Portfolio: The Watcher1The WatcherEvery day of life people make observations of the world around them. It is a fundamental aspect of living, and incorporates more than the simple interpretation of lights and colors being projected into the brain. As a Psychology major, I have to know the deeper meaning present in situations in order to succeed. In fact, the foundation of research is based upon the idea of making accurate observations and determining the principal cause of these observations. I define observation as understanding a situation, both what is visible and what may be hidden, while adapting to potential changes and active reflection. Observation is both internal and external, and can incorporate other senses, prior experiences, and knowledge to create a greater understanding of the world around the observer. This reflective paper will focus on how I have used observations in different facets of life to interpret a situation, gain deeper knowledge of information, and even learn about myself. By creating a portfolio, I can incorporate this reflective essay alongside my artifacts in a visible representation of my college years and how I have changed in that span. This portfolio grants me the chance to show the world and myself what I have accomplished in personal and academic environments. My development as a social scientist is evident in the artifacts I use in order to reflect and show the progress I have made.A variety of artifacts from different parts of my college experience make up the bulk of this portfolio. An artifact is any visible or tangible representation of a significant event that I have experienced. My artifacts include academic, personal, and professional situations that have necessitated my use of observing and developed my role as a social scientist. They incorporate both formal and informal papers, film as a medium for reflection, and significant personal experiences. Reflecting upon these artifacts reveals both the strengths and drawbacks of being a man of observation as opposed to one of action. Many of these artifacts work off each other to create a larger image; one that shows how influential the concept of observing is not only for myself, but for my life choices as well. With that being said, I will now begin looking through my artifacts and reflecting upon how they have shaped me as an individual since I entered college, starting with one of my earliest courses studying films. Das Leben der AnderenI cant think of a better film to symbolize the importance of making observations than the Oscar-winning Das Leben der Anderen. I have watched this film three times: first for Honors Film 1102 with a focus on film analysis; a second time for my German 2202 course to practice hearing German; and finally just for the enjoyment of rewatching a fantastic film. I will use my reflection I wrote for the film class as the representative artifact. The title of the movie translates to The Lives of Others and it was the first major film directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck. He is also known for his latest film The Tourist starring Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp.The film follows the assignment of a Stasi captain named Gerd Wiesler, played by Ulrich Mhe. Hauptmann (German for Captain) Wiesler is considered one of the best at what he does: watching people. In the opening scene, he is teaching a class on the art of interrogation. Despite the vicious treatment, he is almost artistic in his efficiency and his ability to observe ones reactions. He is brutal and unflinching in his work, and is a valuable asset to the secret police and thanks to his skill, Wiesler is given an assignment that could provide a strong boost to his career. The job is spying on Georg Dreyman, an East German playwright who is suspected of treachery to the German Democratic Republic. The GDR, or simply East Germany as it was colloquially called, The reality is that a high-ranking member of the socialist party has affection for the playwrights girlfriend and wants him found guilty. Although Wiesler detests the task, he obliges and begins spying on Georg Dreyman and his girlfriend. Over the course of the film, Wiesler becomes what he has been many times before: a ghost, a fly on the wall, listening in on every conversation and move in Dreymans apartment. As Dreyman begins writing an untraceable article the shines light on the high rate of suicide in East Germany, Wieslers tactics change. He is no longer trying to uncover treachery on the successful artist; instead, he is attempting to help and allow Dreyman to continue in safety. Wiesler takes enormous professional risks to conceal Dreymans actions. After Wieslers betrayal is discovered, he is stripped of all his accomplishments and is sent to work a menial job alongside other demoted Stasi agents opening letters to be exanimated for potential treachery against the socialist party.In spite of the harsh nature of his work, Wiesler still has humanity left inside him. His skill in the art of observation, even though it was originally for the nefarious purposes of the Stasi, brings about positivity in the world. Wiesler gave up everything he had climbing the Stasi ladder in order to preserve Dreymans freedom of speech on such an important topic. Both men are artists in often-underappreciated fields: Dreyman creates plays that support the GDR, a very controversial subject, while Wiesler is proficient in the art of watching, waiting, and truly observing. In the end, only Dreyman retains his fame and ability to express his craft. After Wieslers demotion, the former officer spends the years leading up to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the East-West German reunification stuck working in the basement of the Stasi. Wieslers masterpiece isnt truly appreciated until Dreyman uncovers the truth about the events that allowed him to work in peace and avoid being discovered by the other members of the Stasi. After reading the file Wiesler wrote, Dreyman writes a book and dedicates it to HGW XX/7 which was Wieslers identification as a secret police official. Wiesler is clearly pleased when he finally learns the appreciation Dreyman showed him for his work. The skill at which Wiesler excelled was unorthodox and first used for an immoral cause. Hes the type of figure to fade into the background and shun attention or scrutiny. This should not discredit the true mastery of the craft Wiesler displayed. His role and actions in this film portray the significance of truly observing and understanding. Observing is much more than just watching. It involves other senses: both sounds and physical feelings are all intertwined in real observation. A testament to Wieslers prowess is the simple fact that he underwent a metamorphosis as a result of spying on Dreyman. This shows the power observation can have. Wiesler did more than just observe Dreymans actions; he learned and adjusted his viewpoint to incorporate the new information. This is another example of observing leading to conscious improvement in life.My knowledge of German history contributed to how I viewed the film. I was able to understand how powerful the Stasi and officials like Gerd Wiesler were in enforcing East-German laws as well as the implications of living under such a rigid system. Reunification of East and West Germany was met with some difficulty in large part due to the nearly overwhelming differences in policies between the two halves. After World War I and II, the Third Reich, and the Holocaust, the Stasis procedures were another reason for East Germans to become reclusive and untrusting, contributing to the fear of abandoning the East German lifestyle despite all its blatant flaws. Like Wiesler, I prefer to take a similar approach by thinking and watching before acting. I try to have a better understanding of a situation before I make a decision. Theres an old saying I have heard a few times before: When you assume, you make an ass out of you and me. Wiesler could have simply made the quick decision to turn Dreyman in to the Stasi. The article about Eastern German suicides would never have been published, Wiesler continues to climb up the party ladder, and Dreyman goes to prison. Instead, he chose to gain more knowledge about the circumstances, which leads to a more positive outcome for the world. Watching this film as a freshman really made me think about the prospect of being one of the watchers instead of a doer. Seeing the difference Wiesler made by actively observing shows how the characteristic can be a powerful one in everyday life. My observational skills arent anywhere near the level of Hauptmann Wiesler, but I am glad I have taken this path. Although my skills as an observer are constantly growing and I still have a long way to go, there are moments where I am proud of myself. I have been described as a good listener, which is a key component of being a successful observer. This allows the people close to me to feel comfortable talking and opening up to me. I dont jump to conclusions or try to make them feel inferior. Watchers can develop meaningful relationships with the people around them, and this absolutely applies to my life. I dont have a wide net of acquaintances; instead, I have opted to develop more personal relationships that go beyond the occasional exchange of pleasantries and mindless chatter. I would rather my good friends and family members feel we have a close, meaningful relationship. This allows me to have a greater positive impact on their lives, which is a difficult task to accomplish. It also allows me to learn from them. I can see their emotions and experiences and observe how they have molded them. From this, I can perceive the world differently and update to a more well-rounded and positive viewpoint, just like Gerd Wiesler. Legacy of the Holocaust Interview and FilmI have learned the history of the Holocaust around a half-dozen times. Its taught in both middle school and high school, and its impossible to get through a German culture course without learning the implications of the Holocaust and the Nazi regime. Despite the recurrence of being taught this information, I looked upon it differently and with greater introspection in my Legacy of the Holocaust course. I enrolled in this course purely as an elective, outside my Psychology, German, and Honors classes, as an opportunity to combine all three educational backgrounds I have studied. We were shown different aspects of the Holocaust aside from the facts and important names and locations. We studied testimony from survivors from all types of backgrounds, along with documentaries and readings of different situations that occurred during the Holocaust. For this course I coordinated an interview with a group mate as part of a larger video assignment; this recorded interview will provide an artifact to incorporate into this reflection.My instructor assigned a project in which small groups of two or three students had to create a video comparison between any group of people oppressed in todays culture and those oppressed during the Holocaust, while also including a community involvement. I chose a particularly personal group by focusing our video on homosexual oppression. When I was younger, my mother came out of the closet, which was a very difficult process for her after growing up in the rural and often highly religious south. After seeing all she has dealt with and knowing her inner strength, I have adopted many of her views on human rights, especially with regards to rights for same-sex couples. I believe that the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) community experiences prejudice and injustice in their fight for rights. Although less extreme, their experiences share similarities to those of the Jewish faith and other minorities and what they endured in the years leading up to the Holocaust. Both groups have been identified as inferior humans, and have been stripped of many equal rights. Adolf Hitler was successfully voted into power in Germany, and was allowed to implement rules and laws oppressing people of many backgrounds. In a similar vein, policies have often been put into place to impede rights of gay couples, such as banning gay couples from adopting children and continuing to prevent legal gay marriages. People have often opposed the progression of civil rights throughout history; years of racial and gender discrimination occurred in America, India, and other nations while leaders such as Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, and Dr. King worked tirelessly to promote equal human rights in the face of overwhelming opposition. A few months prior to my enrollment in this course, North Carolina overwhelmingly voted in support of Amendment