PSY259: (Personality and Individual Differences) Utilise the following table to compare the key similarities and differences between theories of Carl Jung and Julian Rotter.

Module / Subject / School:

PSY259: Personality and Individual Differences

Singapore University of Social Sciences

Requirements: 

Question 1 (100 marks)

As the liaison to the unconscious, therapist Barry Michels says, the Shadow is the source of all creativity and agility in life, business, and art. Michels asks his patients to relate to the Shadow as something real, which can be coaxed from the cobwebbed lair of the unconscious into the physical world. The process is spooky, a kind of daylight séance in which he plays the role of guide.

Michels tells the story of “Jennifer,” a model who lobbies to get her child into a fifteen- thousand-dollar-a-year kindergarten but is too ashamed of her self-described “trailer trash” origins to talk to the other mothers, whom she views as “a superior race of Range-Rover-driving goddesses.” The secret to her crippling sense of inferiority lies with her Shadow, which she must accept and integrate into her public self. “I asked her to close her eyes,”

Michels writes:

“Go back to the parents’ meeting where you froze up; re-create all those shaky feelings you had. Now, push the feelings out in front of you and give them a face and body. This figure is the embodiment of everything you feel insecure about.” I paused. “When you’re ready, tell me what you see.” There was a long silence. Jennifer flinched suddenly, then blinked her eyes open. “Ugh,” she said grimacing. “I saw this 13 or 14 years old girl, overweight, unwashed.

Her face was pasty and covered with zits . . . a complete loser.” Jennifer had just seen her shadow.

Adapted from Goodyear, D. (2011, March 14). Hollywood shadows. The New Yorker. Retrieved from https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2011/03/21/hollywood-shadows

a) Utilise the following table to compare the key similarities and differences between theories of Carl Jung and Julian Rotter. You may wish to include an exhaustive list of points aligned with how your course textbook sections the chapters on both theorists. (25 marks)

b) Apply the points of comparison you listed in Part a) to the case of “Jennifer” as you differentiate how these two theorists respectively account for her reaction as described in the extract. Reference at least three empirical findings in this part of your submission. (65 marks)

What we score:

73%

Our Writer’s Comment 

This assignment is designed to assess students’ understanding of business practices.

To secure an A+ grade, adhere to these guidelines and make sure your work aligns with the grading criteria:

Part (a): Comparing Carl Jung and Julian Rotter’s Theories (25 marks)

This part asks you to compare Jung’s and Rotter’s theories. The key is to provide clear, detailed points of comparisonand organize your response well using a table.

How to Approach It:

1. Use a Structured Table:
   • Make sure your table clearly compares key concepts such as:
     • Personality: Jung’s idea of the unconscious, archetypes, and the Shadow versus Rotter’s locus of control and expectancy theory.
     • The Role of Environment: Rotter emphasizes learning through environment and social context, while Jung focuses on internal processes.
     • Motivation and Behavior: Compare Jung’s view of self-actualization and individuation with Rotter’s focus on outcome expectancies.
2. Add More Details:
   • Expand on how Jung’s collective unconscious and archetypes shape an individual’s personality compared to Rotter’s cognitive learning approach.
   • Use examples to clarify differences in how both theorists see control over behavior: Jung is more concerned with reconciling internal conflicts, while Rotter focuses on external reinforcement and personal perception of control (internal vs external locus of control).

Tip: Include at least 5-7 comparison points in the table, with each point clearly explaining a similarity or difference between the two theories.

Part (b): Applying Theories to “Jennifer” (65 marks)

This is the core of the assignment, where you need to apply both Jung’s and Rotter’s theories to explain Jennifer’s behavior. The key here is depth—explaining why each theorist would interpret Jennifer’s reaction the way they do.

How to Approach It:

1. Jung’s Perspective:
   • The Shadow: Jennifer’s image of her “unwashed” younger self represents her Shadow, the hidden aspects of her personality she refuses to accept. Jung would say that her feelings of inferiority stem from repressed traits she hasn’t integrated into her conscious identity.
   • Integration of Self: Jung would argue that Jennifer needs to embrace her Shadow (the insecure part of herself) to achieve psychological growth and balance.
   • Use empirical studies or sources that show how Shadow integration affects self-esteem or mental health outcomes.
2. Rotter’s Perspective:
   • Locus of Control: Rotter would likely explain Jennifer’s behavior in terms of her external locus of control. She views the other mothers as “superior” because she attributes control over her success and self-worth to external factors (e.g., their wealth and status).
   • Outcome Expectancy: Jennifer’s expectations about social rejection from these mothers likely guide her behavior. Rotter would say that she expects negative reinforcement if she tries to socialize, which causes her avoidance.
   • Reference studies that link external locus of control with anxiety or social avoidance.
3. Include Empirical Findings:
   • You are required to reference at least three empirical studies. Look for studies related to:
     • Jung’s Shadow and its impact on self-perception or behavior.
     • Research on locus of control and how it influences behavior in social situations.
     • Studies on expectancy theory and avoidance behavior in social settings.

Tip: Make sure each theory is applied to different aspects of Jennifer’s case. Avoid overlap and show how both theories offer distinct perspectives on the same behavior.

General Tips for Improvement:

1. Clear Organization:
   • In Part (b), structure your answer so that each paragraph starts with either Jung’s or Rotter’s theory, followed by application to Jennifer’s case. This keeps your answer clear and easy to follow.
2. Depth of Analysis:
   • Go beyond surface-level analysis. For instance, when explaining Jung’s Shadow, dive deeper into how Jennifer’s Shadow represents her repressed insecurities and how this ties into Jung’s broader theory of individuation.
   • For Rotter, don’t just mention the external locus of control—discuss how this belief system preventsJennifer from overcoming her social anxiety.
3. Empirical Support:
   • Ensure that your empirical references are relevant to the specific aspects of Jung’s and Rotter’s theories. Mention the methodology of each study briefly to show why the findings are credible and applicable to Jennifer’s situation.
4. Refine Writing:
   • Watch out for any grammatical or structural issues. Make sure your ideas flow logically and you’re using formal academic language throughout.

By following these steps—adding more details to your comparison, deepening your analysis in the application, and ensuring clear organization—you should be able to boost your score significantly in future assignments!

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