Chris- Very thoughtful. I agree with you that it is at least mildly pandering to prior held belief to simply present "pretty mock-ups" as it were. I didn't actually perceive the intent of those posts as being scholarly dismissive but as simply stating that students found them "odd" or dated (perhaps I'm being dense and I missed it but I didn't perceive that anyone was suggesting presenting "well acted mock-ups"). If mock-up vs the real video is the issue then I think that the original is absolutely what should be shown. Simple historical accuracy would almost seem to require it. (BTW- my own response has been that students are facinated by these videos - I haven't received the kind of response others have reported- perhaps that is because we so regularly use the historical videos in our classes that they are more used to it. Or perhaps my only teaching upper division courses recently has colored my memory or their sophistication. Just guessing though.)
If nothing else this is a teachable moment. For example, if the students react as some have predicted with a sort of, "we aren't like that anymore" mentality then I'd ask them on what evidence they based that judgment. And discussions would rightly lead to the likelihood that such psychological processes would moderate over time, etc. I'd point out that certainly their argument is testable and even rational. But so is the opposite argument that we would be *more* susceptible to modeling now due to the increased sophistication and exposure of the media itself. I'd remind them that they are supposed to be moving toward thinking scientifically and that rather than responding defensively or dismissively they should at least be curious about the answer to the question they have formed. Tim _______________________________ Timothy O. Shearon, PhD Professor and Chair Department of Psychology The College of Idaho Caldwell, ID 83605 email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] teaching: intro to neuropsychology; psychopharmacology; general; history and systems "You can't teach an old dogma new tricks." Dorothy Parker --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
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