Essays, Research Papers, & Literature Reviews by Aqeelah Walker
Georgia Gwinnett College, 2025
Cognitive psychology helps us understand how people think, learn, and remember. Kang (2024) point... more Cognitive psychology helps us understand how people think, learn, and remember. Kang (2024) points out a great way to learn is retrieval practice, which is essentially recalling information after learning it. In my experience, this is common for test-takers and fellow students. This method is also not just beneficial for memory, but it helps students learn better and quicker. For instance, when students recall older information, it trains their brains to better absorb information, even if the information does not connect to the prior, learned information. According to Kang (2024), another method is discriminative contrast. Discriminative contrast is the ability to notice differences between things, such as those Spot the Difference imagery games. The article by Kang (2024) explains that when students study different samples from other groups (called interleaving), then they get better at spotting patterns. However, if the goal is to recall small details, studying similar samples side-by-side (called blocking) is more helpful. To me, this further proves that we organize what we study, and in that way we are cognitive of what we absorb informationally. Kang (2024) highlights how motivation affects attention. When students are rewarded for staying focused, they perform better, which checks out to me. This essentially means that staying focused isn't merely about having energy, but being motivated. The article also goes into using different learning strategies, such as pretests, interleaving, and blocking. Overall, Kang (2024) greatly lays out how cognitive psychology gives students tools that make learning stick with us, thus more effective.
Georgia Gwinnett College, 2025
Cognitive psychology helps us understand how people think, learn, and remember. McNally (2024) hi... more Cognitive psychology helps us understand how people think, learn, and remember. McNally (2024) highlights that people who claim memories of abuse in their childhood are likely having false memories. In research, they often recall words, events, etc. that were never shown to them, especially if they're related to actual memories. Somewhere along their hippocampus, the memories get distorted. This suggests some confusion and imagination with things such as real memories. According to McNally (2024), another factor is reality monitoring, which is the brain's capability to differentiate real and faux experiences. The researcher discovered that people with recovered memories sometimes struggle with this. McNally (2024) also tested whether people with repressed memories are better at "forgetting" trauma. He found that trauma-related recollection is tied to word association, meaning no special repression is at work. In addition, trauma memories can be murky as well as clear, if not fragmented and scattered. A great example of this is people with PTSD and C-PTSD. Overall, McNally (2024) and his research shows that while memories have errors, the degree of errors is circumstantial on what cognitive functions allow one to remember. It also shows that these memories, not repression, can explain many cases of recovered memories. Cognitive psychology focuses on attention, imagination, and memory-handling in the brain, which offers a scientific way to understand how the brain translates and stores experiences.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2021
In my previous essays, I spoke about the portrayal of pedophilia in Hollywood and entertainment. ... more In my previous essays, I spoke about the portrayal of pedophilia in Hollywood and entertainment. In this essay, I will bridge the subjects by discussing pedophilia in the music industry, specifically music videos. Like any controversial debate, there are two views on pedophilia. There are those who know that it's vile and should be stopped, and there are those who believe it's misunderstood and should be accepted. The music industry is no exception. For this essay, I will be analyzing and comparing two music videos depicting pedophilia. The first music video is "Elastic Heart" by Sia and the second is "For a Better Day" by Avicii. In the music industry, big artists promote pedophilia positively to make it acceptable whereas small artists promote it negatively to show its unacceptability. "Elastic Heart" is a single written and directed by Australian singer Sia. Released in 2015, the song was produced by Sia's close friend and DJ, Diplo, and added to the Hunger Games: Catching Fire soundtrack. "Elastic Heart" is about a broken person expressing their trauma, misconception of love, and endurance. The music video features a contemporary dance performance by former Disney actor Shia LeBeouf and former Dance Moms dancer Maddie Ziegler in a cage. During filming, Maddie was thirteen and Shia was twenty-eight. Shia plays the pedophile who attempts to groom a little girl and Maddie plays the little girl who fights him off.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2021
On April 20th 1999, two shooters orchestrated the deaths of 12 students, one teacher, and themsel... more On April 20th 1999, two shooters orchestrated the deaths of 12 students, one teacher, and themselves at Columbine High School. This orchestrated event is known as the infamous Columbine Massacre. The shooters responsible for the massacre were two teenage boys named Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2021
The University of Alabama in Birmingham, 2021
Georgia Gwinnett College, 2024
Georgia Gwinnett College, 2024
Georgia Gwinnett College, 2024
Georgia Gwinnett College, 2024
Georgia Gwinnett College, 2024
Georgia Gwinnett College, 2024
Georgia Gwinnett College, 2024
Social media has more influence over the personality development of an adolescent than parents. A... more Social media has more influence over the personality development of an adolescent than parents. As digital platforms become increasingly involved in daily life, their impact on teenagers' psychological and social development is profound. This proclamation is supported by the article "Social Media Use and Adolescents' Mental Health and Well-being" by Arianna Sala, Lorenzo Porcaro, and Emilia Gómez. This review analyzes various research studies, revealing both positive and negative outcomes of social media use on adolescents. The article underscores that while social media can provide enhanced social support and community engagement, it also correlates with increased risks of anxiety, depression, and poor self-esteem.
Georgia Gwinnett College, 2024
In Michael Schwalbe’s Rigging the Game, Chapter 4, “Arresting the Imagination,” explores how domi... more In Michael Schwalbe’s Rigging the Game, Chapter 4, “Arresting the Imagination,” explores how dominant groups use various strategies to control our grasp of social inequality. The concept of TINA, which stands for "There Is No Alternative", is central to this conversation. This concept entails that the current socio-economic system is the only viable option available. By promoting TINA, powerful figures limit our imagination and discourage the consideration of alternative paths. This caging or arresting narrative helps maintain the status quo. It frames the existing social and economic arrangements as “natural and inevitable”, ergo reducing the urgency for systemic change.
Georgia Gwinnett College, 2024
In Chapter 6 of Michael Schwable’s "Rigging the Game," the author delves into the complexities of... more In Chapter 6 of Michael Schwable’s "Rigging the Game," the author delves into the complexities of regulation and control within social and professional systems, particularly dissecting the almost comical contradictions of playing a rigged game. In world where we’re all born on the board – but with different spaces, cards, and dice – the choice is either play or get knocked off. Many individuals, despite recognizing the unfairness and systemic flaws, remain playable pawns. This choice often stems from personal motivation, social obligation, and the spiderweb of accountability (or lack thereof) that governs our behavior.
Georgia Gwinnett College, 2024
In Chapter 8, Michael Schwalbe discusses how inequality is maintained and what we might do to loo... more In Chapter 8, Michael Schwalbe discusses how inequality is maintained and what we might do to loosen or shake it up. He explains that inequality doesn’t just happen by chance; it is kept in place by certain social structures and practices that benefit some while disadvantaging others. For example, the rules of the economy, the power that wealthy people hold, and even everyday interactions all contribute to inequality. These things are like glue that holds inequality together.
Teaching Documents by Aqeelah Walker
Georgia Gwinnett College, 2024
Georgia Gwinnett College, 2024
Georgia Gwinnett College, 2024
Georgia Gwinnett College, 2024
This source is a letter that Roger Willians wrote. In it, he argues against religious persecution... more This source is a letter that Roger Willians wrote. In it, he argues against religious persecution and advocates for religious liberty.
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Essays, Research Papers, & Literature Reviews by Aqeelah Walker
Teaching Documents by Aqeelah Walker