Explain and evaluate the personality trait of Openness’. To what extent (if any) does measures of childhood intelligence predict levels of Openness’ in adulthood?Personality_a
Explain and evaluate the personality trait of ‘Openness’. To what extent (if any) does measures of childhood intelligence predict levels of ‘Openness’ in adulthood?
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Arden University © reserves all rights of copyright and all other intellectual property rights in the learning materials and this publication. No part of any of the learning materials or this publication may be reproduced, shared (including in private social media groups), stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or means, including without limitation electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written consent of Arden University. To find out more about the use and distribution of programme materials please see the Arden Student Terms and Conditions. Template V5
PSY5008
Personality and Intelligence
Critical Essay
Date for Submission: Please refer to the timetable on ilearn
(The submission portal on ilearn will close at 14:00 UK time on the date of submission)
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Assignment Brief
As part of the formal assessment for the programme you are required to submit a
Personality and Intelligence assignment. Please refer to your Student Handbook for
full details of the programme assessment scheme and general information on
preparing and submitting assignments.
Learning Outcomes:
After completing the module, you should be able to:
1. Demonstrate a critical understanding of key concepts within the domains of
personality and intelligence.
2. Demonstrate a critical appreciation of historical and contemporary
developments and limitations in the study, ethics and measurement of
personality and intelligence.
3. Apply and demonstrate skills relevant to selecting and adapting appropriately
sourced evidence to support an argument.
4. Graduate Attribute: Effective communication: Communicate effectively both
verbally and in writing using a range of media widely used in relevant
professional context. Be IT, digitally and information literature.
Through completing this assessment, you should have enhanced your professional development skills including: information seeking and knowledge engagement, conducting effective information searches, openness to new and alternative perspectives, independent learning, understanding key theoretical perspectives and debates, practically applying current knowledge and key concepts, awareness of ethical considerations and standards, awareness of the limitations of current theoretical perspectives in Psychology, critical analysis, synthesising research and managing your learning and performance, preparation and prioritisation, written communication, and time management. All learning outcomes must be met to pass the module
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Arden University © reserves all rights of copyright and all other intellectual property rights in the learning materials and this publication. No part of any of the learning materials or this publication may be reproduced, shared (including in private social media groups), stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or means, including without limitation electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written consent of Arden University. To find out more about the use and distribution of programme materials please see the Arden Student Terms and Conditions.
Guidance
Your assignment should include: a title page containing your student number, the
module name, the submission deadline and the exact word count of your submitted
document; the appendices if relevant; and a reference list (see referencing section
for more information).You should address all the elements of the assignment task
listed below. Please note that tutors will use the assessment criteria set out below in
assessing your work.
You must not include your name in your submission because Arden University
operates anonymous marking, which means that markers should not be aware of the
identity of the student. However, please do not forget to include your STU number.
Maximum word count: 4000 words
Please refer to the full word count policy which can be found in the Student Policies section here: Arden University | Regulatory Framework
Please note the following:
Students are required to indicate the exact word count on the title page of the assessment. The word count includes everything in the main body of the assessment (including in
text citations and references). The word count excludes numerical data in tables,
figures, diagrams, footnotes, reference list and appendices. ALL other printed
words ARE included in the word count.
Please note that exceeding the word count by over 10% will result in a 10-percentage
point deduction.
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Arden University © reserves all rights of copyright and all other intellectual property rights in the learning materials and this publication. No part of any of the learning materials or this publication may be reproduced, shared (including in private social media groups), stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or means, including without limitation electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written consent of Arden University. To find out more about the use and distribution of programme materials please see the Arden Student Terms and Conditions.
Assignment Task
Choose from one of the two questions below to write a critical essay.
(4000 words)
(100 marks)
(LOs: 1, 2, 3 & 4)
‘Explain and evaluate the personality trait of ‘Openness’. To what extent (if any)
does measures of childhood intelligence predict levels of ‘Openness’ in adulthood?
Or ‘To what extent are personality and intelligence heritable? Critically evaluate the evidence with reference to historical approaches and contemporary evidence from the last ten years’
Your critical account should evaluate historical and contemporary theories and research findings which are directly relevant to the constructs you are discussing, building a focused and balanced debate. Your evaluation should also address the strengths and limitations of the measures used in the included research and any pertinent ethical considerations.
