1-1 Discussion: Creating Your Own Theory of Personality

In this module, you will begin to explore the psychological study of personality. As you begin this course, you likely have a lot of thoughts and reflections about your own personality and the personality of others. Before we dig into the work of prominent theorists, let’s begin by creating a theory of personality.

For your initial post, create your own theory of personality. By theory, we mean a set of interrelated principles based on your observations and experiences. The questions provided below will help you shape your answer. Your theory should be about 6 to 12 sentences and include examples or observations about yourself or others to back up your assertions. Address the following questions in your theory:

• How can you observe personality?
• Does nature or nurture play a larger role in personality development? Justify your response.
• What is the value of studying personality in yourself and others?
• Is personality changeable? Does it shift over time? Does it depend on the situation?

Next, describe how studying personality connects to one of the following programmatic themes:

• Self-care
• Social justice
• Emotional intelligence
• Career connections
• Ethics

Remember to respond to two peers while being respectful of and sensitive to their viewpoints. Consider advancing the discussion in the following ways:

• Post an article, video, or additional research to reinforce a peer’s idea or challenge them to see their point from a different perspective.
• Engage in conversation with your peers around their theory of personality. Consider asking a question or sharing your own personal experience.

To complete this assignment, review the Psychology Undergraduate Discussion Rubric. You will also need: