AMU 3 Memorable Course Lessons Discussion

Describe three things you learned from the course that you will want to remember 5 years from now. These can be ideas, concepts, techniques, etc. that you think are memorable and will be useful in the future. This portion of the discussion calls for you to reflect on what in the course was meaningful to you, and to articulate this beyond a simple list or summary of what you read this semester. 

Write  classmate repsonses:

Classmate #1:

Two of the three things that will resonate with me in the future years to come are from the parenting and the issue/application assignment. Adult development includes becoming a parent to your own young children but also taking on the role of caregiver and/or decision maker for your own parents. This is such a spur of responsibility as you go from learning how to take care of yourself to having to maintain a performance of reliability to your most vulnerable loved ones. It also is when many of us of the realization of our own mortality. Our daily lives at this point now involve confronting fellow humans at all ages, seeing with our own eyes the evolution of our childhood to the adulthood we are at. And glimpse our own futures of our own children taking care us by taking care of our parents. It is a huge undertaking to be an adult in their middle adulthood. The third thing being how our text this week talked about how rebuffed older members of our society are because they also in fact remind us of our own mortality. We find death to be so terrifying that we would rather pour countless resources and money into antiaging and starve the well for those meeting our own inevitable fate one day.

Yeah, so that was cheery. It’s been a blast! Have a good rest of the jouney, kids!

Hoyer, W. & Roodin, P. (2009) Adult development and aging (6th ed. McGraw Hill Publishing.

Classmate #2:

Hello everyone!

Congratulations on being one step closer to your goals! This class went fast. The first thing that comes to my mind that I will remember 5 years from now is the knowledge I learned about midlife crisis. I had heard the term and observed quite a few people go through it. I thought that oh everyone when they are in midlife goes through a crazy time for a while then straightens out. I learned in class about how it is a turning point in life and that’s when people are assessing their life and going through the thoughts of what is left to show who I was when I die. It is a point where generally people still need to work but may have a change of career because of loss of job or needing a change.

The second thing I will take away is about is apoptosis, the programmed death of cells in our brains. This explains why the brain mass decreases, because the number of neurons decreases. Death of neurons can cause the neurotransmitter acetylcholine levels to decrease which in turn leads to memory lapses. When the neurotransmitter dopamine’s levels drop this can lead to physical issues such as the speed of motor activities, and even cause Parkinson’s. Apoptosis can cause a wide variety of Alzheimer’s diseases.

The third thing that I will take away from class is the information I learned about Flashbulb memory. This was the first time I had heard of the concept. Our class reading says that it refers to a memory that is an intense, detailed snapshot of a particular event or news of an event that was surprising or emotionally arousing to an individual. Memory intrigues me. The way that the human brain can hide memories in times of trauma, distress, or extreme pain. The way that the brain will release blocked memories though flashbacks once the brain feels safe enough to do so. The cell death and Alzheimer’s diseases; all of it about memory confuses me and intrigues me at the same time. It’s nice to have another way to understand, flashbulb memory.

Have a great week!

Classmate #3:

Class,

We have made it! Great work everyone! Sometimes after we finish something, we like to brain dump because we don’t feel as if that information is “worth keeping”. There are always things I hope to remember from my psychology classes, but most of the time it is a general concept, idea, or person. I have been trying to do better, but with this final week and discussion, I am sure I will have no problem. The first thing I learned from this course and would like to remember five years from now is that mid life crisis’ happen to everyone, and not always at the same age range. Understanding and acknowledging that it is completely normal is important, especially for those experiencing it at that time. The next is sandwich generation. I was not too familiar with this topic prior to this class, but I think it is important to remember. People who fall into this category have daily struggles of their own due to taking care of so many people. Their own well being can sometimes be forgotten about even though they play a critical role within their family. Lastly is as we age, we change. We may not think that we do change, but with births, deaths, health and age, we are always changing. Relationships can change as we age and it is key to remember that change is good and sometimes needed. I wish everyone the best f luck in their future classes and careers!