• Write using your own words to describe information you learned. If you want to quote, use quotation marks and identify the source. For example: “Quotation goes here.” (Burger, p. 50) Quotations require BOTH quotation marks AND the author’s or website’s name. I do NOT want you going to the Internet, but if you do, you will not only need quotation marks, but also a bibliography. Since it’s just too tempting to use someone else’s ideas instead of your own, I STRONGLY encourage you NOT to go to the Internet or sources other than your book and notes at all, since I do check. If you quote from your text, you can use quotation marks and put (Burger, p. 10) after the quote. Changing a few words does not make a quote yours, either. If you paraphrase, REALLY use your own words and still give credit. Papers with unattributed quotes will not be accepted.
• Feel free to be creative and express what you really believe, as long as you support your answers with information you have learned in this course.
1. We read and heard about the Freudians, neo-Freudians, trait theorists, biological theorists, humanists, cognitive psychologists, evolutionary theorists and behaviorists/social learning theorists. Of these theories, which one general approach makes the most sense to you in describing personality? (You may feel that others play a role, too, but which seems to be the most influential?)
a. Describe that one general theory of personality in your own words.
Do NOT describe one psychologist’s theory. Describe the approach (Freudian, neo-Freudian, etc.).
b. Explain why you believe it plays a major role in the way our personalities develop. Give evidence to support your view.
2. Imagine that one of your friends is totally stressed out at the end of the semester, and ready to give up and drop out of school. She knows you took this course, and wants you to recommend the type of therapist she should see.
a. Which type of therapist would you suggest that she see?
b. Describe the therapy that type of therapist would use with your friend.
c. Why do you believe that type of therapy would be helpful?
3. Choose any one of the theorists we discussed this semester except for Rogers, Perls or Ellis. Choose the one you found to be the most interesting.
In your own words describe his/her
Philosophical views (freedom/determinism; heredity/environment; optimism/pessimism)
Science (research and method of forming his/her theory)
Applications (type of therapy, books, other ways of helping people)
4. Suppose that you want to do your own research to try to understand personality. Describe at least 5 ways you might study individuals to learn enough about their personalities that you could describe them well.
5. How many, and which traits (variously known as super traits, “big” traits, source traits, etc.) do you think are needed to adequately describe someone’s personality? Defend your answer.
6. After our class discussion on normality and mental illness, how would you define what makes a person normal, and how we should determine whether someone should be classified as mentally ill.
7. Imagine that you are a famous personality theorist. After having studied all the different perspectives, what are your philosophy, research and therapy or other contributions? (Discuss all of the philosophical scales we have used all semester.) Write an imaginary one-page newspaper article describing your views, research and contributions to the field of personality study.