ESSAY
Essay Information
ESSAY
Word count:1500 words(worth 50%).
Due date:ThursdaySeptember 29th(by 12pm).
An abstract is NOT required
The essay is an exercise in persuasive writing. All of the essay questions are currently unresolved topics. The objective here is for you to (i) critically engage with the relevant evidence and differing points of view, and; (ii) to argue for your own position on the essay topic.
Please remember that your essay is being assessed on thequalityof argument rather than quantity (all things being equal). It would be better for you to develop 2 or 3 points or argument in depth than attempting to cover half a dozen briefly. Also, do not think that there is a right or wrong answer that the marker will be looking for. There are a range of positions that could be developed, so attempt to developyour point of viewbased on your best reasoning and argument.
Please also note that the essay and plan provide an opportunity for developing independent research skills. As such, you should primarily use the references provided as well as reading beyond them. If you are still unsure concerning what an essay should involve, then see Chapter 10 in:
Bell, P., Staines, P. & Michell, J. (2001).Logical Psych: Reasoning, explanation & writing in Psychology.NSW: UNSW Press. [Hard copy]
Bell, P., Staines, P., & Michell, J. (2001/2005).Evaluating, doing and writing research in psychology: a step-by-step guide for students. GB: Sage. [Online via the Library catalogue]
Frequently asked questions
How many references should I use for the ESSAY?
You should primarily use the starter references providedas well as reading beyond them. Generally, 12-15 references will be sufficient for writing a good essay, although (again) it is always best to consider quality of use rather than quantity.
Do I need to include ALL of the starter references in the essay?
No, you do not need to include all of the starter references in your essay. The starter references are chosen in such a way so as to allow for different lines of argument to be developed. You will generally include most of the starter references, but maybe not all of them.
Do I need to include references in the essay not included in the starter references?
Yes, you will need to include references in your essay that are not provided in the starter references. As a 3000-level unit, you are expected to be able to do some independent research for your essays.
How manybody paragraphsshould the essay have?
It isnt possible to provide a specific number of paragraphs that your essay should have, apart frommore than two. The number of paragraphs will be dependent upon the number of topics that you cover, the depth of coverage of these, etc., and there are many ways that an essay could unfold in this respect. As such, it is really up to each student to determine the number of paragraphs that s/h/they wish to include. For information on writing paragraphs, see sites such asthis.However, make sure that you also follow the specific instructions provided in this unit, if there is any discrepancy.The HD Essay example might also provide you with a rough idea of how many paragraphs that you might need.
Do in-text references count in the word count?
Yes, all in-text references used in the essay are included in the word-count (i.e., everything from the beginning of the introduction to the end of the discussion is included in the word count). The title page and reference list are NOT included in the word-count. There is no need for a running head/page header (it will eat into your word-count).
Should I include a title page?
Yes, please include a title page indicating the topic choice, your name, and the word count. This title page is not included in the word count.
Do I need to make up a title for my essay?
You can either use the essay topic as the title or make one up that best reflects your essay.
Essay topics
All references are available via the library or Google Scholar, unless otherwise specified.
1) According to Lantian et al. (2017), believing in conspiracy theories may be a way to satisfy ones need for uniqueness (p. 170). Do conspiracy theories reflect a motivated need for uniqueness, or are they better conceptualised as indications of personality pathology?
Furnham, A., & Grover, S. (2021). Do you have to be mad to believe in conspiracy theories? Personality disorders and conspiracy theories.International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 00207640211031614, 1-8.
Georgiou, N., Delfabbro, P., & Balzan, R. (2019). Conspiracy beliefs in the general population: The importance of psychopathology, cognitive style and educational attainment.Personality & Individual Differences,151, 109521.
Imhoff, R., & Lamberty, P. K. (2017). Too special to be duped: Need for uniqueness motivates conspiracy beliefs.European Journal of Social Psychology,47, 724-734.
Lantian, A., Muller, D., Nurra, C., & Douglas, K. (2017). I know things they dont know! The role of need for uniqueness in belief in conspiracy theories.Social Psychology,48, 160-173.
Raab, M. H., Ortlieb, S., Auer, N., Guthmann, K., & Carbon, C. C. (2013).Thirty shades of truth: conspiracy theories as stories of individuation, not of pathological delusion.Frontiers in Psychology,4, 1-9.
Swami, V., Furnham, A., Smyth, N., Weis, L., Lay, A., & Clow, A. (2016). Putting the stress on conspiracy theories: Examining associations between psychological stress, anxiety, and belief in conspiracy theories.Personality & Individual Differences,99, 72-76.
