The document discusses counterfactual thinking and how it can be divided into upward and downward counterfactuals. It provides examples from the author's life where they experienced upward counterfactual thinking through regret over past mistakes like performing poorly on an exam due to poor preparation and failing a class due to an assignment. The author reflects on how they should have prepared earlier for the exam and assignment to avoid these regrets.

1. Entry 1
Persuasionisatopicin social psychology.People maybe persuadedindifferentways.
Persuasionisattemptsthatinfluence othersattitude orbehaviours. PettyandCacioppo (1981)
suggestedthatthere are twodifferentwaysorroutestopersuasion: the central route andthe
peripheral route.The central route topersuasioninvolvesbeingpersuadedbythe argumentsorthe
contentof the message. Forexample,afterhearinga political debate youmaydecide tovote fora
candidate because youfoundthe candidatesviewsandargumentsveryconvincing. The peripheral
route to persuasioninvolvesbeingpersuadedinamannerthat isnot basedonthe argumentsorthe
message content. Forexample,afterreadingapolitical debateyoumaydecide tovote fora
candidate because youlike the soundof the person'svoice,orthe personwenttothe same
universityasyoudid. The peripheral route caninvolve usingsuperficialcuessuch asthe
attractivenessof the speaker.
EarlierSeptember,the School of architecture council approachedourclassandstartedto
advertise abouttheirtriptoSpaininOctober.It was9 days tripsto Spainto observe andwitness
architecture inSpain.Itwas a tripwiththe teachesand alsoseniorsfromTaylor’sUniversity.This
tripswill mainlyfocusesonmodernand oldarchitecture design.The citiesof Spainthatare to be
visitare Barcelona,Madrid,Valencia,MalagaandSeville.All thesecitiesare the one thatI look
forwardto visit.Istartedaskingmyfriendwhethertheyare interestedornot.Mostof my friends
are interestedbutthe feesof goingthere are tooexpensive.Istartedtoaskaround the classthat
whomightbe goingalthoughIdon’thave the budgets.Now IrealisedthatIwas easilypersuadedby
the ideaof the tripto Spainthroughcentral and peripheral routes.
Throughcentral route,I beganto searchabout spainandthe interestedplacesinspain. Ithen
beganto searchtrip advisorupabout Spainandthe reviewsonlineare certainlyglowing.Otherthan
that, I getthe chance to visitthe CampNouand Bernabeufootball stadiumwhichare the richest
football clubinSpainandthe world.Notonlythat,the weatherduringthe monththatthe trip will
be going wouldbe mid-autumnweatherwhichtosayit’sthe mostperfectweathertovisitspainas
it nottoo coldand warm.The place we are goingare also veryinterestingandexcitedtovisitafter
searchingiton Google.The price isalsoseeminglyaffordable comparedto goingthere byyourself
but the thingislivingexpensesonEurope are veryexpensive.AfterknowingthatIhave doubtsthat I
not goingto participate inthistrip.
Throughperipheral route of persuasion,Ihave alwaysattractedtothe Spanishculture and
wantedtovisitSpainwithmyDad one day. Otherthanthat, I checkedoutthe placesthat isstatedin
the itinerary,it reallylookedinterestingandthe architecture there are amazing.Notonly thatI am
fascinatedbythe schedule of the tripbythe plannerwhichisverywell planned butalsothe lecturer
incharge of explainingthe triptous. He explainedtousaboutthe trip detail andIwas fascinatedby
hisdetailedpresentation. Well Ialsofascinatedinthe place we are stayingandwe get to visitthe
oldtrain stationof Spain.Notto mention, alotof the seniorsare goingand a few of my friendshas
giventhe approval forthe tripand paidthe travellingfee.Thisgive me chancestointeractwithmy
friendsandgetto knowthe seniors.Alsoone of myhousematesisgoingandhe offeredme togo
withhimand I still pendinghisrequest.

2. Inthe end,Ihave beenpersuadedbythe offerof the tripand myfriendsbutI decidednotfoll ow
theminthistrip. Firstly,the travelingfee are considerable butthe livingexpensesatspainare very
highas our Malaysiamoneycurrencyrate had fallendrasticallyandtoconvertitwe will getthe less
amountof eurowe expected. Thiswill cause alotof budgetand my parentsare not that well
affordable toapprove me the tripto spain.AlthoughImissthischance to visitSpainbutinthe future
I will plantovisitEurope myself withmyparents.
