Introduction:

The discussion forum topic is an assignment to be submitted for a grade.  This is the eighth of ten discussion forum topics to be submitted during the semester.  This is a two part assignment.  Part 1 is to submit a response worth up to 4 points, and Part 2 is to reply to at least two of your classmates’ responses worth up to 1 point, for a total of up to 5 points for the assignment.  Read the directions carefully and read the grading rubric, then compose your response and submit your response by clicking Reply.     

Directions: 

Part 1:

Although there is not one theory that can solely account for personality development, think of the four approaches to personality development that you have learned about in chapter 14, and select one that you think is the best one to use to describe the personality development of an individual in emerging adulthood or young adulthood.  State one reason why you think it is the best approach.  Contrast the approach you selected as being the best with an approach to personality development that you did not select as being the best.  Then, state one reason why you did not select one of the other approaches to personality development as being the best approach.     

Tasks: 

1. Select the best approach in which to view personality development in emerging or young adulthood. 

2. State one reason why the approach you selected is the best approach.

3. Contrast the approach you selected with one of the approaches to personality development that you did not select as being the best approach. .   

4. State one reason why you did not select one of the other approaches to personality development as being the best approach.  

5. Reply to two classmates’ responses.

Sample of Good Work: 

The trait theory of personality development is the best approach to use when considering the personality development of individuals in emerging adulthood and young adulthood.  One reason why the trait theory of personality is the best approach is because it includes multiple dimensions of characteristics.  A second reason is that it is based on research with statistically significant results.  In contrast to the trait theory, the timing-of-events model is based on societal values, is limited to life cycle events, and individuals might feel bad if they are not on time with the events, given their age.  The typological model was not selected as the best approach to describe personality development, because it seems simplistic and there is more to an individual’s personality than just a few categories to explain or account for personality development.

The purpose of the discussion forum topic is to apply the course material to the real world and to your own life by giving examples that are meaningful to you.  This is due by Sunday night at 11:59 p.m.  Please see the Grading Rubric for Discussion Forum Topic.

This discussion forum topic ties into Student Learning Outcome (SLO) 1:

Student Learning Outcomes 1.  Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the theoretical constructs among the 4 main areas of human development (Physical, Cognitive, Social, and Emotional) throughout the lifespan.

This discussion forum topic ties into Course Objectives 1, 6, and 16.

Course Objective 1.  Discuss the classical theoretical approaches to understanding human development across the lifespan. 

Course Objective 6.  Explain and discuss the 8 stages of psychosocial development proposed by Erik Erikson. 

Course Objective 16.  Differentiate personality development among normative-stage models (i.e. Erikson, Freud), trait models (i.e. Costa & McCrae), typological models (i.e. Friedman, Block), and the timing-of-events model (i.e. Neugarten).  

This discussion forum topic ties into Learning Objectives 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6: 

Learning Objective 1.   Explain Erik Erikson’s sixth stage of psychosocial development.

Learning Objective 2.  Discuss Erik Erikson’s sixth stage of psychosocial development.

Learning Objective 3.  Identify normative-stage models of personality development.

Learning Objective 4.  Identify the elements of the Five Factor theory of personality.  

Learning Objective 5.  Identify typological models of personality development

Learning Objective 6.  Identify elements of the timing-of-events model of personality development.  

Part 2:  

After submitting a response to the discussion forum topic, view your classmates’ responses and reply to at least two classmates’ response by asking a question, answering a question, offering a suggestion, giving praise, agreeing, politely disagreeing, providing encouragement, sharing a story, or offering a comment.  This is due by Sunday night at 11:59 p.m.  Please see the Grading Rubric for the Discussion Forum Topic.