Psychology and the Challenges of Life Adjustment and Growth 12th edition
Exams and Quizzes

Each week will culminate in a quiz on the material covered during that week of instruction. There will be two essay exams: Midterm in Week 4 and Final in Week 8.

Rubric for Discussion Board Posts

Discussion board posts are worth up to 25 points per week and will be graded according to the following guidelines:

10 points for answering the initial post prompt completely
5 points for correct citation, reference, and use of APA style
5 points for correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation
5 points for a response post which is focused in nature and is at least 100 words in length
Guidelines & Expectations

Turnitin

What It Is

Turnitin is an online service which provides originality checking. Turnitin encourages best practices for using and citing other people’s written material. Turnitin’s proprietary software compares the paper’s text to a vast database of 20+ billion pages of digital content (including archived Internet content that is no longer available on the live Web) as well as over 220 million papers in the student paper archive, and 110,000+ professional, academic, and commercial journals and publications

How It Will be Used in This Course

All written work submitted within the classroom, with the exception of weekly discussion posts, will be checked for plagiarism

Submitting to Turnitin

Assignments will be submitted to Turnitin using the submit button associated with the assignment

Guidelines and Rubric for Final Paper (approximately 2,100 words)

Theme

Select one character from one of the following films (not one from each film)

Tangled, (2010), Walt Disney Pictures, (DVD)
Winter’s Bone, (2010), Lionsgate, (DVD)
American Beauty, (1999), Paramount, (DVD)

Purpose

This paper is your opportunity to apply what you have learned from this course through analyzing:

How the character coped with adversity
How his/her sense of self was important to his/her coping
What kind of coping mechanisms the character used to deal with stress

Content

This course focuses on human adjustment (healthy and unhealthy) to the challenges of the environment, and each of these films has at least two characters (a male and a female) from which you may choose.

Course text: discuss and use material from three different chapters of the textbook. You can choose any three chapters and concepts you consider appropriate
Outside resources: use three references, other than your text, which deal with the concepts or ideas regarding the psychology of the character you have chosen

Structure (include labels for each section)

I. Title Page (centered)

Title of film
Name of character featured in paper
Word count
Grading value: 5 points

II. Summary

Summarize the movie plot and explain why you think it has anything to do with adaptation to a challenging environment or situation
Suggested length: 1 page
Grading value: 20 points

III. Character

Identify the character you have selected and explain the reasoning behind your choice. What is his/her stressful situation? What is the conflict?
Detail how you understand or make sense of the stress/challenges/adversity that this character is facing. What is he or she going through that makes life difficult?
Suggested length: 2 pages
Grading value: 30 points

IV. Theory

Describe how the character you have chosen tries to adapt or adjust to the challenges facing him/her. What defense mechanisms does he/she use? What is his/her sense of self? How does he/she handle stress? Is this healthy or unhealthy? How is his/her sense of self important to his/her ability to cope?
Suggested length: 3 pages
Grading value: 40 points

V. Reaction

Verbalize, in some detail, why you did or did not like the film
Suggested length: 1 page
Grading value: 5 points

VI. Grammar, Spelling, APA Style

Paper is written according to APA format and style
In-text citations are in APA format
Reference list is in APA format
Use of quotations is minimal
Effective use of paraphrasing
Paper is free from spelling, punctuation, grammar, and sentence structure errors
Grading value: 15 points

Additional Notes

Papers will be submitted to Turnitin using the submit button in week 7
Due Week 7, Sunday, 11:59 p.m. ET
Late papers will be accepted at the discretion of the instructor and subject to a late penalty

