Social Psychology Magazine

“P” is for psych the social psych issue

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about the authors

psycopathy

ask jodie

HSM reviews

quirky quiz

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DEDICATION To Ms. Barca and the rest of period 3 AP Psychology: Thank you for creating such a fun and relaxed environment in which to learn psychology. We will dearly miss Todd Talk Tuesdays and Snack or Snack Fridays and all of the wonderful moments we shared together.

TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents..............................................................................................................2 About the Authors............................................................................................................3 How to Spot a Psychopath...............................................................................................4 The Neuroscience of Social Psych...................................................................................6 Discrimination..................................................................................................................8 Ain’t Nobody Messin’ with my Clique..........................................................................12 Ask Jodie...........................................................................................................................14 High School Musical Review...........................................................................................16 High School Musical 2 Review........................................................................................17 High School Musical 3 Review........................................................................................19 The Breakfast Club Review..............................................................................................20 Games&Comics...............................................................................................................22 Which Social Psychologist Is your Soulmate?.............................................................24 Matching Game...............................................................................................................25 Are You a Conformer?....................................................................................................26 Works Cited.....................................................................................................................27

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ABOUT THE AUTHORS

SHANA OSHINSKIE

LIA PEREZ-CURRAN

Shana Oshinskie is a junior at Highland Park High School. When she is not composing fascinating articles or hilarious ads for this magazine, you will likely find her napping, thinking about The Highland Fling, or eating ice cream. Besides these three pastimes (which are among her favorites), she enjoys watching television shows such as Scrubs and Devious Maids, dancing around her room to her most favorite songs, and hanging with her gurlz.

Lia Perez-Curran is a junior at Highland Park High School. Along with writing for P is For Psych, you can find her spending the day with her family or friends and always listening to music. Other school activities she is involved with are Accapellics Anonymous and the choir. She loves writing for this magazine so she hopes you’ve enjoyed it as well! :)

“I stand before you the luckiest man on the face of the earth.”

- Lou Gehrig When people who have very little to be thankful for find ways to do so, it never fails to be inspiring.

CAMRYN KOZACHEK Camryn Kozachek is a junior at Highland Park High School. After creating amazing content for this esteemed publication, she attempts to wind down by eating, reading, and keeping her cats out of her room. Camryn also enjoys watching various TV shows while painting. In school, you’ll probably find her in her classes, but during lunch and after school, Camryn participates in Global Awareness Group, Model UN/Congress, runs cross country (blue division champs 2014!) and writes for The Highland Fling.

“Are you crazy?”

“Nope, just a pirate.”

-Scrubs This quote is inspirational because it perfectly summarizes Camryn’s personality and the way she sees life.

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”

-Eleanor Roosevelt Knowing that only you can make yourself feel bad or good is very reassuring. Having self-confidence will block out any hatred from others.

jaMIIE aTschinow Jamie Atschinow is a junior at Highland Park High School. Aside from writing for this prestigious psychology magazine, she enjoys a wide array of activities! She participates in various school music groups, including choir and a cappella. She plays a few instruments as well, including the piano and the ukulele. Some HPHS extracurriculars she participates in include Model UN/Congress, DECA, and the girls tennis team. Jamie spends her free time listening to music and indulging her addictions to television and social media.

“With realization of one’s own potential and self-confidence in one’s ability, one can build a better world.”

- His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama This quote incites a sense of motivation to make change, and can inspire you to believe in yourself and your abilities to do great things.

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How to spot a psychopath Camryn Kozachek “

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hat’s one less person on the face of the list is still in use today. With the aid of this list and earth, anyway?” (Ted Bundy Biography). additional information, we can take a peek into how This unsettling Ted Bundy quote rep- professionals identify psychopaths (Hare Psychoparesents an extreme instance of psychopathy; howev- thy Checklist). er, Ted Bundy is not the archetype of a psychopath.

People throw around the word “psychopath” like it’s If you come into contact with someone who you just another adjective, like tall or angry; it has been suspect could be a psychopath, or if you’re curious integrated into our vernacular, used to describe any- about your friend’s sketchy new boyfriend,here are one who does something we perceive to be out of some tips for coming to a conclusion. the ordinary. However, true psychopaths make Right off the bat, the up less than 1% of the chance of the person population.

Although you are evaluating being often confused, psychopa psychopath increases athy and sociopathy are significantly if they are two distinct offshoots of a man. Additionally, anAntisocial Personality tisocial personality disDisorder (ASPD). (Henorder usually manifests drikson) The distinction itself by age 15, although lies in behavioral differa diagnosis cannot be ences, and an individugiven until the subject is TED BUNDY al’s capacity for empathy. Psychologists believe that 18. You are more likely to identify an adult as a psypsychopathy results from genetics, while sociopathy chopath than a child. Speech patterns can also be is caused by environmental factors. Sociopaths act a tell of psychopaths. Research has shown that psyrashly, and are less dissociated from their emotions chopaths use more dysfluencies like “um” or “uh” than psychopaths (Hendrikson). while they talk. (Identifying a Psychopath)

Though we often associate psychopaths with serial killers, most function as working parts of society.

CEOs have the highest occurrence of psychopathic traits of any profession, shortly followed by lawyers.

Psychopathy is also a more common trait in surgeons, military personnel, and salespeople (Barker).

