Psychology in Your Technology

Computer technology surrounds us. As I write this blog at a computer I have a smartphone next to me and a smart watch on my wrist. For many of us, technology is with us no matter where we go. There are plenty of arguments about whether that is a good thing or bad thing that is for a different blog post. Recently, I have discovered that many people don’t know that psychology is involved in designing new technology. There is a branch of psychology sometimes called human factors, human computer interaction, or human centered design that centers on using what we know about people and their behavior to design better technology. It is so prevalent in the field the American Psychological Association even has a page devoted to it. Companies like Google, Facebook, and Microsoft employ people who are educated in psychology to help design their products.

The Wall Street Journal published an article earlier this week discussing how Bank of America is using Psychology to design features for their mobile app. The company utilized psychology and customer preferences to design the way their mobile depositing system works. Because of the influence of psychology the app shows users an image of the check after it is deposited so that they feel more comfortable with the transaction.

Psychology isn’t just involved in making things like banking and chatting to your friends more user friendly either. Researchers are also trying to find ways to use technology to help people learn. Everyone learns differently and technology is one way that we can meet the needs of different learning style. The “Machine Teaching” project at the University of Washington is working on designing technology to help all different kinds of learners learn.

Joining psychology and computer science could have wide implications for our future; how we use things, how we learn, and how we communicate. Next time you log onto your favorite website or social media portal remember that psychology could be part of the reason that the site’s menu looks a certain way or that the text is a certain font. And if you ever find that a website or program is difficult to use it may need a little attention from a human factors psychologist.

Bibliography 

American Psychological Association. A Career in Human Factors and Engineering Psychology. Retrieved on 10/21/2015 from http://www.apa.org/action/science/human-factors/education-training.aspx.

Blackbourne, A. (2015) "Machine teaching" looks to design optimal individual learning style. The Badger Herald. Published online 10/14/2015. 

Nash, K.A. (2015) Bank of America Lets Human Psychology Influence Mobile Development. The Wall Street Journal. Published online 10/16/2015.

Media Influence on Social Norms

Every individual on this planet has been subject to existing social norms of his or her community. Social norms are ideas or actions that are appropriate in the view of society; they establish a certain order. But where do these “social norms” originate and how do they sink into society so quickly? The general media that societies have, specifically in the United States of America, is a key player in the creation and distribution of social norms. This concept of media can be used in many ways; for example, television, newspapers, songs and radio, books, movies, magazines, and advertisements. These outlets are used strategically and are used to reflect the interests of the public at the time (Slater 2007).

Aggression and sexual conflict seem to be the primary themes of many songs, television programs, and advertisements. Many songs on the radio in fact describe sexual desire, aggression, and the degradation of an entire group, mostly women, in their lyrics. For instance, the song “Good For You” by Selena Gomez states, “Let me show you how proud I am to be yours, leave this dress a mess on the floor” (Gomez 2015). Many other artists today such as Nikki Minaj, Adam Levine, and David Guetta have also produced songs that describe sexual interest and desire in ways that contradict the idea that sex is an intimate activity. People from every age listen to these songs and are witness to these television programs and advertisements, which also support the idea that aggression and sexual intimacy are public and normal.

According to Albert Bandura’s Social Learning Experiment in 1961, people, specifically children, learn from watching others. (Bandura, Ross, & Ross). Being exposed to aggressive and violence, along with sexual agendas on television and all over the radio, viewers become desensitized to what these acts really come down to. When people are desensitized to acts of aggression and sexual assault, a feeling of normalcy comes into play; these eventually are not emergencies anymore and no longer require extreme emotional responses or actions. Media influence has the power to control the public as well as teach it so much; learning more about how this process is carried out could help solve many social issues the world has today. Themes of respect and equality are almost obsolete in today’s media scope and turning this around could lead to positive actions towards others, healthier states of mind, and countless more.

If individuals and families were to learn how many kind of media they are exposed to, and how much of it, they might be more inclined to choose what kind of media he or she wants to witness, more consciously. Paying more attention to these kinds of subliminal messaging can educate individuals on what they are actually shown and what his or her family is being exposed to. Learning and understanding how the media works and what is trending now can put more power in the people’s hands, even enough to control what kinds of messages that the media will show. Emphasizing topics like equality, empathy, loyalty, etc. in the media would mirror what society emphasizes, and vice versa; therefore, the population has more power in the media than it is lead on to believe.