One. This amendment stated:Marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State. This section does not prohibit a private party from entering into contracts with another private party; nor does this section prohibit courts from adjudicating the rights of private parties pursuant to such contracts.With the passing of this piece of legislation, two different but congruent results were unfortunately realized. The first is that same sex marriages and other civil unions are not recognized to hold any legal standing. This stripped rights from gay couples, as well as straight couples that decided against marriage but still desired the legal benefits. Some benefits that were no longer available included shared employee benefits and legal protections. The second consequence of this bills passing is the visible fulfillment of the discrimination North Carolina holds against the LGBT community. Such blatant prejudice parallels the stripping of rights from Jewish citizens under the rule of Adolf Hitler. As I dove into creating the video, I saw the similarities emerge, which fueled my resolve. Unfortunately, as per the design of the video creation website, the final video was deleted upon completion of the semester. What remains is an interview held by my partner and I at a local LGBT discussion and support group.Although I decided to have my group mate Megan conduct the interview with the group leader, I created the questions, coordinated the meeting, and filmed the session. Afterwards, we sat in and participated in the nightly discussion. I heard the stories of those that were present for the group, including a woman who had recently completed a gender change, lesbian and gay individuals, and even some heterosexuals who wished to join the discussion. They shared stories of discrimination, both personal and large-scale, and I gained a better understanding of the struggle my mother and stepmother have gone through. The pain of knowing people feel you are beneath them, of having friends, family, and even society and the government look down on you and believe you deserve fewer rights is a terrible feeling that unfortunately reoccurs in different communities throughout history. In order to comprehend the stories I had just heard, I had to open my eyes to the world, both past and present. There can be no reflection or introspection without observation. I needed to not only see and hear the discussion participants speaking and sharing, but I had to perceive the pain and hardships they went through. The greatest strength of being an observer is in being able to empathize with people and know their emotions. Sharing others joy, pain, frustration, or sorrow can really enhance the adventure known as life.Social and Personality Psychology JournalsWhile my identity as a social scientist was still formulating, I enrolled in a variety of classes that fell under the branch of social psychology to complete my major. One course examined the combined role of the environment and genetic predispositions in the growth and maturity of young people. Social and Personality Development took a deeper look into the nature versus nurture debate, exploring how children and adolescents change and grow under the influences of the people and situations around them in combination with their biological predispositions. We wrote a one-page journal every other week in which we began to explore our interests in social psychology and development, and these collective reflections will be their own artifact for my portfolio.It was a fun journey allowing my interests to roam. As I explored various psychology concepts that caught my attention, I was given the opportunity to look within myself. This served a purpose beyond asking what I thought looked cool; I began to question who I was and how the knowledge I gained in psychology applied to me individually. I began to ask myself questions that had dwelled in the back of my mind: How did I become who I am today? Why is there such a dichotomy between how I look at myself and how I view other people? Can I change my outlook and myself and become a better person?These journals allowed me to explore my interests within the concept of personality development. For example, in my first reflection I noted my anticipation for studying the development of self-esteem and confidence in future chapters. Not only does self-esteem play a significant role in individual success, it was a very personal topic for me. Through most of my life I have struggled with issues of low self-esteem and poor self worth. I was curious to look ahead and understand the role both personality and upbringing play in its development.In a later entry I wrote about identity development. While reading the related chapter in the textbook, I learned more about how parental roles play a significant role in developing secure attachments during youth. The presence and strength of quality attachments during childhood development appears to be crucial to formulating a strong identity. While I had very secure attachments with both of my parents, my best friend grew up with a poor goodness-of-fit with his father, due to significantly different personalities and innate temperaments. Their relationship led to an avoidant attachment that I believe still affects him as he grows into adulthood. I also noted that my own struggles with my personal self worth could partially be attributed to my identity struggle. I discussed how a theory proposed by Erikson on identity development seemed to hold true while I was growing in middle and high school. Eriksons stages of psychosocial development include a phase in adolescence in which a conflict between identity and role confusion forces individuals to question who they are and who they can become. I never had any answer, and Im still not sure if I have come up with anything. While in high school I questioned my identity and who I was as a person. I hovered between identity diffusion and moratorium. (Haynes, 2013)My personal issues with my identity have affected me most of my life, and I am still learning to overcome and live with them. Developing an identity comes from within, and I needed to be able to look within to truly understand myself. Thats the beauty of observation; it truly is both external and internal. Practicing allows me to become better acquainted with my true self. This remains a work-in-progress as