First of all, what is Genius hour? Genius hour is a time in class that allows us to explore topics we are passionate about whether it is academic or not.
For my Genius Hour project, I researched on psychology. I chose this topic because I was always interested in it, but I was never able to put the time and effort to learn more about it. My research question was “How do psychological experiments relate to our behaviors?”. I thought that this research question was a good way to approach my topic in a more easy and interesting way.
Firstly, I learned the definition of Psychology and the brief history of it. I was surprised that psychology as a separate, scientific discipline has existed for just over 100 years. Secondly, I studied Harry Harlow’s Surrogate Mother Experiment. This experiment proved that the bond between mother and child not only depended on the physiological needs, but also the emotional needs. Thirdly, I researched Albert Bandura’s Bobo Doll Experiment. In the early 1960’s there was a great debate between Nature vs. Nurture. Bandura’s experiment showed how the group of children who watched a video of an adult applying aggressive behavior towards the Bobo Doll were more aggressive to the Bobo doll than the group who watched an adult passively playing with it. Lastly, I studied Bibb Latané and John Darle’s Kitty Genovese Case. The study in this case demonstrated the so called “bystander effect” and how the existence of others discourages an individual from intervening in an emergency situation.
The things I learnt through my Genius Hour project helped me grow as a person because it made me understand people’s various behavior more scientifically. As a student, it aroused my interest in this topic even more. Additionally, It can help our community because these studies can help animals by reducing animal abuse or misunderstandings, and help humans by curing mental diseases.
Furthermore, I am planning to learn on Artificial Intelligence for my next Genius Hour project. This will help others to learn more about what machines can do with Human intelligence, and evoke interest in the new technology. This can help the world by solving any misunderstandings on this topic, and help me by resolving some of my questions I have about it. Moreover, I think Genius Hour is an awesome opportunity to expand our knowledge on what we are really interested in and enjoy learning.
Here is the link to the presentation I made for my Genius Hour project.
If you want to learn more about psychology, try this website: https://www.simplypsychology.org/
What would you choose to do for your Genius Hour? Share by commenting below!
Citations
King, Rose Abigail. “Psychology”. Flickr,
Flickr, 2 October 2013, https://www.flickr.com/photos/ational/10052717385/in/photolist-gjjNDx-5hwWqQ-M7sse8-pKMwF8-pHVM5Q-q2anGd-P4JBEa-AJQrc1-6DiHkp-7XusX5-YQR91g-4ebV5z-mjXBS7-69ssjg-P2eTGb-P4Jwkc-EBxbmV-NJTQ5q-NJTMCG-jbzYnV-NJTPnU-NJTQJm-k6vXBL-7c9WVX-9Hb8oh-WrT8tP-5d77Dt-9nws9W-kRypm-9nws6u-duiyQ-P2eYbS-QJ62d-6wdLYo-49Sbo7-hbKpsa-avmukn-qaJRS-aL338B-Kw5yk-6PBYxu-5wee6e-mL8dhk-9nwsbf-9vBXcC-9ntpHK-d7iBeG-eTShz-d2ou4W-5D7zWF.
Douglas, Anna. “monkey see, monkey do”. Flickr,
Flickr, 11 December 2011, https://www.flickr.com/photos/akd1012/6493549465/in/photolist-bPLhVV-nExRrC-nExM7y-nWK1t8-7fCfo4-fv32Jp-nEyEKn-5nupqm-4Kvx3o-qTsoh-6iDoAh-aTP92p-aTP92R.
Krebs, Denise. “Genius Hour”. Flickr,
Flickr, 13 June 2017, https://www.flickr.com/photos/mrsdkrebs/9071497283/in/photolist-ePBN6z-7r66oi-8SxvSe-o57iK8-6gY973-9DC74T-nE3sa9-8gN7pr-4ohaCg-aqmAq9-9e6Xj1-h7V2Pq-5RmXf4-9dEcM4-gxhXXE-avwxEu-dWng2n-9YhLHU-86DDKY-69F9gM-v1TbW-bZr8xf-51ykT9-aeN4Ty-9x1Jtt-21nzZGZ-pWkx52-quEumS-9MPEzA-XQshmd-qbE5Mb-itrtp6-7tqEeD-rzuM1j-6tVwDs-keUYzT-8deXU9-itsd7t-8osXf4-aUSKer-7yFQdV-itsgRc-dRTjEM-itrLKZ-pxepBY-qcFdVb-8rmT7o-qNT28Z-its6cj-71XRUu.
