Behavioural Science

Behavioural Science

Behavioural science constitutes another fancy name for psychology. Psychologists, like other social scientists, study human behaviour. For example, sociology focuses on societies, while political science discusses nations, states and international relations. Psychology concentrates on the study of the mind and social interactions.

Depending on the university, students majoring in psychology may do in both the Arts and Science faculties. However, to this day, criticism remains abundant of whether psychology warrants being sees as a science per se. Of course, unlike physics or mathematics, psychology theories are often based on conclusions from social experiments, and experimenters often diverge on the results obtained.

Most psychological literature stems from academic or peer-reviewed articles, usually structured in the following sections: literature reviews, introduction, methods, results and discussion. A good research paper will not only present arguments from previous similar experiments on the topic, but also inform the reader of contrary arguments. Also, a thorough discussion section includes limitations of the experiment conducted. To illustrate, a study conducted on members of certain group may not warrant generalizing the results to other populations. As such, results must have the following attributes: reliability, replicability, validity and generalizability. To achieve these, methods employed involve random sampling, when applicable.

Could a blindfolded crayfish pick stocks by throwing darts on Wall Street as well as some of the best brokers do? Photo: © Megan Jorgensen  (Elena)

Many branches exist in psychology, including social, personality, health and abnormal psychology, among others. Abnormal psychology is the branch most closely related to psychiatry, but the two greatly differ. Indeed, psychiatrists are doctors in the medical sense and are licensed to prescribe medication, while the same cannot be said about psychologists.

Reality being defined as a social construct, psychiatry and psychology have been criticized in the literature. Since psychology does not constitute a medical field, the importance, validity and reliability of psychological experiments continue to be debated. In fact, many people believe psychology is just literary fluff. Nonetheless, studying psychology may appeal to undergraduates precisely because of the cognitive stimulation stemming from seeing social events from dissimilar angles. For instance, while neuroscience (a likely core program course in psychology degrees) may be more serious, social psychology makes for lighter reading and appears a more interesting subject to explore, although such preferences depend on personal choice and taste.

Further, understanding neuroscience requires a solid foundation in biology, physics and chemistry, since lectures and textbooks cover fairly technical details. Therefore, admission to a psychology program in a respected university, more often than not requires the completion of introductory courses in both psychology and biology.

A Guide to the Fruits of Hawaï’i

A Guide to the Fruits of Hawaï’i

By Alaya Dawn Johnson

The remaining nineteen residents are divided into four units, five kids in each, living together in sprawling ranch houses connected by walways and gardens. There are walls, of course, but you have to climb a tree to see them. The kids at Grade Gold have more freedon than any human she’s ever encountered since the war, but they’re as bound to this paradise as she was to her mountain.

The vampires who come here stay in a high glass tower right by the beach. During the day, the black-tinted windows gleam like lasers. At night, the vampires come down to feed. There is a fifth house in the residential village, one reserved for clients and their meals. Tetsuo orchestrates these encounters, planning each interaction in fine detail: this human with that performance for this distinguished client. Key has grown used to thinking of her fellow another, stranger veneer. The vampires who pay so dearly for Grade Gold humans don’t merely want to feed from a shunt. They want to be entertained, talked to, cajoled. The boy who explained about Key’s uncanny resemblance juggles torches. Twin girls from unit three play guitar and sing songs bu the Carpenters. Even Rachel, dressed in a gaudy purple memaid dress with matching streals on her hair, keeps up a one-way, laughing conversation with a vampire who seems too astonished – or too slow – to reply.

Key has never seen anything like this before. She thought that most vampires regarded humans as walking sacks of food. What pleasure could be derived from speaking with your meal first? From seeing it sing or dance? When the first went with Tetsuo, the other vampires talked about human emotions as if they were flavors of ice cream. But at Grade Orange she grew accostomed to more basic parameters: were the humans fed, were they fertile, did they sleep? Here, she must approve outfits; she must manage dietary preferences and erratic tempers and a dozen other details all crucial to keeping the kids Grade Gold standard. Their former caretaker has been shipped to the work camps, whicj leaves Key in sole charge of the operation. At least until Tetsuo decides how he will use his dispensation.

Barbies vampires. Photo by Elena

Key’s thoughts skitter away from the possibility.

« I didn’t know vampires liked music, », she says, late in the evening, when some of the kids sprawl, exhausted, across couches and cushions. A girl no older than fifteen opens her eyes but hardly moves when a vampire in a gold suit lifts her arm for a nip. Key and Tetsuo are seated together at the far end of the main room, in the bay window that overlook a cliff and the ocean.