I grow into my upcoming adult years of responsibility and maturity.AnnieAdopting my dog Annie has been one of the most rewarding and frustrating experiences of my life. While I was growing up, my parents had a golden retriever named Lucky. She was a wonderful, sweet dog, but I was too young to have any detailed memories with her. After my parents divorced, my mom got a new dog, a lovable Brittany Spaniel named Molly. Compared to Luckys laid-back personality, Molly was a hyper brown blur of fur racing around the backyard. I learned as a kid to like dogs. They become a part of your life, with all their own quirks and personality characteristics. It was one of the things I missed most when I went to college. I looked forward to they day when I could have a dog of my own, and I finally made that happen in July of 2014. A picture of her will be the artifact to represent how owning my own dog has impacted me.When I filled out the paperwork to adopt Annie, she was timid, quiet, and jumped at any sudden movements. She was approximately one year old and had already been shuffled around a few times. She arrived at the shelter and was adopted when she was about eight or nine months old; the family that took her then returned her a month later. She bounced between the Humane Society and a foster home for a couple months before I adopted her. The separation anxiety and attachment issues she developed from being moved around dont require observational prowess to figure out. She whines whenever I leave her with my roommates and she cries and destroys my room when she is left alone. I cant go into a different room for more than two minutes without her trotting behind me in a matter of moments. As soon as I open the door after returning home, shes a white blur of energy sprinting around my apartment barking at the top of her lungs. With all her initial problems, I have noticed a number of improvements in her temperament. For example, she has become more trusting of other people. She is happy spending the afternoon with my roommates after she finishes worrying about me. When I take her to the dog park, I can see her smile and feel happy. Our first trips resulted in her waiting by the door to get away, and now she never wants to leave. Annie is rambunctious and playful with her canine friends she sees a few times a week. In spite all the annoying tendencies I deal with from Annie, I cant think of any reason I would want her out of my life. Shes cracked my phone, eaten aluminum foil, peed in almost every corner of my room, chewed an entire package of ink pens, and has still done a ton of good for me. Walking Annie for 15 minutes each day has kept me healthier than before I got her. It may not seem like much, but the fresh air and quiet is calming and helps me clear my head. I feel more responsible now that I have to actually plan ahead before going somewhere. I am the sole provider for another living being, which is a strange feeling. Paying for her food, vet trips, medicine, and other expenses has made me smarter with money. Owning a dog isnt cheap, so I need to make sure I spend money on the right things and to buy smarter, but not necessarily cheaper. Its also nice to see her excitement when I come home. Knowing someone is happy to see you while returning home every day is a great feeling. Struggling with depression has made it difficult to feel accepted or wanted in many aspects of life; however, I know that Annie will still be ecstatic when she hears me walk through the door. Even though shes not the most affectionate dog Ive been around, I can still feel the trust and acceptance she shows me.Like many other college students, I have experienced my fair share of emotional issues and anxiety. I have spoken to therapists and have spent time understanding the nature of my depression and the relationship I share with it. There have been various points in my life where joy is hard to come by; I knew there was happiness and love in the world, even nearby, but I couldnt see it. Observing is far more than physically opening my eyes and allowing the different visualizations to represent an image in my brain. When I practice deep observation, I can get much more than a combination of colors, textures, and depth. I allow myself to not only see, but also feel and accept, the love and support people close to me share. It wasnt until after I adopted Annie that I finally talked to my parents about some of the problems I was having. Seeing how Annie behaves plays a large role in me figuring out what she wants. As a dog, she cannot speak and directly tell me what she wants. I need to read her body language, how she is barking, or her movements to determine what she needs from me. Interacting with her has helped me develop as a watcher, one who observes using more than just my eyes. I know when she is scared, happy, energetic, needs to use the bathroom, and any other number of behaviors. I can clearly see some of what I have learned in my psychology courses in her behaviors. For example, when she hears me putting on socks and understands it means I am going somewhere, a clear case of classical conditioning. She will trot to the front door and expect me to take her with me I can carry this practice into my regular interactions in life. She will also exhibits operant learning to convey when she needs to poop. She walks between my bed and the wall and pokes her head behind the curtain to look out the window, then proceeds to sit and stare at me. After this I take her outside, and she has eventually learned this behavior. People will give off different signals depending on how they feel. Body language, voice, expression, movements, and other signs can convey a persons feelings and mood. In fact, animals and people share many similarities. I firmly believe that understanding how animals react to different stimuli and experiences is not too different from how humans behave. Both experience joy, fear, anger, frustration, and a wide array of different emotions. By picking up on those feelings through more subtle cues, no matter the species from which they originate, better actions can be taken. This leads to superior experiences for both the observer and the subject being watched. However, in order to figure out how to deal with Annie, I first needed to learn to actually observe.Comparative Psychology PapersBefore I even considered adopting my own