Overview of the three movies

Tangled, (2010), Walt Disney Pictures, (DVD). Based on the Rapunzel myth. The characters, Rapunzel and Flynn Rider, each have to negotiate the challenges of adolescence and separation from their families
Winter’s Bone, (2010), Lionsgate, (DVD). Contains an unforgettable portrayal of a young Ozark woman trying to track down her missing father. The film is centered on drug use and methamphetamine production in the Arkansas countryside. Highly acclaimed at Sundance (Grand Jury Award for Best Drama), the film also received a number of Academy Award nominations. Jennifer Lawrence (she’s 20) as Ree Dolly and John Hawkes as her uncle (Teardrop) both received acting nominations, and either one would be a great character to look at. Ree is one of the deepest, most well-developed characters in a movie in a long time. The end of the film is as powerful as anything you are likely to see on film
American Beauty, (1999), Paramount, (DVD). Winner of five Oscars in 1999: Best Picture, Best Actor (Kevin Spacey), Best Director (Sam Mendes), Best Original Screenplay, and Best Cinematography. This movie is about an older man having a midlife crisis. Please be aware that this film is heavy on sexual themes and includes some graphic violence. There is sex and nudity in this film, and it is full of symbolism and social implications. The great thing about this film is that there are six characters (three female and three male) who are developed deeply enough for you to write about

APA Citation Style

Using APA citation style is an important part of paper writing. When used correctly, it:

Provides a path back to the original piece of work
Adds credibility to your paper
Limits the possibility of accusations of plagiarism

These exercises present variations on books, journal articles, and entries in a reference work. They have been designed to help you identify the important elements of a reference, which include:

Author
Publication date
Title
Page numbers
Publisher information
Electronic sources

Pay attention to the following features:

Typeface (regular or italics)
Punctuation
Order

There are three parts to this activity. Click each link to begin.

Part 1 – Identify the rules of each element

Part 2 – Put the elements in the correct order

Part 3 – Choose the properly formatted elements
Online Tutoring

In addition to your professor in this class, we have made arrangements for you to access an online tutoring service if you want to get extra help with math and writing. When you click on the link below, you will automatically be logged in to a website for the tutoring service, offered by Smarthinking. No account setup is necessary, and there is no additional cost to you for this service. You will see on that page that you have the option to schedule a session with a tutor, submit a question, or submit your writing for feedback.
www.smarthinking.com
Week 1
Psychology of Adjustment and Personal Growth: An Introduction

Have you ever wondered why some individuals handle stress better than others? This week discusses factors that affect how a person manages stress and environmental changes. We discuss a person’s ability to experience happiness in good or bad environments, and what can be done to improve our personality health.

After completing this lesson, you should be able to:

Define the concept of adjustment
Clarify the importance of cultural diversity in understanding this concept
Identify the way in which critical thinking helps adjustment
Recognize the scientific method as it applies to psychological research
Discover how psychologists study human adjustment
Explore the concept of personality
Visualize the major forces in personality theory: psychodynamic, learning theory, humanistic theory, and trait theory
Explore the way in which psychologists assess personality

Course Introduction

Take a few minutes to get to know W. Scott Whitacre, PsyD, who discusses the focus of each lecture and previews how psychological adjustment affects our lives.

After completing this lecture, you should be able to:

Predict the direction and content of the lecture series
Comprehend the way in which the lectures will enhance yet transcend the text
Restate issues of confidentiality and privacy as it relates to case presentations contained in the lectures

Human Diversity and Psychological Adjustment

Human diversity is all around us. It is important to have a basic awareness of a person’s cultural, religious, or racial background. This lecture discusses real situational examples and how knowing this information helped Dr. Whitacre turn a troubling situation into a positive experience.

After completing this lecture, you should be able to:

Appreciate the importance of human diversity in understanding psychological adjustment
Explore how our cultural and ethnic beliefs may influence how we react to a situation
Recognize why it is important for a “helping” professional to be mindful of these variations

Reading

Chapter 1: Psychology and the Challenges of Life
Technology, astrology, multitasking, and genes are just a few of the topics covered in this chapter. In addition to studying the psychological influence of these subjects, you examine how psychologists perform their research
Chapter 2: Personality
Explore and assess Sigmund Freud’s theory of personality, also known as psychodynamic theories. Participate in personality tests

Discussion

Paragraph 1

How and why is an appreciation of ethnic and cultural diversity important to psychology?

Paragraph 2

How does someone’s identification with a specific ethnic or cultural identity influence their social activity and adjustment?

