Psychology 1

Name:

Institution:

Title:
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Topic 1:

Introduction

An good technique to investigate and examine personality traits is through fictional

characters. Sheldon Cooper from "The Big Bang Theory" is one of these characters. Sheldon is a

brilliant physicist who suffers with emotions and is socially awkward, making him an intriguing

character to study. I will use the Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, the Social Learning Theory, and

the Five Factor Model of Personality to assess Sheldon's personality in this article. (Cloninger,

2015).

Thesis Statement

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, the Social Learning Theory, and the Five Factor Model of

Personality may all be used to analyse Sheldon Cooper's personality. His distinctive personality

features, social behaviors, and motivations are explained by these theories.

The Five Factor Model of Personality

The Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism

components of the Five Factor Model of Personality each define a different facet of personality.

Sheldon has high levels of conscientiousness, low levels of extraversion and agreeableness, and

moderate levels of openness and neuroticism.

Low Extraversion: Sheldon exhibits low levels of extraversion, which is characterised by

assertiveness, sociable conduct, and happy feelings. He frequently finds it difficult to engage

with others, shies away from events and crowded settings, and instead prefers to hang out with
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a small group of pals. Due of Sheldon's poor social skills, he frequently makes people

uncomfortable and causes misunderstandings.

Low Agreeableness: Sheldon also scores poorly on the Agreableness scale, which measures

traits like cooperation, empathy, and dependability. He can be insensitive to other people's

sentiments and frequently lacks empathy for them. However, he can be obstinate and

unwavering in his beliefs, which frequently causes him to clash with other people..

High Conscientiousness: Sheldon has a high level of Conscientiousness, which is characterized

by organization, responsibility, and self-discipline. He is very organized, keeps a strict schedule,

and is highly responsible for his work. He also values punctuality and has high standards for

himself and others.

Moderate Openness and Neuroticism: Sheldon has average degrees of neuroticism and

openness. Imagination, creativity, and a love of new things are qualities that define openness.

Sheldon exhibits some inventiveness and ingenuity in his work, but he frequently struggles with

adapting to change and trying new things. Emotional instability, anxiety, and mood swings are

traits of neuroticism. Although Sheldon experiences anxiety and worry frequently, he normally

has control over his emotions.

Social Learning Theory

Social Learning Theory suggests that behavior is learned through observation, imitation,

and reinforcement. Sheldon's behavior can be explained through this theory as he often learns

by observing and imitating others.

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Observation: Sheldon observes the behavior of his friends and colleagues and often tries to

imitate them. For example, he tries to learn sarcasm from his friend Penny and tries to improve

his social skills by observing how others interact with each other.

Imitation: Sheldon often imitates the behavior of his friends and colleagues, but he does so in a

rigid and mechanical way. He struggles to understand the nuances of social behavior, and his

imitation often leads to misunderstandings and conflicts.

Reinforcement: Sheldon's behavior is often reinforced by the positive feedback he receives

from his friends and colleagues. For example, when he succeeds in his work, his colleagues

praise him, which reinforces his behavior and motivates him to continue working hard.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs suggests that human needs are arranged in a hierarchical order,

with basic physiological needs at the bottom and self-actualization at the top. Sheldon's

behavior can be explained through this theory as he often seeks to fulfill his needs at the lower

levels of the hierarchy.

Physiological Needs: Sheldon's physiological needs are the most basic needs that must be met

for survival, such as food, water, shelter, and sleep. Sheldon's behavior reflects his strong focus

on fulfilling these needs, such as his strict diet and daily routine, his obsession with cleanliness,

and his insistence on maintaining a particular temperature in his living space. He even created a

"emergency preparedness kit" in case of a disaster. (Pervin et al; 2019)

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Safety Needs: Safety needs are the next level of the hierarchy, which includes the need for

security, stability, and protection. Sheldon often seeks to fulfill these needs by creating routines

and patterns that provide a sense of security and predictability in his life. He also demonstrates

a strong desire for control, often trying to maintain control over his environment and the

people around him (McAdams & Pals, 2020).

