Things I have noticed about people since starting HDO 301
September 25, 2019
I didn’t really know what I was getting into when I signed up for this course.
I did not fully know what ‘Human Dimensions and Organizations’ was, but I was interested
to find out. I am entering the field of design, and as I’ve practiced different aspects of design
and created products/plans, I’ve noticed that I have gravitated towards human-centric design.
Apps designed to help people in times of crisis, stylish diabetic shoes, as well as products
designed to soothe and calm people. So, I figured if I could somehow understand people
better, I could then become a better designer and a better person in general.
I did not fully know what ‘Human Dimensions and Organizations’ was, but I was interested
to find out. I am entering the field of design, and as I’ve practiced different aspects of design
and created products/plans, I’ve noticed that I have gravitated towards human-centric design.
Apps designed to help people in times of crisis, stylish diabetic shoes, as well as products
designed to soothe and calm people. So, I figured if I could somehow understand people
better, I could then become a better designer and a better person in general.
I am very interested in psychology and have taken a few courses on the subject in the past.
I was very pleased to find that this course is rich in teaching various psychological theories and
models. One of my favorite lectures involving psychology was the one that centered around
negotiation strategies and principles. I found this lecture extremely useful and it made me
contemplate my past interactions with others and how I could have negotiated better in order
to either get what I wanted or come to a conclusion that would satisfy both me and the other
party. I have found that the way I have approached some negotiations in the past has been too
forward and rigid, which has landed me in quite unfavorable situations. I have also found that In
other negotiations I have been a part of, I was not rigid enough and I also ended up in
unfavorable situations. From the lectures, I have learned how to negotiate in a way where I am
not too aggressive, yet not a pushover, which is extremely valuable to me.
I was very pleased to find that this course is rich in teaching various psychological theories and
models. One of my favorite lectures involving psychology was the one that centered around
negotiation strategies and principles. I found this lecture extremely useful and it made me
contemplate my past interactions with others and how I could have negotiated better in order
to either get what I wanted or come to a conclusion that would satisfy both me and the other
party. I have found that the way I have approached some negotiations in the past has been too
forward and rigid, which has landed me in quite unfavorable situations. I have also found that In
other negotiations I have been a part of, I was not rigid enough and I also ended up in
unfavorable situations. From the lectures, I have learned how to negotiate in a way where I am
not too aggressive, yet not a pushover, which is extremely valuable to me.
From the watching relationships assignment, I was able to learn a lot about everyday
human behavior. Not to sound creepy, but I have always been in the habit of observing
strangers and find it really interesting and entertaining. I like making stories up in my head
about their lives and piecing together bits of their conversations to try to understand what kind
of person they are, or what they have experienced. While I was doing the watching relationships
assignment, I had specific things I was looking for, and that helped me understand interpersonal
behavior on a deeper level. I learned about body language and how important it is in defining
relationships and interactions. I heavily relied on observing body language and facial expressions,
since in most cases, I was not able to hear the conversations the groups of people were having.
When I typically ‘people-watch,’ I rely a lot on dialogue to guide me to my judgments. However,
after this assignment, I found that dialogue is not the most important factor in determining
relationships, and the more useful indicators of relationship types are found through physical
expressions. In my opinion, the main indicator of intimacy is physical interaction. A pat on the
back suggesting friendliness, a playful punch to the shoulder signifying comfort and ease.
Hands are the main factors in which physical communication is practiced. By watching one’s
hands, I was able to find out things about people I hadn't noticed before. Someone rubbing
their legs with their hands often communicates tension and discomfort. Someone touching their
face often can suggest a variety of different things, so other indicators are necessary to make
any solid judgments on the relationship interaction being observed. Overall, I am very intrigued
by this class and am excited to learn more about how to communicate effectively with others.
human behavior. Not to sound creepy, but I have always been in the habit of observing
strangers and find it really interesting and entertaining. I like making stories up in my head
about their lives and piecing together bits of their conversations to try to understand what kind
of person they are, or what they have experienced. While I was doing the watching relationships
assignment, I had specific things I was looking for, and that helped me understand interpersonal
behavior on a deeper level. I learned about body language and how important it is in defining
relationships and interactions. I heavily relied on observing body language and facial expressions,
since in most cases, I was not able to hear the conversations the groups of people were having.
When I typically ‘people-watch,’ I rely a lot on dialogue to guide me to my judgments. However,
after this assignment, I found that dialogue is not the most important factor in determining
relationships, and the more useful indicators of relationship types are found through physical
expressions. In my opinion, the main indicator of intimacy is physical interaction. A pat on the
back suggesting friendliness, a playful punch to the shoulder signifying comfort and ease.
Hands are the main factors in which physical communication is practiced. By watching one’s
hands, I was able to find out things about people I hadn't noticed before. Someone rubbing
their legs with their hands often communicates tension and discomfort. Someone touching their
face often can suggest a variety of different things, so other indicators are necessary to make
any solid judgments on the relationship interaction being observed. Overall, I am very intrigued
by this class and am excited to learn more about how to communicate effectively with others.
