Organization - Chapter 3 pgs. 65-66

What the Book Says & How I Perceive It:

Organization is the second step in the perception process. People tend to “organize data in some meaningful way” (Jandt 65). Our five senses, (touch, sight, smell, taste, and hear) help us organize whatever data we receive. The book gives one example saying that when we view a building, we don’t focus on every little piece of the building, but the entire building itself; “the unified whole”. 

An argument that’s posed is that people “somehow grasp some set of attributes that things have in common” (Jandt 65), and then go on to group them together (based off the similar attributes) in categories provided by language. Language gives categories the influence to what a person’s perceptions are, and how they are encoded & stored.

When a person views an object they view the “unified concept of the object” (Jandt 65), but if that object is flipped, turned, or not viewed in the original way, other components that weren’t originally detected become noticeable.



In this picture one might see a serious face.

But when flipped, the word "liar" appears in cursive.

Color is one of the main components of how people organize things. Many Americans have learned from their culture to "organize color perceptions by grouping certain perceptions together and labeling them with a shared symbol" (Jandt 65). The American color spectrum goes red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. People may recognize an object as different shade of red, but they still view and categorize it under the color red. Other cultures use color organization as well, similar to the American way. The Zimbabwe Shona speakers categorize their colors into cipsuka, cicena, citema, and cipsuka. They may perceive diffences in their colors in a different way than Americans, but just as we see different shades of red, they'll see an object in a shade of cicena and label it under cicena.

These books are organized by color. They're different shades of each color on the spectrum, but are viewed as whatever color it falls under on the spectrum.

How I Apply Organization to My Life:

I organize by color a lot. For example, my closet. I organize the color by the darkest shades to the lightest shades. But not only is my closet organized by color, but also the length of the clothings (i.e: long sleeve, short sleeve, tanktops). First come the short sleeves, then the long sleeves, then the tanktops.

My closet isn't the only way I use color to organize. I use color to organize objects in my kitchen (i.e: cups), bathroom (i.e: lotions, perfumes, body wash), and the living room (i.e: couch pillows).

 

Silence - Chapter 5 pgs. 119-120

What the Book Says & How I Perceive It:

Silence is the absence of verbal communication that can communicate messages nonverbally. It has a number of meanings, but it depends on the situation, culture, and other factors to understand completely. Agreement, disagreement, respect, confusion, and contemplation are just a few of the meanings that silence can communicate.

Typically, “Eastern societies such as India, China, and Japan have valued silence more than Western societies” (Jandt 119). It’s very common for silence to be accepted in Asia, where as here in the U.S. silence is considered “socially disagreeable” (Jandt 119).

In India silence is viewed at on different levels.

• "Individual Level: Silence is viewed as a state of being. Allowing you to experience the highest truth & bliss.

• Interpersonal Level: Silence is used to promote harmony, cooperation, and other collectivistic values. Sign of mutual respect, personal dignity, affirmation, and wisdom.

• Social Level: Silence can be protest. (i.e: Mohandas Gandhi)" (Jandt 119)

Mohanda Gandhi used silence to protest for India's independence through nonviolence.

In the United States, silence normally means lack of attention and lack of initiative. “A person must speak to participate” (Jandt 119). Silence can also show respect, like when people call for moments of silence.

These soldiers are having a moment of silence to show respect to the deceased.

In China, silence means agreement. Talk only if you have “something important to add” and “always let the other talk first” (Jandt 119).

Confucian belief.

How I Apply Silence In My Life:

I've seen silence in the United States communicate a lot of different things. I’ve seen it mean that someone has the power or authority. My mother used to get mad at me when I would be silent and not tell on my siblings, because she said it means I’m agreeing with their actions. Normally when I’m silent it means that I’m not in a good mood. Or maybe I’m angry and my thoughts are scattered. Sometimes people will ask me questions when I’m in an argument and I’m angry. I tend to be silent for a few moments because I have to really gather my thoughts and make sure that I don’t say something that I might later regret. I also show silence in class…sometimes…to show respect for whoever is teaching, whether it be a teacher or student(s).

Paralanguage - Ch. 5 pgs. 118-119

What the Book Says & How I Perceive It:

The "nonverbal elements of the voice" is paralanguage. There are three main elements to paralanguage:

• Vocal Characterizers (i.e: laughing, sobbing)

Laughter is a commonly used vocal characterizer.

 
• Vocal Qualifiers (i.e: intensity, pitch, extent)

A soundwave records the pitch of a voice.

• Vocal Segregates (i.e: "uhhh", "ummm", "uh-huh")

These are some vocal segregates.

The intensity in a voice can be based off cultural belief. For example, the book says that Thais speak softly and gently. Their cultural tells them that speaking in such a manner is how “one shows good manners and an educated character” (Jandt 118). The only time they raise their voice is to show that the emotion of anger in an argument. People here in the United States tend to speak with a loud voice, or at least many Thais believe that. What may seem like a normal speaking voice for us may be different to a Thai. It sometimes leads them to think that we’re “rude, angry, or don’t like Thais.” (Jandt 118)

Accents are considered a part of paralanguage, too. In Britain, the type of accent heard allows people to detect the educational background of the speaker. Everybody has an accent; “it’s just that some accents are more accepted than others” (Jandt 118).  

Being in the United States, we hear many, many, many different accents because we’re such a diverse country. We may here certain accents more in certain parts of the country because that may be the dialect of that area. Accents differ greatly from West Coast to East Coast. To us here on the West Coast the accent of a person from Louisiana doesn’t sound normal to us, and vice versa. To the people on the East Coast the accent of a person from California doesn’t sound normal to them.