Love and Belonging Needs: Love and belonging needs refer to the need for social connection,

affection, and a sense of belonging. Sheldon's behavior demonstrates his struggle to fulfill these

needs, as he often finds it difficult to connect with others and form meaningful relationships. He

tends to be socially awkward and lacks empathy, which can make it challenging for him to form

close relationships.

Esteem Needs: Esteem needs include the need for self-esteem, confidence, and respect from

others. Sheldon seeks to fulfill these needs by excelling in his work and achieving recognition

for his intelligence and accomplishments. He is very proud of his achievements and often seeks

validation from his colleagues and friends.

Self-Actualization: Self-actualization refers to the highest level of the hierarchy, which includes

the need for personal growth, creativity, and fulfilling one's potential. Sheldon's behavior

demonstrates that he is not yet at this level, as he struggles with emotional and social

intelligence, which may prevent him from fully realizing his potential.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Sheldon Cooper's personality can be explained through the use of the Five

Factor Model of Personality, Social Learning Theory, and Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. His
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behavior and unique personality traits can be understood through the lens of these three

course constructs, which provide insight into his motivations, behaviors, and emotional

struggles. Despite his challenges, Sheldon's intelligence, determination, and commitment to his

work make him a compelling and memorable character in popular culture.

Topic 2:

Introduction:

In the popular television series "The Office," two characters that stand out as having

contrasting personalities are Michael Scott and Jim Halpert. Michael is known for his high need

for power and control, while Jim is more laid-back and personable. These two characters can be

compared and contrasted using the Big Five personality traits and the social learning theory.

Thesis statement:

Through an analysis of the Big Five personality traits and the social learning theory, it is

evident that Michael and Jim have very different personalities.

Extraversion: Michael Scott can be described as highly extroverted, as he is often the center of

attention and loves to be in the spotlight. He is always the first to share his opinions and is very

vocal about his thoughts and ideas. On the other hand, Jim Halpert is more introverted and

tends to keep to himself. He is not as outgoing as Michael and often prefers to work alone. For

example, in one episode, Michael is leading a team-building exercise where everyone has to
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share their most embarrassing moment, but Jim is uncomfortable with the exercise and does

not want to participate.

Agreeableness: When it comes to agreeableness, Jim Halpert is known for being a very

agreeable person. He is friendly and easy to get along with, which is why he has a good

relationship with his coworkers. In contrast, Michael Scott is not very agreeable, as he often

insists on having his way and can be stubborn. For example, in one episode, Michael is set on

having a "World's Best Boss" mug, even though it is not an actual award. He refuses to believe

that it is not a real award and insists on keeping the mug on his desk.

Conscientiousness When it comes to conscientiousness, Jim Halpert is known for being very

organized and responsible. He always meets his deadlines and is known for his excellent work

ethic. On the other hand, Michael Scott is not as conscientious and can be disorganized at

times. He often procrastinates and has trouble staying on task. For example, in one episode,

Michael is supposed to be working on a big project, but instead, he spends the entire day

playing a game on his computer.

Social Learning Theory According to the social learning theory, personality is learned through

observation and imitation of others. Michael and Jim's personalities can be traced back to their

childhoods and the role models they had growing up. Michael had a difficult childhood and

often felt neglected by his mother, which may have contributed to his need for attention and

control. On the other hand, Jim had a supportive family and was able to develop his agreeable

and conscientious personality traits through positive reinforcement from his parents.

Conclusion:
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Through an analysis of the Big Five personality traits and the social learning theory, it is

evident that Michael and Jim have very different personalities. While Michael is highly

extroverted and not very agreeable or conscientious, Jim is more introverted and known for his

agreeable and conscientious nature. These personality traits can be traced back to their

childhoods and the role models they had growing up, which supports the social learning theory.

Overall, these two characters provide an interesting contrast in personalities and make for an

engaging television series.

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References:

Cloninger, S. C. (2015). Theories of personality: Understanding persons. Pearson.

Pervin, L. A., Cervone, D., & John, O. P. (2019). Personality: Theory and research. John Wiley &

Sons.

McAdams, D. P., & Pals, J. L. (2020). A new big five: Fundamental principles for an integrative

science of personality. American psychologist, 61(3), 204-217.