FINAL (END OF ESP COURSE) SELF-ASSESSMENT

To begin with, I can infer that the most difficult activity was formal tests in the class, because it is not easy to learn so much definitions at once, while class tests online was not so difficult. Actually, Moodle tests was also difficult task. If  hadn’t done the Moodle tests I would be not  prepared for my exam paper well.

The most interesting activity was speaking in which includes short talks, Impromptu and PPP. I was looking for information about a lot of psychological issues. So, it was very useful for my studies and also for my education in general. Especially I was interested in doing PPP, because I have found so much additional information about my theme   ''Prejudice and Discrimination’’.

Listening tasks were different. Online materials was more complicated than  Cassettes.  It was quite difficult, despite this fact I believe that I’m better now in this activity than before.

Actually, I have written just 3 summaries in this term and I hope so that it was enough to realize how to write it properly.

In conclusion, I realized if want to achieve something in my life I need to improve myself.

Giving Entire Cultures a Personality Test (Summary )

References- Robert S. Fieldman. Understanding Psichology 2009

                                                                         Urtė   Čepukonytė (PSbns0-01)       

          

                                      Giving Entire Cultures a Personality Test

                                                           Summary  

A large group of researchers were looking for the answer to the question Do stereotypes reflect  cross-cultural differences in the personalities? They use the Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R),  a personality test. The national character was measured by a short questionnaire on which respondents could indicate the characteristics of a typical member of their culture.

According to the researchers, national character is an indicator of how people within a    culture see themselves rather than of how they actually are. First of all, they sort out  if respondents are able to produce consistent summaries of their national character. Secondly,  researchers  find out , the profiles  of national character  are not  up to standard  for a particular person individually.

In conclusion, researchers explain  that national character is not a generalization about the actual personality characteristics. Person’s character depends on personality characteristics.

Phobias (Short talk)

References- Robert S. Fieldman. Understanding Psichology 2009,
http://psychology.about.com/od/phobias/a/phobialist.htm

I was looking some information about phobias. I found a lot of articles about that. In this short talk I will answer to 3 questions about phobias. So, first question would be

• Types of phobias
• What are the causes of phobias
• How to treat phobias

First of all, I want to define phobia. According to the American Psychiatric Association phobia is an irrational an excessive fear of object or situation.

 In one website I found that there are 5 common phobias

• Arachnophobia. It is a phobia when people are afraid of spiders. 10% of man and 50% of woman have this phobia.
• Social phobia. It is a fear of social situation, a fear of being evaluated negatively in social situations. This type of phobia typically begins  in childhood or adolescence.
• Aerophobia. It is a fear of flying.
• Agorophobia. When people afraid of any place or situation where escape might be difficult
• Claustrophobia. Fear of being trapped in small places. For example: elevator.

The causes of phobias are not yet fully understood. However, researchers found several possible factors.

·         Genetics. For example twins who are raised separately, may develop the same phobias

·         Cultural factors

·         Life experience (for example: phobia of dogs)

Stress test (short talk)

References- Robert S. Fieldman. Understanding Psichology 2009,
http://stress.about.com/od/selfknowledgeselftests/SelfKnowledge_SelfTests_Personality_Tests.htm

I have done stress test in the streestest website. That  Stress Test is a short self-evaluation that  help people  to compare their stress level to the others.

That stress test measures 4 scores. First  was overall score. That score  is a measure of overall emotional well-being.  From overall score I get 3.8.  on a range 1 to 5.It means that I am the person who needs just a short term proffesional concultations from the others.

Second  was Quality of life score . It measures how happy or satisfied I am with my life. Also, in this includes overall self-esteem, health,friends.

My score is 4 in  the same range as I mentioned. It means that I am funcotinning well and don‘t need Professional counseling.

Third score was Symptom Distress Score. That score measures symptoms of depression, anxienty and hostility(priešiškumas). My score is 3.33. It means that I belong to the group of people who are functioning well and don’t need professional counseling. Actually it is the same as in the second score.

The last one score was Level of functioning score. It measures how well I am able to get along (sektis) in the community. My score is 4.13. It means that I don’t need professional counseling.

To sum up almost all scores of stress shows that I don‘t need Professional counseling, I believe it. But actually I think that this test doesn‘t show real results, because I think that I am more stressed

Happiness (short talk)

References- Robert S. Fieldman. Understanding Psichology 2009,

http://davengrace.com/davehttp
www2.eur.nl/fsw/research/veenhoven//happiness.html,

I want to start by talking about happiness. What is happiness? I found so much definitions of happiness, but the most fitting on my awareness was that happiness is a journey not a destination. It means there is no better time than right now to be happy.

