Assignment Prompt & Instructions
– ## PERSONALITYPACKETASSIGNMENTRESOURCES.docx
– ## personalityassignment.docx
– ## Personalitypacketmodule1direction.docx
**## PERSONALITYPACKETASSIGNMENTRESOURCES.docx**
PERSONALITY PACKET ASSIGNMENT RESOURCES
Most students don't have a problem using the two links below, but a few have and I am still trying to sort out why. If you do have trouble with the links to the personality tests below you can try using a different web browser. Some students have also had success by typing in the URL of these same two personality test websites that I give you in the directions on the previous module page instead of going through these Canvas links. One of those two options seems to be working for the few people whose computers seem to have issues with the posted links below.
_For this first Personality Test website, once you click on that link you may need to click on the button that says "Take the Test" in the center of the screen. Avoid clicking on the button that says "Start" or any other buttons. The "Take the Test" button should take you right to a 64 question test which is the correct one and will give you a 4 letter score after taking it for free._
[The first Personality Test you need to take for Part One of the assignment](http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/jtypes2.asp) [https://www.humanmetrics.com/personality#google_vignette](https://www.humanmetrics.com/personality#google_vignette)
[The 2nd Personality Test you need to take for Part One of the assignmentLinks to an external site.](https://www.personalitylab.org/tests/bfi2_self_pol.htm) [https://www.personalitylab.org/tests/bfi2_self_pol.htm](https://www.personalitylab.org/tests/bfi2_self_pol.htm)
Everyone has hang-ups, flaws, and problems. Still, it is true that some individuals are functioning at a higher psychological level than others. Self-actualization is a concept that Maslow came up with to describe these type of individuals who had reached their full potential as human beings. American society tends to define success in narrow terms that include wealth and social status. This is quite different from the deeper measure of life success that Maslow was interested in. An individual could have little education and be quite poor and even seem very ordinary at first glance and yet be self-actualized because they are truly authentic, have a deep sense of who they are and what they stand for, and possess self-awareness and insight.
**This is the key concept that you will be discussing in your interviews in part two of your paper, so click the video links below to hear a description of what this idea is all about. If you have a shallow understanding of what self-actualization means then your interview conversations are more likely to remain at a shallow level. Thus it is important that you watch these clips before doing your interviews so you have a good grasp on Maslow's big idea.**
Here is another video clip that can provide additional depth to your understanding of Maslow's concept of self-actualization. It covers a few of the same ideas as the clip above, but also goes in some new directions as well.
This last, brief video clip shows Maslow describing what a peak experience is like. Remember that many of the self-actualized people he interviewed had been influenced by peak experiences. Although Maslow claimed only one percent of people reach their full potential and achieve self actualization, many others who have not reached self-actualization have nevertheless had peak experiences and been affected by them as well. Some of the things that have been shown to trigger peak experiences are encounters with nature, death, birth, travel, psychedelic and other psychoactive drugs, art, and more. While watching Maslow describe peak experiences ask yourself: Have I ever had a peak experience?
[https://youtu.be/ipA_XU-fsS4](https://youtu.be/ipA_XU-fsS4)
[https://youtu.be/qQJwE6yg6cY](https://youtu.be/qQJwE6yg6cY)
[https://youtu.be/pmvZ4fkXo2g](https://youtu.be/pmvZ4fkXo2g)
**## personalityassignment.docx**
This week your main job is to complete the Personality packet, which is the first written assignment in the course. It is due on Sunday at 11:55 PM so make sure to get it submitted through Canvas before that time. If you have not submitted assignments through Canvas before then you should not wait until the last few minutes. Leave yourself a little time cushion so that you don't miss the deadline.
Remember that the three big written assignments you will do this semester together count for a lot of your course average, so it is very important to read the directions for the assignment carefully and complete all parts so that you can earn full credit for your work. Students who follow the directions fully almost always receive full credit for the assignment, but students who do not read them closely often end up losing some credit by not completing all the requirements.
The assignment has two parts which you should
**complete on the same word document or pdf file,** **which you will then attach as a file and submit it on the last page of this module** here on our Canvas site. In the first part you will simply take the personality tests linked on the next module page and then answer the questions about your score that are found in the assignment directions (which are linked below). The second part of the assignment is more in-depth.
**You will need to read the section in the textbook on Maslow's hierarchy of needs (focusing especially on his concept of self-actualization),** then watch the video clips that I provide on the next module page that further explain self-actualization, and finally follow the directions closely to interview
**two individuals** discussing the questions I provided in the assignment directions.
**The most common question I get about this assignment is whether it should be in paragraph form or not. The first part should be answered like a worksheet, just numbering 1-5 and putting your answers to each of those questions. Then in the 2nd part as you will see in the directions you will switch to essay form and write a 1-2 page paper where you summarize the interviews and your thoughts about them. If you read the directions carefully it should all make sense.**
To get started read the directions linked below to get a full understanding of what the project entails. Then you can begin working on part one and part two.