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Report Guidance Before you begin writing, you should conduct a review of the relevant literature according to the question you have chosen to answer. Read through the research papers, pulling out key points to use in your evaluation. Remember that you should only draw on robust academic sources. Introduction (Approximately 500 words) The introduction should introduce and define the key concepts you are going to focus on. Highlight the key focus of the essay through identifying the main areas you are going to discuss. Remember to provide signposting emphasising the key argument of the essay. Main Body (Approximately 3000 words) Evaluate the relevant theories to the psychological phenomena under discussion, including historical and contemporary developments. Incorporate research findings and provide a balanced and critical discussion. Consider the strengths and limitations of the debates, the measures used in the discussed research and any relevant ethical considerations. Your points should all be supported by evidence from robust academic sources. Conclusion (Approximately 500 words) Do not introduce any new information here but draw together and summarise your key points and debates. Provide a strong take-home message for the reader by weighing up the evidence you have presented in the essay. Note: Headings are not to be used. Please do not use quotations but paraphrase into your own words. The essay should be written in double line spacing using a suitable font and font size (for example, Times New Roman, font size 12 or Arial, font size 11). Higher marks are awarded to students who display an ability to evaluate and provide a critical analysis of the literature. This module is marked using the Arden University Categorical Marking Criteria
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Arden University © reserves all rights of copyright and all other intellectual property rights in the learning materials and this publication. No part of any of the learning materials or this publication may be reproduced, shared (including in private social media groups), stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or means, including without limitation electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written consent of Arden University. To find out more about the use and distribution of programme materials please see the Arden Student Terms and Conditions.
Formative Feedback
You have the opportunity to submit a 1000-word plan to receive formative feedback. The outline of the plan should detail what will be included in the essay. You should also include 2-3 of your key references in the full citation of either AU Harvard or APA formatting at the end of your plan. The feedback is designed to help you develop areas of your work and it helps you develop your skills as an independent learner. If you are a distance learning student, you should submit your work via Turnitin. Please check your iLearn module pages/forum for the formative feedback deadline and submission link. If you are a blended learning student, your tutor will give you a deadline for formative feedback and further details. If you have a confirmed extension to your summative (final submission) deadline, please contact your lecturer for information on extensions to the formative feedback deadline. Formative feedback will not be given to work submitted after the published date or the date specified by your tutor (if a blended learning student).
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Arden University © reserves all rights of copyright and all other intellectual property rights in the learning materials and this publication. No part of any of the learning materials or this publication may be reproduced, shared (including in private social media groups), stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or means, including without limitation electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written consent of Arden University. To find out more about the use and distribution of programme materials please see the Arden Student Terms and Conditions.
Referencing Guidance
Guidelines for students studying BSc (Hons) Psychology and BSc (Hons)
Psychology with Counselling:
You MUST underpin your analysis and evaluation of the key issues with appropriate and wide ranging academic research and ensure this is referenced using the APA system(s). Follow this link to find the referencing guides for your subject: Arden Library Guidelines for students studying BA (Hons) Criminology and Psychology BA (Hons) Criminology and Psychology with Foundation Pathways BA (Hons) Criminology and Law BA (Hons) Criminology and Law with Foundation Pathways BA (Hons) Criminology and Sociology BA (Hons) HRM and Psychology BA (Hons) Psychology and Sociology BA (Hons) Psychology and Sociology with Foundation Pathways BA (Hons) Psychology and Human Resource Management BA (Hons) Psychology and Law BA (Hons) Social Science You MUST underpin your analysis and evaluation of the key issues with appropriate and wide ranging academic research and ensure this is referenced using the AU Harvard system(s). Follow this link to find the referencing guides for your subject: Arden Library
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Arden University © reserves all rights of copyright and all other intellectual property rights in the learning materials and this publication. No part of any of the learning materials or this publication may be reproduced, shared (including in private social media groups), stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or means, including without limitation electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written consent of Arden University. To find out more about the use and distribution of programme materials please see the Arden Student Terms and Conditions.
Submission Guidance
Assignments submitted late will not be accepted and will be marked as a 0% fail. Your assessment can be submitted as a single Word (MS Word) or PDF file, or, as multiple files. If you chose to submit multiple files, you must name each document as the question/part you are answering along with your student number ie Q1 Section A STUXXXX. If you wish to overwrite your submission or one of your submissions, you must ensure that your new submission is named exactly the same as the previous in order for the system to overwrite it. You must ensure that the submitted assignment is all your own work and that all sources used are correctly attributed. Penalties apply to assignments which show evidence of academic unfair practice. (See the Student Handbook which is available on the A-Z key information on iLearn.)
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Arden University © reserves all rights of copyright and all other intellectual property rights in the learning materials and this publication. No part of any of the learning materials or this publication may be reproduced, shared (including in private social media groups), stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or means, including without limitation electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written consent of Arden University. To find out more about the use and distribution of programme materials please see the Arden Student Terms and Conditions.
Assessment Criteria (Learning objectives covered – all)
Level 5 reflects the continuing development in knowledge, understanding and skills from Level 4. At Level 5, students are not expected to be fully autonomous but are able to take responsibility for their own learning with appropriate guidance and direction. Students are expected to further develop their theoretical knowledge within a more intellectual context and to demonstrate this through more complex forms of expression which move beyond the descriptive or imitative domain. Students are expected to demonstrate skills of analysis in both problem-solving and resolution.
