I had begun to grow concerned about my mark in my Psychology Learning Processes course. I started this course feeling confident having taken lots of courses about learning processes during my Education undergraduate. But then the prof started asking hard questions instead of saying "good job", which is what I am accustomed to, and I began to wonder. I respected him for his questions, and was nervous about how he was grading me.
This week has been my week to moderate the discussion forum and an honest self-assessment is that I have been somewhat reckless. I have answered every single post which is expected, in my opinion, but I haven't exactly facilitated the most academic of discussions in all cases. I have wandered off on tangents about Albert Bandura growing up in the sausage capital of Alberta complete with photographic evidence. I have snorted a little during discussions of sexual dysfunction and I have told ridiculous stories about social learning theory as it connects to the fact that my father doesn't smoke and tucks his sweat pants into his socks. It isn't that these things aren't relevant - they are - but some people don't see how, and I know this. I do it anyway. I was unsure if my professor would understand, and yet was unable to contain the energy that overtook me in this process.
Today he sent me a note telling me that he enjoyed my week of moderation because of its balance between academic discussion and humour. So I guess he understands me better than I trusted him to. Maybe I should go see him for therapy. It used to be a requirement for everyone attaining a Masters degree in Counselling to go through therapy. I've never done that, but I probably should.
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I gave the zebra back for a number of reasons, not the least of which being that I had reached spot numero uno on the Persons of Interest Board RW constructed in the Humanities prep room. The clues he'd connected to me were astounding. Not the obvious things, like the fact that the theatre has a multitude of hiding spaces, but strange things like, "Lisa- not as friendly lately" were scrawled on the board. With my friendliness in question, which normally rates 2 out of 10, I had to give in. I don't want to dip below 2. I didn't tell him it was me, I just slipped Zippy back into his spot as though he'd been there all along. Now I have to think hard, when there's more time to waste, about how to start this over again.
Meanwhile I seem to have achieved some measure of credibility with the strangers in the giant building in which I work who think that a reputation as a thief, a zebra rustler, makes me a better person. In psychological terms we're talking about antisocial reprehensible behaviour being positively reinforced externally and vicariously. Bandura would be pleased. I see him with a bite of sausage in his mouth congratulating me on my accomplishments.
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2 comments:
I wasn't aware that therapy was no longer required of Masters candidates in Counseling Psychology. Hmmm. I don't think I agree with their reasoning, whatever it was, in doing away with it.
It was probably good that you returned the rustled zebra, at least for now. You proved to yourself that you could take him, and should be proud of your accomplishment.
I don't know that this therapy requirement has been waived by all universities, maybe just mine. And I'm not sure if I agree with it either. Even prisoners benefit from mandated therapy, in general. Maybe it just costs too much. It certainly can't be because we've been found to be too stable to need it.
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