Instructions

Write two paragraphs, one for each discussion question
Due Wednesday at 11:59 p.m. ET

Guidelines
Discussion board posts are worth up to 25 points per week and will be graded according to the following guidelines:

20 points for initial response distributed as follows:
10 points for answering the initial post prompt completely
5 points for correct citation, reference, and use of APA style
5 points for correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation
5 points for a response post which is focused in nature and is at least 100 words in length

Grade Value – 20 Points

10 points for answering the initial post prompt completely
5 points for correct citation, reference and use of APA style
5 points for correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation

Discussion

Response Post

Instructions

Respond to one initial post by a classmate
Due Sunday at 11:59 p.m. ET

Grade Value – 5 points

5 points for a response post
Focused in nature
Minimum of 100 words in length

Quiz

Covers material from Week 1
Due Sunday at 11:59 p.m. ET
Open-book
Untimed
Can only be taken once and in one sitting
You must do your own work!
Sharing of answers will result in a zero for the quiz

Flashcards – Chapter 1

Covering Chapter 1 of text
Flashcards – Chapter 2

Covering Chapter 2 of text
Week 2
Stress and Health

We have all dealt with frustration in our lives. How does our reaction to frustration affect our health? This week explores the causes and management of stress.

After completing this lesson, you should be able to:

Define the concept of stress
Identify the way stress affects physiological functioning
Interpret the general adaptation syndrome (GAS)
Describe the way in which stress affects the immune system
Examine the way that stress affects daily life
Define psychological moderators of stress
Investigate common stress-related health disorders
Explore how you can assess your own stress level

Serial Self-Injurious Behavior

Can our response to situations actually harm us?

After completing this lecture, you should be able to:

Explore the importance of frustration tolerance in healthy psychological adjustment and coping with stress
Recognize the way in which this is part of our everyday lives
Discuss the way in which lack of frustration tolerance can have pathological, harmful consequences
Outline the way in which psychologists teach frustration tolerance
Reading

Chapter 3: Stress: What It Is and How to Manage It
What is the difference between healthy stress and unhealthy stress? This chapter discusses the many types of stress and how stress affects our physical and psychological state

Chapter 4: Psychological Factors and Health
Take a granular look at how stress affects the nervous system, various organs, and the immune system

Discussion

Paragraph 1

What is the general adaptation syndrome? List and define its three phases

Paragraph 2

Discuss something stressful about being an online student and anything from Chapter 3 in our textbook that might help manage this stress

Instructions

Write two paragraphs, one for each discussion question
Due Wednesday at 11:59 p.m. ET

Guidelines
Discussion board posts are worth up to 25 points per week and will be graded according to the following guidelines:

20 points for initial response distributed as follows:
10 points for answering the initial post prompt completely
5 points for correct citation, reference, and use of APA style
5 points for correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation
5 points for a response post which is focused in nature and is at least 100 words in length

Grade Value – 20 Points

10 points for answering the initial post prompt completely
5 points for correct citation, reference and use of APA style
5 points for correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation

Discussion

Response Post

Instructions

Respond to one initial post by a classmate
Due Sunday at 11:59 p.m. ET

Grade Value – 5 points

5 points for a response post
Focused in nature
Minimum of 100 words in length

Quiz

Covers material from Week 2
Due Sunday at 11:59 p.m. ET
Open-book
Untimed
Can only be taken once and in one sitting
You must do your own work!
Sharing of answers will result in a zero for the quiz

Flashcards – Chapter 3

Covering Chapter 3 of text
Week 3
Healthy Behavior and the Self

This week discusses circumstances that affect how we “see” ourselves, how others see us, and finally, how we think others see us.

After completing this lesson, you should be able to:

Restate the importance of nutrition in managing stress
Recognize the importance of fitness in managing stress
Paraphrase the importance of healthy sleep patterns in managing stress
Describe how these guidelines are related to a healthy sense of self
Explore the concept of self and its relationship to healthy adjustment
Define self-concept and self-esteem
Report on the way in which identity and esteem are critical to healthy adjustment
Explore how prejudice and discrimination are related to a faulty sense of self-concept and poor self-esteem

Identity and Self-Esteem

Have you ever asked yourself, “Who am I?” or “Why am I here?” or “Do I like myself?” This lecture reviews what causes us to ask these questions and how these questions are addressed.