**Remember to make sure to watch the video clips that I have linked on the next module page before doing your interviews in part two so that you fully understand the theory that the interview is supposed to be about.**
[https://youtu.be/yXpDVVO8MBE](https://youtu.be/yXpDVVO8MBE)
EXTRA RESOURCES ON SELF-ACTUALIZATION
**Here are 2 Extra Resources on Humanism and Self-Actualization for those who are interested.**
**These are not required for students, but feel free to check them out if you want to learn more about Maslow's ideas.**
The first one is a link to a recent conversation put out by Sam Harris, a neuroscientist who explores philosophical topics with a range of diverse guests on his podcast, and Scott Kaufman, a humanistic psychologist who currently does research and works in the field. The link gives you access to roughly the first hour of their conversation. In their talk they explore concepts such as :
_intelligence and creativity, wisdom and transcendence, the history of humanistic psychology, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, the connection between well-being and ethics, self-esteem, psychedelics and meditation, peak and plateau experiences, mortality salience, the pre-trans fallacy, fear of uncertainty, work and meaning, intrinsic vs. extrinsic rewards, pathological altruism, intimacy vs. belonging, two aspects of self-transcendence, and other topics._
[https://samharris.org/podcasts/209-a-good-life/Links to an external site.](https://samharris.org/podcasts/209-a-good-life/)
Below is a different link to Maslow's well known book where he lays out his ideas about peak experiences and self-actualization. This is not required reading for this course (it is more something you would encounter in graduate school if you were studying this branch of psychology), but I wanted to post the link just for any students who wanted to explore his writing a bit. When this book came out his research into these aspects of human nature was a radical shift away from psychology's focus on the negative aspects of human nature. After Maslow retired and American culture shifted it once again became uncommon for psychologists to research these type of concepts, but in the last few decades momentum has been building in this direction again with a movement within the field called positive psychology that focuses on studying happiness. This is now something you can get a graduate degree in! The most prominent name in this area is Martin Seligman up at the University of Pennsylvania.
[http://www.bahaistudies.net/asma/peak_experiences.pdfLinks to an external site.](http://www.bahaistudies.net/asma/peak_experiences.pdf)
**## Personalitypacketmodule1direction.docx**
**Personality Packet**
This activity has two parts. This first section requires you to take and compare two personality tests and answer some questions about them. First access the link named
_personality test 1_ on the course website on this week’s module page and take that test. The link to this test is also found here:
http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/jtypes2.asp
Once you finish you need to read your results carefully and answer the following questions.
1. What was your personality type? Make sure to give the four letters here and the percentages for each.
_Now read the full description of your type listed just below your score (and slightly to the left…it should say something like ENTP type description). Read all the way down through the functional analysis section of the description. Then google your type (for example, ENTP) and read the short descriptions offered at 16personalities.com and the personality page (which offers a portrait of your type). These should be the first two links that come up, or very close to that. If for some reason they are not functional, you can choose two other sites to read descriptions of your type._
2. How accurate were these website’s description of your personality? Include details and give a full paragraph response on how valid you found the descriptions of your personality and why.
3. Now access the link named
_personality test 2_ in this week’s module and take that test. There is no need to fill in the optional information section about your personal information at the bottom if you don’t want to. The link to this test is also found here:
https://www.personalitylab.org/tests/bfi2_self_pol.htm
Once you take that test then read the results that pop up below your score on the website. If you scroll down it explains what each of the categories in your personality score means. Once you have done that then
compare this second personality test to the first one you took.In at least a full paragraph of 4-6 sentences minimum give your score, and then describe which one you think better captured you and was more accurate.
Explain why.
4. Compare the major personality tests that your textbook discusses (Section 11.9 at the very end of the Personality chapter) and explain why you think some tests are better than others.
To get full credit for this question you must specifically mention the two different categories of tests that are mentioned in those pages of your textbook, briefly describe the major tests that fall into each category, provide some specific drawbacks or advantages of the categories in general, and then finally offer your brief opinion as to what is the best way to assess someone’s personality.
5. What have been the dominant influences on your personality? Why are you the way you are? What, if anything, would you like to change about your personality and how would you go about doing that?
Once you finish reflecting and writing on these questions it is time to complete the self-actualization interview portion of this activity. On the next page you will find information regarding this second part of the project. Simply follow those directions, complete the interview, and answer the questions on that sheet.
**You will turn in both these questions and the interview questions together as one word document or pdf file on the course Canvas site** to receive your grade for this personality packet activity.
**Self-Actualization Interview Sheet**
Abraham Maslow described human beings who have fulfilled their full potential as being self-actualized. Nobody is perfect, thus self-actualization is more of a process than an endpoint. Nevertheless, there are some traits that tend to be highly correlated with individuals who are considered self-actualized. They are accepting of themselves and other people, accurate in perceiving reality, problem centered not self-conscious, continually fresh and enthusiastic, spontaneous, and strong and independent. In other words, they are extremely psychologically healthy!
For this assignment you will be
**interviewing two adults** (
**minimum age of 30**) and getting their perspective on the top rung of Maslow’s hierarchy. Below are seven questions that you need to ask each interviewee.
**You should also come up with at least two questions of your own** that relate to the hierarchy of needs that you can ask them. Before you ask the following questions make sure you take a few minutes to explain the general idea of self-actualization and the hierarchy of needs to the person you will be interviewing. There are some tough questions that can get personal, so please be respectful and appreciative of those who volunteer to participate in your interviews.