Needless to say, identifying psychopaths can be difficult. There is no definitive formula, no foolproof method for weaseling out psychopaths from the general population. However, one of the foremost experts on psychopathy, Professor Robert Hare, developed a criteria for diagnosing psychopathy, the PCL-R (Psychopathy checklist revised). The check-

Besides said signs, there are several traits common to psychopaths from the Hare checklist that can be used in everyday life to identify them.

One often telling sign of psychopathy is a lack of emotions, such as remorse, guilt, or empathy. Psychopaths are unable to feel emotion on the same level as those without the condition, and their emotions will often be shallow and short lived. If you meet someone who doesn;t seem to display emotion, displays emotion for only a short time, or expresses emotions that seem fake or manufactured to you, keep your eye out for some other signs; they just might be a psychopath (Hare Psychopathy).

five Psychopaths will also often focus more on physical needs than spiritual or emotional needs. In a study done on psychopaths in prisons, researchers found that psychopaths will talk more about their biological needs like food, water, and sleep, while prisoners without psychopathic tendencies will show remorse for their actions, and talk about their families, their emotions, and their religion. Although this may not seem applicable to everyday situations, you can use what a person chooses to speak about as a gauge.

(Identifying a Psychopath) If you can find out about their background, it can be a key step in identifying a psychopath. Many psychopaths display telling signs in childhood, and have a history of childhood crime or behavioral issues. For example, Jeffrey Dahmer, a cannibalistic serial killer, began to display a taste for necrophilia and murder beginning at the tender age of 14. Cases of psychopaths torturing animals as children, or living lives of petty crime, have also been reported. A person who has been in a series of short term marriages also may be a psychopath. Despite being unable to feel strongly emotions like love, psychopaths often engage in relationships. (Hare Psychopathy Checklist).

Psychopaths are also pathological liars, so be careful, as they are often extremely manipulative. “Glib and superficial charm” is the first item on the Hare PCL-R, and psychopaths ooze it. They project a sense of confidence and superiority. Because a person won’t come out and tell you that they feel superior to you, and it’s not always easy to identify, look for tells in mannerisms and facial expression. For example, they may roll their eyes when they think you’re not looking. (Hare Psychopathy Checklist).

A higher stimulation threshold also characterizes psychopaths. A constant need for stimulation may be what drives some psychopaths to commit violent crimes and torture. In context of identifying psychopathy in acquaintances, look for someone who pursues high thrill activities. (Hare Psychopathy Checklist).

Armed with this knowledge, you have a decent shot at spotting a psychopath. However, remember that even experts can be deceived. It is also important to note that everyone is unique, and not all psychopaths will tick every box. (Hare Psychopathy Checklist).

Shana Oshinskie

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The Neuroscience of SOCIAL PSYCH Shana Oshinskie

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hile scientists plumb the depths of the deepest oceans and the altitudes of the furthest stars in order to pioneer new scientific discoveries, there is one universal structure readily accessible yet still largely a mystery.

tion is then recorded and analyzed for patterns. Two prominent studies are frequently cited on this topic, which is interesting because they disagree. The first found that both racial groups (Caucasians and African-Americans) experienced heightened stimulation when looking at individuals of the opposite race The brain sits inside your head, quietly allowing not while the other found that both races reacted more to only basic functions like heartbeat, breathing, and the photos of African-Americans (Azar). even conscious movement, but more complex responses like Obviously, there is no conclusive hindsight bias, racial prejudice, result yet as to the general pattern and the creation of gender roles. of amydalic stimulation, but even when one is discovered, scientists Now, many psychologists have don’t believe it is the only factor in been slowly moving away from determining stereotyping. This is growing the base of existing conyet another pattern in the emergcepts while moving towards uning field of biosocial psychology: derstanding the biological bases though many discoveries have that allow these responses. At been made, it is unlikely that they the epicenter of this research is fully explain the underlying phethe brain, which despite its overnomenon or rule out other potenwhelming mysteriousness, has tial factors (Azar). slowly revealed a couple of the links between biological processes and social phenomena.

Stereotypes, however, are not the only biological-social connection that has been examined. Self-control, One such breakthrough occurred while studying ra- too, has experienced considerable attention from a cial stereotypes. After extensive research of the amyg- group of psychologists led by Todd Heartheron, a dala, scientists discovered its tendency to light up psychologist from Dartmouth University (Azar). vividly the first few times it recognizes a new object or face and then its diminishing response after famil- In order to get to the root of the issue, Heartheron’s iarity sets in (Azar). team had to discover a few more pieces of information, namely, they wanted to see which area of the Upon learning these results, many scientists have cre- brain is stimulated when one tries to clear their mind. ated experiments geared towards seeing how these They soon discovered it was a region called “insula.� patterns can be translated to race relations and racial Located near the limbic system, the “prune-sized� stereotyping. Though these experiments have been insula has profound effects on addiction that can be carried out in many ways and with differing results, studied once damage has been done (Azar). the general pattern is as follows (Azar).

Heatherton’s studies have indicated that the sudden Both Caucasians and African-Americans are placed sprinkle of panic one receives when remembering in an fMRI (not all at once, of course đ&#x;˜ƒ) and are then something you forgot to do, or getting caught in an flashed images of people on all ends of the skin col- illicit action (he refers to it as a “sinking feelingâ€?) is or spectrum. The level of their amygdalic stimula- found more often in people with damaged insulas;

this has allowed him to conclude that the insula helps like lust to one’s taste in chocolate, the insula has the express certain types of emotional stimulation (Azar). potential to change a lot the entire landscape of biosocial psychology research (Blakeslee).