After completing this lecture, you should be able to:

Define the concept of identity
Define the concept of self-esteem
Explore the relationship between the two
Review a case presentation which exemplifies this idea
Discover strategies for correcting deficits in each
Interactive Exercise

Identity vs. Self-Esteem

This 10-question interactive exercise will test your knowledge of the difference between the terms identity and self-esteem.
Reading

Chapter 5: Developing Healthier Behaviors
This chapter will help us understand why healthy behaviors, both in activities and food, can lead to improved physical and psychological health

Chapter 6: The Self in a Social World
Do others see us the same way we see ourselves? What’s the importance of a first impression or our body language? Let’s explore these and many more factors in Chapter 6

Discussion

Paragraph 1

Who are you?

Paragraph 2

Why do you define yourself this way?

Instructions

Write two paragraphs, one for each discussion question
Due Wednesday at 11:59 p.m. ET

Guidelines
Discussion board posts are worth up to 25 points per week and will be graded according to the following guidelines:

20 points for initial response distributed as follows:
10 points for answering the initial post prompt completely
5 points for correct citation, reference, and use of APA style
5 points for correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation
5 points for a response post which is focused in nature and is at least 100 words in length

Grade Value – 20 Points

10 points for answering the initial post prompt completely
5 points for correct citation, reference and use of APA style
5 points for correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation

Discussion

Response Post

Instructions

Respond to one initial post by a classmate
Due Sunday at 11:59 p.m. ET

Grade Value – 5 points

5 points for a response post
Focused in nature
Minimum of 100 words in length
Quiz

Covers material from Week 3
Due Sunday at 11:59 p.m. ET
Open-book
Untimed
Can only be taken once and in one sitting
You must do your own work!
Sharing of answers will result in a zero for the quiz

Flashcards – Chapter 5

Covering Chapter 5 of text
Flashcards – Chapter 6

Covering Chapter 6 of text
Week 4
Social Influence

This week explores the many ways we can influence others and be influenced by social influences. We will examine advertising and slogans, the bystander effect, and group membership.

After completing this lesson, you should be able to:

Explain the importance of social persuasion to the issue of human adjustment to the environment
Define basic components of advertisements
Differentiate central route from peripheral route
Describe basic sales ploys
Explore the concept of conformity
Conceptualize the importance of Milgram’s studies in the history of psychological research
Paraphrase psychological factors associated with altruistic behavior
Explore the psychological effects of being in a crowd

Psychology of Ad Slogans

Do you enjoy advertising or do you view it as more of a “necessary evil”? During advertisement exposure, do you focus on what is being promoted (central route), or do you try to understand the underlying emotional tone or message (peripheral route)? This lecture will help you to understand that there’s more to the message than what you see on the surface.

After completing this lecture, you should be able to:

Review the concepts of central and peripheral routes in advertising
Analyze how persuasion involves a psychological message
Discuss the way in which advertising can be effective despite our assertions to the contrary
Explore famous product advertising slogans and see how they are effective

Wendy’s Advertisement

Wendy’s Advertisement

Use this link to see the Wendy’s “Where’s the beef?” advertisement on YouTube.
Reading

Chapter 7: Social Influence: Being Influenced by – and Influencing – Others
When you were getting dressed this morning, did you consider what events you would participate in, who would see you, and/or how you wanted to be perceived based on appearance? We make many decisions based on social influences. Some are made based on central route information, while others may be driven by peripheral route information.

