Banuelos 1

Jazmin Banuelos
Psychology 1010
Professor K. Salini
15 April 2016

Throughout the course we have delved into the science of psychology: learning, memory,
language, and most importantly, behavior. Such topics have certainly been welcomed, but the
mere thought of me attempting to understand them eventually ends up slapping me across the
face with a skillet, or better yet, a bulldozer because each individual concept is so complex and
intertwined that I have a difficult time even grasping their fundamental ideas. While many may
regard my attempt to understand psychology as cute, in reality, its more like an ingrown toenailannoying and painfully uncomfortable. Although my very limited knowledge of, lets say,
behavior is perhaps slightly above an eighth graders, the thoughts I had about a particular video
are anything but juvenile.
In the series Discovering Psychology program 20, Constructing a Social Reality (2001)
by Zimbardo, we are exposed to several studies or theories to explain certain phenomenon. In
one case in this video, we watched an experiment take place involving social prejudices in
children. The teacher conducted the test by assigning children to different categories or labels by
physically and visually separating them by their eye color. Those children with blue eyes were
told that they were more significant or superior to those of the brown eyed inheritance. A
statement by the teacher was made at the end of the film that encompassed what took place
during and after the experiment. She mentioned that her bright, kind, and respectful students
turned into children she didnt even know. Their actions, words, behavior changed drastically
beginning with the first fifteen minutes of the test. The blue eyed children were belittling and

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name calling the brown eyed children; eventually constructing social realities for all the children
participating. Once the test was reversed to where the brown eyed children were now the ones
superior over the blue eyed, it didnt change anything. The treatment was the same. One would
think that after what the first set of students went through, that the brown eyed kids would have
some sort of compassion or empathy towards those who were now beneath them, but sadly that
was not the case. It just goes to show that no matter who we are, once we are no longer seen as a
person, but as a label, our sense of belonging and identity is enormously shaken. Positive or
negative expectations have a powerful force to either create an environment for us to thrive or
sink us down to our ultimate destruction, loss of potential. Although I was not surprised, it was
interesting to hear that there are many teachers out there who are perpetuating these selffulfilling prophecies. The children who they believe have more of a chance at succeeding will
receive more attention, challenged or contested questions to further build their cognitive skills,
and validation to build their confidence. The fact that children are with their teacher sometimes
up to eight hours a day can either be a beneficial experience, or a harmful one, and that to me is
rather daunting. I would like to have the privilege to raise my children rather than a complete
stranger.
All in all, I learned tremendously from this video. Towards the very end they spoke about
children learning to become interdependent and cooperative with others, rather than to be in
competition with their peers. I believe not only children will learn from this, but many adults as
well. It will advance us in many ways, but most importantly, will enhance our experience and
relationship with ourselves and with others.