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

Exams and QuizzesEach 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 PostsDiscussion 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 completely5 points for correct citation, reference, and use of APA style5 points for correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation5 points for a response post which is focused in nature and is at least 100 words in lengthGuidelines & ExpectationsTurnitinWhat It IsTurnitin 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 publicationsHow It Will be Used in This CourseAll written work submitted within the classroom, with the exception of weekly discussion posts, will be checked for plagiarismSubmitting to TurnitinAssignments will be submitted to Turnitin using the submit button associated with the assignmentGuidelines and Rubric for Final Paper (approximately 2,100 words)ThemeSelect 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)PurposeThis paper is your opportunity to apply what you have learned from this course through analyzing:How the character coped with adversityHow his/her sense of self was important to his/her copingWhat kind of coping mechanisms the character used to deal with stressContentThis 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 appropriateOutside resources: use three references, other than your text, which deal with the concepts or ideas regarding the psychology of the character you have chosenStructure (include labels for each section)I. Title Page (centered)Title of filmName of character featured in paperWord countGrading value: 5 pointsII. SummarySummarize the movie plot and explain why you think it has anything to do with adaptation to a challenging environment or situationSuggested length: 1 pageGrading value: 20 pointsIII. CharacterIdentify 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 pagesGrading value: 30 pointsIV. TheoryDescribe 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 pagesGrading value: 40 pointsV. ReactionVerbalize, in some detail, why you did or did not like the filmSuggested length: 1 pageGrading value: 5 pointsVI. Grammar, Spelling, APA StylePaper is written according to APA format and styleIn-text citations are in APA formatReference list is in APA formatUse of quotations is minimalEffective use of paraphrasingPaper is free from spelling, punctuation, grammar, and sentence structure errorsGrading value: 15 pointsAdditional NotesPapers will be submitted to Turnitin using the submit button in week 7Due Week 7, Sunday, 11:59 p.m. ETLate papers will be accepted at the discretion of the instructor and subject to a late penaltyOverview of the three moviesTangled, (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 familiesWinter’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 filmAmerican 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 aboutAPA Citation StyleUsing APA citation style is an important part of paper writing. When used correctly, it:Provides a path back to the original piece of workAdds credibility to your paperLimits the possibility of accusations of plagiarismThese 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:AuthorPublication dateTitlePage numbersPublisher informationElectronic sourcesPay attention to the following features:Typeface (regular or italics)PunctuationOrderThere are three parts to this activity. Click each link to begin.Part 1 – Identify the rules of each elementPart 2 – Put the elements in the correct orderPart 3 – Choose the properly formatted elementsOnline TutoringIn 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.comWeek 1Psychology of Adjustment and Personal Growth: An IntroductionHave 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 adjustmentClarify the importance of cultural diversity in understanding this conceptIdentify the way in which critical thinking helps adjustmentRecognize the scientific method as it applies to psychological researchDiscover how psychologists study human adjustmentExplore the concept of personalityVisualize the major forces in personality theory: psychodynamic, learning theory, humanistic theory, and trait theoryExplore the way in which psychologists assess personalityCourse IntroductionTake 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 seriesComprehend the way in which the lectures will enhance yet transcend the textRestate issues of confidentiality and privacy as it relates to case presentations contained in the lecturesHuman Diversity and Psychological AdjustmentHuman 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 adjustmentExplore how our cultural and ethnic beliefs may influence how we react to a situationRecognize why it is important for a “helping” professional to be mindful of these variationsReadingChapter 1: Psychology and the Challenges of LifeTechnology, 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 researchChapter 2: PersonalityExplore and assess Sigmund Freud’s theory of personality, also known as psychodynamic theories. Participate in personality testsDiscussionParagraph 1How and why is an appreciation of ethnic and cultural diversity important to psychology?Paragraph 2How does someone’s identification with a specific ethnic or cultural identity influence their social activity and adjustment?InstructionsWrite two paragraphs, one for each discussion