I chose to speak about happiness in three countries. Denmark ( which is the happiest country in world right now), Lithuania and Latvia.

I found that there are quality of life index. In quality of life includes a lot of things such as  economy, environment, freedom, and even climate. For example Denmark is not in the first position it is lower. So, I can infer that quality of life not reflects people happiness.  In comparison happiness in Latvia and Lithuania  according to statistics Latvia are in the higher position than we are.

It is unbelievable  that researchers find out that people get happier as they are older and they are not sure why. They just can guess maybe it is because of environmental changes, maybe it is because of brain chemistry or psychological changes. Also the researchers sort out that whose who are happier, whose feel less stress live longer than people who are stressed.

To sum up, in my opinion how happy you are it is not depends on country where do you live. Yes, it has  an effect, but not so strong as sometimes people think.

Biorhythms calculator (short talk)

References-  http://biorhythms.perbang.dk/
                 http://daily-biorhythms.com/

Biorhythms can't predict or explain events, they can only suggest how we may deal with them. Biorhythms are a map of a natural ebb and flow off our mood. I have done two tests of biorhythms calculators. Both tests measure primary and secondary rhythms.

From both tests I get almost the same results, but there were some differences.

I will compare the results. From the first test the biggest point was from the Aesthetic- 92%, while from another test  of Spiritual 94%. What is more, my intellectual level is increasing till 14 of April whereas Emotional is reducing till 14 of April. The same things happening with Physical graph. According to the graph Intellectual and Spiritual critical days coming soon.

To sum up, I can’t state that there is no link. It is up to me believe in them or not and I believe that there is a link, because sometimes I feel like I have to feel in critical days.

Personality (short talk)

References-

http://careerplanning.about.com/od/selfassessment/a/personalitytype.htm

http://psychology.about.com/od/personalitydevelopment/a/bigfive.htm

I have done two tests of personality. I sort out not the same results in both tests. In the first test I find out that my personality type is ESFP, in the second ENFP. These are two of sixteen personality types. It is an abbreviations of personality types that means: ESFP-extraverted, sensing, feeling, perceiving. ENFP - extravered, intuitive, feeling, perceiving.

In the first test I find out that people who have this type are fun-loving, they make things more fun for others by their enjoyment. Living for the moment, they love new experiences. They dislike theory and impersonal analysis.  They are interested in serving others. Likely to be the center of attention in social situations. Well-developed common sense and practical ability. ESFP people live here-and-now, they love people and new experiences , also they are interested in other people‘s well-being. They're usually quite generous and warm. . They are very observant about other people, and seem to sense what is wrong with someone before others might, responding warmly with a solution to a practical need. They might not be the best advice-givers in the world, because they dislike theory and future-planning, but they are great for giving practical care. ESFP is definitely a spontaneous, optimistic individual. ESFPs are likely to be very practical, although they hate structure and routine. They like to "go with the flow", They would love nothing more than for life to be a continual party, in which they play the role of the fun-loving host.

 I have 67% of  extraversion, 1% of sensing 75% of feeling and 11% of  perceiving.

In the second test I find out that my type of personality is ENFP. People who have this type are also warm (like ESFP), enthusiastic people, typically very bright and full of potential. They live in the world of possibilities, and can become very passionate and excited about things. Their enthusiasm lends them the ability to inspire and motivate others, more so than we see in other types. They can talk their way in or out of anything. They love life, seeing it as a special gift, and strive to make the most out of it. Unlike other Extraverted types, ENFPs need time alone to center themselves, and make sure they are moving in a direction which is in sync with their values. They almost always have a strong need to be liked. They also can be manipulative. They have a strong need to be independent, and resist being controlled or labelled. They need to maintain control over themselves, but they do not believe in controlling others. Their dislike of dependence and suppression extends to others as well as to themselves.   My result are : Extravertsion 61% while in the first test I get 67% of extraversion. Feeling  80%,  whereas  in the first it is less 75% . The biggest differ I get in perceiving.  In the first test get 11%, second 55%. So it is quite big difference. Furthermore,  second  test shows more  features.  Intuitive 77%, Introverted 39%, Sensing 23%, Thinking 20%, Judging 45%.

In conclusion, ESFP and ENFP types of personality are not so different. There are some differences, but also there much more similarities.