dog, I learned that understanding the behaviors of animals, as well as the underlying causes of those behaviors, was a valuable asset. In my Comparative Psychology course, we were given an assignment to closely observe animals for two separate papers. The first was a two-hour observation of a domesticated animal, while the second was a one-hour assignment to observe a specific wild animal. For each of these assignments, the professor stressed the importance of simply making strong observations of how the subjects were behaving before attempting to determine the reason for their behaviors. These papers are another opportunity in which I practiced careful observation in scientific setting, and will function as an artifact for my portfolio.The subject for my first assignment was my moms dog Molly. In order to actually get to the true point of this paper, I had to ignore the thoughts I previously held about why Molly acted certain ways. Over the two hours, I made detailed notes about her actions every five minutes. I compiled a small chart in which I listed all the different behaviors she exhibited in the two hours, which included behaviors such as panting, scratching, and alert-barking. Included alongside each of these behaviors was a description that specified various physical details, like tail location and speed of breathing. I also made note of environmental stimuli that occurred during the time intervals. In order to eventually form an idea about particular behaviors, I had to understand both the details of the behavior itself and the situation in which it was exhibited. The second paper followed a similar idea, but on a much more difficult subject. I chose to observe the geese that routinely patrol the campus of UNC Charlotte. My occasional interactions with these feathery creatures never ended with positive results, and they were a convenient group of subjects to watch. As I had done the first time around, I made a list of the various behaviors they displayed over the hour-long observation, along with a description. I recorded in five-minute intervals and made sure to observe the different behaviors displayed simultaneously by the geese as well as the environmental stimuli that were present. I watched as they hissed, flapped, and honked their way around campus. At first glance, this appeared to be a strange task that would force me to stare at my dog or some pissed off geese for a while; however, there was certainly real value in this assignment, both for my PSYC 3110 course and my development as a social scientist. I had to truly learn how to watch and understand what Im seeing. I had to resist the urge to assume Molly was walking around because she needed to go outside, or that the geese were hissing because they are inherently evil birds. These papers necessitated my ability to first observe, and then interpret once I had better information. Although my grasp of this concept was rudimentary at first, it was further developed as I matured through college, both in formal research settings and informal interactions and observations. The more I look back on this assignment, as odd as it first seemed, the greater appreciation I have for completing it and taking it seriously.In a scientific setting, it is crucial to understand all aspects of the subjects and environment before forming any conclusions. A good researcher cant ignore the setting of an experiment and the extraneous factors in the subjects while observing the results. Data is significantly affected by dynamics beyond the dependent variable. If a study were conducted to observe the effects of caffeine on attention, a good researcher would need to know more about the participants than just demographics. Important information such as current mood, fatigue, and other variables can strengthen the depth of the research and is necessary to mitigate confounding variables in empirical research.This lesson transcends purely scientific-based applications. I have taken the aspect of observing before concluding into much of my personal interactions. It has helped me understand why people are acting a certain way before jumping to a negative conclusion. Maybe somebody recently experienced a traumatic event that explains the negative attitude displayed or sloppy performance. I dont automatically dismiss someone or put him or her down based on a limited sample of interaction. I attempt to understand more than just the immediate behaviors. Noticing how speech patterns, appearance, and body language can show more than just words and actions has lead me to be a more compassionate and patient person. I would not have developed into this person without a willingness to observe more than what is blatantly visible. Game TheoryWhile I was a sophomore and was still learning what it meant to actively observe, I enrolled in an honors course that revealed another method in which keen observational skills can be utilized. Game Theory and Strategic Behavior covered how players interact in games with different understandings of the rules and information about the game; it affects the different strategies employed by the players in how they aim to win and achieve their goals. The game can be any situation in life, whether it is a board game like chess, or the classic Prisoners Dilemma example at the heart of many discussions or lectures over the simple basics of game theory. The final paper I wrote for the course serves as a strong example of what I took away from the course and will be used as the artifact for this reflection.I took this course with Professor Jonathon Perry, who spent his days intertwined in the legal systems of North Carolina as an Assistant District Attorney in Union County. On weekday evenings he spent his time helping students wrap their brains around complex concepts in courses I took such as Game Theory and Global Connections through the University Honors Program, but also many politically- and judicially-oriented classes. Not only did his expertise shine through in his lectures, but also his passion was clearly evident. He brought an enthusiasm that extended beyond the simple classroom requirements. He allowed us to expand our minds, and encouraged us to truly learn and understand what he was teaching us. My favorite example of game theory is in the first example I was taught: the archetypal prisoners dilemma. I stated in my Game Theory final paper: