Social psychology
I love my social psychology class so much.
Today we were talking about something interesting that made me think of something even more interesting.
People of non-binary gender. Now, I don't know if this small group of people I have met is representative of the larger, small group of people across the world, but I notice something similar about them, in that they are all quiet, or cautious. Or they don't really know how to act, maybe. I'm not the only person who noticed this, other people have commented on it, so I may be right. But I wondered for a long time why this was.
So social psychology. We were talking about identity confusion, and this might have to do with it. Basically, there is a template for how you are supposed to act (say, one for relationships, or one for your life, etc.) You can choose to follow or not follow the template, and this decision will prepare you for the consequences. So when there is no template or conflicting templates, you have no goal, and thus no motivation. (For example, dieting. There are conflicting templates telling you to do totally opposite things, which is likely one of the reasons why most people find it hard to diet.)
This could be what's going on here. I wonder what the result of having no gender template is. Would we just adhere to other templates, or is this why we all seem to act uncertain in our interactions?
Also, by non-binary gender I mean the people who aren't male or female or male-genderqueer/female-genderqueer. I mean people who wouldn't be choosing to not follow the template for male or female. I mean people for whom there is no template.
That was just my thought. My other thought is that am I really confused about my templates because I have the hardest time motivating myself? And my third thought is that the more I learn about psychology the more I realize how I dislike a lot of these things, but how they are quite necessary. Then I think that maybe I don't want the world to be different, because I think that as long as I understand it, I am happy.
My only wish is that people would be more creative with their art. There most certainly wouldn't need to be consequences in fiction. I know the rule is that if you want to read a story, you should write it, but I don't totally believe in that. The part that makes all art good is violation of expectations, then resolution. It's kind of difficult to effectively violate your own expectations, or, at least, it will never be the same as when someone else does it to you.
This is also the problem with the small amount, because when you experience the same violation and resolution too many times, it's not as much a violation anymore.
Maybe it somehow wouldn't be as effective for most people. Maybe they would see it as a theme when it wasn't or as something unrealistic when it's not. Maybe this only works for me.
-----
A day later:
♫♪It's chilly in Montreal! I'm still pissed about fictional characters dying! I'm freaking out about my midterm! And my paper! I have no ideas yet! It snowed yesterday! I need an idea for my paper! Social psychology and social injustice! What can I measure?!♪♫ (Yes this is supposed to be a song.)
Halloween party! Scaring people in the haunted house was fun, until my feet started hurting from crouching on the ground so much. But the best part was seeing all the different cosplays. And having people hug me for wearing the Lucky Star uniform.
I miss Anime Boston!!!! ;_;
Please finals! Finish early next semester!
Today we were talking about something interesting that made me think of something even more interesting.
People of non-binary gender. Now, I don't know if this small group of people I have met is representative of the larger, small group of people across the world, but I notice something similar about them, in that they are all quiet, or cautious. Or they don't really know how to act, maybe. I'm not the only person who noticed this, other people have commented on it, so I may be right. But I wondered for a long time why this was.
So social psychology. We were talking about identity confusion, and this might have to do with it. Basically, there is a template for how you are supposed to act (say, one for relationships, or one for your life, etc.) You can choose to follow or not follow the template, and this decision will prepare you for the consequences. So when there is no template or conflicting templates, you have no goal, and thus no motivation. (For example, dieting. There are conflicting templates telling you to do totally opposite things, which is likely one of the reasons why most people find it hard to diet.)
This could be what's going on here. I wonder what the result of having no gender template is. Would we just adhere to other templates, or is this why we all seem to act uncertain in our interactions?
Also, by non-binary gender I mean the people who aren't male or female or male-genderqueer/female-genderqueer. I mean people who wouldn't be choosing to not follow the template for male or female. I mean people for whom there is no template.
That was just my thought. My other thought is that am I really confused about my templates because I have the hardest time motivating myself? And my third thought is that the more I learn about psychology the more I realize how I dislike a lot of these things, but how they are quite necessary. Then I think that maybe I don't want the world to be different, because I think that as long as I understand it, I am happy.
My only wish is that people would be more creative with their art. There most certainly wouldn't need to be consequences in fiction. I know the rule is that if you want to read a story, you should write it, but I don't totally believe in that. The part that makes all art good is violation of expectations, then resolution. It's kind of difficult to effectively violate your own expectations, or, at least, it will never be the same as when someone else does it to you.
This is also the problem with the small amount, because when you experience the same violation and resolution too many times, it's not as much a violation anymore.
Maybe it somehow wouldn't be as effective for most people. Maybe they would see it as a theme when it wasn't or as something unrealistic when it's not. Maybe this only works for me.
-----
A day later:
♫♪It's chilly in Montreal! I'm still pissed about fictional characters dying! I'm freaking out about my midterm! And my paper! I have no ideas yet! It snowed yesterday! I need an idea for my paper! Social psychology and social injustice! What can I measure?!♪♫ (Yes this is supposed to be a song.)
Halloween party! Scaring people in the haunted house was fun, until my feet started hurting from crouching on the ground so much. But the best part was seeing all the different cosplays. And having people hug me for wearing the Lucky Star uniform.
I miss Anime Boston!!!! ;_;
Please finals! Finish early next semester!