Discussion

Paragraph 1

Explain the difference between the central route and peripheral route in advertising

Paragraph 2

Select a TV commercial that interests you, describe it, and discuss how use of the central and peripheral routes attempt to persuade you to buy the product

Instructions

Write two paragraphs, one for each discussion question
Due Wednesday at 11:59 p.m. ET

Guidelines
Discussion board posts are worth up to 25 points per week and will be graded according to the following guidelines:

20 points for initial response distributed as follows:
10 points for answering the initial post prompt completely
5 points for correct citation, reference, and use of APA style
5 points for correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation
5 points for a response post which is focused in nature and is at least 100 words in length

Grade Value – 20 Points

10 points for answering the initial post prompt completely
5 points for correct citation, reference and use of APA style
5 points for correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation

Discussion

Response Post

Instructions

Respond to one initial post by a classmate
Due Sunday at 11:59 p.m. ET

Grade Value – 5 points

5 points for a response post
Focused in nature
Minimum of 100 words in length

Quiz

Covers material from Week 4
Due Sunday at 11:59 p.m. ET
Open-book
Untimed
Can only be taken once and in one sitting
You must do your own work!
Sharing of answers will result in a zero for the quiz

Midterm Exam

Covers material in Weeks 1–4
Due Sunday at 11:59 p.m. ET
Open-book
You have 120 minutes to complete this essay section of the exam
Can only be taken once and in one sitting
You must do your own work!
Sharing answers will result in a zero for the exam

Flashcards – Chapter 7

Covering Chapter 7 in text
Week 5
Psychological Disorders and Psychotherapy

We begin to discover how the application of psychology principles can help those suffering from psychological disorders.

After completing this lesson, you should be able to:

Explain the concept of mental illness
Examine symptoms of common psychological disorders
Differentiate depression from bipolar disorder
Describe personality traits associated with antisocial personality disorder
Explore the way in which sociopaths approach interpersonal relationships
Conceptualize what is “therapeutic” in a counseling relationship
Categorize core approaches of common therapies
Differentiate behavioral from psychodynamic approaches

Antisocial Personality Disorder

This lecture identifies and defines various antisocial disorders.

After completing this lecture, you should be able to:

Define the concept of antisocial personality disorder (ASPD)
Note the other names by which ASPD is called (sociopath, psychopath)
Underscore the misconceptions about ASPD
Review 11 basic personality traits of the sociopath
Relate a mnemonic device for ASPD

Narcissistic Uncoiling

How can therapy and counseling help change a person suffering from antisocial personality disorder (ASPD)? This lecture discusses different answers to the question and provides examples of real-life situations.

After completing this lecture, you should be able to:

Explain the way in which sociopaths are faced with dilemmas when engaging in therapy
Discover ways sociopaths reveal themselves in stages
Explore how this is applicable to other forms of interpersonal communication
Conceptualize how this is understood within the context of transference

Reading

Chapter 8: Psychological Disorders
This chapter will help you identify, classify, and address various psychological disorders
Chapter 9: Therapies: Ways of Helping
In this chapter, we will examine various therapies, such as psychodynamic, humanistic-existential, biomedical, and cognitive

Discussion

Paragraph 1

What psychological disorder discussed in Chapter 8 of our textbook do you find the hardest to understand? Why?

Paragraph 2

If a loved one or family member had this disorder, what type of therapy would you suggest that he/she seek? Why?

Instructions

Write two paragraphs, one for each discussion question
Due Wednesday at 11:59 p.m. ET

Guidelines
Discussion board posts are worth up to 25 points per week and will be graded according to the following guidelines:

20 points for initial response distributed as follows:
10 points for answering the initial post prompt completely
5 points for correct citation, reference, and use of APA style
5 points for correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation
5 points for a response post which is focused in nature and is at least 100 words in length

Grade Value – 20 Points

10 points for answering the initial post prompt completely
5 points for correct citation, reference and use of APA style
5 points for correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation

Discussion

Response Post

Instructions

Respond to one initial post by a classmate
Due Sunday at 11:59 p.m. ET

Grade Value – 5 points

5 points for a response post
Focused in nature
Minimum of 100 words in length

Quiz

Covers material from Week 5
Due Sunday at 11:59 p.m. ET
Open-book
Untimed
Can only be taken once and in one sitting
You must do your own work!
Sharing of answers will result in a zero for the quiz

Flashcards – Chapter 8

Covering Chapter 8 in text
Week 6
Gender Roles and Interpersonal Attraction

No matter who you are or what your background is, you may be able to relate to the information covered this week. We will identify gender roles, intimacy, stereotypes, and what causes some people to be attracted to others.

