Intelligence Part II

Nash Equilibrium: As long as both opponents’ opinions stay the same, neither of them can gain anything on the other. However, if one changes and the other stays the same, one of them may gain points on the opponent.
Game Theory: You must analyze your opponent’s strategy. You have to look ahead in order to try and gain an advantage on your opponent.
Prisoner Dilemma: It is a game in which each person’s score depends on the other person’s decision. If you challenge and he cooperates, you gain big, and vice versa. If you both cooperate, you both gain a substantial amount of points.

History – In many wars when General’s try to predict the other side’s strategy to gain the upper hand
In government – in elections when one candidate tries to gain an advantage by putting negative ads out there about them, and also to try and say things that will help you before your opponent says it first.
In economics – companies can lower prices in order to gain business from other companies
Sociology – Different groups of people try to work together to help out both sides, or sometimes to go against a different group
Psychology – Trying to read other’s minds, and think about what they will do next
Every-day life – any time you are in an argument or playing a game, you try to predict what the other person will do or say, and you try to counter it before he/she even decides to do it.

Election Reflection Blog

Overall, this election has taught me quite a few things. However, surprisingly not a lot of those things are about politics. I didn’t learn much about each candidate’s policies, or their thoughts or views. I did learn some things about each one during the debates. For instance, I learned that Donald Trump is strongly against Obamacare, and he plans to get rid of it. I have also learned that Hilary Clinton has leaned towards more restrictions for businesses and corporations. She also is pro-choice, while Trump is pro-life.  There are a lot of issues facing this country, and I think it will be interesting to see how Trump handles these issues.

Even though I have learned some of these things, I have also learned that they seem to care more about each other’s weaknesses than their own strengths. The election has been said to have been one of the “worst elections ever”. Whether or not they are right, I think that all that America should focus on now is coming together and trying to stay united. We can’t change the outcome now, so all we can do is be supportive and hope for the best.

1.       Donald Trump will enforce more restrictions on abortions, and try to take them away overall

2.       He will try to get rid of Obamacare and implement a new plan for health care

3.       He will try to put Hilary in jail

4.       He will try to make sure that everyone who comes into this country does it legally

5.       He will make border control more strict

6.       I personally think that him being a successful businessman will help our stock markets, as he is pretty experienced in that regard

7.       I think as though he will try to make good relations with the big “powerhouse” countries (China, Russia, etc.)

8.       I think he will work to get rid of NAFTA, as he has called it the “worst deal America has ever made”

9.       He will lower the amount of restrictions for businesses, and allow them to make their own decisions

10.   He will make America great again! 

About Me - Part 1

I am Zac, a small town kid from Langford, South Dakota. I am 17 years old, and I’m a senior in high school. Langford is where I have lived since I was 2, and I like it a lot here. I like to play sports, such as basketball, football, track, and baseball occasionally, with football being my favorite. In my free time I do a lot of hunting, fishing, and hanging out with my friends. I’m usually on time, but I am also usually cutting it pretty close. I pride myself by working hard at everything I do, because I don’t think something is worth doing if you’re only going to give half effort on it. Most of all, I just try to do the best I can, no matter what it is I am doing.

Memory

The article that I read talked about how people’s memories are formed, and also what happens to all of people’s memories when they die (to put it simply, they just vanish to nothing).

Memories are stored in your brain from connections, also called synapses, between neurons. A memory is created when the brain links multiple synapses into a certain sequence. As you repeat the “sequence” that you learned it in, it becomes clearer in your mind, so you will remember it even easier the next time. The only way that these synapses are able to work is through a neurotransmitter. The neurotransmitters need energy to work and produce memories.

 However, when we die, there is no air and breathing, which means no energy flow goes through, which leads to no neurotransmitters. If there are no neurotransmitters, then all of your memories are essentially gone. They are still there in the “track” or “sequence”, but there isn’t any way to activate the track. There is no possible way of anyone recovering them after that point. It is almost as if they have disappeared, and it is like they were never there.

This article really intrigued me because I had never really put much thought to what happens to our memories when we die. It was interesting to read about how the memories are stored in the brain, and what death does to all of the countless memories we have stored. It is really strange, and weird to think that years and years of memories can basically vanish in just seconds.

https://www.quora.com/What-happens-to-our-memory-after-we-die

Donald Trump - Narcissist or Sociopath?

Narcissism           - excessive or erotic interest in oneself and one's physical appearance.

2.            - Extreme selfishness, with a grandiose view of one's own talents and a craving for admiration, as characterizing a personality type.

I think that the term narcissism describes Donald Trump better than any other word does. Narcissism is when one person is extremely selfish, self-centered, and full of themselves. Donald Trump is definitely self-centered, and seems to think quite highly of himself. He gloats often, brags about how much money he makes, and lets other people know that he thinks very highly of himself.