The Prisoners Dilemma epitomizes game theory. It consists of two rational, intelligent players with complete information. They know it is in their collective best interests to cooperate, but [each players individual best] interest to talk and rat out the other player. This early example was very useful in my understanding of game theory and how even rational players can make ill-advised decisions while using game theory. (Haynes, 2013)Learning about the prisoners dilemma made learning all the different concepts of the course much easier to learn. I also made note of some of the various concepts shared between game theory and my other courses, especially in psychology. I happened to take both Comparative Psychology and Game Theory simultaneously, without even imagining the possible similarities they shared. In psychology, animals exhibit social interaction and behavior just like humans. It goes to show just how much animals have in common with people. The prisoners dilemma was once again used to explain game theory, but in a different context. Animals will occasionally work together when they know it is in their collective best interest, but this is far from a guarantee. Game theory is evident in the concept of reciprocity. Animals act in their own best interest for survival, the basis of evolution; however, cooperation can occur during repeated interactions. Many animals test this by working together initially. If their first interaction succeeds they will continue, but if one defects from the other the cooperation will halt. This emulates the core of game theory in people: that successful or failed cooperation will dictate future actions.One of the most fundamental aspects of game theory is knowing the rules and how the game works, while complete information also plays a central role. Without strong observations of the situation, a player cannot obtain a complete understanding of the other players and the games rules. This can create a serious disadvantage for the player with incomplete information. By practicing situational awareness, players can improve their information and, in turn, improve the payoffs gained upon completion of the game. There are often circumstances in which a player simply needed to pay greater attention to significantly alter the results. In a game like chess, if one player doesnt pay attention to the strategy being used by the opponent, they will be at a substantial disadvantage.The concepts in game theory were much more valuable in my growth as a social scientist than I had anticipated on my first day of the semester. It showed me how people may act rationally or irrationally given the circumstances. If they are looking out for their own best interests they will behave differently than if they are looking out for the groups collective welfare. Different situations can be analyzed based on their rules to allow for better results. I will be able to take this knowledge into the rest of my life as I interpret decisions others and I have made. Psychology Research PaperMy first formal experience with research and collecting data came while I took Research Methods II, which culminated in my formal research paper. This research paper will serve as its own artifact. Completing this task was a significant point in my undergraduate studies as it incorporated various aspects of psychology I had studied, especially in social psychology courses, and allowed me to formulate my own hypothesis and research. The point of the class was simple: create my own research paper. Regrettably, my brain first thought going into shutdown-mode would be the optimal action. I was fortunate to be in a class with a strong structure with due dates for different pieces spaced out throughout the course of the semester, along with a professor who worked with my peers and me every step of the way. She convinced me that the point of this research was not to create a groundbreaking masterpiece that solves all the biggest questions of humankind, but instead to get our feet wet and understand the intricacies of conducting research. Hearing this let my brain step away from the panic button and begin formulating ideas for my paper.It is widely expressed that people only research what actually interests them. Marine biologists will study the ocean and the different life forms that inhabit the depths of our planet. Nuclear physicists will experiment on atoms at the molecular level and study processes such as fusion and fission. As a budding social scientist, I decided to conduct my research on the relationship between the presence of significant parental transitions while growing up and the life satisfaction of the participants once they reached adulthood. As a child of divorce with many friends who have also gone through a parental split, I was curious to see if there was a negative correlation between parental transitions, especially divorce, and life satisfaction. After creating an official thesis for my research, I set about creating the official proposal that would outline my study. I created surveys to be completed by willing participants to determine life satisfaction, parental transitions, and demographic questions such as age and gender. The final total of participants came to 168, the highest total in the class, which allowed for greater sensitivity in detecting statistical significance in determining the results.Despite the initial feeling of doom of the course, I enjoyed conducting this study and creating the paper. The topic was of significant interest to me, and it was fascinating seeing all the data from the surveys being submitted. Unfortunately, my hypothesis was not supported; in fact, the data showed lower life satisfaction for individuals who reported no significant parental transitions. On the 35-point scale for life satisfaction, with 7 indicating complete dissatisfaction with life and 35 showing high levels of satisfaction, the participants that indicated experiencing parental transitions had an average of 21.06 compared to 20.55 for the group without parental transitions while growing up. However, due to the high standard deviations of both groups in the independent variable, the difference between the groups was not statistically significant at the .05 level. Conducting research is a critical part of the life of a social scientist. Whether it is a formal experiment in a controlled setting or a simple