Grade Mark Bands Generic Assessment Criteria.
First (1)
80%+.
An outstanding information base exploring and analysing the discipline, its theory and any associated ethical considerations. There is sophisticated use and management of learning resources and a high degree of autonomy is demonstrated. Writing is outstandingly well structured and accurately referenced throughout. Where appropriate, outstanding professional skills are demonstrated. The work is original and with some additional effort could considered for internal publication.
70-79%
An excellent knowledge base within which the discipline is explored and analysed. There is a degree of originality in the approach. The work demonstrates confidence and autonomy and extends to consider ethical issues. Learning resources have been managed confidently. Writing is exceptionally well structured and accurately referenced throughout. Where appropriate, an excellent level of professional skills are demonstrated and the work demonstrates a high level of intellectual and academic skills.
Upper second (2:1)
60-69%
A very good knowledge base which explores and analyses the discipline, its theory and any associated ethical issues. There is evidence of some originality and independence of thought. A very good range of learning resources underpin the work and there is evidence of growing confidence and self-direction. The work demonstrates the ability to analyse the subject and apply theory with good academic and intellectual skills. Academic writing skills are very good, expression is accurate overall and the work is consistently referenced throughout.
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Arden University © reserves all rights of copyright and all other intellectual property rights in the learning materials and this publication. No part of any of the learning materials or this publication may be reproduced, shared (including in private social media groups), stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or means, including without limitation electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written consent of Arden University. To find out more about the use and distribution of programme materials please see the Arden Student Terms and Conditions.
Lower second (2:2)
50-59%
A good understanding of the discipline which begins to analyse the subject and apply some underpinning theory. There may be reference to some of the ethical considerations. The work shows a sound level of competence in managing basic sources and materials. Academic writing skills are good and accurate overall and the work is planned and structured with some though. Professional skills are good (where appropriate). The work lacks original thought but academic and intellectual skills are moving into the critical domain. The work is referenced throughout.
Third 40-49%
Satisfactory level of performance in which there are some omissions in understanding the subject, its underpinning theory and ethical considerations. There is little evidence of independent thought and the work shows a basic use of sources and materials. Academic and intellectual skills are limited. The work may lack structure overall. There are some difficulties in developing professional skills (where appropriate). There is an attempt to reference the work.
Marginal fail
30-39%
A limited piece of work in which there are clear gaps in understanding the subject, its underpinning theory and ethical considerations. The work shows a limited use of sources and materials. Academic and intellectual skills are weak and there are errors in expression and the work may lack structure overall. There are difficulties in developing professional skills (where appropriate). The work lacks original thought and is largely imitative.
Clear fail
29% and below
A poor performance in which there are substantial gaps in knowledge and understanding, underpinning theory and ethical considerations. The work shows little evidence in the use of appropriate sources and materials. Academic writing skills are very weak and there are numerous errors in expression. The work lacks structure overall. Professional skills (where appropriate) are not developed The work is imitative.
,
A critical evaluation of genetic contributions to psychopathy
Psychopathy can be conceptualised as a complex and multi-layered mental disorder and as such, cannot be defined as a unitary construct but one with distinct variations of trait characteristics (Lilienfeld et al., 2006; Neumann et al., 2007). The embodiment of psychopathic traits and behaviours, incorporating a lack of empathy and remorse, impulsive and antisocial behaviours, manifest as a socially malevolent and manipulative personality construct in both males and females, resulting in the inability to forge close emotional connections with others (Hare & Neumann, 2008).
Yet, subtle differences in the expression of psychopathy are seen in females, where they may be less physically aggressive than their male counterparts and instead utilise relational aggressive tactics as well as their sexuality within interpersonal relationships (Kreis & Cooke, 2011). As such, this discussion will focus on the sex differences in psychopathy, drawing on research from genetic, molecular genetics, biological and environmental contributions, to conclude that genetics contribute to a greater extent in males than females based on the available evidence. However, an implication from this is that research methods to assess female psychopathy needs refinement to mediate further research investigating psychopathy in females.
Looking at psychopathy through the lens of neuroscientific research, suggestions have intimated that the aetiology of psychopathy is determined by genetic influences and an interaction with the environment, thus transcending the nature-nurture dualism (Mariz et al., 2022). Within this field, a focus on child and adolescent twin studies, (McGue & Iacono, 2005; Viding & McCrory, 2012), seeks to establish the variability between heritability, shared and non-shared environments, explaining 100% of all phenotypic variance (Viding, Blair et al., 2005). Twin studies compare monozygotic (MZ) twins, who share 100% of their genes with dizygotic twins (DZ), who share 50% of their genes (MacGregor et al., 2000). If the similarity between MZ twins is greater than DZ twins. this difference may establish evidence for a genetic predisposition to psychopathy. However, isolating specific genes to determine the genetic contribution and unravelling genetic factors from environmental influences in psychopathy is complex (Moffitt et al., 2005).
