Nature of people

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This is a theoretical essay on the basic nature of what constitutes the unit of analysis we study and work with in applied psychology. What do you believe to be the nature of people? Initially consider the nature of people in relation to culture and history. What effects how people behave, what is the nature of socially responsible and socially irresponsible behaviour? What constrains behaviour? What creates innovation and originality? Are we unique, or is our behaviour determined by social forces? These questions are thought starters and not a series of questions you address. Help Please.

-- Lisa Agnello (lisaf@net1.com.au), April 21, 2002

Answers

Hi Lisa, with that list of questions I take it you have unlimited time and funding to write your essay, but the good part is you do have your life mapped out. If at some point it seems necessary to you to pull back to a more focused position, I suggest you might approach things from a Darwin/addaptation perspective. You will find that this approach has some history to it, and it will provide you with plenty of literature so you can see what some others have thought. If you would rather follow a social construction approach have a look at Kurt Danziger's book Naming the Mind. Good luck, David

-- david clark (doclark@yorku.ca), April 21, 2002.

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