References

Bandura, A., Ross, D. & Ross, S.A. (1961). Transmission of aggression through imitation of aggressive models. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology

Gomez, S. (2015). Good For You [Audio File]. Good For You

Slater, M.D. (2007) Reinforcing Spirals: The Mutual Influence of Media Selectivity and Media Effects on Their Impact on Individual Behavior and Social Identity. Communication Theory. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1468-2885.2007.00296.x/full 

PSYowa is privileged to have Samantha Ege as a guest contributor. Read a little more about her below. We are sure this is just a start to the great things that she will do in the field of Psychology! 

Hi! I’m Samantha Ege, and I am currently a sophomore at Iowa State University. I am originally from Carol Stream Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, and attended my local high school, where I was first introduced to Psychology. Majoring in Psychology and
being a research assistant this semester has opened me up to research and how I can conduct research in my everyday life. Although I am not sure what field of Psychology I was to pursue, I am positive that Psychology is the way to go.

You Are Not Your Diagnosis

Many people with severe mental health issues struggle with a cycle of symptoms.  They often become stable on medications but stop taking those medications when they are doing well only to see their symptoms return. Many clients have difficulty coming to terms with the fact that they may have to receive treatment for a mental health issue throughout their life. Recently a client asked me how she could learn to accept that she had bipolar disorder so that she would stick with her treatment. She explained to me how difficult it was for her think of herself as someone who may always have bipolar disorder. She explained that if she accepted that she had bipolar disorder it meant that it would be who she was, that her whole identity would be someone with bipolar disorder.  It was almost like she would have to say “I am bipolar disorder.”

Technology Isn't Always Better....

I have to admit I am still smitten with books. Not Kindle, eBook, or Nook books, but old fashioned paper, ink, bound books. There is something romantic, magical, nostalgic about holding a book in your hands. It turns out that there may actually be some advantages to some of the "old fashioned" ways of doing things. In a recent NPR  article Daniel Oppenheimer, a professor at UCLA found that when he told 50 students to attend a lecture and take notes either on a laptop or paper that those who used paper scored significantly higher on a comprehension test.

The advantages of old fashioned paper are not just confined to this small study. Dillon (1994) found that reading from a computer screen was 20 to 30% slower than from paper. In 2008, Noyes and Garland reviewed multiple studies that showed advantages in reading speed,accuracy, and comprehension on paper mediums. They also go on to explain that electronic mediums can be attributed to increased fatigue and stress over their paper counterparts. This increased cognitive workload could lead to decreased performance over time.

In a 2014, Huffington Post article they pointed out other advantages to pen and paper including:

• Fewer distractions
• Increased creativity 
• Increasing positive brain activity
• Slowing you down enough to think about what you are writing

Technology is incredible. It allows us to do many things our grandparents never dreamed of - like writing blogs that all of you can read or carrying our whole library around in a tablet but it is important to remember that it isn't always better. There are some advantages to those musky smelling, page turning classics taking up room in your local library.

Sources:

Dillon, A., (1992) Reading from paper versus screens: A critical review of the empirical literature. Ergonomics, 35, 1297–1326.

Noyes, J.M. and Garland, K.J. (2008) Computer- vs. paper-based tasks: Are they equivalent?, Ergonomics, 51( 9), 1352–1375

Pearson, C. (2014) The Benefits Of Writing With Good Old Fashioned Pen And Paper. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ on 5/27/2015.

Weiner, E. (2015) In A Digital Chapter, Paper Notebooks Are As Relevant As Ever. Retrieved from www.NPR.com on 5/27/2015.

The Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge

WEGO is a network of over 100,000 bloggers, tweeters, pinners, and Facebookers who utilize their social media presence to advocate and share information about health. For the month of April they have challenged their members to write a blog everyday of April and have posted prompts. While PSYowa won't be posting everyday I decided to post a blog with one of their prompts. For any of you who have health related blogs check out their website for more information about the blog challenge.

Today's prompt: "What is an item you have kept with you that reminds you of an important time in your life?

