ENC2135: An Introvert's Perspective

 

“It’s got to be bipolar disorder! It’s got to be bipolar disorder!”

“Julia, shush, you’re yelling.”

“Oops, sorry, Dad, but I know it’s bipolar disorder! He has all the right symptoms; he will go through weeks of depression, which will then lead to a few days of acting really excited and energized, like when he goes looking for his wedding video so eagerly, and cant seem to calm down or stop…”

“Julia! If you keep talking, we’ll never know!”

“But I do know! That’s what I’m trying to tell you!”

“Shhhh…”

You have Bipolar Disorder, Pat Solitano

Although I really wouldn’t call this a diagnosis, this correct guess I made was what made me believe in my own way that I could be a psychologist. Movies, television shows, books, and even plays depict different variations of mental disorders and the psychology surrounding them. All of these different genres depicting psychology in media are really what allowed me to develop a passion for psychology. Imagine my surprise when I found out a lot of these different depictions weren’t actually accurate. Despite the media’s errors, I loved them all just the same. They are the reasons that I spent the past five years taking as many psychology classes as I could, allowing me to learn all that I could on mental disorders and psychology as a whole. My life long goal would be to be a psychologist and help as many people as I can that are suffering from mental disorders, just like Pat Solitano.

2011- Lie to Me

I first saw Lie to Me on Netflix, when I was streaming for movies. I saw it had five stars, and I thought I would give it a try because I was really bored at the time. So I clicked “Episode 1” and began watching, and by watching, I mean binging.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After watching six episodes or so, I sat back and took it all in with wide eyes and a newfound excitement.

This show is so cool! How have I not seen it before? An organization helps to solve crimes by observing and analyzing micro-expressions! Do these micro-expressions really exist? Can this really help to catch criminals? What field of study would this even be under? Could I be able to figure out someone’s micro-expression?

My mind was bursting with thoughts and questions about the show. I wasn’t even sure why this show stirred up something within me. I had to figure out not only the answers to all the questions, but also what about this show gave me such a reaction. At this point, all I knew was that Cal Lightman, the deception consultant, was able to determine micro-expressions. One example of a micro-expression includes disgust and the giveaway facial changes include the raising of the upper and lower lip as well as the nose wrinkling. All of these expressions last for only a part of a second, but they can very telling as to what their hidden motives and feelings are, which is how Cal Lightman caught criminals. I needed to know more, so I spent a few more hours reading all I could on what I could find about micro-expressions. I spent quite a few hours holed up in my room that day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These micro-expressions, I learned as I read further and further, are truly fascinating. They peaked my interest in psychology as a field and for the first time I wondered if I could have a career in this field, if this field would be one of the things that gave me joy in my life. I had to find out, because something about this show gave me the desire to give psychology a try. The following school year was my first year in high school and I was signed up for the beginning level psychology class.