1. When you reflect on all the people that you have known in your life, which person most embodies Maslow’s conception of a self-actualized person? In other words, who is the most psychologically healthy person you have ever known? Explain why?
2. Do you agree with Maslow that very few people (he said 1%) ever become self-actualized? Why or why not? For the people that don’t make it, what do you think it is that holds them back?
3. When you think back to your adolescence and young adulthood, what type of person did you dream of becoming? Why do you think you chose that ideal to strive for?
4. Now that you are older, have you become the ideal self that you hoped you would? Have you achieved your dreams? Please explain. Also, how did your dreams change as you got older?
5. Have you ever had a peak experience? Describe it if you have.
6. Do you think that it is necessary or helpful to travel internationally or have contact with different cultures in order to reach self-actualization? In other words, do you think people who have experienced life outside of the United States gain a perspective that can’t be gained by those who stay home?
7. Do you think it is harder or easier for young people today to achieve self-actualization compared to previous generations? Why? What advice would you offer a young person just starting out if they wanted to reach their full potential?
**Don’t worry about taking specific notes when conducting the two interviews**. Instead, just focus on having a relaxed conversation and learning about the perspective of the person you are talking with. Once you are done with the interviews you should type a one-two page paper, double-spaced (12 point font, Times New Roman type) outlining what you learned from your interviews and your general thoughts about Maslow’s hierarchy and his idea of self-actualization.
**Again, I don’t need you to write down all the answers that were given to your interview questions. I also don’t want you to make a list with numbers with your interviewee answers (this should be written in regular paragraph form)**. I am more interested in what you think of their answers then in you simply listing what they said, so part two is about you
**summarizing** the discussions in paragraph form instead of listing interview answers
. After discussing how your interviews went in the paper, please reflect on the people you have met in your life and how well your experiences fit his theory. This paper will be on the same document as your answers to the personality test questions and will be submitted through the final page in the week one module on our Canvas website.
**## Personalitypacketmodule1direction.docx**
**Personality Packet**
This activity has two parts. This first section requires you to take and compare two personality tests and answer some questions about them. First access the link named
_personality test 1_ on the course website on this week’s module page and take that test. The link to this test is also found here:
http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/jtypes2.asp
Once you finish you need to read your results carefully and answer the following questions.
1. What was your personality type? Make sure to give the four letters here and the percentages for each.
_Now read the full description of your type listed just below your score (and slightly to the left…it should say something like ENTP type description). Read all the way down through the functional analysis section of the description. Then google your type (for example, ENTP) and read the short descriptions offered at 16personalities.com and the personality page (which offers a portrait of your type). These should be the first two links that come up, or very close to that. If for some reason they are not functional, you can choose two other sites to read descriptions of your type._
2. How accurate were these website’s description of your personality? Include details and give a full paragraph response on how valid you found the descriptions of your personality and why.
3. Now access the link named
_personality test 2_ in this week’s module and take that test. There is no need to fill in the optional information section about your personal information at the bottom if you don’t want to. The link to this test is also found here:
https://www.personalitylab.org/tests/bfi2_self_pol.htm
Once you take that test then read the results that pop up below your score on the website. If you scroll down it explains what each of the categories in your personality score means. Once you have done that then
compare this second personality test to the first one you took.In at least a full paragraph of 4-6 sentences minimum give your score, and then describe which one you think better captured you and was more accurate.
Explain why.
4. Compare the major personality tests that your textbook discusses (Section 11.9 at the very end of the Personality chapter) and explain why you think some tests are better than others.
To get full credit for this question you must specifically mention the two different categories of tests that are mentioned in those pages of your textbook, briefly describe the major tests that fall into each category, provide some specific drawbacks or advantages of the categories in general, and then finally offer your brief opinion as to what is the best way to assess someone’s personality.
5. What have been the dominant influences on your personality? Why are you the way you are? What, if anything, would you like to change about your personality and how would you go about doing that?
Once you finish reflecting and writing on these questions it is time to complete the self-actualization interview portion of this activity. On the next page you will find information regarding this second part of the project. Simply follow those directions, complete the interview, and answer the questions on that sheet.
**You will turn in both these questions and the interview questions together as one word document or pdf file on the course Canvas site** to receive your grade for this personality packet activity.
**Self-Actualization Interview Sheet**
Abraham Maslow described human beings who have fulfilled their full potential as being self-actualized. Nobody is perfect, thus self-actualization is more of a process than an endpoint. Nevertheless, there are some traits that tend to be highly correlated with individuals who are considered self-actualized. They are accepting of themselves and other people, accurate in perceiving reality, problem centered not self-conscious, continually fresh and enthusiastic, spontaneous, and strong and independent. In other words, they are extremely psychologically healthy!
For this assignment you will be
**interviewing two adults** (
**minimum age of 30**) and getting their perspective on the top rung of Maslow’s hierarchy. Below are seven questions that you need to ask each interviewee.
**You should also come up with at least two questions of your own** that relate to the hierarchy of needs that you can ask them. Before you ask the following questions make sure you take a few minutes to explain the general idea of self-actualization and the hierarchy of needs to the person you will be interviewing. There are some tough questions that can get personal, so please be respectful and appreciative of those who volunteer to participate in your interviews.
