Question

Experience Paper Topics

III. Analyze your favorite TV or movie character according to different personality theories. In a paragraph or two describe the plot. Describe the character’s personality according to one or more personality theories. Be sure to include phrases or behaviors used by the character to back up your observations

Requirements

Be thorough when describing a concept.Tell me what you know about the topic.

You should be able to recognize how the principles we talk about apply to your life.This is the main point of the paper.

The paper must be typed double-spaced in Times New Roman 12-point font.

more than three typed pages is probably too long (somewhere around two pages is about right)

Answer 1

Note: This response is in UK English, please paste the response to MS Word and you should be able to spot discrepancies easily. You may elaborate the answer based on personal views or your classwork if necessary.

(Answer) The ‘Protection Motivation’ theory was suggested by R.W. Rogers in the year 1975. One of the tangents of that theory is ‘Threat Appraisal’ or appraisal of threats.

This theory can be applied to subjects of a compromised cognition so to say. In the film ‘28 Days’, Sandra Bullock’s character is suffering from drug and alcohol abuse. This causes a vulnerable mental or cognitive state. According to the appraisal of threats theory, the vulnerability of the subject and the extent to which their mental state is compromised, play a key role.

The threat itself is given its due importance in the analysis. However, it focuses mostly on the reaction and adaptability of the subject to several aspects of the threat. Appraisal of threat, therefore, focuses on a compromised mental state can actually make a threat seem like it is more or less than what it actually is. This, in turn, causes the subject to adapt to a situation in extreme ways.

The primary indicator of ‘Threat Appraisal’ is taking a look at the mental state of the subject. Substance abuse, depression, fear or disorders make an otherwise ordinary subject, have cognitive anomalies.

Secondly, the environmental conditions or threats need to be considered. Once the threats are determined, a normal course of action to combat the threats can be surmised.

Thirdly, once the subject (dependent variable) and the environment (independent variable) are both well defined, it becomes easier to judge the subject’s actions. In this step, one needs to observe if the subject is maladaptive, hostile or vulnerable in any way. Subjects in these situations usually make ‘a mountain out of a molehill’. Some subjects have a spike in cortisol or testosterone levels which cause aggression, fear and an increased heart rate.

Example: A drunk subject is more likely to get into a bar fight over a silly issue like being called a “bad tipper.” Or an individual suffering from paranoia is more likely to see a “ghost” or an “alien” at an abandoned petrol-pump.

This film highlights threat appraisal from drug and alcohol abuse. However, this is possible in individuals who might suffer from any kind of tension or stress in their everyday lives. It is easier to find a teenager or college graduate suffering from addiction these days because of the stresses in the job market. Family members find it tough to meet the demands of inflation in the economy and healthcare, which results in stress. All of these scenarios have the ability to cause impairment in one’s cognition and result in compromising behaviour like addictions.