After completing this lesson, you should be able to:

Discuss the concept of gender roles and gender stereotypes
Explore gender differences in cognitive abilities
Differentiate male and female responses to aggression
Clarify primary determinants of interpersonal attraction
Explore different styles of love
Conceptualize intimacy on an emotional level
Define romantic love
Differentiate emotional and physical components of attraction

Transsexualism

In this lecture, we explore transsexualism – the psychological factors and the myths – and examine a case study.

After completing this lecture, you should be able to:

Explore and repudiate the myths associated with transsexualism
Recognize the source of psychological distress of many transsexuals
Discuss the way in which transsexualism is considered a “disorder”
Explore a case study from the prison

Interactive Exercise

Transsexual vs. Transvestite

This six-question interactive exercise will test your knowledge of the difference between the terms transsexual and transvestite.
Reading

Chapter 12: Gender and Sexuality
Does each gender come with certain strengths or characteristics, not equaled by the opposite gender? This chapter explores this question along with other biological and psychosocial gender influences

Chapter 10: Interpersonal Attraction: Of Friendship and Love
What causes love and friendship attraction? This chapter will review this and other “Laws of Attraction”

Discussion

Paragraph 1

Select a “love song” from the ’60s, ’70s, or ’80s. Select eight lines from the song and interpret what it is saying about that specific relationship or about relationships in general

Paragraph 2

Are relationships today the same as reflected in this song? Why?

Instructions

Write two paragraphs, one for each discussion question
Due Wednesday at 11:59 p.m. ET

Guidelines
Discussion board posts are worth up to 25 points per week and will be graded according to the following guidelines:

20 points for initial response distributed as follows:
10 points for answering the initial post prompt completely
5 points for correct citation, reference, and use of APA style
5 points for correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation
5 points for a response post which is focused in nature and is at least 100 words in length

Grade Value – 20 Points

10 points for answering the initial post prompt completely
5 points for correct citation, reference and use of APA style
5 points for correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation

Discussion

Response Post

Instructions

Respond to one initial post by a classmate
Due Sunday at 11:59 p.m. ET

Grade Value – 5 points

5 points for a response post
Focused in nature
Minimum of 100 words in length

Quiz

Covers material from Week 6
Due Sunday at 11:59 p.m. ET
Open-book
Untimed
Can only be taken once and in one sitting
You must do your own work!
Sharing of answers will result in a zero for the quiz

Flashcards Chapter – 10

Covering Chapter 10 in text
Week 7
Relationships and Sexual Behavior

There are many layers to relationships. We discuss the psychological state of males and females in intimate relationships and the sensitive topics of sexual addictions and rape.

After completing this lesson, you should be able to:

Describe the ABC model of relationships
Explore the dynamics and understanding of trust in relationships
Recognize the ingredients of successful marriages and relationships
Recognize the signs of a deteriorating relationship
Clarify biological foundations of sexual behavior and response
Explore the phases of the sexual response cycle
Conceptualize reasons why men rape and sexually assault women
Define rape prevention strategies
Differentiate sexual dysfunctions from sexual paraphilia

Psychology of the Rapist

Sexual assault is an emotional and sensitive topic. In this lecture, we will explore the psychology of rape and the psychologist’s role in treating the rapist.

After completing this lecture, you should be able to:

Explore the psychology of rape
Recognize the role of deviant fantasy in the etiology of sex crimes
Reject the idea of random sex crimes
Explore common traits of rapists
Note the role that psychologists play in treating this disorder
Summarize why psychologists say that there is no changing a rapist

Interactive Exercise

Facts and Myths on Rape

This eight-question interactive exercise will test your ability to differentiate between fact and myth regarding rape.
Reading

Chapter 11: Relationships and Communication: Getting From Here to There
We all know our ABCs, but do we know the ABC(DEs) of romantic relationships? After reading this chapter, you should be able to identify them in your own relationships

Chapter 12: Gender and Sexuality, pp. 422–451
Do we understand how sexual behavior and response affects us psychologically? In this part of Chapter 12, we will review this issue and other topics related to the biological basis of sex

Discussion

Paragraph 1

Why do you think many relationships and marriages fail?

