Apa Format: Psychobiography Is The Answer To The Question Wh

Apa Formatapsychobiographyis The Answer To The Question Why Is Thi

APA FORMAT a psychobiography is the answer to the question, “Why is this person like he/she is?” Psychobiography uses explanation and interpretation of the events, relationships, attitudes, beliefs, and experiences of a person’s life to explain the person they are today (or the person they were before they died). In other words, psychobiography looks at the person’s whole life in an effort to understand their personality. Psychobiography is not only biography—biographical information is included, but as part of the whole. In biography, the aim is to tell the story of a life; in psychobiography, the aim is to make sense of or understand a life. Another important point—psychobiography is NOT about diagnosing a person.

While you may report a diagnosis they were given by a qualified physician, you are not to make diagnosis of mental problems the point of your paper.

Section 1: Biographical Overview

Write a short biography of the person from childhood to his or her death. This should include the high and low points of the person’s experiences. This section should clearly set the stage for the theory that you choose in Section 2. This section should be no more than two pages.

Section 2: Theoretical Analysis of Personality Development

Choose one of the personality theorists from your textbook and, using specific concepts and ideas from his/her theory, trace the personality development of the person you have chosen. It is important to be specific about the concept or concepts you are using. For example, if you are using Freud as your theorist, you might trace the resolution of the Oedipus Complex in the person you have chosen. Please be very clear when you are moving from Section 2 to Section 3—use section labels. If it is not clear that you have moved to Section 3, I cannot give you credit for it.

Section 3: Development of a Psychological Concept

Choose one of the following psychological concepts and trace the development of this concept from the person’s childhood to adulthood. You should take the concept and examine its roots in childhood, as well as its culmination in adulthood, using specific examples from the person’s life and referencing different theorists. Remember, this is about the development of the concept as a characteristic of the person, not just as an environmental influence.

Note that you will be unable to trace this concept if you cannot or do not find information about the person’s childhood. If you cannot establish a basis for the concept in childhood, consider choosing a different concept or a different person to write about.

• Examples of concepts include: Aggression, Honesty, Achievement, Aspirations, Anxiety, Motivation, Coping, Delay of gratification, Humor, Sexuality, Creativity, Spirituality, Masculinity/femininity, Shyness, Extraversion, Altruism, Conformity, Peacemaking/beneficence, Empathy, Competition, Inferiority, Sociability.

Paper For Above instruction

The purpose of this psychobiography is to understand the underlying personality development of an individual through a detailed exploration of their life story and the application of a chosen personality theory. This approach helps elucidate why the person exhibits particular traits, behaviors, and attitudes, while explicitly excluding mental health diagnoses as the focus.

For the first section, a comprehensive but concise biography will be crafted, tracing the individual’s childhood, pivotal life events, and significant experiences leading up to their death. This foundational narrative provides the context necessary for applying theoretical frameworks effectively. Emphasizing key high and low points ensures clarity in understanding the person’s life trajectory and personality influences.

In the second section, a specific personality theorist from the textbook will be employed to interpret the individual’s personality development. For instance, selecting Freud might involve analyzing the resolution of the Oedipus complex or fixation stages, depending on the individual’s developmental milestones. Clear labeling of sections and transitions is essential to maintain coherence and to demonstrate distinct stages of the analysis.

The third section involves selecting one psychological concept, such as anxiety or creativity, and charting its evolution from childhood through adulthood within the individual’s life. This involves integrating examples and insights from multiple theorists to demonstrate how this trait or capacity matured over time. Establishing the origin of the concept in childhood is crucial; otherwise, the analysis must be reconsidered or the concept’s relevance questioned. Accurate and detailed examples substantiate the developmental pathway, illustrating how early experiences shape later manifestations of the trait.

Overall, this structured approach underscores a holistic understanding of personality as a function of life history and theoretical constructs, fostering a nuanced appreciation of individual differences.

References

• Carlson, N. R. (2019). Foundations of Behavioral Neuroscience (10th ed.). Pearson.
• Freud, S. (1917). Introductory Lectures on Psychoanalysis. Liveright Publishing.
• Hobson, J. A. (2005). Dreams and Dreaming. Oxford University Press.
• Myers, D. G. (2014). Psychology (10th ed.). Worth Publishers.
• Erikson, E. H. (1950). Childhood and Society. W. W. Norton & Company.
• Reich, W. (1973). Character Analysis. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
• Gilligan, C. (1982). In a Different Voice. Harvard University Press.
• Schacter, D. L., Gilbert, D. T., & Wegner, D. M. (2011). Psychology (2nd ed.). Worth Publishers.
• Bandura, A. (1986). Social Foundations of Thought and Action. Prentice-Hall.
• McLeod, S. (2018). Psychodynamic Theory. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/psychodynamic.html