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Post by Principal Sash on Oct 8, 2013 21:10:42 GMT -6
Right. How? Alice tried to quickly come up with a plan. There had to be something they could do. Maybe their humans just needed to be rained like they trained their Pokemon. An idea then occurred to her. <Last night, Kiki read to me from the psychology textbook for this class,> she began. Her trainer was so resourceful. <The book talked about how battling for our trainers makes us bond to them because we are fighting for them.> It was a bit more complicated than that, but she could not remember the details. She was sure she would learn during the class. <Maybe that works with humans too. We need to find a way to apply it.>
Kiki smiled when she saw that the two Pokemon were still converse. She wondered if Paul was plotting ways to break them apart. She could not let that happen! She ignored him as she looked straight ahead, waiting for the class to start.
Gary wondered if it was wise for Kiki to give into her Pokemon and go sit with that Paul guy. The grass types did look happy together, though. He decided he would let her handle it. He took a seat next to Ed, and Skipper walked over to stand beside him. OOC: Kiki is not a nerd...
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Post by SammyMcSamSam on Oct 8, 2013 21:44:36 GMT -6
Thorn grew excited. <Yeah!> He glanced at the teacher at the front of the classroom. <Maybe the teacher will help us out with explaining how it's done.> They still had to apply it to humans, though, which could be tough. <I hope we can think of at least something before class is done,> he said with a troubled expression. Who knows if they would see each other again soon?
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Post by Principal Sash on Oct 9, 2013 11:22:35 GMT -6
Alice nodded. <Let's wait and see what the teacher says.> She needed the class time to think of a plan.
Miss Riverton glanced at the clock. It was time to begin. "I will now take attendance," she said in a loud voice. "Say 'here' when I call your name. Paul Gruff, Kiki Jones, Catherine Kelly, Talos Lyongod, Gary Oak, Edmund Twist." It looked like two students had not yet arrived. The teacher marked them off as absent. Then she stood up and walked around the desk. "Hello, class. For those of you who do not know me, I am Miss Riverton. I will be teaching you about Pokemon Psychology. This class can be helpful in any pursuit you undertake. Let's start with the most basic activity of a Pokemon trainer: Battling.
"Now, there are some, though they are a minority, that would say capturing Pokemon and forcing them to fight for us is cruel. They say the Pokemon cannot enjoy it. However, psychology tells us otherwise. Battling actually increases the affection a Pokemon has for his or her trainer. There are three main reasons for this. Can anyone guess a reason?" She glanced around the room, looking for raised hands. She was not expecting them to know the answer because she had not assigned any reading yet, but she liked to make students think about questions and figure out the answers for themselves.
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Post by SammyMcSamSam on Oct 9, 2013 21:08:37 GMT -6
Thorn eagerly listened to the teacher speak. Please give us some ideas!
Paul was glad when class started. He said 'here' when his name was called and waited for the teaching and learning to begin. Immediately, Thorn and everything that had happened before class were forgotten as he listened to the teacher. He became interested when Miss Riverton mentioned battling. He raised his eyebrows at what she said about it, though. Then he frowned slightly in confusion. Affection? Couldn't Pokemon like battling without that? Even so, they were talking about this one specific way they came to like it that was found out somehow psychologically. He couldn't think of any reasons for what the teacher said. She was obviously going to tell them if they didn't know, so he waited to hear.
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Post by Principal Sash on Oct 12, 2013 13:25:19 GMT -6
<Ooo... I know the answer!> Alice said excitedly to the question the teacher had posed. She turned to Thorn and grinned. <That was just what I was talking about!>
Kiki chuckled lightly at her Chikorita's reaction She knew she must be remembering what they had read the night before. After that, she suppsoed she had to answer, so she raised her hand.
Miss Riverton smiled at Kiki and nodded. "Yes? Your name is Kiki, right?"
"Yes," the girl said. She took a moment to collect her thoughts before going on. "Battling increases the affection a Pokemon has for its trainer because the Pokemon's mind tells it that it would not being fighting for the trainer if it did not like him or her. There's a word for it, but I can't remember."