“Accents may present problems and even lead to charges of racism (Ryan , 1974)” (Jandt 118). The book shows many examples where accents have lead people into problems, mainly with getting jobs. One example tells of a Filipino man who was denied a job in Honolulu. The argument was that “his heavy Filipino accent would have kept him from working effectively as a clerk.” (Jandt 119). I disagree with that statement, because I feel everybody should have a chance to prove themselves without being judged, especially by how they speak.

How I Apply Paralanguage to My Life:

One element of paralanguage that I really enjoy using is vocal qualifiers. Life would be soooooooooooo boring if we couldn't change the pitch, intensity, or tone of our voice to show our emotions. Everybody would speak in a boring monotone voice and it would be hard to figure out how somebody is feeling. I use pitch, intensity, and tone to express myself. If I'm angry I may speak in a soft monotone voice, or I might have an intensely loud voice. It just depends on the situation and what kind of anger I'm feeling. If I'm excited I might talk with a higher pitch.

I also love to laugh. It's such a great feeling, even though if you do it too much you may get a crazy pain in your stomach. To me it tells me that people are enjoying themselves. Crying is also a good feeling to me when I can't get what I want to say out. I feel like the tears are the words that I can't express.

The most of the adults on the Filipino side of my family have accents. The kids in our family like to joke around and laugh at the accents because sometimes we don't understand what they're trying to say because they butcher the word. Some people might view it as disrespect, but in my family we just see it as a way to laugh. The adults laugh at it, too.

  This lady doesn't really have a Filipino Accent, but she pretends to have one just for laughs.

Trust - Ch. 8 pg. 199.

The book says...

• Trust is the "belief in another's reliability and emotional reliance on the other to care about and protect our welfare." Basically believing that our private information is safe with the other person.
• Trust is something that is earned over time. We learn to trust when someone proves "that they are reliable, show that they care, and make the investments to enrich the relationaship."
• "One reason trust is so important to relationships is that it allosw us to take risks with others."

How I understand the concept...

• Although trusting someone can make us feel emotion, trust is more of an expectation we have in someone. We expect that he or she will do as they say.
• Trusting someone doesn't automatically come with a relationship. It's earned, and the time it takes to trust someone is different with everybody.
• When trust is established in a relationship we feel safe, which is why we're able to take risks with a person we trust.
• We open ourselves to other only if we feel we can rely on them to protect us. We're able to confide in them, and expect them to protect our confidences, and alost to care about us/our well-being.

Application to my life...

• I don't trust every person I meet. When I meet someone I look at their personality and see how they handle certain things, basically observe them. If I see they handle situations in a way that makes me feel okay then slowly I build up trust in them. I realize that I can take risks with that person, confide in them, and I know that they'll be there for me when I need them to be.
• For Example: My sister is someone who I know that I can for sure trust, and I know she'll never let me down. I can tell her anything, which is confiding in her. And she knows she can do the same with me. We both take risks together, which also can lead to us getting in trouble together, but we know that we'll take the wrap for each other. And when I'm down she knows, but she won't question. She knows if I want to talk about it I will, but if I don't she is just there for me. Hangs out with me, and tries to cheer me up. And I do the same for her.

Additional info...

"Follow your heart, but be quiet for a while first. Ask questions, then feel the answer. Learn to trust your heart." - Anonymous

This quote makes sense because you may meet somebody you think you can trust right off the back, but it's smart if you observe for a while. That's the be quiet part. See how they are and if you can really trust them. Give them tests, ask questions, etc. Once you get your answers you'll know if you can trut that person.

Trust by Keyshia Cole

This is a song by Keyshia Cole ft. Monica. They're both singing about a guy being able to trust them. If you listen to the words you can tell that the guy has been throught some bad relationships and doesn't trust easily, but they're trying to let the guy know that he can trust them. Click on the link to see the video.

Commitment - Ch. 8 pg. 198.

The book says..

• Commitment is "the decision to remain in a relationship", meaning that partners assume that they will continue in life together.
• Since partners view their connection as progressinging, "they are unlikely to bail out during the inevitable rough times."
• When partners make a commitment, they "take responsibility for continuing to invest in and care for their bond."

How I undertand the Concept...

• To make a commitment to someone, as in a relationship, you're making a decision; it's not a feeling. It's a serious step in a relationship, but if both are truly committed it shows that the relationship is maturing.
• When partners commit to each other, they see it as if they'll be together pretty much for life, so they're not going to let problems and tensions break them up. By committing they're saying they're willing to work through the rough times. And they also realize that the rough times won't last forever.
• Committed relationships come with responsibilities. The partners are responsible for maintaining the relationship. Caring, nurturing, etc for it. Without responsibility the relationship can get rocky and not be a stable basis for the long term.

Application to my life...

• I apply this concept not only to the romantic relationship in my life, but also friendships. With friends I maintain the relationship by being there when they need me, & in return they're there for me when I need them.
• For Example: I don't consider that many people my friend, due to only one of us putting in an investment into our friendship. So when I do consider someone my friend it's because both of us are being committed to our friendship. We realize that you can't build up a friendship with only one person doing work. We check up on each other from time to time. We hang out with each other. Are there for each other during the rought times. And etc.

Additional info...

Commitment by Leann Rimes

The song is pretty much self-explanatory. Click on it to see the video with the lyrics.

It basically lists everything she expects when a guy commits to her.