quasi experiment like my study, conducting research is a crucial tool for any observer. There are two significant reasons for this importance. The first is the role of the researcher. By coordinating and managing all the necessary parts of an experiment, researchers take on the role of both an observer and an actor. They must implement the method for the experiment, be it a survey or a drug administration, and ensure the process runs smoothly. On the other hand, researchers must ensure they pay close attention to what is occurring. They must understand more than the chemical reaction occurring from a placebo as opposed to a caffeine pill; good researchers need to see the entirety of the experiment, from the participants to the setting to the implementation. They must be heavily involved while maintaining distance and not skewing the results. This is the fine line walked by observers in the field of science: one must see and organize without altering the measurement or recording of results. I caught a glimpse of this importance while completing my animal observation papers, but gained a richer understanding of the process through writing this paper. Conducting research is a significant component of the professional life of a social scientist, and very well could become a daily task in my future. Fortunately, I already have experience as a watcher in a professional setting. JJs Red HotsA first job can mean a lot to a person. I got a bit of a late start and didnt enter the taxable work force until I was a rising sophomore in college. As my dad began worrying about how I was going to spend my summer, he suggested I talk to one of his former colleagues who happened to be opening a restaurant. After finding out a bit more information, I ventured into downtown Charlotte and found the building, which was in the midst of renovations. There was an informal job fair surrounded by the sounds of construction and the traffic buzzing down East Boulevard. I interviewed with the general manager Mr. Williford. We only spoke for about ten minutes, but despite my unfamiliarity with the interview process and lack of employment history, I was hired alongside a number of other applicants to help open the restaurant. During the course of my employment, I saw a noticeable growth in how I viewed and interacted with people. My original work shirt with deep grease stains and holes from the fabric being worn down is a testament to all the effort I put into JJs and the change that occurred in me. This shirt will be the artifact symbolizing my time at JJs.Despite my novelty to the working world, I stayed at JJs for over two years. I worked with over a dozen different bosses, whether it was a manager, assistant manager, the owner, or the head of the kitchen. I had about sixty different coworkers from all walks of life. I became good friends with some, and learned when to pick my battles with others; however, in my two years there, I never had any real issues with any of my coworkers. In all my time there the best thing I learned was the importance of reading and understanding people. This was a lesson I picked up in many different ways from a few different coworkers and it will carry over into almost anything else I do.Mr. Williford, or Willy as he preferred being called, was one of the first to show me this aspect of life. I can think of numerous occasions where Willy used observations of someones behaviors to have a better understanding of a situation. One day, I was in the middle of one of many double shifts (12 to closing) and was still fatigued from working the same shift the day before. During the reset time after lunch and before dinner, the only front of house workers on the clock were me and a coworker named Tammy. Despite the mountain of things that needed to be done after a busy lunch rush, I was not given much help. Tammy was off to the side talking to some friends, and my frustration continued to grow. Within two minutes of arriving for his shift, Willy was able to read the frustration from my voice and behaviors. We talked, he paid for my lunch during my break, and he eased the irritation from a very difficult workday. There are many other times Willy was able to read if someone was annoyed, upset, sad, or an other emotion that could end up being detrimental. Instead of just ignoring it, he tried to figure out the best way to handle the situation and made a better workplace for everyone there. Unfortunately he was let go a year into opening, which created a revolving door of less successful managers that still hadnt stopped spinning when I left a few months ago. Through all the different situations, I truly believe I grew and improved as an observer, even if that wasnt my intention when starting my employment. The ability to observe didnt occur in just a few days; instead, it was a cumulative process that took many months to develop through failed and successful interactions with the people around me. I watched customers body language and listened to the tone of their voices in an attempt to determine how I could best serve them. Many coworkers came to me as a friend or for advice in work or personal issues. In spite of all the turbulence I experienced during my tenure at JJs, I created many fond memories, developed some positive relationships, and broadened my horizons in ways I didnt think could possibly happen when I started a measly summer job at a small hot dog restaurant. Theres one coworker I have in mind that I really had to work hard to figure out. Miss Gloria and I were the only two remaining employees still working at JJs when the two-year anniversary was celebrated. She worked in the kitchen, had eight fingers, was missing teeth, and on almost any given day it was considered fortunate to understand half of what she was saying. What I was able to pick up from her was that she had worked in the industry for decades and was planning on retiring after moving on from JJs. She liked to gossip and was a pretty heavy smoker. Most of all, she didnt like being forced to do the entire restaurants dishes. I picked up on something that for some reason seemed to elude many of the other individuals that worked there: help Miss Gloria with the dishes on occasion and she will be on your side through thick and thin. She was not a woman who avoided confrontation; she would tell people directly that she was upset with them. It became