« It’s as interesting to us as any other human pastime. »

« Does music have a taste?»

His wide mouth stretches at the edges; she recognizes it as a smile. « Music has some utility, given the right circumstances. »

Science Fiction and Fantasy 2015, edited by Rich Horton, Prime Books, 2015.

Icelandic Names

Icelandic Names

Icelandic naming traditions have not changed much, and most Icelanders still follow the ancient tradition of deriving their last name from their father’s first name, although some like to use the mother’s name. Therefore, the children of someone called Gunnar Jónsson, are likely to have the surnames Gunnarsson and Gunnarsdóttir (Gunnar’s son and Gunnar’s daughter), and are not characterised by a common family name. Interestingly, Icelanders do not address each other by the last name under any circumstances, and doing so would seem unusual. In the case of marriage, Icelandic women do not take their husband’s name, and therefore Icelandic families generally have a mixture of names, with mum, dad and children all having their unique and individual patronymic or matronymic names.

Top Ten in Iceland

Breathtaking landscapes, glaciers, waterfalls and hot springs; the Viking heritage and rich medieval culture, or the vibrant nightlife and abundance of creative artists. Whatever reason brought you to Iceland there are several things above others that will make your stay unforgettable. We have listed a few of Iceland’s treasures that no visitors should miss.

•     The Golden Circle
•     Thermal Swimming Pools
•     Glacier or highland jeep tour
•     Historic and heritage museums
•     Whale- and birdwatching
•     Sightseeing flights
•     The Blue Lagoon
•     Art museums and galleries
•     Hiking and riding tours
•     Fine dining

Icelandic backyard. Photo - Elena

Words and Phrases

Advice on pronunciation: ð as ‘th’ in ‘the’ // Þ,þ as ‘th’ in ‘thunder’ // Æ,æ as ‘i’ in ‘high’. For more information see www.visitorsguide.is

Here are some indispensable words and phrases translated from English and German to Icelandic.

English – German – Icelandic

    Yes – Ja – Já

    No – Nein – Nei

    Maybe – Vielleicht – Kannski

    Good morning – Guten Tag – Góðan dag

    Good evening – Guten Abend – Gott kvöld

    Goodbye – Auf wiedersehen – Bless

    Thank you – Danke – Takk fyrir

    Trip – Ausflug – Ferð

    The weather is good – Das Wetter ist gut – Veðrið er gott

    It rains – Es regnet – Það rignir

    Are you cold? – Ist dir kalt? – Er þér kalt?

    This is beautiful – Das ist schön – Þetta er fallegt

    Mountain – Ein Berg – Fjall

    Glacier – Ein Gletscher – Jökull

    Landscape – Landschaft – Landslag

    Food – Essen – Matur

    Drinks – Getränke – Drykkir

    Beer – Bier – Bjór

    I am a Viking – Ich bin ein Vikinger – Ég er víkingur

    I´m on vacation – Ich bin auf – Urlaub Ég er í fríi

    You are cute! – Du bist süß! – Þú ert sæt(ur)!

    What is your name? – Wie heißt du? – Hvað heitir þú?

    Where do you live? – Wo wohnst du? – Hvar átt þú heima?

    What’s your telephone number – Telefonnummer? – Wie ist deine Hvað er síminn hjá þér?

Digital Art and Computer Graphics in Cyberspace

Digital Art and Computer Graphics in Cyberspace

Cyberspace is a newly developed concept in today’s day and age where so much happens on the Internet. Thus, much digital art is produced using software, such as 2D and 3D graphics, modeling, rendering, photo and video editing software. In terms of programs to choose from, the choice is vast. While Abobe Creative Suite including Photoshop as well as Maya by Autodesk seem to be top of the line in terms of professionalism, they may take a very long time to get accustomed to. In fact, people have reported that creating a 3D character mesh by mesh may take months, which only adds to what is understandable in terms of copyright.

Artist’s selfie. Digital art, computer generated imagery (CGI). Image: Megan Jorgensen (Elena)

Alternatively, there are other software one can use to create digital art and computer generated imagery (CGI). First, there are various both simplified and complex 2D and 3D animation programs, such as open source software such as GIMP, Stykz and Blender. Also, there are numerous drawing applications. Also, perhaps of most interest to the beginner cyber artist, there are platforms such as Poser and Daz Studio, allowing for the creation of beautiful 3D content in a user-friendly environment. Poser is a commercial application which comes complete with figures, meshes, clothing, hair, lights, scences and so on. What’s more, additional content may be purchased with corresponding licences from Content Paradise.

