Meeting with Paul Ekman

After landing in sunny California I quickly unpacked at my hotel and rushed outdoors to explore San Francisco. I quickly became enthralled by the hustle of the city. I observed the Spanish influenced buildings, and noted how amazing it was that they were able to squish so many building, people, and activities is such tiny spaces. While my claustrophobia sets in while visiting any city, it seemed particularly strong here.

After calming down, and creating a simple cognitive map of the area around me, I reached into my pocket for a folded index card. As I unfolded the index card, I noticed remnants of my jean pockets lingering in the creases, and sighed with relief that the washed out blue color had not spread onto my crucial writing. I read the directions to the University of California (San Francisco) library, and promptly decided hop on a cable car, followed by a short bus ride. Upon my arrival, I was greeted on the front steps by arguably UCSF's most notable retired professor, Paul Ekman.

His strong handshake, and short stature went along with my preconceived notion that his body held more knowledge and wisdom than any small area seemed capable of. As we entered the library I noticed the predictable stacks of books in their artistic, yet abstract lines. I breathed in that smell that only can be duplicated by old pages touch by many hands. After wondering slightly, he directed me to a small table in the corner surrounded by two couches.

His relatable personality naturally engaged in a conversation that started with life as an undergraduate psychology student, just about our only shared quality. I quickly inquired about his time spent as a Clinical Psychology Officer in the US Army, and he chuckled as if this was something he was repetitively asked about. Nevertheless, he recited what seemed to be a script of information, stories, and feelings. While I found myself wanting to know every detail about his time there, I knew we had to move on.

"Why lying?" I asked. With ease, comfort, and pride, Ekman went on to explain his interest in lying, and his proof of how much we can learn about and from it. He explained that the connections between repetitive behaviors, facial expressions, and lying are just as present as any other successful hypothesis. While he was on the verge of beginning to speak in terms that no amount of psychology schooling could help me understand, he stopped himself. He is too considerate for that. We wrapped up our warm and easy conversation with suggestions he had for me, and him noting the significant points he hoped I grabbed from his work. While I felt as if I was in the presence of greatest, he presented himself much like the grandfather of my best friend. We laughed a little, and decided we had covered everything.

After walking me back to where I would meet my bus, he waved and strolled back into the bustle of the sidewalk.

People Observations

5 people in the mohog :

1) There is a pretty blonde girl giggling to herself as she types away on a laptop. Has her boyfriend sent her words of kindness ? Is she gossiping about another girl ? Is she reading a funny joke or story ? Regardless, she seems confident enough to be careless regarding the fact that she is seated alone, and drawing attention to herself.

2) There is a large boy in a frat jacket roaming in what seems like an aimless fashion. Is he looking for a specific person, a place to fit in, or does he have a destination ? He seems worry free, and far from stressed or rushed.

3) There is a small, younger looking girl tucked away in the furthest corner of a both, crying, surrounded by three friends. She seems distraught, inconsolable, and embarrassed. I am forced to wonder why she would not escape to her room, but rather be one step away from slipping under the table of the dining hall.

4) There is a table full of men, clearly staff at the university. They are all in similar attire. As I watch them converse, I notice one to be particularly uninterested and uninvolved. From the looks, he seems as if he fits in, but his social actions are particularly minimal. I wonder if he is having a bad day, or if her personality keeps him this quiet. Are thoughts running in his head, or does he wish to be somewhere else?

5) There is a fashionably dressed girl running through the room on her cell phone. She is forced to swing her overized tote over the heads and chairs of many as she passes through. While that alone seems to annoy her, I wonder what else is causing this panicked look and phone call. Is it something life changing, or a minute detail that will not matter tomorrow ?

In continuing my research on my chosen public intellectual, I found some very interesting information. In his studies on the US military, in regards to psychology, he explored the idea that Infantry Basic Training has a positive psychological impact on the recruits. After conducting a study, Ekman found that there was no evidence of that, especially shown in the lack of growth in ego-strength. He actually found the opposite of what he was looking for, when his data showed an increase in aggression and impulsive behavior. The evidence also proved that the recruits appeared to be less likely to acknowledge their own responsibility in conflict, and more likely to react aggressively to these situations.

I found this information to be particularly interesting because we often view the military as such a positive, honorable thing, and we understand the physical sacrifice that many make, but this study brought up the idea that these men and women are even sacrificing psychologically before they are even out of training.

pretty picture

I chose this photography because I think it perfectly displays the power of a single image. While photographs not only capture a moment in time, they are also able to evoke emotion. For all that these photographs have to offer, I consider it one of the greatest art forms.

