Psychology week 5 Assignment Essay

Take a look at the material on sensation seeking on page 286 (Ch. 11). Do you consider yourself a sensation seeker? Why or why not? What are the advantages and disadvantages of your level of sensation seeking? Based on the questions in the text, I think right now I’m a good mix of both. I like travelling and gaining new experiences but I don’t go out of my way to do it. However, I also like the stability of being able to stay in one place. I also know that the more experience you gain the more your priorities seem to change and that means that whether you’re a sensation seeker or not might be where you are in life. The advantages of my level of sensation seeking are that my life experiences have given me a good balance of both. Right now, I’m comfortable where I am. The disadvantage would be maybe I’m too comfortable and I might get complacent. How would you rate your own achievement motivation? Why? In what ways is this advantage to you? In what ways is it a disadvantage? My own achievement motivation is pretty high. I set goals for myself and those who report to me. The goals I set for myself and my team are pretty high and I am driven to achieve those goals. This is an advantage because being goal driven is important in being successful in my career. It’s a disadvantage because it takes time away from my family. What did you learn about yourself from reading about the trait theories of personality? Based on the theories, supposedly I’m a mild mannered extrovert that is sometimes obsessive but easily adjusted. I’ve always found myself somewhat of a balanced person but after reading the traits I had to question that. I’m not one of anything but I am many of everything at different times in my life. What did you learn about yourself from reading the other theories of personality? (List and explain at least three things.) Based on the biological theories of personality I learned that my own personality is a combination of many things and not just one thing. Using Freud’s psychodynamic theory, I learned that my ego is what keeps the id and superego in check and that sometimes the failure of the ego to satisfy both results in my anxiety about certain things. Roger’s humanistic approach suggests that children are influenced by their parents and need their approval by doing things to please them in order to receive more love. I learned that one of the reason I am the way I am is because deep down I still seek approval not just from my parents but also those who have significance in all aspects of my life. How will you use this material on personality to improve your relationships (personal and/or professional)? I will make use of the material on personality to improve my relationships by recognizing situations that make me anxious or where I am quick to be angered. I will take a step back to assess the situation and learn to be more patient. I will try to be more understanding and put myself in the shoes of the other person. The personality theories have taught me that the way I am and the way I react to situations is a result of many things including the way I was raised as well as my environment. References: Siri Carpenter. Visualizing Psychology, 2nd Edition., 2009. Bookshelf. Web. 10 June 2013 .