1. When you reflect on all the people that you have known in your life, which person most embodies Maslow’s conception of a self-actualized person? In other words, who is the most psychologically healthy person you have ever known? Explain why?
2. Do you agree with Maslow that very few people (he said 1%) ever become self-actualized? Why or why not? For the people that don’t make it, what do you think it is that holds them back?
3. When you think back to your adolescence and young adulthood, what type of person did you dream of becoming? Why do you think you chose that ideal to strive for?
4. Now that you are older, have you become the ideal self that you hoped you would? Have you achieved your dreams? Please explain. Also, how did your dreams change as you got older?
5. Have you ever had a peak experience? Describe it if you have.
6. Do you think that it is necessary or helpful to travel internationally or have contact with different cultures in order to reach self-actualization? In other words, do you think people who have experienced life outside of the United States gain a perspective that can’t be gained by those who stay home?
7. Do you think it is harder or easier for young people today to achieve self-actualization compared to previous generations? Why? What advice would you offer a young person just starting out if they wanted to reach their full potential?
**Don’t worry about taking specific notes when conducting the two interviews**. Instead, just focus on having a relaxed conversation and learning about the perspective of the person you are talking with. Once you are done with the interviews you should type a one-two page paper, double-spaced (12 point font, Times New Roman type) outlining what you learned from your interviews and your general thoughts about Maslow’s hierarchy and his idea of self-actualization.
**Again, I don’t need you to write down all the answers that were given to your interview questions. I also don’t want you to make a list with numbers with your interviewee answers (this should be written in regular paragraph form)**. I am more interested in what you think of their answers then in you simply listing what they said, so part two is about you
**summarizing** the discussions in paragraph form instead of listing interview answers
. After discussing how your interviews went in the paper, please reflect on the people you have met in your life and how well your experiences fit his theory. This paper will be on the same document as your answers to the personality test questions and will be submitted through the final page in the week one module on our Canvas website.
**## PERSONALITYPACKETASSIGNMENTRESOURCES.docx**
PERSONALITY PACKET ASSIGNMENT RESOURCES
Most students don't have a problem using the two links below, but a few have and I am still trying to sort out why. If you do have trouble with the links to the personality tests below you can try using a different web browser. Some students have also had success by typing in the URL of these same two personality test websites that I give you in the directions on the previous module page instead of going through these Canvas links. One of those two options seems to be working for the few people whose computers seem to have issues with the posted links below.
_For this first Personality Test website, once you click on that link you may need to click on the button that says "Take the Test" in the center of the screen. Avoid clicking on the button that says "Start" or any other buttons. The "Take the Test" button should take you right to a 64 question test which is the correct one and will give you a 4 letter score after taking it for free._
[The first Personality Test you need to take for Part One of the assignment](http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/jtypes2.asp) [https://www.humanmetrics.com/personality#google_vignette](https://www.humanmetrics.com/personality#google_vignette)
[The 2nd Personality Test you need to take for Part One of the assignmentLinks to an external site.](https://www.personalitylab.org/tests/bfi2_self_pol.htm) [https://www.personalitylab.org/tests/bfi2_self_pol.htm](https://www.personalitylab.org/tests/bfi2_self_pol.htm)
Everyone has hang-ups, flaws, and problems. Still, it is true that some individuals are functioning at a higher psychological level than others. Self-actualization is a concept that Maslow came up with to describe these type of individuals who had reached their full potential as human beings. American society tends to define success in narrow terms that include wealth and social status. This is quite different from the deeper measure of life success that Maslow was interested in. An individual could have little education and be quite poor and even seem very ordinary at first glance and yet be self-actualized because they are truly authentic, have a deep sense of who they are and what they stand for, and possess self-awareness and insight.
**This is the key concept that you will be discussing in your interviews in part two of your paper, so click the video links below to hear a description of what this idea is all about. If you have a shallow understanding of what self-actualization means then your interview conversations are more likely to remain at a shallow level. Thus it is important that you watch these clips before doing your interviews so you have a good grasp on Maslow's big idea.**
Here is another video clip that can provide additional depth to your understanding of Maslow's concept of self-actualization. It covers a few of the same ideas as the clip above, but also goes in some new directions as well.
This last, brief video clip shows Maslow describing what a peak experience is like. Remember that many of the self-actualized people he interviewed had been influenced by peak experiences. Although Maslow claimed only one percent of people reach their full potential and achieve self actualization, many others who have not reached self-actualization have nevertheless had peak experiences and been affected by them as well. Some of the things that have been shown to trigger peak experiences are encounters with nature, death, birth, travel, psychedelic and other psychoactive drugs, art, and more. While watching Maslow describe peak experiences ask yourself: Have I ever had a peak experience?
[https://youtu.be/ipA_XU-fsS4](https://youtu.be/ipA_XU-fsS4)
[https://youtu.be/qQJwE6yg6cY](https://youtu.be/qQJwE6yg6cY)
[https://youtu.be/pmvZ4fkXo2g](https://youtu.be/pmvZ4fkXo2g)
**## personalityassignment.docx**
This week your main job is to complete the Personality packet, which is the first written assignment in the course. It is due on Sunday at 11:55 PM so make sure to get it submitted through Canvas before that time. If you have not submitted assignments through Canvas before then you should not wait until the last few minutes. Leave yourself a little time cushion so that you don't miss the deadline.