"Cognitive dissonance," Miss Riverton said, pleased with the student's answer. "And very good, Kiki. Someone has been reading ahead." She paused and looked over the class. She wanted to make sure she had their attention. "Cognitive dissonance is the term psychologists use to describe the tension that occurs in the mind when two contradictory ideas are presented to it, which occurs when someone - a Pokemon or human - holds incompatible beliefs or when an actions goes against a held belief. The mind likes to be consistent, so it has come up with a way to deal with the anxiety that is created. The main method is referred to as rationalizations. So, the act of a Pokemon battling for a trainer may cause cognitive dissonance if the pair does not have a strong bond.
"What happens in the Pokemon's mind? Well, the mind reasons that the Pokemon would not be doing something like fighting for the trainer if the Pokemon did not really like him or her. Thus, the amount that the Pokemon likes the trainer actually increases. This is important because it can make the Pokemon more willing to battle for the trainer in the future." She took another pause to let her words sink into the class. "That is one reason why battling can increase a Pokemon's affection for its trainer. There are two more. Can anyone think of anything else?" OOC: I love psychology.
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Post by SammyMcSamSam on Oct 13, 2013 19:29:23 GMT -6
Thorn looked away from the teacher and at Alice when she spoke. Then he listened intently to both what Kiki and the teacher said. <So, the same thing could happen with humans?> he asked Alice. He tried to think hard about how it could apply to their situation. <They battle for each other?> He frowned in thought. No, it had to be something else. Something similar that would have the same effect. OOC: Psychology is amazing.
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Post by Principal Sash on Oct 14, 2013 20:09:46 GMT -6
Alice shook her head. <Something like that, though.> She could feel an idea forming in her head, but she could not yet give words to it. Hopefully, what the teacher said would help her develop it into a plan.
"That's alright," Miss Riverton said when no one raised their hand. One correct answer was good enough for her. "Another reason is because of the hormones that are created through battling. Endorphins are happy emotions. The bodies of both humans and Pokemon create them. Any type of exercise will create endorphins, which those of you who work out may have discovered, but battling produces a lot for Pokemon. The Pokemon soon discovers that battling makes him happy, and he often attributes this happiness to his trainer, increasing his affection for him.
"The third reason this occurs is kind of a combination of the first two. Battling causes endorphins to be produced, but other hormones and emotions are present as well. Pokemon may experience fear, anxiety, racing hearts, and nervousness. In humans, these symptoms mimic the feeling of being in love. In Pokemon, however, it symbolizes the strong bond that is possible between Pokemon and trainers. When the Pokemon has these symptoms, his mind may incorrectly attribute them to his affection for his trainer." The teacher decided to stop here to make sure the class was following her. "Does anyone have any questions?"
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Post by mrlazebones on Oct 15, 2013 6:20:24 GMT -6
Edmund sat back and folded his arms and started to think about everything the teacher had said. If the Pokemon fought for a trainer that would rationalize that they liked the trainer. That made sense. Would explain why people say a pokemon raised by a mean person could become mean. Ed glanced at Thorn, hoping this wouldn't happen to such a small little guy. Bringing his hand to his chin, he thought of a question and moved his hand up into the air. Forgetting to wait for the teacher to call him, mostly because Kiki was the only one saying anything so far he asked his question. "Is it possible for a Pokemon to develop a deep bond with someone who they don't fight for that's as strong as that fighting bond, or is the connection of protection always the strongest bond possible?" Andy was feeling too lazy to pay attention and just watched the two grass Pokemon try to plan, considering trying to help them.
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Post by Principal Sash on Oct 15, 2013 12:45:22 GMT -6
Miss Riverton glanced at Edmund when he raised his hand. She was about to call on him when he began talking. She decided to let it go this once. She was sure the kid did not mean to be disrespectful. She listened to his question and nodded when he finished. "Great question. We'll be getting into this later, but I'll give you a brief synopsis now." She paused before continuing. "The quick answer is 'yes.' There are other ways besides battling that can create a strong bond between a Pokemon and a human. Some ways are related to what I was just talking about.
"For instance, saving a Pokemon from a terrible situation like an abusive trainer or going through a hard situation that does not involve battling can both increase a bond. I should note that, despite the psychological factors that cause a Pokemon to increase its affection towards its trainer through battling, there are possible opposing factors that can counteract and overpower these affects. An abusive trainer is the most obvious example of this." She looked at Ed again and smiled. "Does that make sense?"
