1.06 Project Milestone

Rationalization

Sense of belonging

Conscious decisions

Defense Mechanisms

Defense mechanisms are essentially the mental processes individuals undergo, mostly unconsciously, to avoid conflict or anxiety in the conscious world. I choose to focus on defense mechanisms because I believe they play a large part in the cause and release of stress in individuals. It's important to be able to recognize signs of stress, especially in a person who does not want to show their anxiety. If a certain mechanism, such as repression or rationalization, becomes chronic, more serious psychological problems can develop in the person. If I want to get in shape, it's important that I recognize rationalization. If I keep "skipping the gym" because I can go tomorrow, eventually the point will arrive where I do not go to the gym at all, thus never accomplishing my goal of getting/keeping in shape. Studying these mechanisms in depth reveals to me the magnitide of unconscious thoughts– particularily because I catch myself using these mechanisms now that I am aware of them. By noticing the signs or habits of stress, I and other individuals can better manage the source of the anxiety and lead a healthier life.

Heirarchy of Needs

The hierarchy of needs, developed by Abraham Maslow, show that one's actions are motivated by the desire to fulfill basic to complex needs. Some researchers extend this idea to explain the initiation of human curiosity. This concept applies to me because I remember the stress in my life when I tried to accomplish a higher need without a lesser need being met. When I was young, I felt afraid of others, so how could I possibly accomplish a sense of belonging with other children and adults? It goes without saying that once a person feels secure in their environment, they can begin to reach out for other needs. Once I learned and trusted that not everyone was a monster in disguise, I connected with others and really developed strong friendships that lasted until today. The heirarchy of needs can also be used to identify a problem in an individual's life: if a person is having trouble feeling loved by their self, they may first need to accomplish a sense of belonging with others, and so on.

Big Five

In psychology, the "Big Five" are five broad personality traits (sometimes referred to as "dimensions") used to describe human personality. The Big Five include openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. Most personality tests use the basis of the Big Five to determine a person's charisma. I am interested in the Big Five because, although basic, they represent five of the most apparent characteristics in personality. Psychological issues related to personality might be traced back to one of these traits so a patient can adjust appropriately to fix a problem. Although most teenagers fall in the category of daredevils, it's important that their risky behaviors don't carry too far off the charts. I suppose it comes with attainting the responsibility of taking care of myself, but when I was young, I could give skydivers a run for their daring reputation. I'm still a bit reckless when it comes to snowboarding (I readily risk wipe outs to experience the thrill and satisfaction of a trick), but I've learned to control impulsiveness by improving my conscientiousness over time. I plan better because I take time to think about the future. I think before I act– a rare trait among my peers– because I'm able to focus on the consequences and rewards of my behaviors. I keep my room and car neat so I can have friends over, and I follow routines to keep my work/school schedule on track. The Big Five are certainly broad, but I feel they offer a solid background for the basis of personality.