For example, on Donald Trump’s website (trump.com), the biography portion opens up with the statement that “Donald J. Trump is the very definition of the American success story”. Now, although some people may believe this, it cannot be proven, and many people would even choose to disagree. He has filed bankruptcy on 4 businesses that he owns, which I wouldn’t consider a “success”. He doesn’t have anything to back up this statement; it is simply just Trump bragging about himself.

An article on psychcentral.com states the following about a narcissist: “People with this disorder often believe they are of primary importance in everybody’s life or to anyone they meet.” I think that Trump does have that feeling about himself. He seems to feel as though he is more special or unique than other people that he meets. Some of the other characteristics of narcissism that this website shares are: lack of empathy, requires excessive admiration, and exaggerates achievements and talents, and many, many more.  In my opinion, Trump’s personality fits into all of these characteristics. Another article that I read on mayoclinic.org stated that “Narcissistic personality disorder is a mental disorder in which people have an inflated sense of their own importance”.  This also describes him very well. He seems to think that he is so great, and he doesn’t seem to think he does any wrong.

These reasons are why I feel as though the term narcissist describes Donald Trump best. The term sociopath is very similar, and could also likely be used to describe him. However, I think narcissist is better.

http://psychcentral.com/disorders/narcissistic-personality-disorder-symptoms/

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/narcissistic-personality-disorder/basics/definition/con-20025568

http://www.trump.com/biography/

Flag Desecration

The 28^th Constitutional Amendment of the United States: Flag desecration

The act of stomping on, burning, or destroying the American flag is illegal. From this point on, no person shall be able to disrespect or purposeful harm to the flag. It shows nothing but disrespect to our nation, and it will not be tolerated any longer. It is unconstitutional to do that to this country. Desecration of the American flag is no longer be legal.

I think this amendment would be necessary because I don’t think it is right for people to be able to disrespect our country like that. If you are living here, you need to be respectful of this country and what we provide. If you don’t like America and how we do things, then leave. You don’t get to live here and receive all of the perks that America gives, and still talk and act bad about the country. 

Amendment Blog

1^st Amendment – freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition

The First Amendment states out five basic rights and freedoms. These include the freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of assembly, and freedom of petition. This amendment protects some of the most basic freedoms we possess as citizens of the United States.

This amendment was created in order to state some of the basic, yet most important rights and freedoms that we have.  Today, it gives us the opportunities to express our minds, thoughts, and feelings on any possible subject. Anyone can believe whatever they want, think whatever they want, and say whatever they want. These aren’t all guaranteed in their entirety however. They each can only be exercised with respect to the rights of everyone else.

One current issue where this is being put to use is with the Colin Kaepernick situation. He is choosing to sit during the national anthem every time it is played to bring attention to oppression in this country. According to his first amendment rights, he has the freedom to do this. He has the freedom to speak his mind and to make his own decisions.

2^nd Amendment – right to bear arms

The second amendment says that each state has the right to maintain an armed force for its own protection. It also gives individuals the right to own guns for home protection, hunting, just to own them for fun. Mainly, it just states that Americans have the right to bear arms.

This amendment was created by the government in order to ensure the self-protection of the people of the states, and to keep them safe at all times. Today, the National Guard is the militia that each state provides to the people. Even though this right is ours as citizens, the government and the states regulate the use of firearms, as well as our private possession of them.

One example where this amendment comes into play is that many politicians think that gun control needs to be much stricter and that we have too much power with firearms. However, many citizens don’t agree with this, because our second amendment rights say that we, as citizens, have the right to bear arms for the reasons that we choose.

Conditioning Blog

Unconditioned Stimulus: Women (or possibly vacation)

Conditioned Stimulus: Old Spice products (shampoo and deodorant)

Unconditioned Response: happiness or enjoyment from the women

Conditioned Response: Associating the happiness from the women to using Old Spice products. It is saying that the women will be all over you if you use their product

Psychology Learning Blog 2

Life is about learning, and about teaching. You get places in life by exploring, learning, and teaching others how to complete tasks in life.

The instance that I am going to write about is when I taught Jesse and Kassen how to play video games on our PlayStation 4. They had seen my friends and me playing on it before, and having a lot of fun, so they asked if they could learn how to play too. So, in order for them to learn, we had to go through the basics first. First we taught them how to turn on the controller and the PlayStation, and then taught them what different buttons were which on the controller. Then we had to show them what each individual button did, and how to control the players they were using during the game. It was a long, and sometimes frustrating process, but in the end it all worked out well.

Scientific Analysis Assignment

Alzheimer’s

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/08/160831133555.htm

1-      In one sentence, what was the research about?

The research was about a new antibody that has been shown to reduce the effects of Alzheimer’s in the early stages.

2-      How many subjects were used in the experiment?

165 patients

3-      Was there a control group?

Yes

4-      How were the subjects chosen?

