lot to do in influencing her attitude and her personality. She said that she wishes she would have done what she felt was right, regardless of how it might have affected her parents. She didn't want to disappoint her parents, so she didn't say anything about what was happening to her for over a year. This experience has definitely influenced her attitude towards anyone who attempts to take advantage of a child. Now that she is a parent, she has found the strength to discuss this with our daughter in an effort to not only protect her, but to educate her to the realities of life. While it is important to trust people, never let that trust get in the way of her safety. I feel as though being able to discuss this situation with Dorothy has given me a better understanding of why she displays such an extroverted personality type now. As a child, she was quiet and reserved which she believes contributed to her being taken advantage of. She compensates now by being loud and opinionated, making sure that she will never again find herself in the position she did as a child. Asked if race and ethnicity have any factor on how attitudes are formulated, she indicated she does not believe they do. I consider myself to have a low self-monitoring capacity. I always seem to question my beliefs and my opinions. But, I seem to take it a step further, in that I also question the beliefs and opinions of everyone else. I tend to have trouble controlling my own behavior at certain times and in certain situations. If I find myself in a large crowd of people, I have difficulties transitioning from one group to the other. I tend to find a group that is comparable to my own personality type and have difficulty venturing on to another group. It makes for a hard time mingling with a crowd. One of the biggest differences between Dorothy's perception and mine, center around the role that race and ethnicity play in determining attitudes. I feel that these two items do in fact play a large role in determining how a person's attitudes and belief structure are formulated. While I strongly believe that these two factors help to build personality, I also believe that people can change. As people change, their attitudes and personality types can change as well. Simply being raised in an atmosphere of racial hatred does not mean that as a person is educated and exposed to all the positive cultural experiences of a different race or ethnicity that they will change their attitude. There has to be motivation in order to experience change. One of the questions I posed to Dorothy during our interview asked the question about the type of motivation she preferred. Two types of motivation we explored during this term involved intrinsic and extrinsic motivators. Intrinsic motivation is that motivation a person is born with. It is who they are and it is not influenced by external factors such as money or recognition. Extrinsic motivation is the opposite. It is influenced by external factors. This is the type of motivation that is prompted by rewards of some kind, such as completing a task only because you receive financial compensation. (Morris & Maisto, 2005) Intrinsic motivators cause people to do things for the simple pleasure of doing them, such as a hobby. Extrinsic motivators cause people to do things only because of the external reward. I am a person that is influenced by intrinsic motivation. I find great pleasure in knowing that I can perform a certain task. This knowledge gives me great pleasure and motivates me to continue. Dorothy is also the type of person that is intrinsically motivated. She went on to say that while she find great satisfaction in knowing she can perform a specific task, she also find that extrinsic motivation gives her the opportunity to make choices and it encourages her to strive for the best possible results. This interview attempted to explore the concepts learned throughout the past eight weeks. I was able to compare what I learned with the ideas that my wife holds on specific topics. As you have read, you have been able to see that we share some of the same ideas on certain concepts, while having opposite ideas on other concepts. I feel that this interview only strengthens what I have always believed about relationships. While a couple may have many of the same beliefs and thought processes, having differences on others it what makes for a strong and healthy relationship. When looking at high self-monitoring versus low self-monitoring, you can see how we are complete opposites. But, this works quite well for us as a couple. She is able to mingle and adapt to whatever the crowd may be and this helps me to be more comfortable moving from one group to the next. Where I am more grounded and like to stay in one place or with one group, it brings her energy level down to a place where she can interact on a deeper level with each group of people. We have discussed learning styles and learning techniques and this will help each of us to better understand what we need in order to be successful.

References
Mind Tools. (2011). Learning Styles. Retrieved from http://www.mindtools.com/mnemlsty.html
Morris, C.G., & Maisto, A.A. (2005). Psychology: An Introduction (12th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
O'neil, D. (2006,). Personality Development. Retrieved from http://anthro.palomar.edu/social/soc_3.htm

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