Paragraph 2

Do you think more relationships and marriages fail these days because of social changes or changes in individuals or both?

Instructions

Write two paragraphs, one for each discussion question
Due Wednesday at 11:59 p.m. ET

Guidelines
Discussion board posts are worth up to 25 points per week and will be graded according to the following guidelines:

20 points for initial response distributed as follows:
10 points for answering the initial post prompt completely
5 points for correct citation, reference, and use of APA style
5 points for correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation
5 points for a response post which is focused in nature and is at least 100 words in length

Grade Value – 20 Points

10 points for answering the initial post prompt completely
5 points for correct citation, reference and use of APA style
5 points for correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation

Discussion

Response Post

Instructions

Respond to one initial post by a classmate
Due Sunday at 11:59 p.m. ET

Grade Value – 5 points

5 points for a response post
Focused in nature
Minimum of 100 words in length

Paper

Guidelines and Rubric for Final Paper (approximately 2,100 words)

Theme

Select one character from one of the following films (not one from each film)

Tangled, (2010), Walt Disney Pictures, (DVD)
Winter’s Bone, (2010), Lionsgate, (DVD)
American Beauty, (1999), Paramount, (DVD)

Purpose

This paper is your opportunity to apply what you have learned from this course through analyzing:

How the character coped with adversity
How his/her sense of self was important to his/her coping
What kind of coping mechanisms the character used to deal with stress

Content

This course focuses on human adjustment (healthy and unhealthy) to the challenges of the environment, and each of these films has at least two characters (a male and a female) from which you may choose.

Course text: discuss and use material from three different chapters of the textbook. You can choose any three chapters and concepts you consider appropriate
Outside resources: use three references, other than your text, which deal with the concepts or ideas regarding the psychology of the character you have chosen

Structure (include labels for each section)

I. Title Page (centered)

Title of film
Name of character featured in paper
Word count
Grading value: 5 points

II. Summary

Summarize the movie plot and explain why you think it has anything to do with adaptation to a challenging environment or situation
Suggested length: 1 page
Grading value: 20 points

III. Character

Identify the character you have selected and explain the reasoning behind your choice. What is his/her stressful situation? What is the conflict?
Detail how you understand or make sense of the stress/challenges/adversity that this character is facing. What is he or she going through that makes life difficult?
Suggested length: 2 pages
Grading value: 30 points

IV. Theory

Describe how the character you have chosen tries to adapt or adjust to the challenges facing him/her. What defense mechanisms does he/she use? What is his/her sense of self? How does he/she handle stress? Is this healthy or unhealthy? How is his/her sense of self important to his/her ability to cope?
Suggested length: 3 pages
Grading value: 40 points

V. Reaction

Verbalize, in some detail, why you did or did not like the film
Suggested length: 1 page
Grading value: 5 points

VI. Grammar, Spelling, APA Style

Paper is written according to APA format and style
In-text citations are in APA format
Reference list is in APA format
Use of quotations is minimal
Effective use of paraphrasing
Paper is free from spelling, punctuation, grammar, and sentence structure errors
Grading value: 20 points

Additional Notes

Click the Submit Assignment button below to submit your work to Turnitin
Due Week 7, Sunday, 11:59 p.m. ET
No late papers will be accepted for any reason

Overview of the three movies

Tangled, (2010), Walt Disney Pictures, (DVD). Based on the Rapunzel myth. The characters, Rapunzel and Flynn Rider, each have to negotiate the challenges of adolescence and separation from their families
Winter’s Bone, (2010), Lionsgate, (DVD). Contains an unforgettable portrayal of a young Ozark woman trying to track down her missing father. The film is centered around drug use and methamphetamine production in the Arkansas countryside. Highly acclaimed at Sundance (Grand Jury Award for Best Drama), the film also received a number of Academy Award nominations. Jennifer Lawrence (she’s 20) as Ree Dolly and John Hawkes as her uncle (Teardrop) both received acting nominations, and either one would be a great character to look at. Ree is one of the deepest, most well-developed characters in a movie in a long time. The end of the film is as powerful as anything you are likely to see on film
American Beauty, (1999), Paramount, (DVD). Winner of five Oscars in 1999: Best Picture, Best Actor (Kevin Spacey), Best Director (Sam Mendes), Best Original Screenplay, and Best Cinematography. This movie is about an older man having a midlife crisis. Please be aware that this film is heavy on sexual themes and includes some graphic violence. There is sex and nudity in this film, and it is full of symbolism and social implications. The great thing about this film is that there are six characters (three female and three male) who are developed deeply enough for you to write about

