1. SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING AND DESIGN
THE DESIGN SCHOOL
FOUNDATION IN NATURAL BUILD ENVIRONMENT
Name: Deong Khai Keat
Student ID: 0320055
Group/Session: Monday 2pm-4pm
Social Psychology (PSYC0103)
Assignment 1: Individual Journal
Lecturer: T. Shankar
Submission date: 27th
April 2015

2. Journal 1
Motivation
Since young, my father is always very strict about my academic
results, as he believes that good results would lead to a good future. My
father would punish and scold us if we do not do well in our exams, such as
scolding us playing the computer games everyday and restricting us from
going out with friends. Due to his actions, it has led us to become
extrinsically motivated.
A few months before SPM examinations, I was already motivated to
prepare for it. I kept looking for exercises and trial question examples
online in order to prepare myself well for the upcoming exam. Although I
did not intend to do so, but in order to score well in my exam, I had to
study hard to avoid punishment from my father.
I believe that most teenagers are also motivated to study hard and
score good results because of not wanting to be grounded by their parents
as well.

3. Journal 2
Stereotype
From the Internet, we can always see news about passenger being robbed
by Bangladeshis during taking LRT. Therefore, I have this stereotype that
taking LRT is very dangerous. I remembered once I had no choice but to
take LRT from campus to home, that was the first time I took LRT, I was so
anxious and I felt so insecure. I bought the ticket and got in the LRT. I sat at
the back and holding my bag tightly.
After a while, a Bangladeshis sat beside me. The Bangladesh started to talk
to me, I was stunned, but then I still politely answered his question, the
Bangladesh was too friendly, he started to ask me questions. Though the
Bangladesh tried hard to ease the awkwardness, I still could not let my
guard down. Finally, the LRT is reached the station. Because that I’m very
nervous, I dropped my wallet inside the LRT.
Then, the Bangladeshi who was talking to me picked up my wallet and
returned to me. I was surprised, I took my wallet away at once and said
thank you. He smiled at me and walked away. Even though that guy is being
generous and nice to me, I always think that Bangladesh won’t give it back
to me but he did not. I still feel uneasy and it is very hard to let my guard
down whenever I see a Bangladesh.
Even after that incident, I still do not dare to stay calm and not be alert
after many rides of the LRT.

4. Journal 3
Overconfidence Barrier
When I was in form 3, I joined the Ping-Pong club in my high school, SMK
BSD1. I was really interested in Ping-Pong after I joined ping-pong club. I
started to practice and stay up after school everyday just to play Ping-Pong
with my other friends.
After 2 years, I joined the MSSD competition and represented my school
to compete with many other schools. I told myself that I would learn and
keep training to play well so I can be chosen to represent my state. There
are 36 high school joined MSSD, I aimed to get champion in the
competition. The competition started, my opponent is younger than and
me and as usual, I looked down on him. The game started but I lost the first
round, I felt very nervous and didn’t play well after that. I had no choice
and must have to continue play the games.
In the end, I didn’t get the champion and I can’t even get top 8. I was
overconfident in the competition and overconfident to win the younger
boys in the competition. I was overconfident that with my skills and training
of my ping-pong. After that, I have learned a big lesson which is never be
overconfident in everything.

5. Journal 4
Confirmation Bias
Last year, after having brunch with my mother, we walked pass a new
restaurant called Boat Noodle at Kota Damansara. It is a very special
restaurant because the noodle in this restaurant in very small. As a noodle
lover, I must visit this restaurant and this restaurant is the first boat noodle
in Malaysia. Unfortunately, I did not visit the restaurant because my
mother have no time to bring me go Kota Damansara anymore.
After that, I decided after I get my P license, I would go visit the restaurant.
I did an online search about the reviews of the restaurant. The reviews
online about this restaurant were very good, about the service, the food
and the environment too!
However, my friends shared their experience visiting this restaurant, it
contradicted the positive reviews online. They said the food was very bad
and expensive. i was taken aback by their words but I did not listen to them.
After I got my license, I went to the restaurant with my girlfriend in the
weekend to check it out. However, I felt the same as my friend told me and
I did not like the place at all. Through this experience, confirmation bias is
shown through this experience of mine. I read the positive reviews about
this restaurant and had the schema that this restaurant is going to be great
but it is not when I try it out.

6. Journal 5
The Illusion of Control
It was CNY few months ago, where most kids and teens would be
busy collecting red packets while adults would be busy preparing food and
entertaining guests and cousins. During Chinese New Year, laughter and
chatters are found in every corner of the neighborhood as it is one of the
greatest chances for the family or friends to gather together to have a good
catch up session.
Chinese New Year is also an excuse for the all us to gamble and stay
up all night. As what elderlies always say, red will bring good luck to us. My
father wore a red shirt when he gambles as he thinks that red will bring her
great luck and fortune. While gambling, we are also not allowed to hit
people’s shoulder because will affect our luck. Even though my father did
not win all of the game, but she still believes that his red shirt had helped
his in winning back some money.
My father’s beliefs of the color red would bring him good luck shows
the concept of the illusion of control.