Artwork: Digital Art & Cyberspace

CGI (computer generated imagery) is becoming more and more popular in today’s day and age. Software companies, such as Adobe and Autodesk, have transformed the art world. While in times past, artistic renderings were performed using mostly pencil, oil paint, watercolors, pen, charcoal, graphite and other materials, modern era artists benefit from digital tools to translate their feelings into potential masterpieces. However, becoming a graphic designer takes as much preparation and educational commitment as most other professions.

Photography art certainly warrants a couple of sentences. Furthermore, today’s culture certainly includes a lot of photos. For example, the word selfie has entered the dictionary only recently. However, artistic photography is a little different than pictures taken with smartphones or regular cameras. Thus, professional cameras often have built-in functions and options, as well as better speed and resolution. Also, black and white photography is very popular among professional photographers, such as photographs of wildlife and worldwide travel. For instance, pictorial depictions of polar landscapes remain among some of the most impressive images a photo camera lens can capture.

Digital Art. Illustration by Elena

Art history is one of the many majors modern universities offer. Filmography likewise presents an art form. Like most creative mediums, movies have evolved. The movie industry went from black and white silent scenery to computer enhanced (and even computer graphics hybrids) short films and full length features. Further, reality TV is a fairly new genre; many people enjoy shows about other people’s (usually famous personalities) lives, alongside the much watched crime shows and sitcoms. Other genres include romantic comedy, mystery, drama, horror, science-fiction and fantasy, among others.

Similarly, screenplay evolves from the ancient art form of theater. To illustrate, in Ancient Greece, actors would depict tragedies and comedies, which was thought to induce catharsis in spectators. Thus, once the audience experienced the feeling or emotion through the actor’s performance, they would ease some of their own tension related to similar situations. In sharp contrast, today’s scientists tend to argue that watching violence on television may induce aggressive behavior through behavioral modeling, particularly in children, but the conclusion remains debated in the literature.

Black Creek Pioneer Village. Art photo by Elena

Skull and Hyssop

Skull and Hyssop

By Kathlen Jennings

The Hyssop limped over Poorfortune, ragged and battered, listing where gas cushions had burst, her spars and lines tangled, but still aloft and still bearing its crew – all bone-weary, save for the captain. He was exhilarated by survival and their neck-or-nothing passage through the great storm. When they cleared the last shreds of cloud and broke through into clear air, when Ivana – shaken – had silently pointed to the horizon while Cally corrected their course, he had wanted to take her by the shoulders and dance her in a circle. He had remembered in time that she was wounded and he could not dance, so had simply pulled out his pipe and folded his arms, grinning towards the distant port until Tomasch shouted for help with the most urgent repairs. Moon said, sadly, that he saw no need for efforts beyond those, and as Cally, given long acquaintance with Moon, had insisted on full pay in advance and suspected there was no future on the Hyssop, there was no objection from the crew.

When Moon returned to his cabin, he had found Ivana asleep on his bed, Alban watching anxiously over her. He dismissed Alban, and stood a moment looking down at his weatheerfinder. Her face was an unhealthy colour, but she was breathing and so he left her while he salvaged the few books and papers he could carry in a canvas matilda. He righted a chair and sat to compose a leter which would inspire the necessary curiosity and urgency in an ambitious journalist, and terror in distant corridors of power.

Skull and Hyssop. Photo by Elena

Once he looked around the cabin, and wondered if he would miss it. The thought of the use to which the ship had once been put made his skin crawl, but that was shadowed by the quiet company of the weatherfinder and the bond of the wild flight. Ivana was awake again and watching him with her long jaw set, but she did not speak.

As they worked their way in over Poorfortune at last, Moon dropped a package overboard carefully labelled with Eliza Blancrose’s name. The sprawling city had its own systems for such things – by the time the wounded Hyssop was in position to dock, the newsmongers of the Poorfortune Exclamation and the High Harbour Times, together with a bevy of Poorfortune police, were at the low docks crowding out a contingent of eager civil servants on the service of the Republic, and several alarmed gentlemen in dark suits whom Moon judged to be in Their Imperial Majesties’ emply. Somewhere beyond them, customs officeers gesticukated, disregarded.

Eliza was there with the linesmen, and first across to the Hyssop, helped willingly by an appreciative Tomsch. She held her hat on with one glovedd hand.

Science Fiction and Fantasy 2015, edited by Rich Horton, Prime Books, 2015.