Language is consistently being used by anyone and everyone who believes they can benefit from learning how to construct sentences, phrases, words, etc. in order to help them achieve a certain goal. Even now, I am writing this blog post and manipulating language in order to hopefully compel you to keep reading. If I do a good job, then maybe you will make it to the end of my post.

Language allows us to create new ideas and communicate them with others. Most recently, I have been noticing how the media and politicians use language to gain support for their causes. One example is President Joe Biden’s campaign slogan, “Build back better.” Although it is just 3 words, they were carefully thought out and tested on sample audiences to see what kind of reaction they would invoke before these words were chosen as his slogan. The amount of thought and effort that goes into choosing high-level political campaign slogans like “Build back better” and “Make American great again” is telling of just how much of an impact language has on its intended audience. Words are just words without comprehension and the ability to paint a picture with them.

Language allows us to create an infinite number of ideas and this is what marketing agencies understand.  If they can successfully get their intended audience to feel like they fully comprehend their mission through just a few words, then they have done their job. Every person wearing a “Make America great again” hat feels in their mind that they know exactly what that promise of action entails. They have a vivid picture in their mind of what America looks like if it is made great again and they can connect with like-minded people based on their support for these words.

Language has been manipulated for thousands of years. I believe it is because as humans, we are just beginning to understand its complexities and the nature of what it should be used for. It is possible that if every person had a thorough understanding of the nature of language and how it can be used to manipulate, build barriers, and even oppress those with a lesser understanding (i.e. Wall street terminology and the average American understanding of these terms), then we could see a day where marketing and media companies don’t have so much influence on people’s decision making.

My Papa passed away a few months ago. His name was John Manuel and he was a great person. He was a talented musician, a family man, and an all around fun guy. I have a lot of awesome memories of us hanging out and enjoying time together. I bring him up because my post is about the Short term memory. He was the first example that came to mind when I learned about the different types of memory and how they are separate from each other. It is amazing how we can have great functionality with short term memory, and on the other hand have horrible functionality with long term memory, or vice versa.

In the last few years, he was diagnosed with dementia. As his condition progressed, so did his struggle with his short term memory. However, interesting enough, his long term memory was still spot on. He could recall life events from his childhood and still play the guitar and sing like he was 35 again. However, if I were at his house hanging out with him, he would ask me literally 20 times if I wanted something to eat or when I had arrived there even though I had been sitting and talking with him for an hour. I would always answer him, then start talking about something else with him.

Because of the key differences of brain functionality and how certain memories are stored and recalled, my Papa had a sharp and functioning long term memory, while his shirt term memory suffered. His working memory which processed and decided how to use his short term information is what was not functioning properly.

The brain is amazing with the way it works. It seems like I could be sad that my Papa lost his STM, and to an extent, I am. But I am grateful that his LTM and other areas of his brain still had great functionality up until his final days. I am glad that God, some mad scientist, or mother nature (whomever it may be) designed our brains in such away that we don’t have to lose all functionality when certain areas take irreparable damage.

-Clayton Munoz

In lesson 3 we learned about perception and Gestalt’s Laws of Perception. Some examples were provided to us which helped illustrate the way our brain aims to group similar things together. It is interesting how certain animals use their knowledge of perception to stay safe and practice deception on predators. Certain aquatic wildlife can change colors to blend in with the sand and ocean to remain unseen. In a secondary example, some bugs and birds use their natural colors to blend in with the leaves and trees surrounding them. Even humans wear camouflage while hunting, so we too can blend in with nature and get close to the animals.

The examples above are all ways that different animals use their knowledge of perception to achieve safety or be successful predators.  Gestalt helps us break down the structure of perception as best he can with his grouping laws. The book tells us that while these are very well thought out and provide great insight, these are not a set-in-stone way of understanding perception. Our textbook gave us several examples of the Grouping Laws. My favorite was the Common Fate example that used Michael Bach’s Bird Illusion to show how we group things according to movement.

A real-life example from my personal life is the coyotes in my neighborhood. Unfortunately, they hunt our cats and small dogs and rely on Gestalt’s perception principle of common fate to not be seen while they try and sneak up on their prey. Since we tend to group things together and separate things according to movement, they remain very still for various periods of time to avoid triggering their prey’s brain which would alert them of the movement in their peripherals.

While they generally show themselves more at nighttime, it is amazing how they can hide during the day, just by remaining still and waiting for the proper moment to move. Many times, while walking the trails in my neighborhood, I have noticed a coyote standing very still and gazing at me and my dog, Mufassa. They are curious about us and use their skills to help them observe the neighborhood while remaining unseen by most people. They are masters of using perception to their advantage!

-Clayton Munoz