Disscussion 1
Part 1:
you learned how personality researchers study and measure personality. Based on your reading, if you were a personality researcher…
What type of research would you be most interested in engaging in (i.e., case studies, correlational designs, experiments, etc.)? Explain why you would make that choice in context of what you learned from your learning resources (either Chapter 1, or any of the supplemental sources provided).
- If you could only choose one, would you study personality with objective tests or projective tests? Explain why, with specific examples to support your rationale.
Part 2:
Let’s consider what you’ve learned about Freud:
What is your reaction to reading about Freud’s theory of personality?
Do you find Freud’s ideas useful in understanding personality? Explain (with specific examples from the world as you see it around you.
To what extent is Freud’s theory influenced by the era in which he lived and how does that contrast with the modern era? Give at least one concrete example.
Allen, B. P. (2016). Personality theories: Development, growth, and diversity (5th ed.). Routledge.
Discussion 2
Part 1: Carl Jung
Jung emphasized the importance of confronting and integrating the shadow. Grounding your thoughts in either your own experience or your observations of someone in your life, discuss why accepting (vs. fighting with, trying to get rid of, or hating) our shadow is vital for achieving wholeness and authenticity. How does one go about “integrating the shadow”? What would that look like for you (or other person you were thinking of)?
And we can’t let a discussion go by without exploring the most unique aspect of Jung’s theory: Archetypes. The persona, shadow, anima/animus, and the self are key components of his theory. Choose one (or more, if you are so inspired!) of his archetypes and discuss its significance in shaping human behavior. Go a step further and relate this archetype your unique personal experience.
Part 2: Alfred Adler
So much of Adler’s theory, especially the foundational role of the “inferiority complex,” ties into the concept of birth order. According to Adler, birth order significantly influences personality development, setting the stage for how we later relate to our social world. Before you read Chapter 4, how would you describe the stereotypic behavior of first-borns, middle children, and last-borns? Compare your initial thoughts with what you read. Do you agree or disagree with Adler’s view on birth order stereotypes and the influence of birth order on personality and why? Share your personal sibling experiences or observations of siblings in your life to support your stance.
Part 3: Karen Horney
Karen Horney was one of the first to point out how male-centric and chauvinistic Freud’s theory was. Your textbook author explains this position well in the section in Chapter 5 titled “A Basic Diversity Issue: The Psychology of Women.” Re-read this section and share your thoughts on and reactions to the compare/contrast between Freud’s “boy’s-eye view” and Horney’s perspective. Pull out quotes from this section of text to organize your response. Given this compare/contrast, what, if any advice would you give to psychology instructors who often over-emphasize Freud in their courses?
Allen, B. P. (2016). Personality theories: Development, growth, and diversity (5th ed.). Routledge.
Discusion 3
Part 1: Harry Stack Sullivan
“It is easier to act yourself into a new way of feeling than to feel yourself into a new way of acting.” ~ Harry Stack Sullivan
Or perhaps a better citation would be “ ~ or maybe someone else.” Like a game of telephone, it’s unclear whether Sullivan actually penned this adage or if it has been so often attributed to him that we’ve come to think he did.
This question presents us with an interesting exercise. Looking at what you learned about Harry Stack Sullivan and his work, do you think he would have said this? What parts/aspects of his theory resonate with this quote? Cite at least two specific concepts you learned in Chapter 6 to support your choice.
Part 2: Erik Erikson
In Unit 3, you learned about Erik Erikson’s eight stages of psychosocial development. Each stage is characterized by a particular crisis or conflict. Successful resolution of that conflict leads to the development of a core strength or virtue. Failure to overcome the conflict, however, results in maladjustment, potentially leading to psychological difficulties later in life.
Identify a specific person in your life (it can be you) that represents one of Erikson’s stages. Discuss how their situation represents the conflict in that stage and what they will need to make it through that conflict successfully (per Erikson’s theory combined with your own unique perspective on the situation). Make predictions for that person will fare and how things may end up for them.
Part 3: Erich Fromm
Pretend you are Erich Fromm living in today’s society. You are scrolling through your daily news feed, and you notice you are currently trending – but the news isn’t good. You see headlines like:
- Erich Fromm – More Philosopher Than Scientist
- Fromm’s Theory Just a List of Concepts, Not Systematic At All
- Too Biased Toward Western Thinking: A Review of Fromm’s Work
- Fromm: No Research to Back Up His Claims
Your publicist calls you and tells you you’ve been booked on a national news program to defend yourself against or to explain/address some of these claims. Choose one of the four headlines to respond to. Then, read Chapter 8 and make note of three specific concepts (from this Chapter) that will help you prepare for your appearance. And, for Part 3 of this discussion, produce the following:
- Write out a short paragraph you will read on the air in which you use these three ideas/quotes/concepts to defend against, explain, or accept the headline’s claims.
- While you wouldn’t read a reference list “on the air”, go ahead and reference/cite/offer quotes from your Chapter 8 reading that support the points you make in your statement.
Allen, B. P. (2016). Personality theories: Development, growth, and diversity (5th ed.). Routledge.
