Assignment 1: Discussion Assignment

The discussion assignment provides a forum for discussing relevant topics for this week based on the course competencies covered.

For this assignment, make sure you post your initial response to the Discussion Area by Saturday, May 28, 2016.

To support your work, use your course and text readings and also use outside sources. As in all assignments, cite your sources in your work and provide references for the citations in APA format.

Start reviewing and responding to the postings of your classmates as early in the week as possible. Respond to at least two of your classmates. Participate in the discussion by asking a question, providing a statement of clarification, providing a point of view with a rationale, challenging an aspect of the discussion, or indicating a relationship between two or more lines of reasoning in the discussion. Complete your participation for this assignment by Wednesday, June 1, 2016.

Person Variables vs. Situation Variables

Walter Mischel argued that most traditional personality theories focus on person variables (variables that are thought to exist in a person) and do not focus on situation variables (variables that are thought to exist in a situation).

Based on your reading about Walter Mischel, answer the following:

• Explain the proposition given by Walter Mischel on the focus of traditional personality theories on person variables instead of situation variables in your own words.

Skinner studied overt behavior and rejected studying internal processes as determinants of behavior.

Based on your reading about Skinner, answer the following:

• Discuss why Skinner studied overt behavior and rejected studying internal processes as determinants of behavior.