Yet, twin studies have offered more promise in unravelling the genetic influence from the environment, than the measurement of psychopathic traits in male prison populations as conducted by Hare et al. (1990), and which has influenced psychopathy research within the social psychology domain (Jones & Paulhus, 2014), which may not be generalisable to the wider population and subject to sample bias (León-Mayer et al., 2015), Twin studies explore psychopathic traits, specifically the callous-unemotional (CU) trait, a main component of psychopathy, which if identified early in younger aged samples with antisocial tendencies, the aetiology of psychopathy may be determined before its manifestation in adulthood (Frick & White, 2008). Yet, without a definitive focus on sex differences but rather male or mixed sex samples, these differences are unclear (Blonigen et al., 2005; Viding et al, 2005). This may be mediated by violent criminality and its association with psychopathy being more prevalent in males (García et al., 2012).
Twin studies which have investigated sex differences found that heritability of CU traits was considerably lower for girls (Bezdijian et al., 2011), and this was also found in a community sample (Essau et al., 2006). However, the variance of measures used in twin study research renders inconsistent results and thus, discrepancies arise. Variance of heritability has differed considerably across studies, with CU traits ranging from 40% to 70%, with the remaining variance being mainly non-shared environments (Taylor et al., 2003; Viding & McCrory, 2012). Yet, a further consideration in these findings is the lack of consistency in the theoretical underpinnings across psychopathy measures, the divergence of semantic content in the indicators, observed traits and behaviours and incomparable sample sizes (Blonigen et al, 2005; Larsson et al., 2006). As suggestions indicate that females manifest psychopathy differently to males, such that their tactics are more covert comparably to the overt aggression of males (Crick & Grotpeter,1996), measures used in twin studies may fail to consider the sex specific manifestation of psychopathic traits.
However, sex specific heritability has been explored in twin adoption studies, which separate the genetic influence on the phenotype from the shared and non-shared environments (Plomin & Daniels, 1987). The biological parents are genetically assessed and the environmental effect evaluated through the adoptive parents. The child, adopted away from its biological parents, would only have phenotypic similarities with them due to shared genetics. Assessing the criminality of both biological parents, Beaver et al. (2011), found a significant correlation between the psychopathic traits of biological fathers with their adopted male children. Indeed, for the adopted males, the criminality of their biological father substantially increased the severity of their psychopathic traits. Interestingly, the biological mothers’ criminality was not genetically significant for their adopted male or female children. We could consider that the scales used in the study were sex generic, such that the differing manifestations was not considered and thus, unable to substantiate the phenotypic nuances of female psychopaths.
Consequently, heritability research methods are subject to limitations. A prominent assessment tool, the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R; Hare, Harpur et al., 1990), which employs semi-structured interviews and was developed to measures the traits and behaviours of incarcerated males, may not be relevant for twin studies. Further, the factor structure used in the PCL-R to determine male psychopaths may not be pertinent to females in institutionalised or nonclinical populations (Salekin et al., 1997). As such, self and rater report questionnaires have become more widely used.
However, these also do not account for sex differences, predominantly focusing on the trait manifestation in males and disregarding the subtle differences in females (Cooke et al., 2004). Additionally, assessment of traits and behaviours in others is subjective, whereby conflicting results may arise. Parents who rate their children’s emotional and behavioural problems through the Child Behaviour Checklist (Achenbach, 1991) or the Child Psychopathy Scale (Lynam,1997), may be distorted, if the parents are involved in different aspects of the children’s lives and thus observe different behaviours (Bartels et al., 2003). Behaviour assessed by teacher rating through the Twins Early Development Study (Viding et al, 2005). may be thought more objective, however it is still a subjective interpretation, prone to rater bias. Consequently, the observed phenotype is being assessed without a molecular genetic or epigenetic evaluation of the phenotypes, and thus a partial insight through observation may determine partial results.
Thus, to further an understanding of the genetic contribution to psychopathy, research in molecular genetics may build on the assumption that psychopathy is subject to a sexual dimorphism (Niehoff, 2014). As discussed, the disorder is multifaceted and one gene alone cannot be responsible but an interplay between genes, biology and the environment. Genes under consideration are the monoamine oxidase A, (MAOA) gene which encodes monoamine oxidise A, an enzyme that comprises dopamine, noradrenalin and serotonin neurotransmitters (Buckholtz & Meyer-Lindenberg, 2008), and SLC6A4, which encodes the serotonin transporter gene (5-H
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