Assignment 3: Personality and Social Psychology

Running Head: PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
1
Assignment 3: Personality and Social Psychology
Name
Institution
Date

PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
2
Personality and Social Psychology
Part A: The Big 5 Personality Test
The differences between my results and those of the other person did surprise me a lot.
This is because they were far from similar which an aspect I did not expect is. I felt that I was
very accurate in the answers that I gave. However, there are some areas that I felt that I was not
totally confident on the answers that I gave altogether. Some of the factors that affected the level
of accuracy in these questions include privacy and time to answer constraint. Openness,
agreeableness and kindness are the factors that relate to my job.
Part B: Self-Actualization Viewed through Biography
Abraham Maslow’s theory is based on the hierarchical needs of the human beings and
consists of five steps inclusive of the Self-actualization, esteem, love and belonging, safety and
physiological. According to Venter, (2017), self-actualization is described by Abraham Maslow
as the desire for individuals to become actualized and have self-fulfillment with what they are.
On the other hand, Carl Rodgers, a psychologist, is associated with the concept of humanistic
psychology. According to Dominic, Saskia, Nicole, Russell, & Danielle, (2018), Carl Rodgers
claims that for a person to be in a state of self-actualization, they must be in congruence with
themselves. This means that an individual must become who they would like to be and practice
behaviors that mimic their ideal self. The two scholars present the concept of self-actualization
as process of growth that a person must undergo to fulfil their needs and goals in life. It is
palpable that each individual has their own self-goals and hence engage in behaviors and life
choices that are geared towards the direction of these ideas.
The theories presented are similar in that they focus on the need for self-acceptance in the
process of having inner fulfilment. However, the two approaches contrast soon after the

PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
3
definition of self-actualization. Rodgers examines the characteristics that can aid in attaining
self-actualization as well as developing proper therapies that can aid in overcoming barriers to
success. On the other hand, Maslow suggest that once an individual fulfils their basic needs, then
they can extend to concur with the process of self-actualization. According to Ladkin, Spiller, &
Craze, (2018), the psychodynamic theorists approach to individuation differs from the aspect of
self-actualization as it explores the idea of conscious and unconscious forces that determine the
personality of a person, whereas self-actualization explores ideas related to behaviors and life
choices guiding individuals towards achievement of their goals. Therefore, both theories, while
related to personality, explore ideas from different perspectives.
Part C: Obedience to Authority
Upon reading this week’s lecture and related articles, it is evident that social order is an
important concept in the society as it ensures individuals abide to laws and orders hence
enhancing peace and harmony among people in the society (Franke, 2019). The articles and
lectures cover this concept of social order in depth giving readers a better understanding on the
same. It is clear to me the difference between the illusions of social change versus objective and
substantial social change. Illusions of social change are the various wrong perceptions that
individuals hold regarding the aspect of social change (Franke, 2019). That is, they are the false
beliefs and impressions that individuals in the society have about social change. Objective and
substantial social change on the other hand is the actual change that takes place in the society.
The civil disobedience argument brought forth in the chapter dictates that there are
different ways in which people can bring about reasonable reforms in a society. This puts into
consideration that the political etiology of some nations is very difficult to change (Delmas,
2018). Therefore, before making changes to laws that are morally and socially unjust, it is