Conclusion,afterlearninganddescribing the experiencesof persuasion,Iknow todifferentiate
the central and peripheral route of persuasionIhave beenthrough.Withthese Inow getto know
the real reasonwhyI was persuadedandinterestedinpersuasionandwhatare the reasonpeople
gettingpersuaded.
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3. Entry2
Self-efficacyisdefinedinsimple termsasthe belief inone’sself-abilitiestoachieve ina
particularactionor set goals.Therefore,self-efficacyisthe perceptionthatone iscapable of
successfullymeetinghisorherownexpectationswithregardtosetgoalsand objectives.Self-
efficacyenhancesmotivationof individualstoachieve setgoalsthatmake the individual sustainthe
drive towardsachievementDifferentindividualsdraw theirmotivationtoperformcertaintasksand
responsibilitiesbasedontheirabilitiesthatgive themthe belief inthemselves.Fundamentally,self-
belief iswhatprovidesthe motivationforindividualstoeffectivelyandefficientlysucceedin
completingataskor in meetingthe goalsthattheysetto achieve. BasedonAlbertBanduraa
psychologist,the efficacycanbe dividedintotwotypesof self-efficacywhichishighandlow self -
efficacy.Highself-efficacyispeoplethatsee difficulttasksaschallengesforthemwhile people with
lowself-efficacysee difficulttasksassomethingtobe avoidedorhindrance.AfterlearningthisI
stronglyconfirmthatI am a lowself-efficacytype of guy.
I sometimesseesdifficulttaskasa hindrance orworthlesstasks.All mylifeIsee taskto be
harderthan theyactuallyare and I rarelysee tasksas challenges.Thishappenmostof the time
probablyat school andevennowat university.Inschool,Ijusthate to do worksthat relatedto
drawings.Idon’tknowwhyI hate todo that but maybe ismaybe lazynature that make be became a
lowself-efficacytype of guy.Lastsemester,Idon’tevenlookforwardintogroupworksandtasks
that needtodo models.Ijustnowthat interestedworkinginateam.Some people saysitsfunto
worktogetherbutI say that inorder towork ina team, we musthave the same visionandobjective
inorder to workwell together. Justlike mygroupassignmentinthe firstsemester,we came with
variousideaandthe lecturerselectone of mygroupmatesideaforcreatinga models.It’sa
assignmentof buildingafuture cityandall of us tendto use hisideaforthe assignments.We work
togetherandsometime we don’tevenknow whatwe needtodoand whatare we doing.
In the end we finishitbutwe still don’tknow how topresentsitto the lecturer.Afterthis,Ifind
that groupassignmentsare easyif all of us worktogetherincludinggatheringideasandinspiration.
Now,I seesgroupassignmentassomethingtobe avoidedperhapswe worktogethertowardsthe
same goal.Anothertasksthat I seesassomethingtobe avoidedare drawingordesign.Ifind
designingthingsisdifficultbecausewhatyouthinkof isnot probablyrightforotherpeople.Justlike
insemester1 I usesothersdrawingasinspiration.Mostof drawingsof planandlandscape mostly
are referredinthe internetorthe helpof architecture books.Ijusthate todesignitmyself asmaybe
I have lowself esteeminmywork.Ithoughtto myself thatmaybe Iam not confidentenoughto
showmy owndesigntothe lecturers.Now Ithinkof it that itsnot I hate to designbutisthat I not
confidenttoshowmyone product.
All mylife Itendto seesdifficulttaskassomethingtobe avoidedandIonlyseessomethingthatI
enjoydoingitas challenges.The taskthatI enjoyisprobablyplayingsportsthatyoulike witha
groupof close friends.Ilike togatherwithfriendsandwe dothe same thingwe like todo.For me,I
like toforma teamto playbasketball together.Ifindthisachallenge because i liketoforma
friendshipwithmyfriendswithbasketball.Althoughitsoundseasybutdifferentpeoplehave
differenttype of playingstyleandability.Somepeople are notthatgood inplayingbasketballand
some are verygoodat it but don’tknowhow to playeffectively.SoIusuallytookthisopportunityto

4. understandandinteractamongeach otheraboutbasketball.We improve ourwaysof playingby
forminga goodchemistryandbelieveineachother’sabilities.AlthoughthissoundseasybutIsees
thisas challengesandIreallylookforwarddoingit.
