Write a 1,200-word reflective essay that answers the following questions. An outline for how to organize your work is offered below. Avoid generalities in this essay; ground your ideas in concrete examples that resonate with your unique and central point of view. There is no “right answer” to this assignment. What you are being evaluated on is the depth and breadth of your exploration, your offering of this unique and centralized point of view, and how you set yourself up to succeed in your Unit 7 project with this interesting, personalized contrast point.
Prior to taking this course, what did you fundamentally believe about why people are the way they are? Consider nature and nurture aspects, the fluidity vs. stability debate, but don’t be limited by these factors – explore everything you’ve believed to be true about how we become the people we do.
How did your personality theory develop? What influenced it? Consider the effect of cultural factors, family upbringing, your education, etc.
How does that “personal construct” (your own personality theory) manifest in your own life? In other words, looking at your own personality, how does it reflect your beliefs about how people become who they are?
How have you “tested” this theory? What data did you collect? Were there ever any moments that did not fit? In other words, did your own actions or the actions of another person stand out because it contradicted what you knew to be true about the nature and development of personality?
How has your personality theory served you thus far in your life? In what ways have you used it to understand, predict, and control your own behavior or interpersonal interactions you’ve had?
Consider to what extent you are willing/able to add to, change, or shift your views on personality development to include ideas you learn in this course. What challenges might this create for you, if any? Or is it something you are excited to do?
As you look through our syllabus/course calendar or click through each Units’ content, what theories do you think are going to align with your personal personality theory? Which will diverge?