Yet other studies have found even more exciting results about other types of damage to the insula. It seems to Many scientists look outwards and upwards and play a very important role in addiction--some with deep-deep-downwards to find undiscovered and damaged insulas have found that they have been able mysterious frontiers. Inside the heads of all lies a to literally break cigarette addictions overnight. The structure so complex and so crucial to our well-being insula is stimulated when one is “jones-ing” for an- that the discovery of a certain region, the insula, can other hit, and in a Pavlovian twist, it seems to become potentially help solve addiction. The connections bestimulated when one is confronted with sensory ex- tween others can help us get to the bottom of racial periences usually paired with inebriation. (If some- injustice. Everything psychological is biological. The one usually does cocaine in a certain corner of his or connections between the brain and social psychology her basement, for example, returning to that corner prove this beyond a doubt. will prompt insular activation.) (Blakeslee).

Further research into this mysterious region has prompted many to believe that it is part of what makes us “feel” human--fully developed insulas are rarely to never found in even “upper level” animals, excepting (to some degree) the chimpanzee (Blakeslee).

Perhaps this is due in part to the wide range of interesting and often oddly specific functions of the insula. Controlling everything from addiction to feelings

Shana Oshinskie

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EIGHT

DISCRIMINATION Jamie Atschinow

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iversity; I think it is fair to say that when we think of our world and its seemingly infinite history, this word automatically comes to mind. This earth is teeming with diversity, not only in terms of its human inhabitants, but also its animals, plants, bacteria, terrains, elements, and endless other ingredients. The various cultures of man, which collectively can effectively represent human diversity, are utterly incredible. They have been developing over the course of thousands and thousands of years, respectively shaping themselves according to their geography, and formulating their own beliefs, values, and customs.

American history is filled with records of racial discrimination, a lot of which are taught about in school.

Many of the first settlers came to America for religious freedom, and right from the beginning the various European immigrant groups endured high tension. From slavery to Native American relocation, our nation’s roots seem heavily intertwined with racism.

Black Codes, Jim Crow laws, the KKK, and countless other actors all make up the history of racism in the US. In the 1880s the federal government enacted the Chinese Exclusion Act, and in the ‘40s, people of Japanese descent were put into internment camps.

However, the subsequent uniqueness of each culture is Perhaps the most what drives their diidentifiable event is vergence from each segregation; schools, other, and when restaurants, and all they are brought tosorts of public placgether in a setting es used to legally BABIES > RACISM like the US, every discrepancy is highlightseparate and discriminate against black ed. This in turn gives way to racial discrimination and people. Most prominently during the ‘50s and ‘60s, it promotes ethnocentrism, so from the beautiful con- prompted the Civil Rights Movement, which resulted cept of diversity develops the creation of an often ugly in monumental changes such as the Civil Rights Act ingroup-outgroup contrast. and the popularization of peaceful protest. Groups like the Black Panther and key players like Martin LuWhile the most extreme and outright forms of racism ther King Jr. emerged, as well. are deliberate, this is not always the case. Even those who attempt to overcome racial biases are biological- Despite some major wins in the fight towards equalily conditioned during development to prefer their in- ty, looking around today we can still see strong traces group. of racism, for although we can name many of these instrumental turning points and probably even make Recent research shows evidence of particular brain a list, the amount of “losses” far outweighs the wins. pathways that activate when a person encounters someone of another race, despite conscious attempts Within just the last 15 years, a standout example of to view everyone as equals (Costandi). From this, we can see that racism is a practice that is not easily eradicated.

NINE discrimination in the US sprung from the tragedy of win the spelling bee” and “Why are the people in the 9/11. The horrid NYC terrorist attack influenced the spelling bee foreign?” (Jerreat). minds of Americans, spreading the generalization that all followers of Islam are terrorists.

Even more recently, a hot topic swirling around the news is police brutality. Numerous accounts of white For a long time and even still, many Muslims were cops killing black civilians are making headlines, falsely associated with terrorism, an attitude carried from Michael Brown to Walter Scott, who appeared over not only into social in a viral video getting shot settings, but also into the 8 times in the back. workplace where Muslim employees have reportPeople have responded ed being restricted from strongly to these incidences wearing headscarves and with protests, marches, sopraying (Greenhouse). cial media campaigns, and And this issue ties directunfortunately, violence. At ly into the emergence of the end of this past April, racial profiling, in which riots in Baltimore led to a authorities - say, airport city-wide curfew. security or even the police - can pull aside someone In my opinion, however, solely based on his or her the condition of racism in appearance (Siggins). the US has definitely imRACISM IN THE THIRTIES proved from its start. Heck, Just last year, an Indian-American woman claimed it’s even improved within the past half-century. the title of Miss America for the My parents often tell me about first time, sparking racist comhow when they were kids, being mentary on Twitter. People were Asian-Americans who both grew upset that Nina Davuluri is “a up in cities, they encountered a foreigner” (Broderick), but failed lot of racial prejudice, particularto realize that she was born in ly in the form of racial slurs.