Conclusion,everypeoplehave itsowngoodandbad quality.We justneedtoworkon our
weaknessandbe confidenttoface them.There isnopointavoidingthembecause once we avoid
themwe will neverbe goodatit. I have learntthatto believe inmyself andnotshytoshow my
weaknesses.Everytasksisaproblembutwe justneedto finda waysto overcome andmasterthem.
813 words

5. Entry 3
Counterfactual thinkingisthe processof mentallychangingsome aspectof the pastas a wayof
imaginingwhatmighthave been happen.Thisusuallyassociatedwithnegative events.Thismentally
changingprocesscan be usedto improve orworsenyourmood.Some imaginationmaybe goodthat
make youfeel goodbutsome imaginationmaymake youfeel sadorbad. The counterfactual
thinkingcanbe differentiate intotwotypesof categories.One isupwardcounterfactual andanother
one isdownwardcounterfactuals.Upward counterfactual thinkingfocusesonhow the situation
couldhave beenbetterorregretmeanwhiledownwardcounterfactualthinkingfocusesonhow the
situationcouldhave beenworse.Inmylife Ihave experience bothof thiscounterfactual thinking
and mostlyare the upwardcounterfactual thinking.
In mylife Ihave alwaysbeenmakingmistake andendupregrettingit.Ihave experiencesmostof
my regretwithupwardcounterfactual thinking.Justrecently,Isatfora classtestwhichisthe
accountingclass.I studiedatthe last minute andonthe examday I forgethow to do due to lackof
sleep.Istudiedthe wholenightandgetpoorresultsforit.Afterthat happenIhave beenthinkingif
onlyI studyand prepaidforthisa weekearlierImightgetbetterresults.Luckily,myaccouting
lecturerMs. Tay gave us whoperformbadlya chance to resitthe testand thistime I have to prepare
for studyearlier.EvennowwhiledoingthisassignmentIalsoregretfornot finishthisearlier.Think
of I shouldfinishthisearliersothatI can watch the weekendsfootball match.PerhapsIshouldjust
my attitude of lastminute assignmentrush.
OthereventsthatI experience upwardcounterfactual thinkingare probablywhenIfailedmylast
semester’sfinal exam.Iscrewedupone of the lastassignmentsandthe lecturersfailedme.Ileave
no chance but to repeatthatsemesteragainafterthissemesterwhichissemester2.I have been
regretthinkif onlyI dowell inthe examandassignmentIwouldnotbe worryingrepeatingthe
semesteragain.SometimesIwishIcan turn back time andrepairmy mistake butwhatdone isdone.
No pointof regrettingnowasnowI onlycan move on and notrepeatingthe same mistake again.
The experiencesof downwardcounterfactual thinkingisprobablybackwhenIenterthe
basketball tournamentlastyear.Lastyear,me and my friendsformateam of basketball with12
membersoneachteam.We lostthe firstmatch witha tightscore.We lostbecause we facedthe
seniorteamfromSabahwhichhave many talentedplayerintheirteam.Atthattime,I feel relieved
we onlylosta little margintothemand I wasthinkingalthoughourteamlost,butat leastitwas
close game and nota blowout.Afterthat,we playedandlostsome gamesinthe groupstage.
Althoughwe were eliminatedfromthe groupstage,we have the chance toface some greatteams
and we enjoyplayingwiththem.
The othereventsthatI experiencedthisisprobablywhenIreceivethe SPMresultaftersitting
for the SPMexams.Duringthe exams,Isitthe examsfor7 subjectsandone of itis myfavourite
subjectsthe EngineeringDrawing( LukisanKejuteraan).Itwasa funsubjectand difficultatthe same
time.Isat for the examand I finishit.Iwasquite confidentuntilsome of myclassmatesscrew up
the answersandI was scaredthat I also done the same mistake.Luckily,myclassteachertoldusto
forgetaboutit and move onand that he reallycalmus down.Afterthat,we enjoyourlongbreak

6. afterthe SPM until the resultsday.Onthe day the resultswere out,Igetto gather withmyfriends
again.We were anxiousatthattime thinkingwe mightgetbadresults.The resultswere released
and I getan A- forthe EngineeringDrawingwhichIconfidentlypredictedIwouldgetanA.
