Your paper should address the five topics listed below and should be approximately 7 pages long (size 12 font, double-spaced, Times New Roman or Arial font). It should also include APA style references to the textbook and other course materials. While APA style doesn’t allow the writer to refer to her/himself in the first person (i.e., using “I” or “me” to refer to yourself), this paper will require the use of first person language.

The paper is due no later than the final day of the term and will account for 20% of your final grade.

Your paper should address each of these five topics:

1. Discuss any of your actions and/or thought processes since taking this course that demonstrate your understanding and tolerance of the behavior of other people, allowing greater acceptance of what is labeled different, deviant, abnormal, pathological,  or crazy.

1. Identify and discuss the forces acting on you to limit or prevent your freedom of choice, both those rooted in your past (such as guilt, traumatic memories, obligations, bad contracts, unrewarding experiences, punishment, low self-esteem, or shyness), those rooted in the present (including social pressures to conform, comply, obey, and do what others reward you for; personal pressure to be recognized, approved of, accepted, and loved), and those based in the future (such as unrealistic expectations, aspirations, concern for liabilities and responsibilities, desire for security, or fear of death).

1. Compare and contrast any differences between how you explained why people (including you) behaved as they did before you took this class and how you explain these behaviors now.

1. Discuss how you develop and express intelligent skepticism about accepting unwarranted claims—those made in the mass media as well as those made by credentialed authorities.

1. Summarize your experience this semester by identifying the psychology of and in everyday life that you were unaware of before taking this course.