somewhat of a running joke that Miss Gloria wasnt going to do everyone in the restaurants dishes. Over the course of our time working together, Miss Gloria probably did more dishes for me than any coworker. It wasnt because she hated everyone else, I was able to observe how she disliked being disrespected and looked at as the person that should wash all the cookware. I wouldnt just leave anything there, I would help wash or put other dishes away, anything to show that I wasnt trying to just force her into doing some of our work. By learning to read her emotions, and observing the signals that were being given off, I could understand the best action to take. This saved me from a lot of the frustration some of my coworkers experienced. Learning and practicing this skill has opened up all sorts of new doors to explore in life. I saw quite a few coworkers lose their tempers, lose their jobs, or even lose themselves because of poor situational understanding. Plenty of petty disagreements and arguments could have been avoided if people simply learned to read a situation better. By reading others and trying to figure out whats really going on, I was able to not only avoid being in the middle of conflict, but often helped to mitigate and cool down other situations. Various times, coworkers felt comfortable discussing their individual problems with me, both professional and personal.There were even situations in which a manager asked me to settle disputes. One night, there was friction between the manager and one of my coworkers. The basis of this tension was in a misunderstanding between the two; each assumed the employee would have different responsibilities. I gave each of them a third perspective, while using my education to understand how a simple miscommunication could create such a situation. The combination of burnout, mental and physical fatigue, and an already poor relationship nearly culminated in an outburst from both individuals and potential termination of employment. No job is free of stress, but restaurants often create a tenser environment. The business is filled with turnover, and employees typically have no interest in learning about each other. My background in psychology allowed me to understand how large amounts of stress can strain relationships between people and negatively affect work performance. The simple act of listening and expending a little effort towards showing that you pay attention can make things so much smoother. I am glad I spent the time watching and learning about people and my workplace. The friends and knowledge I have taken away cannot be overstated, but the positivity I saw, felt, and created are the true rewards of watching. I take comfort in knowing that I already have an understanding how personality is relevant at work.ConclusionLooking back, I can see the difference learning to observe has made in my life. By creating this portfolio, I can begin to understand the implications of my choice to live as a watcher. Observational awareness has significantly impacted my decisions, actions, and relationships in substantial ways. In fact, making careful observations was a fundamental aspect of creating this paper. The artifacts and the corresponding reflections necessitated careful observations. I needed to figure out how the artifact influenced me at the time, and how I view the situation while looking back and reflecting. I learned more about my college years and myself than I was anticipating. I didnt notice the similarities shared between different courses and topics of study. Many concepts are shared between disciplines, which faded my preconceived notions of a strict separation between different fields of study. I also gained an even greater appreciation for the reflective process. Through my reflections both within my honors courses and outside the honors program, I saw the growth I have made transitioning from a freshman to the social scientist I am today. All of my artifacts have their strengths, but a few are more significant to my development. Das Leben der Anderen really got my mind into the track of observing. Before taking any psychology courses or diving into the high-level honors curriculum, I learned what a true observer can accomplish. Adopting Annie was another major point in my growth. I needed to learn how to read her, and ended up learning how to read myself. Responsibility is a big part of owning a dog, which I had to learn on the job, but Annie really helped me to experience joy, an emotion I have often struggled to feel. Finally, JJs Red Hots showed me how observing can lead to success in just about any job or other setting. I lasted two years at the restaurant, was offered a promotion multiple times, served as a faux-mediator, and made some strong social connections. I was good at my job, and learning to see that was a long process for me to achieve. It gave me an opportunity to excel in a difficult environment, which fostered significant growth in myself as I dealt with customers, coworkers, and even myself.With all that I have accomplished the past few years, I can begin to look ahead and see where I can take myself. I am planning on studying Industrial/Organizational Psychology. I/O Psychology studies how psychology affects the workplace, such as personality measures, leadership styles, and social aspects of the workplace. I am unsure where this will take me, whether I enter the Human Resources field of employment or make my way to graduate school to earn a Masters degree. No matter where I end up, I can say with certainty my background as a social scientist and a watcher will give me great opportunities in the future.

ReferencesDas Leben der Anderen[Motion picture]. (2006). Germany: Buena Vista International.Haynes, J. (2013) Animal Observation Paper. Unpublished manuscript, University of North Carolina at Charlotte.Haynes, J. (2013) Game Theory and Strategic Behavior. Personal Collection of Jonathon Perry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina. Haynes, J. (2013) Game Theory Reflective Essay. Unpublished manuscript, University of North Carolina at Charlotte.Haynes, J. (2014) Parental Status and the Effect on a Childs Life Satisfaction. Unpublished manuscript, University of North Carolina at Charlotte.Haynes, J. (2013) Social and Personality Development Journals. Unpublished manuscript, University of North Carolina at Charlotte.