Therefore,Iwaspleasedwithmyresultsassome of myfriendgetpoorresults.Atthat time Ifeel
some relievedwere takenoff frommychestandthinkingIgotA- onsome of the subjectbutat least
I getA- notfailingit.Iwas happyat that time because myengineeringdrawingteachercongratzme
and toldme he did predictIdo so well inthe SPMas I alwaysget B or C lastexams.
Afterdoingthis,Ifeel thatcounterfactual thinkingonlyexistonbadeventsanditwouldmake
people feelgoodandbad.AlthoughImayhave regretsin the pastbut at leastI face my mistake now
so that inthe future I wontrepeatthe same mistake again.
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7. Entry 4
Observational learninggoesarounduseveryday.We humanobserve andlearnfromwhatwe
observedsince birth.Observational learninghasbeenpartof the humanexperience foralongtime.
Observational learning(OL) occurswhenfromobservingothers,one formsanideaof how new
behaviorsare performed.Anobserver'sbehaviorchangesafterviewingthe behaviorof amodel.We
observe the behaviorof other,observethe consequences,andlaterwillimitatetheirbehavior.An
observer'sbehaviorcanbe affectedbythe positive ornegative consequences.Therefore the people
shouldhave behave insucha goodwaysso that the youngergenerationwontaffectedbybad
behaviourandsetgooddeedsandbehaviorsasexample.
In my experience of observational learning,Ihave beenobserve the worldsince Iwasborn.I
was beentaughttowalkand talknot by natural but byobserve andlearn.Observational learning
happentome everydayevennowIstudiedinauniversitythatIstill observe the lecturernotesand
learnfromit. Justlike lastweek,Iattendedthe basicaccountingclassandourlecturerMs. Tay
taught andshowus howto arrange yearlyexpensesof acompanyintoan account.First,she show us
some notesonhow arrange our accounts andthroughthe notesshe explainedIstill notunderstand
a single factaboutaccountingprinciples.Thenshe show usthe stepsof accountingthenIslowly
understandthe principlesof account.Now,Islowlyfindaccountingisnotthatcomplicatedasit
looksandfindit enjoytodosometimes.
During form2 whichmyage isonly14, I startedto interestedinthe game of basketball.I
watch the seniorsinmyschoolsplaybasketball andIfounditfunand enjoytoplay.It notonly
exercise butalsoithelpusingrowingup.AfterschoolingIwenttoplaybasketball withmycousin.I
startedshootingatfirstand playaround like anewbie.ThenIwenthome tosearchsome basketball
movesandskillsonyoutube.Ilearnandobserve some movesandskillsfromNbastarslike Kobe
Bryant,Dwayne Wade,CarmeloAnthonyandTimDuncan.I watch the mixtape of themthe whole
nightand practise theirmovesonthe nextday.Aftera few monthsof practice I feel thatIcan playa
real basketball games.AtfirstIwasshy,so I wentto school everyeveningtoplaybasketballwithmy
friendsandthe seniors.Iwasstill outmatchbythemat that time butI learnand understandmore
aboutthe game of basketball,since thenIkeptplayingwiththemuntil Iparticipate abasketball
tournamentwithmyschoolmatesandthatwasmy veryfirstreal basketball game.
I feel refreshedandenjoythe game althoughwe loseinthe semifinalbutitwasjustthe
beginning.Afterthat,me andmy friendwhichhasthe same age as me trainhard and hope tobe
selectedintothe under18 teamrepresentLabuan. We trainedandgetselectedforthe teamand
representLabuaninPenang.Althoughwe losebutatleastwe getto playtogetheras a teamand
nowI realisedthatIstartedplay andlearnabout basketball justbyobservingthe movesof great
athletes.Irealisedthatbyobservingpeople we canlearnmanythingswe have notlearn.