New York, raised in Syracuse, Although I have seen versions of and went to college at the Uniracism first-hand, experienced versity of Michigan (“2014”). by others and on occasion mySome ignorantly called her an self, my parents can vouch for Arab, and even went so far as to the fact that the its prevalence tocall her “Miss Terrorist”. Not only day is much less than it was years that, but her runner-up, Crystal ago.

Lee, is an Asian-American woman, leading to tweets such as And now, what used to be con“Miss America is brought to you sidered racially isolated fields are by their sponsors PF Changs and looking to expand their diversity.

7-11” (Broderick).

Primetime television, just within NSB FINALIST the past 3 years, has been observA similar issue arose after the 2014 National Spell- ably more diverse, running TV shows like The Mining Bee, whose joint finalists, Sriram Hathwar and dy Project, Blackish, Fresh Off the Boat, Cristela, Ansun Sujoe, were both Indian-Americans. The and Jane the Virgin. This pattern can also be seen past eight winners at that point had all been Indi- through the aforementioned Miss America pageant. an-American, as well. In light of the contest, Twitter again acted as a platform for racist backlash, with Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math tweets like “One year I wish an American kid could (STEM) (STEM) fields are attempting to broaden

Ten the inclusion of women and underrepresented minorities in STEM fields was introduced in Washington (“Rep. Davis”).

Interestingly enough, a new study has surfaced within the last week entailing the possibility of actually removing such conditioned biases. As established, racism can be an unintentional, unconscious pracBut this is not to say that we have now destined our- tice merely developed by memories and available selves for a path towards an indiscriminatory society. associations. Researchers at Northwestern University found that showing people unlikely associations While there is less deliberate racism, underlying during the day and reinforcing them in their sleep racism is still a huge, underrecognized problem. In resulted in less racial and sexual bias, with effects a video about the topic, an African-American col- that could last for up to a week (Gallagher). lege student named Chloe Valdary said: “Discrimination still exists. Let’s deal So while society has made with it openly and honestly. great strides towards an Unfortunately, that’s very equality-filled future, hard to do. One reason, I’ve countless racist attitudes, discovered, is that many whether intentional or not, people feel that they have to still linger. treat blacks with kid gloves.

They think this is noble…

People do not realize that enlightened… progressive. their racist practices can do It’s not. It’s demeaning and real bodily and emotional condescending. In fact, it’s harm to their victims (Silracist.” It’s great that peoverstein). People do not ple want to strive for racial realize that their loose and equality, but as Valdary said, “harmless” implementagoing about it by giving mitions of racist jokes in their norities special treatment everyday lives are what percan be considered a form of petuate stereotypes. People prejudice (PragerUniversido not realize that their ty). arguments for using these jokes are unsubstantiated; But going back to the bio“it’s just a joke” does not logical functioning behind suffice. racism and the fact that there exist specific brain The use of racist jokes on pathways involved in it TV or in movies makes au(Costandi), I’d like to reitdiences think it’s okay to erate that this kind of often use them in their daily lives. undetected discrimination The script of Pitch Perfect 2, is not easily gotten rid of. for example, consists of nuCHLOE VALDARY merous racist jokes that, while intended for comedy, I think that this is because even though we may try are simply offensive and uncomfortable. There exists our best to remain impartial, just making that con- a lack of initiative to eradicate racism from popular scious effort requires us to think about the discrep- culture, and that needs to change. ancies between ourselves and those around us; upon seeing someone of a different race, we may recognize that fact first in order to try and treat them with equality.

Eleven

Camryn Kozachek

TWelve

Ain’t Nobody Fresher Than My Clique!

Lia Perez-Curran

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re you in the “in-group” or the “out-group”?

It’s a common experience among adolescents to create tight friendships with others who share the same interests as them. Sometimes these close friendships are characterized as cliques in which each member in a social group is either directly or indirectly connected with one another.

of normative development. There can be a bad side to being in a clique, though.

Cons of cliques:

- May cost members some of their individuality - May become aggressive toward group members - May be exclusive and alienate others You may have heard the - May be critical of othword clique before and ers and act superior you may recognize it as a - May cause members to negative thing, but in refeel a need to conform ality, they’re not always

bad. You do not want to In middle and high confuse the word clique school, kids feel a preswith a crowd. Crowds sure to fit in, which can are based more on repbe difficult for some and utation and the people easy for others. Being in involved in a crowd are a clique can really have not always friends. The an impact on one’s self crowds that an adolesworth. There have been cent is part of strongly studies showing that a influences who that perway a teen acts and beson will meet and spend time with. Usually members haves can be better predicted by the way the clique in in a crowd do not venture to other groups of people. which they’re a member of behaves than of the behavior of individual friends.

Take a look at the following points to determine if your clique membership is a good or bad thing.

Many cliques are in fact very complicated and show a number of negative and positive qualities. Kids in Pros of cliques: elementary and middle school are usually starting to find who they are, and being a member of a clique - Provides a forum for shared interests helps them find an identity, whether it be the right - Reduces isolation, which seems to prevent behavior- one or not. Kids who dress and act similarly tend to al problems gravitate towards each other, creating small intimate - Develops good social skills and exclusive groups.