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Post by SammyMcSamSam on Oct 15, 2013 18:25:41 GMT -6
Thorn listened carefully to Miss Riverton. The next two reasons didn't help him much with thinking of a way to connect the whole thing to their trainers; it was hard to find something that resembled battling. Then Ed asked a question, and the teacher's explanation made something click. <What if Kiki and Paul went through a hard or terrible situation together?> he asked, turning back to Alice.
Paul found what Miss Riverton said to be interesting. He reflected on it all in his mind, though it was interrupted by Ed's question, which gave him even more to think about. He acknowledged those reasons did cause a Pokemon's affection towards its trainer, but he refused to let that interfere with the efficiency and power of his Pokemon. As he thought about it, a question came to his mind. He rose his hand and waited to be called on.
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Post by mrlazebones on Oct 16, 2013 11:16:30 GMT -6
Edmund nodded and smiled when his question was answered, the more he thought on the subject the more he remembered his foster parent's eevee and the relationship he had with it. "Thank you ma'am. Makes total sense to me now." Andy eaves dropped on Thorn and Alice. Hearing his 'idea' she snuck closer and decieded to offer her advice. <But how are you gonna do that? Maybe if you guys hid somewhere together they might work together to find you. Plus you could spend time together.> She winked and nudged Thorn with her tail hand.
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Post by Principal Sash on Oct 16, 2013 12:38:55 GMT -6
Alice found the class very interesting so far. She turned to Thorn when he spoke again. A hard time or a terrible situation? That might just work. <But what could we do?> She was surprised when Andy appeared and offered them a helpful solution. <Hmm... Maybe.> She would have to think it over. She gave the Aipom a small smile of gratitude. <Thanks.>
"Good," Miss Riverton said when Edmund said he understand her answer. She enjoyed clearing up misunderstandings for students and elaborating on other points. That was what she was there for, after all. As her eyes scanned the room, she noticed that Paul's hand was up. "Yes? Paul?" She thought that was his name, at least. The loner.
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Post by SammyMcSamSam on Oct 16, 2013 14:56:53 GMT -6
Once Miss Riverton called on him, Paul lowered his hand and asked the question that had formed in his mind. "What if the trainer doesn't return the affection, but they're not abusive? Is there a way a Pokemon could be willing to battle for the trainer besides what you said? Could it instead associate those feelings to its love of battling?" He waited patiently for her to respond. His question was more like two, but he thought they went together.
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Post by Principal Sash on Oct 19, 2013 17:59:39 GMT -6
Miss Riverton listened to Paul's question attentively. It was a good question, actually. Once again, they were getting ahead of themselves, but she saw no harm in answering as best as she could now. "The short answer to your second question is 'no,'" she began. "Those feelings I talked about cannot be directly transferred to battling. However, it could happen indirectly. It all depends on the personality of the individual Pokemon and the other factors that contribute to the specific situation." She paused before going on, figuring she should explain herself a bit.
"You mentioned abuse and absence of affection in the same sentence like they are not connected. Now, I am not saying that a trainer who does not have a friendly relationship with his Pokemon is always abusive, but he can be. Pokemon have various needs just like we do, and like humans, Pokemon have a need for emotional bonds with others. If a trainer neglects these needs by acting coldly towards a Pokemon, this may be considered psychological abuse, which we will get into later. There are two ways a Pokemon will typical respond in this situation. One, the Pokemon may become cold like its trainer and battle fiercely as a result, which provides an answer to your second question. Second, just the opposite can occur. The Pokemon can become sad and despair, being relative useless in battle due to the neglect.
"Now, there is a way for a trainer to act this way towards his Pokemon and come to neither result. The Pokemon's needs do not have to be met by its trainer. If the Pokemon has strong bonds with someone else, like another Pokemon on his team, this may be sufficient to make up for the lack of affection the trainer has for it. Either way, a trainer would be wise to find some way to meet the emotional needs of his Pokemon. Does that answer your question?"
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Post by mrlazebones on Oct 19, 2013 22:29:21 GMT -6
Andy smiled and went back over to Edmund's shoulder hugging onto him with a yawn. This class seemed rather boring to her at the moment. Ed however was intently listening and absorbing every word the teacher said, putting a hand to his chin as the wheels turned in his head. So the little turtwig COULD end up acting like Paul, He thought to himself. Well I hope he catches another Pokemon Thorn can bond with so that doesn't happen. It would be sad to see that nice little tortoise turn mean.
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