Remember that the three big written assignments you will do this semester together count for a lot of your course average, so it is very important to read the directions for the assignment carefully and complete all parts so that you can earn full credit for your work. Students who follow the directions fully almost always receive full credit for the assignment, but students who do not read them closely often end up losing some credit by not completing all the requirements.
The assignment has two parts which you should
**complete on the same word document or pdf file,** **which you will then attach as a file and submit it on the last page of this module** here on our Canvas site. In the first part you will simply take the personality tests linked on the next module page and then answer the questions about your score that are found in the assignment directions (which are linked below). The second part of the assignment is more in-depth.
**You will need to read the section in the textbook on Maslow's hierarchy of needs (focusing especially on his concept of self-actualization),** then watch the video clips that I provide on the next module page that further explain self-actualization, and finally follow the directions closely to interview
**two individuals** discussing the questions I provided in the assignment directions.
**The most common question I get about this assignment is whether it should be in paragraph form or not. The first part should be answered like a worksheet, just numbering 1-5 and putting your answers to each of those questions. Then in the 2nd part as you will see in the directions you will switch to essay form and write a 1-2 page paper where you summarize the interviews and your thoughts about them. If you read the directions carefully it should all make sense.**
To get started read the directions linked below to get a full understanding of what the project entails. Then you can begin working on part one and part two.
**Remember to make sure to watch the video clips that I have linked on the next module page before doing your interviews in part two so that you fully understand the theory that the interview is supposed to be about.**
[https://youtu.be/yXpDVVO8MBE](https://youtu.be/yXpDVVO8MBE)
EXTRA RESOURCES ON SELF-ACTUALIZATION
**Here are 2 Extra Resources on Humanism and Self-Actualization for those who are interested.**
**These are not required for students, but feel free to check them out if you want to learn more about Maslow's ideas.**
The first one is a link to a recent conversation put out by Sam Harris, a neuroscientist who explores philosophical topics with a range of diverse guests on his podcast, and Scott Kaufman, a humanistic psychologist who currently does research and works in the field. The link gives you access to roughly the first hour of their conversation. In their talk they explore concepts such as :
_intelligence and creativity, wisdom and transcendence, the history of humanistic psychology, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, the connection between well-being and ethics, self-esteem, psychedelics and meditation, peak and plateau experiences, mortality salience, the pre-trans fallacy, fear of uncertainty, work and meaning, intrinsic vs. extrinsic rewards, pathological altruism, intimacy vs. belonging, two aspects of self-transcendence, and other topics._
[https://samharris.org/podcasts/209-a-good-life/Links to an external site.](https://samharris.org/podcasts/209-a-good-life/)
Below is a different link to Maslow's well known book where he lays out his ideas about peak experiences and self-actualization. This is not required reading for this course (it is more something you would encounter in graduate school if you were studying this branch of psychology), but I wanted to post the link just for any students who wanted to explore his writing a bit. When this book came out his research into these aspects of human nature was a radical shift away from psychology's focus on the negative aspects of human nature. After Maslow retired and American culture shifted it once again became uncommon for psychologists to research these type of concepts, but in the last few decades momentum has been building in this direction again with a movement within the field called positive psychology that focuses on studying happiness. This is now something you can get a graduate degree in! The most prominent name in this area is Martin Seligman up at the University of Pennsylvania.
[http://www.bahaistudies.net/asma/peak_experiences.pdfLinks to an external site.](http://www.bahaistudies.net/asma/peak_experiences.pdf)
**## Personalitypacketmodule1direction.docx**
**Personality Packet**
This activity has two parts. This first section requires you to take and compare two personality tests and answer some questions about them. First access the link named
_personality test 1_ on the course website on this week’s module page and take that test. The link to this test is also found here:
http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/jtypes2.asp
Once you finish you need to read your results carefully and answer the following questions.
1. What was your personality type? Make sure to give the four letters here and the percentages for each.
_Now read the full description of your type listed just below your score (and slightly to the left…it should say something like ENTP type description). Read all the way down through the functional analysis section of the description. Then google your type (for example, ENTP) and read the short descriptions offered at 16personalities.com and the personality page (which offers a portrait of your type). These should be the first two links that come up, or very close to that. If for some reason they are not functional, you can choose two other sites to read descriptions of your type._
2. How accurate were these website’s description of your personality? Include details and give a full paragraph response on how valid you found the descriptions of your personality and why.
3. Now access the link named
_personality test 2_ in this week’s module and take that test. There is no need to fill in the optional information section about your personal information at the bottom if you don’t want to. The link to this test is also found here:
https://www.personalitylab.org/tests/bfi2_self_pol.htm
Once you take that test then read the results that pop up below your score on the website. If you scroll down it explains what each of the categories in your personality score means. Once you have done that then
compare this second personality test to the first one you took.In at least a full paragraph of 4-6 sentences minimum give your score, and then describe which one you think better captured you and was more accurate.
Explain why.
4. Compare the major personality tests that your textbook discusses (Section 11.9 at the very end of the Personality chapter) and explain why you think some tests are better than others.