- Provide support systems for someone dealing with a crisis Actually, cliques are not considered to be either com- Shown to have a positive impact on young people pletely good or completely bad. Being a clique member could work both ways, so you should reflect upon People believe that the word clique describes a group your own group of friends and your relationship dyof young people who come together and exclude oth- namics from time to time in order to determine if ers on the basis of superficial differences, but this is you’re in a healthy friendship circle. not fully the case. Joining or being in a clique is a part

It is important for parents to encourage their children to be in healthy friendships and relationships. There are several ways to do this. Encourage your kids to stick to what they like. Many kids want to be popular and some will even pretend to like some things that they don’t like to fit in with the cool kids. Encourage them to keep their social groups diverse and open.

Tell your kids to enjoy the company of people who are from different backgrounds, ages, and settings.

It is also important to remind your children of the bigger-picture. Although their cliques may seem like the most important and devastating thing at the moment, things change very quickly, and real friends stay. If they wait long enough, real friends will come around.

Camryn Kozachek

THIRTEEN

FOUTEEN

Dear Jodie,

ASK JODIE

I recently played the part of Ms. Hannigan in my high school’s production of Annie. I was originally super excited, because it was my first lead role, but now that it’s over, I regret it. People think I was cast for my personality rather than my singing and acting abilities! Freshmen are scared of me, teachers make jokes about how mean I am, and even my friends treat me differently.

How can I get them to see that I’m more than the character I played?

Dear Jodie, The other day when I was at dinner with my three closest friends, we were talking about the latest season of Modern Family. I’m not usually one to speak out in a group or share my opinion, but I love that show so I decided I’d share. As I was talking, I started to realize that no one was listening to me! I tried to stop talking and start again when there was a silence, but every time I tried, some one would just talk over me. Soon, it just came to the point where what I had to say wasn’t even relevant anymore. What should I do? How can I get my friends to listen to me when I’m speaking?

-Lonely Boy Dear Lonely Boy, I’m so sorry to hear about this problem you’re facing, but don’t worry, I can help! Don’t worry too much because this is something that happens to everyone at some point. You said that you’re not really one to speak out, and I think this may be the root of your problem.

Your friends know you as the quiet one who likes to listen but is not too big on sharing. This is not a bad thing at all! Everyone loves a listening friend. To make sure they’ll start listening to you, you need to start of small. Start sharing small anecdotes in conversation to start the process, as you notice that people are listening more, start to speak more and more. Before you know it, you’ll be the center of the conversation! Don’t worry about your friends not listening, it happens to the best of us!

Sincerely, More Than Ms. Hannigan Dear More Than Ms. Hannigan, First of all, congratulations! Getting a role that big is something to be proud of. You may have fallen victim to something called the actor-observer bias. This essentially means that people are more likely to attribute their actions to external factors, while they view the actions of others as something they brought upon themselves.

Changing their perception is as easy as showing everyone in your school a more positive side of yourself. Make it known that you’re a nice person by performing small acts of kindness, like holding a door open, so people form positive associations with you. And if all else fails, wait until the next musical, and choose a part without negative connotations attached.

Best of luck!

-Jodie

-Jodie

Lia Perez-Curran

Camryn Kozachek

fifteen Dear Jodie,

Dear Jodie,

How do I make a social loaf rise to the occasion?

I’ve been working on a group project for my Advanced Bread Making Class. At the end of the week we need to turn in a full 12-piece bread basket. My partner, Reynolds, has been spending all of our class time washing his hands and showing me his dance moves and drumming on all the pots and pans. I end up doing double the work because he refuses to do any real stuff. How do I get him to contribute?

Kneading Advice

I just don’t know what to do. I’ve been playing the didgeridoo for a solid 5 years now, and I think I’m pretty good at it… Well, at least that’s what my teacher tells me. And now he’s asked me to perform at the annual Spring recital he holds for his best students... Trust me when I say that I am not excited for it; I am anything but. Just imagining all of those eyes staring at me - the eyes of parents, peers, and seasoned didgeridoo players - makes me want to vomit. But I want to showcase my work, I really do! The didgeridoo has become a true passion of mine, and I want to be able to play it in front of so many people… I’m just not sure I’ll be able to without messing up big time.

Dear Kneading Advice,

Didgeridude

Well, it sounds like you have a social loafer on your hands. The psychological term social loafing was identified in 1981 by a man named Bibb Latane and literally means, “the tendency for people in a group to exert less effort when pooling their efforts towards attaining a common goal then when individually accountable.” In your case, Reynolds thinks that you will pick up all the slack if he doesn’t work, so he doesn’t feel motivated to do anything.

Here’s what you should do to make sure that you don’t have to keep “kneading” my help. Sit down with Reynolds after class one day and ask him why you keep doing most of the work. Ask him why he has been acting this way, and then gently explain to him that it’s not fair that you are taking the lead on this. If class time comes again and he still hasn’t been doing anything, cease work until he does.

When he realizes he can’t fall back on your hard work he may start to work harder. If all else fails, let your teacher know that you did most of the work after handing in your work. There’s no shame in being honest.

Dear Didgeridude,

Sincerely yours,

From what I understand, your performance worsens in the presence of others, due to the mere anticipation of messing up. Sounds to me like you’ve got a bad case of social impairment. What you need to do is look at the situation in a different light. Instead of imagining the worst, picture the best! See yourself rocking that didgeridoo, and impressing everyone in the audience. You can turn your social impairment into social facilitation; all you have to do is change your mindset. Let the crowd encourage you to do well. Knowing they’re watching, aim to impress them. Don’t let them hinder your wonderful abilities with hypothetical reactions, and you will give the performance of a lifetime. Good luck, and thanks for writing!

Best of Luck!

-Jodie

-Jodie

Shana Oshinskie

Jamie Atschinow

SIXTEEN

MOVIE REVIEW: hIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 1

H

how many harry styles?

igh School Musical is which, coincidentally, is not una smoothie, a perfect like how Romeo and Juliet meet, blend of vibrant characthe two become very smitten. ters, dance-worthy numbers, and They run into each other at musia heavy dose of social psycholocal auditions, both internally gy. From the very beginning until debating whether or not to try the very end, themes of social psychology are preva- out. They accidentally do, and are selected for call lent. backs, which sends a ripple of shock through the school. This is where the “yogurt” gets added to the The movie opens with a scene of the female protag- mix. onist, Gabriella, exhibiting classic traits of an introvert. Instead of attending a party with her peers, she In perhaps the best dance number of the scene, the prefers holing up in her room with a book. Luckily, friends of Troy and Gabriella tell them to, “Stick to however, her mother convinces her to push the limits the Status Quo (Oh whoa whoa whoa…).” They tell and of her comfort zone. This is where the magic that them that they ought not stray from the social system is High School Musical truly begins. set up; if they belong to a group of “nerds” or “jocks” then their places are in the lab and on the field, not At the party, Gabriella and her male counterpart, on a stage. Their badgering ends up having profound Troy, are selected to sing karaoke. At this point, two effects not only on the character but on the formation major psychological concepts come into play. Gabri- of the idea of peer pressure in the movie. ella at first feels intimidated by the number of people watching and she experiences social inhibition--even Though more psychological concepts are sprinkled though she is a talented singer, she can barely bring throughout the movie, they are hard to discuss withher voice above a whisper. Later, however, the crowd out ruining the ending of the movie. begins to cheer for her and she sheds her shyness. She and Troy complete the first of many stunning duets.

In this analogy of the movie being a “smoothie,” the psychological concepts have been compared to the While there are many psychological concepts briefly yogurt and honey of a smoothie, but let us be real touched upon in the movie--like the honey added to a here--a smoothie with no fruit is just yogurt and honsmoothie for additional sweetness--at the heart of the ey mixed together. plot line lies the ideas of social conformity and peer pressure, the “yogurt” of the movie, if you will.

The vibrant characters, the clever jokes, and the scintillating dance scenes make up the fruit of this In order to understand the presence of these con- smoothie. Though the acting is sometimes lacking, cepts, you must first have a general understanding of the characters seem genuine, and minus their tenthe plot of the movie. In a twist on the classic Romeo dencies to suddenly burst into painstakingly choreoand Juliet, Troy and Gabriella are star-crossed lovers; graphed numbers, they seem very similar to real high Troy, the captain of the basketball team, has little on school students. his mind except the state championship, while Gabriella, a “nerd” and a member of the scholastic de- While the quality of this movie is far eclipsed by the cathlon team has a heart that beats only for imaginary quality of the third, it still possess many interestnumbers and derivatives and all things math-related. ing and fun aspects that blend together for a perfect After their fated interaction at the karaoke party, “smoothie.”

Shana Oshinskie

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MOVIE REVIEW: hIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2

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s I sat down to watch High School Musical 2, I was expecting another amazing High School Musical movie with an entrancing plot, well developed characters, and an accurate portrayal of how teens act in high school.

Unfortunately, I was not given what I had hoped for.

Instead, I spent 105 minutes of my day watching a boring movie with an unoriginal plot and undeveloped characters. Despite all the bad, there was some good. This is the perfect movie to demonstrate social psychology because the whole movie is based in a social setting and based on social interactions.

until Troy is hers.

When Sharpay finds out that almost all of the East High student body will be working at her country club this summer, she becomes extremely angry. She only wanted Troy to be working at her club, not Gabriella and the Wildcats (the school mascot) too! Sharpay knows that Mr. Fulton cannot fire the kids, so she tells him that he must make them want to quit. So, Mr. Fulton goes into the Kitchen where all the students are working and acts very rudely to them. Everyone gets mad at Troy for “getting them into this mess” even though it was not Troy’s fault at all! After another musical number, the gang makes up and everyone The movie opens with all the students in theater class, is happy again. But Mr. Fulton still has not decided to counting down the seconds until summer. We hear stop making them want to quit, so he is continuing to the clock ticking as the students are chanting, “Sum- be rude and overly demanding. mer!”. When the bell finally rings, they break into song, singing “What Time Is It?”. After this scene, they Because Sharpay is in love with Troy, she gives him transition into summer, and into a scene when Troy, extra special attention and he is the only one that the the main character, and some of his buddies from the club treats well. Because Sharpay’s family is rich and basketball team are in his house after playing some famous, her parents have special connections. Sharbasketball. Troy receives a call from Mr. Fulton, the pay knows that Troy loves basketball, so she got her manager at a local country club, Lava Springs, offer- dad to fly in some famous basketball players for Troy ing Troy a job for the summer. Troy is hesitant because to meet and play with. When Troy’s friends realize he wants to spend the summer having fun with his that Troy is spending more time with the basketball friends, so he proposes that they be employed there as players than with his friends, they becoming extremewell, and Mr. Fulton agrees. So, the whole gang heads ly mad and disappointed at Troy. They were hoping over to Lava Springs for the summer. for a summer that they could spend together, but they were upset because they weren’t getting that.

