SuperunknownVortex

It has been two weeks since I entered adult interpersonal group psychotherapy. I feel that this can be an opportunity for me to become more authentic. More specifically this can be an opportunity for me to first 1. recognize and then 2a. ‘work through’ my personal apprehensions (such as the fear of personal vulnerability) as well as 2b. strengthen my personal strengths.

I have experimented with different rhyme schemes for a while now. You can read my poetry at: http://intothesuperunknownvortex.blogspot.com/

I feel that I have relearned quite a lot about social psychology. For example:

1. Happiness is either a. in flux, or b. non-existent due to our tendency to a. adapt to the environment, and b. our social comparison against others to evaluate ourselves.
2. We generally are attracted to others who reciprocate and are on our level of attractiveness.
3. We severely underestimate environmental and social influences.
4. We are self-serving by nature and have a tendency to present or enhance ourselves in a positive manner.
5. Most of our thoughts and feelings taint the present.
6. Memories are distorted and reconstructed based upon present deficiencies.
7. Prejudice and stereotypes are inevitable when in-groups and out-groups compete for resources.
8. We prefer to operate within a range of conformity and familiarity. Familiarity does not breed contempt.
9. The First World is chronically unhappy.
10. Attractiveness is an important aspect of romance.
11. Most romance will not last (as we underestimate environmental and social influences as well as our tendency to adapt).
12. A stereotype is perpetuated when people are aware that they are stereotyped and thus act to fulfill said stereotype.
13. We tend to stereotype more when we’re stressed or tired.
14. We have implicit (unconscious) attitudes that take considerable amount of effort to alter. Our explicit (conscious) attitudes are under our conscious control.
15. We consistently rank ourselves better than our peers on subjective dimensions such as ethics and morality.
16. Optimism is both adaptive and pathological, and we are profoundly overconfident.
17. We seek to validate our self-schemas. This can be exhibited through self-fulfilling prophecies.
18. If something is available in our memory then we infer it to be an external standard.
19. There is no statistical correlation between what people say and what people do.
20. Compliance can and does take precedence over common sense.
21. We react against anyone or anything violating our sense of freedom. However, we can be coaxed to do anything by beginning with slight suggestions and then working upward from there.
22. We tend to blame the victim if they are depersonalized.
23. We are afraid of yet compliant to those in authority.