Paul Ekman

I chose Paul Ekman as my public intellectual to research. He is a psychologist who first received his Ph.D from Adelphi. He had the unique job of being a Clinical Psychology Officer in the US Army, and upon his return to civilian life, he did various studies on emotion, facial expression, and body language. He manages the Paul Ekman Group, LLC, a company that produces training devices that relate to emotional skills. Through this group he is also researching psychology in national security and law enforcement. He has written countless pieces, and appeared on many large television stations. I chose him because I am a psychology major, and I have a particular interest in some of the topics that he researches. I think his vast knowledge base in many different areas, gives him a mind that many things can definitely be learned from, and I look forward to benefitting from these scholarly experiences that he shares. Some of his articles include Becoming Versed In Reading Faces, Similarity of Facial Expressions in Response to Emotion-Inducing films in Reared-Apart Twins, Would you Lie to Me?, Psychological Reactions To Infantry Basic Training, and Why Don't we catch Liars?.In studying his work, I will become familiar with these articles as well as any others that may come up as interest to me.

Lately, my family and friends have been talking a lot about all of the surfacing information regarding UFOs and extraterrestrial life. While at first I found these stories to be bogus and immature, after gathering some information, I may be convinced. There is an overwhelming amount of speculations regarding life other than Earth, but there are some particular aspects of this that I find especially interesting. First, some are saying that our government, and many others, have known about, and had some contact with extraterrestrial life for decades now. I understand preparing the people, and revealing this properly, but to keep something like that for so long, seems wrong in my mind, but also a reason I still believe this may be untrue. I also do not think that the thirty plus countries that apparently are aware of this, would also be able to keep it in, there are not that many trust-worthy people in this world. Another concept that baffles me, is that they are more advanced than we are, with some sources saying they have enough technology to cure cancer. If so, I doubt our government, or any other for that matter, would be keeping so much distance. If their technology was so great, why would we not want to mingle, and learn from them. Maybe because they are dangerous ? But in that case, why have they not attacked us yet ? Clearly, there are a lot of "ifs" when considering this topic, but I imagine that is how any thoughts would go regarding a topic so unknown. What made me so motivated to think about, and research this was a link to sent to me by my dad, that addresses a deathbed confession from a man that used to be involved in the CIA, expressing our involvement with extraterrestrial life and the building of UFOs, and video of UFOs from the Mexican Air Force. I have attached this video below. Aside from research and data, I have spoken about this topic to many friends. Many think I am crazy, and many are already convinced that all of this as real, but the most significant conversation was when my roommate and I asked a friend in the army about this via a text message, and he simply responded that he was not authorized to speak on that topic. That was enough to freak me out. As a whole, I find this whole concept something very probable, and I have begun to consider it as an idea of the present, not the future. However, there is still a large part of me that finds this absurd. I look forward to more information surfacing regarding this topic so that I can continue to form an educated opinion.

VIDEO

post secret

Since high school, I have been intrigued by the Post Secret books and website. As this concept has evolved, it has become somewhat of a blog. The idea is that people who feel the need to express their secret actions or feeling, do so through designing a post card, and mailing it in. Originally they were published in a book, and then later, they began posting them consistently on a website. People often comment back and forth either to the designer of the postcard, or a general comment regarding the secret or the visual aspects of the image. The two postcards I have chosen to share struck me for different reasons. While not all of the secrets revealed are heart-wrentching, I find that the majority have negative connotations. It is natural to assume that most positive aspects of our lives, we don't keep secret. I find it interesting that people choose to share their secrets with the world by the means of this trend, and while their best friend may not be aware of their secret, the world will know that a person exists with these emotions. As a psychology major, I understand that sometimes people receive comfort in expressing things they usually cannot, and I wonder how many people read the comments that people post on their postcard. I wonder if they are put at ease by the support or feedback, or hurt by those that critique them. Also in terms of psychology, without posting to this website, you can still feel as part of a community. When scrolling through these secrets, many are vague, and a apply to the majority of people at some point in their life ( such as the two pictures I chose to share). It allows for those who do not even participate, to realize that they are not alone, and their feelings are shared among many. This is often a comfort that we find in group therapies, but here it is simply found on visiting a website. Not feeling alone can make all the difference to someone who is hurting, and this website provides that feeling of shared emotions.

The two postcards I chose to share are both from people who are struggling. One, from an individual who missing her childhood, and another from someone who is not having the experience that they feel they are supposed to be. I find them both relatable for a few reasons. While personally, I am comfortable with the place I am at in my life, there are always moments where these secrets could have easily been mine. When dealing with life's complicated decisions and situations, it is hard to not wish I still have the simple life of a child. The innocence and happiness is uncanny to that of anyone in their twenties. Therefore, the first postcard struck a nostalgic chord in my heart. In regards to the second postcard, I was emotionally moved particularly because it addresses an individual in their senior year. While I would never dream of labeling my senior year as the "worst year" of my life, it certainly has had its ups and downs, and while the high points have been memories that will remain unsurpassed for many years, the lows have also been present. While society often addresses this time in our life as nothing but greatness, it is interesting to consider the contrary.

Overall, I think the concept of this website is fantastic. It allows for the sharing of emotion, ideas, and artistic expression. It provides comfort, conversation, and critique. It is a unique concept, and I am surprised it has not become a bigger trend, especially among the young adults of our country.