Quiz

Covers material from Week 7
Due Sunday at 11:59 p.m. ET
Open-book
Untimed
Can only be taken once and in one sitting
You must do your own work!
Sharing of answers will result in a zero for the quiz

Flashcards – Chapter 12 – Set A

Covering Chapter 12 in text
Flashcards – Chapter 12 – Set B

Covering Chapter 12 in text
Week 8
From Adolescence to Adulthood

In this course, we have considered many new ways to view life and a person’s ability to adjust to various settings, situations, circumstances, and people. We conclude this course by looking at the overall lifespan and the various psychological influences we encounter during each life stage.

After completing this lesson, you should be able to:

Explain physical and cognitive changes of adolescence
Explore the way in which development affects adjustment
Outline the challenges of young adulthood
Recognize the challenges of midlife
Clarify what is meant by midlife crisis
Discuss the importance of the work world and career in adult development and adjustment
Conceptualize the way individuals think about career directions
Examine work-related stress
Define sexual harassment and explore how to deal with it in the workplace

Supervision

What would your work day be like without a supervisor? Most likely, your view of this would depend greatly on your supervisor’s quality of work. This lecture identifies various types of supervisors, employees, and adjustments that often occur between the two sides.

After completing this lecture, you should be able to:

Explore the way in which supervising others, or being supervised, is a foundational aspect of the working environment
Discuss ways in which healthy and unhealthy supervisory styles are manifested
Recognize what makes a good supervisor
Reflect on how transition to a supervisory level can be challenging and stressful

Interactive Exercise

Positive and Negative Managerial Styles

This seven-question interactive exercise will test your ability to determine if a particular managerial trait is positive or negative.
Reading

Chapter 13: Adolescent and Adult Development: Going Through Changes
Benjamin Franklin is quoted as saying: “In this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” This chapter discusses certainties in life, such as physical growth, change, development, and aging

Chapter 14: The Challenge of the Workplace
Most adult Americans spend more awake hours at work than anywhere else. The final reading assignment discusses workplace challenges, stress, and adjustments

Discussion

Paragraph 1

What is sexual harassment? What are the common manifestations of this in the workplace?

Paragraph 2

Consider someone famous who has been the focus of sexual harassment charges in the past five years? What happened, and what is your opinion of how it was handled?

Instructions

Write two paragraphs, one for each discussion question
Due Wednesday at 11:59 p.m. ET

Guidelines
Discussion board posts are worth up to 25 points per week and will be graded according to the following guidelines:

20 points for initial response distributed as follows:
10 points for answering the initial post prompt completely
5 points for correct citation, reference, and use of APA style
5 points for correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation
5 points for a response post which is focused in nature and is at least 100 words in length

Grade Value – 20 Points

10 points for answering the initial post prompt completely
5 points for correct citation, reference and use of APA style
5 points for correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation

Discussion

Response Post

Instructions

Respond to one initial post by a classmate
Due Sunday at 11:59 p.m. ET

Grade Value – 5 points

5 points for a response post
Focused in nature
Minimum of 100 words in length

Flashcards – Chapter 13

Covering Chapter 13 in text
Quiz

Covers material from Week 8
Due Sunday at 11:59 p.m. ET
Open-book
Untimed
Can only be taken once and in one sitting
You must do your own work!
Sharing of answers will result in a zero for the quiz

Final Exam

Covers material in Weeks 4–8
Due Sunday at 11:59 p.m. ET
Open-book
You have 120 minutes to complete the essay questions in this section
Can only be taken once and in one sitting
You must do your own work!