The reason Troy was offered this job is because Sharpay Evans’ family owns the club. Sharpay is the most Unfortunately, I believe that Troy’s friends were in the popular girl at East High, the school that the students wrong. This is because Troy was trying to get better attend. She also has a massive crush on Troy, and at basketball, which is a career he wanted to pursue, wanted to spend the whole summer with him, thus, and his friends were making him feel bad for trying giving him a job at her country club. Sharpay is very to chase his dreams, which, if you ask me, is a bit of a extrinsically motivated. She only works for rewards. bad friend move.

She does not usually do something just for the sake of doing it and enjoying it. She’s always in it for the Unfortunately, this is where the movie gets boring and reward. Sharpay knows that Troy has a girlfriend, Ga- goes downhill. The gang decides that they don’t want briella, but she does not care, she will stop at nothing to hang out with Troy anymore because they think

Lia Perez-Curran

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MOVIE REVIEW: hIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2 (continued) is an unfortunate assumption because Troy would never think that! You would like to think his friends would know him better than to think that. It is at this point that Gabriella breaks things off with Troy. She makes it clear that she wants to have a break because she thinks that Troy has changed too much over the summer.

Throughout the whole movie, Sharpay is getting ready for the talent show that the club holds every year. The East High gang hears about it and decides that they want to showcase a talent as well. Sharpay wants to sing a song with Troy, but as you can imagine, Troy is not interested, because he is more preoccupied in thinking about what his friends are thinking about him right now. When Troy finds out that the other

kids are not allowed to perform in the talent show, he immediately decides that he does not want to if they can’t. The Wildcats forgive Troy for his absence in their summer and they tell him that he should perform in the talent show, but he refuses to unless they can sing with him. Sharpay’s brother Ryan tricked Sharpay into thinking that Troy would sing with her, but really he switched the songs so that the Wildcats could sing with Troy instead of Sharpay.

The movie resolved nicely and everything turned out to be peachy keen. Despite the lack of any spark in this movie, it was not a bad portrayal of social psychology in high school. This is definitely not the best movie in the series, but the series as a whole is a classic and should be praised by the whole world!

Jamie Atschinow

MOVIE REVIEW: hIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3

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how many harry styles?

igh School Musical 3 marks the third installment of the Disney High School Musical movie series. In the first movie, we see an exaggerated, yet playful representation of high school, accompanied by fun, bright songs. The second movie, though consisting of equally cheerful songs, lacks something in the plot and altogether falls short of the expectations it was given post-High School Musical 1. However, given the opportunity of High School Musical 3, an opportunity for redemption presented itself; and I think it was fulfilled. HSM3 is a feel-good film that was fully enjoyable to watch. In my opinion, it stood in blatant contrast to the cheesy, immature scenes and musical numbers of HSM2.

High School Musical 3, meant to represent the cliché senior year high school experience, attempts to encompass all the social elements of that last year. In just the first few scenes, it covers the “sports event” aspect of the typical high school career, documenting an extremely hyped basketball championship. During it, the team’s star player (and one of the main characters in the movie), Troy, begins to have doubts. Mentally slowing down time, he sings, “Right now I can hardly breathe,” to which Gabriella (another main character and Troy’s girlfriend) responds from the bleachers, “You can do it just know that I believe.” He picks himself up, and ultimately leads the team to victory; here, social facilitation is exhibited in the spectator’s ability to better the player’s game with words of encouragement.

her assistant, Tiara. They fall into a social trap, in which they find conflict in pursuing simultaneous, negative plans. Sharpay aims to get the lead role that Gabriella has in the musical, while Tiara wants to take that of Sharpay’s. Tiara helps Sharpay achieve hers so that she can then replace her, but in the end they appear on stage at the same time trying to act the same role, mutually bringing each other down.

High School Musical 3 seems to particularly stress, however, the goodbyes the seniors would have to exchange with their fellow graduates. With songs like “Right Here, Right Now” and “A Night to Remember,” they express notions of companionate love. The musical they decide to partake in is actually all about their senior year, including numbers about their extracurricular activities and prom. However, being a part of this musical was not exactly supported by everyone at first. Most were reluctant, arguing that they were busy and did not have time to worry about such a time commitment. But once Gabriela spoke up and reminded everyone that this could be their last chance to do something fun all together, they began to soften to the idea, and ultimately agreed to it, in light of the presented superordinate goal of sharing a last hurrah.

Overall, I would give HSM3 4 stars on a 4-star scale, because of its abundant inclusion of high school social interactions, as well as its general enjoyment. As a high school student myself, about to enter into my senior year, I can certainly understand and relate to The movie also heavily touches on the social inter- the sentiments that the students expressed with each actions among students. There are many interesting other. This is easily the best of the three HSM movies conflicts that arise during the movie, one of the most across the board in terms of music, believability, relatintriguing being that between mean girl Sharpay, and ability, and enjoyment.