To get full credit for this question you must specifically mention the two different categories of tests that are mentioned in those pages of your textbook, briefly describe the major tests that fall into each category, provide some specific drawbacks or advantages of the categories in general, and then finally offer your brief opinion as to what is the best way to assess someone’s personality.
5. What have been the dominant influences on your personality? Why are you the way you are? What, if anything, would you like to change about your personality and how would you go about doing that?
Once you finish reflecting and writing on these questions it is time to complete the self-actualization interview portion of this activity. On the next page you will find information regarding this second part of the project. Simply follow those directions, complete the interview, and answer the questions on that sheet.
**You will turn in both these questions and the interview questions together as one word document or pdf file on the course Canvas site** to receive your grade for this personality packet activity.
**Self-Actualization Interview Sheet**
Abraham Maslow described human beings who have fulfilled their full potential as being self-actualized. Nobody is perfect, thus self-actualization is more of a process than an endpoint. Nevertheless, there are some traits that tend to be highly correlated with individuals who are considered self-actualized. They are accepting of themselves and other people, accurate in perceiving reality, problem centered not self-conscious, continually fresh and enthusiastic, spontaneous, and strong and independent. In other words, they are extremely psychologically healthy!
For this assignment you will be
**interviewing two adults** (
**minimum age of 30**) and getting their perspective on the top rung of Maslow’s hierarchy. Below are seven questions that you need to ask each interviewee.
**You should also come up with at least two questions of your own** that relate to the hierarchy of needs that you can ask them. Before you ask the following questions make sure you take a few minutes to explain the general idea of self-actualization and the hierarchy of needs to the person you will be interviewing. There are some tough questions that can get personal, so please be respectful and appreciative of those who volunteer to participate in your interviews.
1. When you reflect on all the people that you have known in your life, which person most embodies Maslow’s conception of a self-actualized person? In other words, who is the most psychologically healthy person you have ever known? Explain why?
2. Do you agree with Maslow that very few people (he said 1%) ever become self-actualized? Why or why not? For the people that don’t make it, what do you think it is that holds them back?
3. When you think back to your adolescence and young adulthood, what type of person did you dream of becoming? Why do you think you chose that ideal to strive for?
4. Now that you are older, have you become the ideal self that you hoped you would? Have you achieved your dreams? Please explain. Also, how did your dreams change as you got older?
5. Have you ever had a peak experience? Describe it if you have.
6. Do you think that it is necessary or helpful to travel internationally or have contact with different cultures in order to reach self-actualization? In other words, do you think people who have experienced life outside of the United States gain a perspective that can’t be gained by those who stay home?
7. Do you think it is harder or easier for young people today to achieve self-actualization compared to previous generations? Why? What advice would you offer a young person just starting out if they wanted to reach their full potential?
**Don’t worry about taking specific notes when conducting the two interviews**. Instead, just focus on having a relaxed conversation and learning about the perspective of the person you are talking with. Once you are done with the interviews you should type a one-two page paper, double-spaced (12 point font, Times New Roman type) outlining what you learned from your interviews and your general thoughts about Maslow’s hierarchy and his idea of self-actualization.
**Again, I don’t need you to write down all the answers that were given to your interview questions. I also don’t want you to make a list with numbers with your interviewee answers (this should be written in regular paragraph form)**. I am more interested in what you think of their answers then in you simply listing what they said, so part two is about you
**summarizing** the discussions in paragraph form instead of listing interview answers
. After discussing how your interviews went in the paper, please reflect on the people you have met in your life and how well your experiences fit his theory. This paper will be on the same document as your answers to the personality test questions and will be submitted through the final page in the week one module on our Canvas website.
**## PERSONALITYPACKETASSIGNMENTRESOURCES.docx**
PERSONALITY PACKET ASSIGNMENT RESOURCES
Most students don't have a problem using the two links below, but a few have and I am still trying to sort out why. If you do have trouble with the links to the personality tests below you can try using a different web browser. Some students have also had success by typing in the URL of these same two personality test websites that I give you in the directions on the previous module page instead of going through these Canvas links. One of those two options seems to be working for the few people whose computers seem to have issues with the posted links below.
_For this first Personality Test website, once you click on that link you may need to click on the button that says "Take the Test" in the center of the screen. Avoid clicking on the button that says "Start" or any other buttons. The "Take the Test" button should take you right to a 64 question test which is the correct one and will give you a 4 letter score after taking it for free._
[The first Personality Test you need to take for Part One of the assignment](http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/jtypes2.asp) [https://www.humanmetrics.com/personality#google_vignette](https://www.humanmetrics.com/personality#google_vignette)
[The 2nd Personality Test you need to take for Part One of the assignmentLinks to an external site.](https://www.personalitylab.org/tests/bfi2_self_pol.htm) [https://www.personalitylab.org/tests/bfi2_self_pol.htm](https://www.personalitylab.org/tests/bfi2_self_pol.htm)
Everyone has hang-ups, flaws, and problems. Still, it is true that some individuals are functioning at a higher psychological level than others. Self-actualization is a concept that Maslow came up with to describe these type of individuals who had reached their full potential as human beings. American society tends to define success in narrow terms that include wealth and social status. This is quite different from the deeper measure of life success that Maslow was interested in. An individual could have little education and be quite poor and even seem very ordinary at first glance and yet be self-actualized because they are truly authentic, have a deep sense of who they are and what they stand for, and possess self-awareness and insight.
