Activity 2.5

1. I took the IAT test on Weight.

2. I was dumbfounded by my innate preferences. I was shown to have a "moderate automatic preference for Thin People", which both shocked me and disappointed me. I found myself making excuses for my scores to make myself feel better.  I don't feel like I treat anyone any differently, but yet this test maintains that I have this underlying prejudice. But I found myself wondering, "Just because the test says I'm prejudiced does it make it true?" I didn't like my results at all and will try to reevaluate how I treat the people around me - but I don't believe this test to be fool-proof and completely accurate in all circumstances. I do think it is incredibly interesting, though.

3. What does all of this have to do with the process of learning?


Now, we defined learning as "a process inferred that involves a relatively permanent change in behavior or the capacity to behave that is the result of our direct or indirect experience." Notice that the definition does not state that learning is a conscious action.


By merely experiencing life, associations are ingrained into our subconscious; processes of learning are not exempt from this "mental stamp". Since we cannot turn our brain "off", we are constantly perceiving information from outside stimuli, regardless of our awareness of it. So, as our innate associations become supported by direct or indirect experience, these associations will be reinforced by habits, even if this occurs without our knowledge. When our beliefs begin to change our actions on a relatively permanent basis, that is when we have learned that principle. These habits, developed partly in response to innate associations, are considered "learned traits" - we learned to act this particular way because of our preconceived preferences. 


Example: 


I read an article in a fashion magazine (I'm mad at myself that I can't find it or remember which magazine it was in) that focused on innate assumptions regarding weight. Using Disney villains and real-life images of women, the article asserted that skinny women in positions of power were viewed by men as "bitches" while fat women in lower positions were seen favorably, as "jolly or kind". The survey was based on the answers of a number of men, based on their own experiences, which are rooted in associations made early in life. The assertion of the author was that Disney actively supported weight-based associations among children; the villains in almost every Disney movie are thin beyond belief, while jolly, happy benefactors are generally plump or downright fat. According to the author, after viewing these movies, the children then grew up, and upon experiencing interactions with both skinny and fat women, developed notions based on women's weight and position of power to describe female personality.  


Since Disney-watching children may associate skinniness with evil and plumpness with benevolence, it is very possible that they may also perceive that skinny people aren't as nice as plump people. When an actual experience substantiates these unknown assumptions (say a skinny woman cuts you in line at Wal-Mart and a fat woman allows you to jump in front of her), then the assumptions may become actual beliefs. The author asserted that this is what occurred with the male survey takers: they had an association from childhood, somewhere along in their life a woman or women substantiated this association and then the association made way for a bonafide belief system. 


4. "No truth, however abstract, is ever perceived that will not probably at some time influence our earthly action." pg.27


This seemed to exemplify the process of association. No matter what, if something is perceived, it will likely influence action at some point in life. There is nothing that is entered into our minds, consciously or unconsciously, that will not exit our minds in the form of action (or inaction, if the inaction is a conscious choice) at some point in life.