Whether it was a good day, a stressful time, or a happy moment… why does this item remind you of that period of your life?"
One item that I have had with me since I was a little girl is a watch that my mother gave me that hangs on a chain. It was a gift she received as a girl from her parents that she passed on to me. My mother's family did not have a lot of money and there were 9 children, so gifts like this were very precious. There are multiple reasons that this is an item I have kept with me. For obvious reasons it reminds me of my mom who has been one of my biggest supporters. It also reminds me to to value and take time to enjoy the gifts I have been given.

I think the watch also reminds me to appreciate that time is short. It prompts me to remain in the present as much as possible and to think about the ways that I can live my life in the most meaningful way in the present moment. In a way it is my prompt to practice mindfulness - or as Jon Kabat Zinn would say "paying attention to the present moment on purpose without judgement."

If you would like to practice a little mindfulness yourself take a moment today and pretend for a second that you are an alien who has dropped in from Mars and you are experiencing what ever you are doing for the first time. Take in the sights, sounds, feelings, thoughts, smells, and tastes like you have never experienced them before. If your attention starts to wander that is okay. It is perfectly normal for a mind that hasn't been trained to stay in the present to wander. Just gently lead your mind back to what you are focusing on.

Teen Depression and Suicide

I am very sad to say that this post has been inspired by the two recent suicides of middle school students in Iowa. Suicide is tragic no matter who is affected by it, but there is something especially tragic about the loss of a young life. Unfortunately, it is the third-leading cause of death for people ages 15 to 24 according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention.  Many parents in our communities are now struggling with questions about how they can recognize signs of teen depression or warning signs of suicide.

Some common signs of depression include: sadness, irritability, tearfulness, withdrawal from friends and family, loss of interest in formerly enjoyed activities, restlessness, agitation, feelings of worthlessness, guilt, lack of motivation, fatigue, sleep issues, and sudden difficulties in concentration. Some parents may say “Don’t all teens act that way?” It is true many teens are moody, tired, or withdrawn because of the challenges that come along with being a teen. It is important to let your teen know that if things ever feel overwhelming or hopeless that they can talk to you or you can help them get to someone to talk to.

Everyone expresses depression differently. Teen depression often looks different from adult depression. Some things to keep an eye out for are:

• Irritability- Teens are more likely than adults to express irritability rather than sadness when depressed. If you notice your teen is snapping at you or siblings more often than usual it could be a sign of depression.
• Physical complaints – Depressed teens will often struggle with things like headaches, stomach aches, diarrhea, or nausea.
• Changes in social patterns- Adults often isolate from everyone whereas teens may change their social group, only hang out with certain people, or pull away from friends or family only. Be aware of changes in teens’ social habits.
• Low self-esteem- Depression can trigger and intensify feelings of ugliness, shame, failure, and unworthiness. This can be evident in sensitivity to criticism.
• Academic concerns- Depression can cause fatigue, lack of motivation, and concentration difficulties. If your teen is having poor attendance, a drop in grades, or you are seeing new frustration with schoolwork it could be a sign of depression.
• Drug and alcohol abuse- Teens may use drugs or alcohol to “self-medicate” or avoid what they are feeling. Unfortunately they are many substances that teens can abuse including street drugs, prescription drugs, inhalants, cough syrup, alcohol, and synthetic cannabis. It is a good idea for teachers and parents to educate themselves about the types of substances being abused and signs of abuse.
• Changes in online behavior - Teens may try to escape from or deal with how they are feeling by going online. Changes in the amount of internet use, types of sites visited, or things that teens are posting may be indicators of depression.
• Risky or impulsive behavior – Teens may be demonstrating high risk behaviors like drugs, sex, and shoplifting, fast driving, or engaging in vandalism when dealing with depression.

If you feel like your teen may be struggling with depression talk to them.  Avoid asking many questions. Feeling interrogated often causes teens to shut down. Let them know that you are there and willing to hear whatever they may need to talk about. Try not to lecture or minimize feelings. Some things to avoid saying:

• “Do something about it”
• “Just go have some fun”
• “Stop thinking about it”
•  “There are a lot of people who are worse off than you.”
• “Don’t feel sorry for yourself”
• “You don’t have a reason to be depressed”
• “You have so much to be happy about”
• “You are just trying to get attention”
Focus on validating their feelings and letting them know that whatever they are feeling is okay.  If you feel uncomfortable or unequipped to talk to them, speak with a psychologist or other mental health professional. The national suicide prevention hotline is 1-800-273-TALK (8255). They are available 24 hours a day to help.