Introductory Psychology 
Short Answer and Extra Credit Questions
Final Exam
	
The following short answer and extra credit questions will be on the exam.  Be ready to write an answer to each question.  The two short answer questions are required, and each question can be answered in a paragraph, although the answer to Question 2 will probably be longer than the answer to Question 1. Question 2 is worth 10 points and Question 1 is worth 5 points.  

1.  Personality is defined as the distinctive and relatively stable pattern of behaviors, thoughts, motives, and emotions that characterizes the individual. Describe the changes in your thinking about personality as we considered a variety of different interacting forces affecting our personality and behavior, including:  Genetic/Biological (Trait Theory), Cognitive/Environmental (Social Learning theory), Conscious self (Humanism) and Socio-cultural (Cultural theory).  Present what your thoughts about personality were before reading the text and attending lecture and contrast them with your ideas after reading the text and attending lecture (5 points).  

2.  Answer either 2a or 2b

2a. In the section on adolescence we talked about how adolescents undergo physical (puberty), cognitive (formal operations) and social (relations with parents and peers) changes.  Discuss your own adolescence (or if you are my age, that of your children) commenting on each of the three types of changes and how your experience fits the characterizations from the notes and the textbook (10 points).

2b. In the section on abnormal psychology we talked about three forms of psychopathological disorders: Mood disorders (depression and bipolar), anxiety disorders (generalized, PTSD, Panic Disorder, Phobias, OCD) and Schizophrenic Disorders. Discuss your own experience with any of these disorders, whether first-hand or from others you know (be they real people or fictional characters).  Comment on how your experience fits the characterizations from the notes and the textbook (10 points).

Extra Credit Question: Answering this question is not required but it will earn you extra credit for the exam.  You will get a pass/fail grade for the question, which will be used when calculating your grade on the exam.

Over the last couple of weeks, we have discussed a psychological model that suggests that behavior is the result of an interaction between genetic (evolutionary and behavioral genetics), person (biology and cognition), environmental (contingencies and social roles and norms), and socio-cultural (cultural values etc.) factors.  Apply this model to your own or someone else’s behavior, even the behavior discussed in assignment 1.  Be specific about the behavior you are explaining and how each aspect of the model applies. Present the behavior and then present your explanation of it.