questionDue Wednesday at 11:59 p.m. ETGuidelinesDiscussion 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 completely5 points for correct citation, reference, and use of APA style5 points for correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation5 points for a response post which is focused in nature and is at least 100 words in lengthGrade Value – 20 Points10 points for answering the initial post prompt completely5 points for correct citation, reference and use of APA style5 points for correct grammar, spelling, and punctuationDiscussionResponse PostInstructionsRespond to one initial post by a classmateDue Sunday at 11:59 p.m. ETGrade Value – 5 points5 points for a response postFocused in natureMinimum of 100 words in lengthQuizCovers material from Week 1Due Sunday at 11:59 p.m. ETOpen-bookUntimedCan only be taken once and in one sittingYou must do your own work!Sharing of answers will result in a zero for the quizFlashcards – Chapter 1Covering Chapter 1 of textFlashcards – Chapter 2Covering Chapter 2 of textWeek 2Stress and HealthWe 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 stressIdentify the way stress affects physiological functioningInterpret the general adaptation syndrome (GAS)Describe the way in which stress affects the immune systemExamine the way that stress affects daily lifeDefine psychological moderators of stressInvestigate common stress-related health disordersExplore how you can assess your own stress levelSerial Self-Injurious BehaviorCan 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 stressRecognize the way in which this is part of our everyday livesDiscuss the way in which lack of frustration tolerance can have pathological, harmful consequencesOutline the way in which psychologists teach frustration toleranceReadingChapter 3: Stress: What It Is and How to Manage ItWhat 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 stateChapter 4: Psychological Factors and HealthTake a granular look at how stress affects the nervous system, various organs, and the immune systemDiscussionParagraph 1What is the general adaptation syndrome? List and define its three phasesParagraph 2Discuss something stressful about being an online student and anything from Chapter 3 in our textbook that might help manage this stressInstructionsWrite two paragraphs, one for each discussion questionDue Wednesday at 11:59 p.m. ETGuidelinesDiscussion 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 completely5 points for correct citation, reference, and use of APA style5 points for correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation5 points for a response post which is focused in nature and is at least 100 words in lengthGrade Value – 20 Points10 points for answering the initial post prompt completely5 points for correct citation, reference and use of APA style5 points for correct grammar, spelling, and punctuationDiscussionResponse PostInstructionsRespond to one initial post by a classmateDue Sunday at 11:59 p.m. ETGrade Value – 5 points5 points for a response postFocused in natureMinimum of 100 words in lengthQuizCovers material from Week 2Due Sunday at 11:59 p.m. ETOpen-bookUntimedCan only be taken once and in one sittingYou must do your own work!Sharing of answers will result in a zero for the quizFlashcards – Chapter 3Covering Chapter 3 of textWeek 3Healthy Behavior and the SelfThis 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 stressRecognize the importance of fitness in managing stressParaphrase the importance of healthy sleep patterns in managing stressDescribe how these guidelines are related to a healthy sense of selfExplore the concept of self and its relationship to healthy adjustmentDefine self-concept and self-esteemReport on the way in which identity and esteem are critical to healthy adjustmentExplore how prejudice and discrimination are related to a faulty sense of self-concept and poor self-esteemIdentity and Self-EsteemHave 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 identityDefine the concept of self-esteemExplore the relationship between the twoReview a case presentation which exemplifies this ideaDiscover strategies for correcting deficits in eachInteractive ExerciseIdentity vs. Self-EsteemThis 10-question interactive exercise will test your knowledge of the difference between the terms identity and self-esteem.ReadingChapter 5: Developing Healthier BehaviorsThis chapter will help us understand why healthy behaviors, both in activities and food, can lead to improved physical and psychological healthChapter 6: The Self in a Social WorldDo 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 6DiscussionParagraph 1Who are you?Paragraph 2Why do you define yourself this way?InstructionsWrite two paragraphs, one for each discussion questionDue Wednesday at 11:59 p.m. ETGuidelinesDiscussion 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 completely5 points for correct citation, reference, and use of APA style5 points for correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation5 points for a response post which is focused in nature and is at least 100 words in lengthGrade Value – 20 Points10 points for answering the initial post prompt completely5 points for correct citation, reference and use of APA style5 points for correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation