i miss reading some books i'm really interested in and headed down to the library. the library at hougang mall.... with kids... with normal ppl... not the suffocating mugger-infested central library.
borrowed Quirkology, which is packed with quirky stuff like measuring number of ppl fidgeting in lecture to see how boring a lecturer is (as in really conducting an expt to do that...) or constructing a special thermometer to monitor temp of water so that the tea is "full bodied and full tasted, and in no way bitter or flat", or chronopsychology (what does your birthday really tell about you? always been perplexed at why ppl bother to read birthday analyses, shall see what a psychologist say.)
what is the use of such a study? the criticism implied in this question has never bothered me, for any activity seems to me of value if it satisfies curiosity, stimulates ideas, and gives a new slant to our understanding of the social world.
- Stanley Milgram, the individual in a social world
very interesting right? just to satisfy the curiosity (note: not 'curiousity' thanks to gDoc spelling check) of the quirky world. actually, that's a huge value already.
it has a quirky cover:
duno what's the experiement yet, but i'm sure it'll be interesting.
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the book began with "the mysterious Q test" (it's a quirky test with really not much hidden agenda... so just try...)
Using the first finger of your dominant hand, please trace out the capital 'Q' on your forehead.
don't read on until you've tried.
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have u done the test?
do again and take note of the direction as you do it.
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there are two ways of completing the exercise.
you can draw the letter 'Q' with the tail of the Q towards your right eye like this:
in this case, you can read it, but someone facing you can't.
Or you can draw it with the tail of the Q towards your left eye:
in this case, someone facing you can read it, but you can't.
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the author says it'll reveal an important aspect of your life. in the next chapter... so i took a peep :p
this quick test provides a rough measure of a concept known as 'self-monitoring'.
High self-monitors tend to draw the letter Q in a way in which it could be seen by someone facing them.
Low self-monitors tend to draw the letter Q in a way in which it could be read by themselves.
and... this has smth to do with lying!
High self-monitors tend to be concerned with how other people see them. they are happy being the centre of attention, can easily adapt their behaviour to suit the situation in which they find themselves, and are skilled at manipulating the way in which others see them. as a result, they tend to be good at lying.
in contrast, low self-monitors come across as being the 'same person' in different situations. their behaviour is guided more by their inner feelings and values, and they are less aware of their impact on those around them. they also tend to lie less in life, and so not be so skilled at deceit.
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the best part comes when the author reveals the result to his experimenters. he noticed that a small number of people who, upon hearing what the test is all about, quickly convince themselves that they traced the letter Q in the opposite direction to the way they actually drew it. these people are able to ignore the evidence right in front of them, and twist the facts to fit the person they want to be. As a result, the test provides a rough indicator of how good you are at deceiving both yourself and others.
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i am a high self-monitor. it reminds me of peter's comment/scolding that i depend on others to be happy. :S i don't deny it. i need to see people being happy then i can be happy. i will adjust myself and do things, go the extra mile to make people happy the way i tink they'll be happy. i thot it's good, sometimes even noble of me, but actually it's just superficial. giving myself a pat on the back that oh, i've done well today. many times miss out what people really need/want. the worst part is then i expect ppl to do good to me... wah super unhealthy. well, at least i'm true to myself lar. true to my superficial self. but i'm trying to change k... to be consistent in feelings and values... and stop lying. mel also said very long ago that i always bluff her (and she always get conned). lying seems to be my forte, unfortunately. so much for being true to myself. i better stop deluding myself and others.
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really excited to read the book! it'll go on about observations of the telltale signs of ppl lying..! hohoho~ i can blog abt the whole book lar! so interesting~!*