Swami, V., Weis, L., Lay, A., Barron, D., & Furnham, A. (2016). Associations between belief in conspiracy theories and the maladaptive personality traits of the personality inventory for DSM-5.Psychiatry Research,236, 86-90.
2) TheDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders(5th ed.; DSM5; American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013) states that Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is diagnosed predominantly in females (about 75%).According to Shaw and Proctor (2005), this gender finding is the result of biased criteria against women. Is there merit to Shaw and Proctors claim, or are there better ways of explaining the gender difference found in BPD?
American Psychiatric Association (2013).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-5.(5thed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Association.
Bayes, A., & Parker, G. (2017). Borderline personality disorder in men: a literature review and illustrative case vignettes.Psychiatry Research,257, 197-202.
de Aquino Ferreira, L. F., Pereira, F. H. Q., Benevides, A. M. L. N., & Melo, M. C. A. (2018). Borderline personality disorder and sexual abuse: a systematic review.Psychiatry Research,262, 70-77.
Garb, H. N. (2021). Race bias and gender bias in the diagnosis of psychological disorders.Clinical Psychology Review,90, 102087.
Sansone, R. A., & Sansone, L. A. (2011).Gender patterns in borderline personality disorder.Innovations in Clinical Neuroscience,8, 16-20
Shaw, C., & Proctor, G. (2005). I. Women at the margins: A critique of the diagnosis of borderline personality disorder.Feminism & Psychology,15, 483-490.
Skodol, A. E., & Bender, D. S. (2003).Why are women diagnosed borderline more than men?Psychiatric Quarterly,74, 349-360.
Ussher, J. M. (2013). Diagnosing difficult women and pathologising femininity: Gender bias in psychiatric nosology.Feminism & Psychology,23, 63-69.
3) According to Reich (2009), Avoidant Personality Disorder and Social Anxiety Disorder have the same symptoms, respond to the same treatments, are genetically identical, and appear to be the same disorder (p. 92).What is the relation between Avoidant Personality Disorder and Social Anxiety Disorder and are they really the same disorder as Reich suggests?
Hummelen, B., Wilberg, T., Pedersen, G., & Karterud, S. (2007).The relationship between avoidant personality disorder and social phobia.Comprehensive Psychiatry,48, 348-356.
Eikenaes, I., Egeland, J., Hummelen, B., & Wilberg, T. (2015).Avoidant personality disorder versus social phobia: the significance of childhood neglect.PLoS One,10, e0122846.
Lampe, L., & Sunderland, M. (2015). Social phobia and avoidant personality disorder: Similar but different?Journal of Personality Disorders,29, 115-130.
Lampe, L., & Malhi, G. S. (2018). Avoidant personality disorder: Current insights.Psychology Research and Behavior Management,11,Article 55-66.
Reich, J. (2009). Avoidant personality disorder and its relationship to social phobia.Current Psychiatry Reports,11, 207-222.
Reichborn-Kjennerud, T., Czajkowski, N., Torgersen, S., Neale, M. C., rstavik, R. E., Tambs, K., & Kendler, K. S. (2007). The relationship between avoidant personality disorder and social phobia: a population-based twin study.American Journal of Psychiatry,164, 1722-1728.
Weinbrecht, A., Schulze, L., Boettcher, J., & Renneberg, B. (2016).Avoidant personality disorder: a current review.Current Psychiatry Reports,18, 1-8.
4) According to Guindon, Green, and Hanna (2003), prejudicial attitudes such as racism reflect a type of personality disorder. What is the relationship between personality and prejudice, and is prejudice best understood in terms of personality pathology?
Bell, C. C., & Dunbar, E. (2013).Racism and pathological bias as a co-occurring problem in diagnosis and assessment. In T. A. Widiger (Ed.),The Oxford Handbook of Personality Disorders(pp. 694-709). Oxford: Oxford University Press.[available on iLearn]
Guindon, M. H., Green, A. G., & Hanna, F. J. (2003). Intolerance and psychopathology: Toward a general diagnosis for racism, sexism, and homophobia.American Journal of Orthopsychiatry,73, 167-176.
Hodson, G., & Dhont, K. (2015). The person-based nature of prejudice: Individual difference predictors of intergroup negativity.European Review of Social Psychology,26, 1-42.
Murphy & Walton (2013). From prejudiced people to prejudiced places: A social-contextual approach to prejudice. In C. Stangor & C. S. Crandall (Eds.),Stereotyping & Prejudice(pp. 193-216). London, UK: Psychology Press.[available on iLearn]Reynolds, K. J., & Turner, J. C. (2006). Individuality and the prejudiced personality.European Review of Social Psychology,17, 233-270.