**This is the key concept that you will be discussing in your interviews in part two of your paper, so click the video links below to hear a description of what this idea is all about. If you have a shallow understanding of what self-actualization means then your interview conversations are more likely to remain at a shallow level. Thus it is important that you watch these clips before doing your interviews so you have a good grasp on Maslow's big idea.**
Here is another video clip that can provide additional depth to your understanding of Maslow's concept of self-actualization. It covers a few of the same ideas as the clip above, but also goes in some new directions as well.
This last, brief video clip shows Maslow describing what a peak experience is like. Remember that many of the self-actualized people he interviewed had been influenced by peak experiences. Although Maslow claimed only one percent of people reach their full potential and achieve self actualization, many others who have not reached self-actualization have nevertheless had peak experiences and been affected by them as well. Some of the things that have been shown to trigger peak experiences are encounters with nature, death, birth, travel, psychedelic and other psychoactive drugs, art, and more. While watching Maslow describe peak experiences ask yourself: Have I ever had a peak experience?
[https://youtu.be/ipA_XU-fsS4](https://youtu.be/ipA_XU-fsS4)
[https://youtu.be/qQJwE6yg6cY](https://youtu.be/qQJwE6yg6cY)
[https://youtu.be/pmvZ4fkXo2g](https://youtu.be/pmvZ4fkXo2g)
**## personalityassignment.docx**
This week your main job is to complete the Personality packet, which is the first written assignment in the course. It is due on Sunday at 11:55 PM so make sure to get it submitted through Canvas before that time. If you have not submitted assignments through Canvas before then you should not wait until the last few minutes. Leave yourself a little time cushion so that you don't miss the deadline.
Remember that the three big written assignments you will do this semester together count for a lot of your course average, so it is very important to read the directions for the assignment carefully and complete all parts so that you can earn full credit for your work. Students who follow the directions fully almost always receive full credit for the assignment, but students who do not read them closely often end up losing some credit by not completing all the requirements.
The assignment has two parts which you should
**complete on the same word document or pdf file,** **which you will then attach as a file and submit it on the last page of this module** here on our Canvas site. In the first part you will simply take the personality tests linked on the next module page and then answer the questions about your score that are found in the assignment directions (which are linked below). The second part of the assignment is more in-depth.
**You will need to read the section in the textbook on Maslow's hierarchy of needs (focusing especially on his concept of self-actualization),** then watch the video clips that I provide on the next module page that further explain self-actualization, and finally follow the directions closely to interview
**two individuals** discussing the questions I provided in the assignment directions.
**The most common question I get about this assignment is whether it should be in paragraph form or not. The first part should be answered like a worksheet, just numbering 1-5 and putting your answers to each of those questions. Then in the 2nd part as you will see in the directions you will switch to essay form and write a 1-2 page paper where you summarize the interviews and your thoughts about them. If you read the directions carefully it should all make sense.**
To get started read the directions linked below to get a full understanding of what the project entails. Then you can begin working on part one and part two.
**Remember to make sure to watch the video clips that I have linked on the next module page before doing your interviews in part two so that you fully understand the theory that the interview is supposed to be about.**
[https://youtu.be/yXpDVVO8MBE](https://youtu.be/yXpDVVO8MBE)
EXTRA RESOURCES ON SELF-ACTUALIZATION
**Here are 2 Extra Resources on Humanism and Self-Actualization for those who are interested.**
**These are not required for students, but feel free to check them out if you want to learn more about Maslow's ideas.**
The first one is a link to a recent conversation put out by Sam Harris, a neuroscientist who explores philosophical topics with a range of diverse guests on his podcast, and Scott Kaufman, a humanistic psychologist who currently does research and works in the field. The link gives you access to roughly the first hour of their conversation. In their talk they explore concepts such as :
_intelligence and creativity, wisdom and transcendence, the history of humanistic psychology, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, the connection between well-being and ethics, self-esteem, psychedelics and meditation, peak and plateau experiences, mortality salience, the pre-trans fallacy, fear of uncertainty, work and meaning, intrinsic vs. extrinsic rewards, pathological altruism, intimacy vs. belonging, two aspects of self-transcendence, and other topics._
[https://samharris.org/podcasts/209-a-good-life/Links to an external site.](https://samharris.org/podcasts/209-a-good-life/)
Below is a different link to Maslow's well known book where he lays out his ideas about peak experiences and self-actualization. This is not required reading for this course (it is more something you would encounter in graduate school if you were studying this branch of psychology), but I wanted to post the link just for any students who wanted to explore his writing a bit. When this book came out his research into these aspects of human nature was a radical shift away from psychology's focus on the negative aspects of human nature. After Maslow retired and American culture shifted it once again became uncommon for psychologists to research these type of concepts, but in the last few decades momentum has been building in this direction again with a movement within the field called positive psychology that focuses on studying happiness. This is now something you can get a graduate degree in! The most prominent name in this area is Martin Seligman up at the University of Pennsylvania.
