Applying Personality Psychology

There are many different approaches and theoretical frameworks from which to explain personality. Some perspectives covered in this class are: psychoanalytic, neo- Freudian, biological, behaviorist, trait, humanistic, and cultural. Choose three of these perspectives and apply them to understand an issue in current events from the years 2019 – 2021.

First, study the textbook and then go to the library or the Internet and do some further reading on three of the approaches that appeal to you. Then pick a current event that interests you and analyze it in terms of personality influences. For example, you might consider how the three approaches would help explain people’s reactions to the January 6th Insurrection. You might use personality to understand issues like horrific mass shootings or even international sporting competitions.  Be sure to contrast and compare the explanations of each personality approach.

Other examples of possibilities for this paper:

– Explain how three approaches – Skinner’s behaviorist, Allport’s traits, and Roger’s humanistic– would differentially explain people’s behaviors in the face of natural disasters.

– Help us understand the sex-abuse scandal involving Harvey Weinstein from a behaviorist view, a psychoanalytic view, and trait view.

– Explain the success and failures of the U.S. teams in the recent Olympic Games in Tokyo.
And so on – pick an issue that interests you.

The point of this paper is to examine the different views of humanity implied by the different perspectives. Make sure to give the reader a description of the event you will be discussing (make it as long as needed for the rest of your paper to make sense). Be sure to define and describe/ summarize each of the three prospectives you will be discussing.

Finally, contrast and compare the explanations of each of the three approaches you select.  The length of the paper should be between 3-4 double-spaced pages (12 pt font, 1-inch margins, not including supplementary materials). Remember that you must choose a current event. You must use at least 3 outside sources beyond the textbook, and you must include proper in-text citations and a references page in APA style. You will most likely use the textbook as your main source so make sure you use in-text citations for it, and that you include it on the references page.

Late papers will have a 5 point deduction for each day late (you will receive this deduction if you do not have the paper turned in by the deadline posted on the syllabus). Do not exceed the page limit (the references page does not count in the page limit); everything beyond the page limit will not be included in the grading.

Grading criteria:

Introduction to the current social issue

Definition of each perspective

Accurate application of each perspective to the social issue

Compare and contrast the three approaches

Writing style, grammar, APA citations