8. The bad behaviourthatIlearnfrom observingsince youngisprobablymostlymydadnegative
behaviour.Ilearnthe badthingsfromhimis probablyhisstyle of doingthingshalf done ormaybe
lastminute rush.I oftendidthisthingsonmyassignmentsevennow.Itendtodo thingshalf done
and finishitinthe eleventhhour.Thishasbecame a badhabitof mine andi wishtoovercome this
habitof mine inthe future.AlthoughImayblearnthishabitfrommyfatheror friendsInever
blamedthemforthisbecause Iam quite a kingof procrastinationmyself.
Afterdescribingall theseexperiences,IrealisedIdoobserve andlearnfora betterliving.As
example,Ilearnall thisbasicthingsfrommyparentssince childbirth.Theytaughtme to talk,walk,
bath andmore since Iwas a baby andI observe andlearnfromthem.Andall thistime I have been
observational learningfromkindergarden,schools,tuitionclassesand now university.All mylifeis
aboutlearningandnowI realisedthatlearningthingsisimportantbecauseitshape whoyouare
fromobservationlearning.

9. Entry 5
Reciprocation plays quitea partin the things I do. I’d sometime feel likeI’m in debt to a person who has done
me a favour where I feel I have to repay that person in any possibleway justto get the guiltaway.This
mainly occur when a friend help me in a huge favour and I justkeep thinkingon how to help him in the near
future. I know this is troublesome but this is how some humans think and react. Its a good sign to have this
habitbecause ittend to help people to adapt a lifestyleof repaying good deeds to the people who help them.
This apparently happen when I am with my family and friends.Back in the school holiday in 2013,my
dad suddenly bought me a smartphone. At the time itwas the brand new Samsungs3 that I adore and he
actually boughtitfor me. I felt kind of happy and shock that he would actually boughtme a smartphone. I
don’t know what the main reason that inspired himto bought me that smartphone but I justknow that I have
to do something good to my dad or maybe help him in the future. Then, I think and come up an idea to work
for my dad in his business duringthe school longterm break. Actually in the past he ever asked me to work
with him duringthe school break but I declineand ignores him as I am too lazy to work. He always wanted me
to learn how to manage the business because he want me to continue his businessin the future. Then I just
work for him in the business for the past2 and a half months. After that, I can tell that he is happy and proud
of me for takinginterest in the business.Fromthat day onwards,we became best buddies and I will help my
dad in the business when i go back in the in semester break.
Another experience is when my friends help me in a huge favour.Last semester, my friend Darren Leong
help me in a huge favour that he help me in the assignments.Itwas an assignments thatwe work in a group of
two to find an empty spaceto propose a landscapeor business center.
I work with him becausehe knew the area in Cheras and our proposed spacewas at Cheras.He asked me if I
need a liftto his placewhich is near the proposed spaceand he also treatme lunch atthat time. I felt uneasy
because he help me and I told himthat I do the presentation slideand treat him lunch atcampus. He help me
and I feel that I have to repay the deeds. And even now sometimes he help me in assignments when I asked
him for help.
Other experiences on reciprocation thatI have is probably on my lastbirthday.My cousin which is my
best friend bought some ps3 games for me for my birthday presents. He bought me games likeNba2k15, fifa15
and Need for speed games. He bought me these sport related games becausehe knew I played these games
often. I appreciatehis giftand I feel that I need to repay himso I took a decision to lend my ps3 playstation to
him so that we can play together sincewe livein the same neighbourhood. We often spend the nights playing
games and playingbasketball together as we sharethe same hobby sincewe arein kindergarden. I felt
appreciated becausewe often spend our times together and we grew up together so on January which is his
birthday I bought him a pair of brand new Nike basketball.Sincethen our relationship deepen and even now
we stay connected although we studied in different university.
For the pastfew years I am grateful to my family and friends who help me in times I needed help. I
learn that good deeds are meant to be pay back and this process help us to appreciatekindness and good
things in life.If you thought about how to repay good deeds then you are in a good direction and not afraid
repay or help those who in needs. Some people tends to forget people kindness toward them but never forget
appreciatethe people that lend a helpinghand and help them back when they are in need.
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