26/07/2024
Good morning! This summer I had the opportunity to take a couple of college classes to learn more about social work in special education and the special education law. My brain has definitely been stretched in many good and frustrating ways. Online classes are a genre unto themselves.
I participated in "Discussions" and in a group project. Group projects tend to raise my anxiety. I understand my own goals and expectations. Group work requires me (us) to also consider the goals and expectations of others. "Live" in-person group work allows me (us) to have the added information of the other persons' body language, tone, history, thoughts. My on-line group work experience involved interactions of only a few key strokes, which eliminated those benefits. This process did provide me with an interesting and valuable opportunity.
I asked my group members to provide feedback for my section of the work. One group member did. I did NOT like it. I found myself angry and agitated. I thought, "Duh, I know that. I asked for your help so just fix it for me!" SERIOUSLY?!?!? That is when I heard that small voice in my head saying, "She is doing exactly as you asked her to do, giving you "feedback." Why are you angry?" I had to take a look at MYSELF. Why was I angry? I was frustrated at my own lack of understanding. I was frustrated with how hard this was for me. I reviewed and fixed what she had shared. I truly appreciate that she took the time to review my work and provided feedback-even though it rubbed me the wrong way.
This encounter prompted me to consider "confirmation bias." Confirmation bias is our tendency to seek, interpret, and/or process information that is consistent with our own existing belief system. It leads us to discount information that is not consistent with our own beliefs. While my situation was a bit different, I believe it to still be relevant. Basically when I asked for feedback I really just wanted validation (and someone to clean up my errors.) But, I can't learn the skill when someone else does the work. She helped me. My group member did what I asked. This opportunity helped me consider my interactions with others, and how I can better communicate with others. I can clean my own mental filter and be aware of my bias' so I can better hear what the other is communicating.
"What is Confirmation Bias? Cherry-picking the Facts to Support an Existing Belief," Kendra Cherry, MS. Ed., VeryWellMind, 19, May, 2024. (Not APA format!)
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