People that are in the early stages of Alzheimer’s

5-      What did the experimenters do to the subjects?

They gave them doses of Aducanumab, which is a new antibody, and it slows down the effects of Alzheimer’s. It  has been proven to trigger a meaningful reduction of harmful beta-amyloid plaques, which are protein deposits in the brain, and they are a sign of Alzheimer’s.

6-      How did the subjects react?

Their symptoms didn’t progress near as fast as the symptoms of those who weren’t given Aducanumab

7-      Did the subjects act the way the experimenters expected?

Yes

Depression

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/08/160816140655.htm

1-In one sentence, what was the research about?
The research was about linking depression in boys aged 10-12 to Bisphenal A, which is a chemical commonly found in plastics.
2- How many subjects were used in the experiment?
241
3- Was there a control group?
No
4- How were the subjects chosen?
They chose non-smoking pregnant women
5- What did the experimenters do to the subjects?
They collected urine samples to the mothers and children to test the BPA levels in their systems, and then had them do an interview with a trained researcher about the symptoms of depression and anxiety
6- How did the subjects react?
They found that boys with more prenatal exposure to BPA had a higher chance for depression and anxiety than those who didn’t
 7- Did the subjects act the way the experimenters expected?

Yes

Migraines

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/06/160610140645.htm

1- In one sentence, what was the research about?
The research was about how a lack of vitamin D tends to cause migraines.
2- How many subjects were used in the experiment?
Doesn’t specify
3- Was there a control group?
No
4- How were the subjects chosen?
They chose people who were patients at the Cincinnati Children's Headache Center.
5- What did the experimenters do to the subjects?
They ran tests to see what the subjects had in common with what they were taking in, and what they were lacking.
6- How did the subjects react?
They weren’t given any substances to make them react differently
7- Did the subjects act the way the experimenters expected

Not available

Schizophrenia

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/08/160812073654.htm

1- In one sentence, what was the research about?
The research was about how aerobic exercise can significantly help people who have schizophrenia.
2- How many subjects were used in the experiment?
385 patients
3- Was there a control group?
Yes
4- How were the subjects chosen?
They chose random patients with schizophrenia
5- What did the experimenters do to the subjects?
He tested the effects of exercise with the severity of the symptoms of schizophrenia.
6- How did the subjects react?
Their symptoms lessened within 12 weeks of exercise.
7- Did the subjects act the way the experimenters expected?

Yes the did

Colin Kaepernick

Colin Kaepernick sat during the national anthem last weekend. It has been a hot topic lately. His action can be taken many different ways, and it has caused quite an outrage in the United States. Personally, I do not support his decision, and I definitely do not like the way he went about his actions.

Kaepernick’s reasoning for sitting is to “stand up for the black people and minorities who are oppressed”. He “isn’t going to stand up for a country and a flag that supports oppression and racism”. Some say that he is trying to be a voice for the voiceless. I don’t completely disagree with his motivation. I do think that are still some racial issues in the US that do need to be solved. However, deciding to disrespect this country and its flag is absurd. That action is disrespectful to everyone. It is disrespectful to all of the soldiers that fight for our country, and it is disrespectful to the people who take pride in our country. Although Kaepernick says he didn’t mean to disrespect the troops by his action, I don’t think it is okay.

Technically it is not against any rules or against any laws for him to sit during the national anthem. His first amendment rights mean that he can speak up if he wants to, and he can speak his mind and protest. If he wants to bring attention to the problems dealing with racism, I am not against that. But I am against him disrespecting this entire country and everyone in it. There are soldiers that are missing both legs, yet still stand in their wheelchair. Meanwhile, he is taking what he has for granted and he is giving nothing back to the country that has given him so much to be thankful for.  I think he should be more thoughtful and respectful to the country and everything that it stands for.

Psychology Blog #1

My favorite word is football

My least favorite word is homework

One thing I like about my life is my family/friends

One thing that I don’t like about my life is that it is going by so fast

One profession that I would like to attempt is an analyst for ESPN

One profession that I would not like to attempt is a sanitation worker

3 words that describe me are: talkative, fun, forgetful

I am taking this class because it is required. However, I am eager to see what this class will teach me. I think that I am going to learn a lot during this psychology class, and I am very excited and intrigued to see what it will bring. Starting the year, I don’t know or understand much about psychology, or about the brain and how it works. I have heard that this class is a lot of fun, and I’m really looking forward to it for that reason. I hope to learn a lot more about how the human brain is constructed, and I hope to learn more about how it works, and why it does what it does.  The brain is a very complicated and complex structure, and I there is so much about it that I will probably never even know. But I am still excited to soak up as much information about it as I can. Also, I am excited for the sociology that will be mixed in with it. It will be fun to learn about different groups of people and types of people. With having Mr. Reints as my teacher, I think I will both learn a lot, and have a lot of fun. I’m ready to learn and see what this class will bring to me.