[http://www.bahaistudies.net/asma/peak_experiences.pdfLinks to an external site.](http://www.bahaistudies.net/asma/peak_experiences.pdf)
**## Personalitypacketmodule1direction.docx**
**Personality Packet**
This activity has two parts. This first section requires you to take and compare two personality tests and answer some questions about them. First access the link named
_personality test 1_ on the course website on this week’s module page and take that test. The link to this test is also found here:
http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/jtypes2.asp
Once you finish you need to read your results carefully and answer the following questions.
1. What was your personality type? Make sure to give the four letters here and the percentages for each.
_Now read the full description of your type listed just below your score (and slightly to the left…it should say something like ENTP type description). Read all the way down through the functional analysis section of the description. Then google your type (for example, ENTP) and read the short descriptions offered at 16personalities.com and the personality page (which offers a portrait of your type). These should be the first two links that come up, or very close to that. If for some reason they are not functional, you can choose two other sites to read descriptions of your type._
2. How accurate were these website’s description of your personality? Include details and give a full paragraph response on how valid you found the descriptions of your personality and why.
3. Now access the link named
_personality test 2_ in this week’s module and take that test. There is no need to fill in the optional information section about your personal information at the bottom if you don’t want to. The link to this test is also found here:
https://www.personalitylab.org/tests/bfi2_self_pol.htm
Once you take that test then read the results that pop up below your score on the website. If you scroll down it explains what each of the categories in your personality score means. Once you have done that then
compare this second personality test to the first one you took.In at least a full paragraph of 4-6 sentences minimum give your score, and then describe which one you think better captured you and was more accurate.
Explain why.
4. Compare the major personality tests that your textbook discusses (Section 11.9 at the very end of the Personality chapter) and explain why you think some tests are better than others.
To get full credit for this question you must specifically mention the two different categories of tests that are mentioned in those pages of your textbook, briefly describe the major tests that fall into each category, provide some specific drawbacks or advantages of the categories in general, and then finally offer your brief opinion as to what is the best way to assess someone’s personality.
5. What have been the dominant influences on your personality? Why are you the way you are? What, if anything, would you like to change about your personality and how would you go about doing that?
Once you finish reflecting and writing on these questions it is time to complete the self-actualization interview portion of this activity. On the next page you will find information regarding this second part of the project. Simply follow those directions, complete the interview, and answer the questions on that sheet.
**You will turn in both these questions and the interview questions together as one word document or pdf file on the course Canvas site** to receive your grade for this personality packet activity.
**Self-Actualization Interview Sheet**
Abraham Maslow described human beings who have fulfilled their full potential as being self-actualized. Nobody is perfect, thus self-actualization is more of a process than an endpoint. Nevertheless, there are some traits that tend to be highly correlated with individuals who are considered self-actualized. They are accepting of themselves and other people, accurate in perceiving reality, problem centered not self-conscious, continually fresh and enthusiastic, spontaneous, and strong and independent. In other words, they are extremely psychologically healthy!
For this assignment you will be
**interviewing two adults** (
**minimum age of 30**) and getting their perspective on the top rung of Maslow’s hierarchy. Below are seven questions that you need to ask each interviewee.
**You should also come up with at least two questions of your own** that relate to the hierarchy of needs that you can ask them. Before you ask the following questions make sure you take a few minutes to explain the general idea of self-actualization and the hierarchy of needs to the person you will be interviewing. There are some tough questions that can get personal, so please be respectful and appreciative of those who volunteer to participate in your interviews.
1. When you reflect on all the people that you have known in your life, which person most embodies Maslow’s conception of a self-actualized person? In other words, who is the most psychologically healthy person you have ever known? Explain why?
2. Do you agree with Maslow that very few people (he said 1%) ever become self-actualized? Why or why not? For the people that don’t make it, what do you think it is that holds them back?
3. When you think back to your adolescence and young adulthood, what type of person did you dream of becoming? Why do you think you chose that ideal to strive for?
4. Now that you are older, have you become the ideal self that you hoped you would? Have you achieved your dreams? Please explain. Also, how did your dreams change as you got older?
5. Have you ever had a peak experience? Describe it if you have.
6. Do you think that it is necessary or helpful to travel internationally or have contact with different cultures in order to reach self-actualization? In other words, do you think people who have experienced life outside of the United States gain a perspective that can’t be gained by those who stay home?
7. Do you think it is harder or easier for young people today to achieve self-actualization compared to previous generations? Why? What advice would you offer a young person just starting out if they wanted to reach their full potential?
**Don’t worry about taking specific notes when conducting the two interviews**. Instead, just focus on having a relaxed conversation and learning about the perspective of the person you are talking with. Once you are done with the interviews you should type a one-two page paper, double-spaced (12 point font, Times New Roman type) outlining what you learned from your interviews and your general thoughts about Maslow’s hierarchy and his idea of self-actualization.
**Again, I don’t need you to write down all the answers that were given to your interview questions. I also don’t want you to make a list with numbers with your interviewee answers (this should be written in regular paragraph form)**. I am more interested in what you think of their answers then in you simply listing what they said, so part two is about you
**summarizing** the discussions in paragraph form instead of listing interview answers
. After discussing how your interviews went in the paper, please reflect on the people you have met in your life and how well your experiences fit his theory. This paper will be on the same document as your answers to the personality test questions and will be submitted through the final page in the week one module on our Canvas website.
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