Sibley, C. G., & Duckitt, J. (2008). Personality and prejudice: A meta-analysis and theoretical review.Personality & Social Psychology Review,12, 248-279.
Thomas, J. M., & Byrd, W. C. (2016). The sick racist: Racism and psychopathology in the colorblind era.Du Bois Review: Social Science Research on Race,13, 181-203.
This Assessment Task relates to the following Learning Outcomes:
Gain a basic insight into central issues in contemporary personality research within a global context.
Learn of the variety of approaches to the study of personality, and their relevance to understanding psychopathology, everyday life, and research.
Learn how to read critically, to take your own stance on an array of issues in writing and in discussion with your peers.
Write an essay that synthesises a body of material and argues for an original position.
Acquire enough background knowledge to direct further studies in the area.
Learn how to communicate effectively during group discussions in seminars.
Essay Plan Information
Referencing
Please use APA referencing convention (APA 5th, 6th, or 7thedition styles are fine). The example essay plan and essay provide an indication of how to use referencing. DOIs are not necessary.
A) ESSAY PLAN
Word count: 500 words (worth 10%).
Due date: Thursday August 25th(by 12pm).
The essay plan is an exercise in structuring your essay and developing argument. The objective here is for you to: (i) structure your introductory paragraph, essay body [in this case:twoparagraphs], and concluding paragraph; (ii) and to also plan for developing your own position on the essay topic.
There are essentially three main parts of an essay: an introduction, essay body, and conclusion. For this task, you will need to structure each of these sections in point form. The written points should be written in full sentences.
The essay plan will take the following format:
Introduction
Opening line [general statement outlining significance of the topic].
Introduce the controversy.
Outline sides of the debate.
State the aim of the essay.
State how the aim will be achieved.
[optional] Outline what position will be reached.
Body of the essay[two paragraphs;please note that for the actual essay, you will need to write more than two paragraphs for the body of the essay]
Direct statement of the point of the paragraph (topic sentence).
[where relevant] Clarify the topic, define, and indicate relevance.
Outline a position (evidence/argument).
Develop an argument for/against the point of the topic sentence.
Finish the paragraph with your explicit evaluationin relation to the essay topicConclusion
First line concluding statement (a statement directly addressing your stance on the essay topic).
Next sentences summarising the major reasons/points for reaching that conclusion.
Acknowledging limitations (e.g., limits of scope of analysis).
Final sentences should indicate meaningful future directions.
NOTE:
The essay plan assignment must be presented in point form and be written in full sentences.
The title page must include a word-count of the plan.All in-text referencing used in the plan (from beginning of the introduction to the end of the discussion) is included in the word-count.The title page and reference list are NOT included in the word-count. There is no need for a running head/page header (it will eat into your word-count).
The plan should include in-text references (included in the word-count) and a final reference list (not included in the word count).
The material from this first assessment can be incorporated into your essay.
This project is designed to give you feedback on your essay writing and direction of thinking, etc. You can, of course, choose an essay topic for the final essay that differs from the one covered in the essay plan.
Frequently asked questions
How many references should I use for the ESSAY PLAN?
Generally, 5-7 references will be sufficient for writing a good essay plan, although it is always best to consider quality of use rather than quantity. The starter references will generally be sufficient for writing the essay plan, but you can read beyond them and use other sources.
Should I include a title page?
Yes, please include a title page indicating the topic choice, your name, and the word count. This title page is not included in the word count.
Can I use the essay plan material in my essay, and if I do, wont Turnitin pick up the similarity?
Yes, you can use the essay plan material in your essay, and no, Turnitin will not record any similarity.
Do in-text references count in the word count?
Yes, all in-text referencing used in the essay plan are included in the word-count (i.e., everything from the beginning of the introduction to the end of the discussion is included in the word count). The title page and reference list are NOT included in the word-count. There is no need for a running head/page header (it will eat into your word-count).
This Assessment Task relates to the following Learning Outcomes:
Gain a basic insight into central issues in contemporary personality research within a global context.
Learn of the variety of approaches to the study of personality, and their relevance to understanding psychopathology, everyday life, and research.
Learn how to read critically, to take your own stance on an array of issues in writing and in discussion with your peers.
Write an essay that synthesises a body of material and argues for an original position.
Acquire enough background knowledge to direct further studies in the area.
Learn how to communicate effectively during group discussions in seminars.