Jamie Atschinow

nineteen

TWENTY

Movie review; THe Breakfast cLUB

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ecently, I had the discame one. tinct pleasure of viewing a never before seen High The assistant principal embodies School Musical movie, High the movie’s necessary “bad guy” School Musical 4. The story is character. I would argue that the set in a Saturday detention in an assistant principal is at the integ80s high school, and tells the story of 5 high school- rity vs. despair stage in Erik Erikson’s stages of develers from different cliques who end up bonding. Or is opment. In a scene where he talks with the school’s that the plot of The custodian, he Breakfast Club? says he’s been looking back at The Breakfast Club his life and 20 has been known something years for decades as the of teaching, and quintessential high he’s not content school movie. An with the life he’s instant classic, The lived. This would Breakfast Club was fall under the directed by John “despair” categoHughes in 1985. Alry. though it’s known for portraying Another example the psychology of of social psycholcliques, instances of ogy can be seen social psychology when the gang are evident throughsmokes marijuaout the movie. At its na together. This heart, the movie is demonstrates the about the friendconformity takship formed by the ing place within students, self described as a “princess, an athlete, a the group; under different circumstances, most of the criminal, a brain, and a basket case”. teens wouldn’t smoke. This deindividuation also helps the students form a cohesive group.

This unlikely friendship is the result of their confinement, and the introduction of a common enemy, the Although the language and some of the content exassistant principal, who gives them a common goal. plain its “R” rating and might make parents hesitate Sherif ’s robbers cave experiment, wherein 11 year old before showing the movie to younger children, the boys were placed in a summer camp, and divided into Breakfast Club should be mandatory viewing for two groups, can be used to explain this phenomenon. teenagers. Gaining insight into each of the characters When separated, the two groups formed their own and their motivations as the movie progresses will “culture”, and reacted negatively to the other group. keep viewers entranced.

However, when they were given problems they could only solve by working together, the two groups beCamryn Kozachek

Jamie Atschinow

Lia Perez-Curran

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Camryn Kozachek

Lia Perez-Curran

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Camryn Kozachek

Social Psych Playlist That’s So Raven Theme Song -Uncredited Artists Ignition -R. Kelly Skyscraper -Demi Lovato Even Steven Theme Song -Uncredited artists Music by Chance the Rapper and the Social Experiment Sunday Candy -Donnie Trumpet Mississippi Goddam -Nina Simone Kim Possible Theme -Uncredited Artists

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Which sociAL PSYCHOLOGIST IS YOUR SOULMATE? You’ve learned about all the social psychologists. You understand all their experiments, the theories they created, what key concepts they are associated with. But do you know which one you is your soulmate?

Take our quiz to find out.

Which flaw would you be most tolerant of in your significant other?

What is your astrological sign? a. Pisces, Aries, or Taurus (February 19th-May 20th) a. A disregard of laws and ethics codes, to the point where it may put others at risk. b. Virgo, Libra, or Scorpio (August 23rd-November b. Such an immense obsession with people’s initial 24th) impressions of others that they repeatedly pretend to c. Leo, Cancer, or Gemini (May 21st-August 22nd) have just met you every single time you talk. d. Sagittarius, Capricorn, or Aquarius (November c. Endless questioning about all your friends and 22nd-February 18th) their friendships to better understand the interconWhere would you most want to attend college? a. Yale College nectedness of social relationships nationwide. d. He/she is so famous they are considered one of (if b. Columbia University not the most) influential figures in their field. They c. Harvard College are continually recognized by others whenever they d. Stanford University leave the house.

Which general topic in social psychology topic Which book/journal article sounds most interestmost interests you? ing to you? a. Power dynamics a. The Lucifer Effect b. Conformity b. “The Doctrinal Tyranny of Associationism” c. Obedience to authority c. Liberating Effects of Group Pressure d. The way we learn social cues Which specific question in social psychology most d. Adolescent Aggression Which is one problem you can picture occurring interests you? in the near future? a. Why do good people do bad things? b. How do you encourage people to sacrifice material a. A dramatic increase in the amount of bystanders in our culture. and immaterial things? b. Those with the intelligence to change the world c. Am I connected to every person on this earth will generally look for ways to further the advancethrough common acquaintances? ments c. of their field instead of the world as a whole. d. Do I have the potential to do something if I bec. An increase in obedience to authority to the point lieve that I have the potential to do it? where many stop exercising reason and logic. d. As our society leans more towards aggression, a vicious cycle will begin as children observe the agMostly “A”s- I have a feeling you weren’t saying ZimbardNO when we watched the documentary about the Stanford Prison Experiment because you should end up with none other than Philip Zimbardo! Though he has hit some ethical snares, his experiments on power dynamics have been some of the most influential and he will be a great match for you!

Mostly “B”s- Asch me who your soulmate is and I will tell you that it is Solomon Asch! Unfortunately, this influential psychologist who studied impression formation died almost twenty years ago, but you can still sigh and consider what could have been.

Mostly “C”s- It’s shocking, isn’t it, that your soulmate is Stanley Milgram? This man, whose studies have been referenced for years when discussing why good people do bad things, is one of the most decorated social psychologists of all time and one of the most famous.

Mostly “D”s- You know that you have the potential to Make Albert Bandura your soulmate. Bandura knows that this phenomenon, one’s own belief in their ability to complete a task, is known as self-efficacy, because he pioneered its discovery and integration into society. As one of the top five most influential psychologist, this ultra-famous individual Shana Oshinskie and you will be a terrific match.

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Jamie Atschinow

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Lia Perez-Curran

works cited

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