Psychology Question

Reflective Essay Pt 1: Identity, Positionality, and Psychological Science

Weight: 2.5% | Due: Week 1 May 8 | Format: You choose

Purpose

In this assignment, students will explore their personal identities and lived experiences

in relation to psychology, critically examining how their positionality may influence their

understanding of human behavior, research, and psychological practice. Students will

consider how intersections of gender, race, (dis)ability, sexual orientation, language,

citizenship status, socioeconomic status, education, and other identities shape both

their worldview and their approach to psychological knowledge.

The purpose of this assignment is to practice self-reflection and thinking while making

connections between personal positionality and perspectives on psychological

science. This foundational exercise will prepare students to critically engage with

issues of representation, bias, and diversity throughout the course.

THERE IS NO WRONG WAY TO COMPLETE THIS ASSIGNMENT!

Task

Your task is to compose an essay that responds to the essential questions below. To

complete this assignment, focus on yourself and your own experiences. You can use

any format to structure your responses, including but not limited to:

Written essay

Letter to yourself, a future psychologist, or a peer

Spoken essay (with transcript)

Poetry or creative writing

Mixed media: combining text with artwork, photography, etc.

Any form of artwork!

You don’t need to cite outside sources unless you’ve identified a quote or concept that

is particularly meaningful to you. There is no “right” answer to these questions!

Essential Questions:

How do you define psychological well-being, mental health, or “normal” human

behavior? What personal experiences or cultural backgrounds influence these

definitions?

What identities or lived experiences have shaped your understanding of human

behavior and psychological processes? Consider both visible and invisible

aspects of your identity.

How might your positionality influence what psychological research questions

you find important or interesting? What populations or phenomena do you think

deserve more attention in psychological science?

Reflecting on your educational journey, what voices, perspectives, or ways of

knowing have been emphasized or marginalized in your learning about

psychology? How has this shaped your understanding of the field?

What is your relationship to psychological research and practice? Do you see

yourself as someone who could be a researcher, practitioner, or advocate? What

experiences inform this perspective?

How do you think psychology as a field could better serve diverse communities?

What changes do you think are needed?

Note: Essays should not be a list of responses to the questions above. Instead, write

an organized essay that uses these questions as guides to explore your relationship to

psychological science and diversity.

Criteria:

We will evaluate this essay based on the authenticity of your voice and demonstrated

effort to make connections between your personal experiences, identities, and your

understanding of psychological science and diversity issues.

This is a low-to-medium stakes assignment designed to help you prepare for

foundational discussions about diversity, representation, and critical perspectives in

psychological science.

Reflective Essay Pt 2

Weight: 2.5% | Due: Week 6 June 10| Format: You choose

At the end of the semester, students will return to this essay and complete a

follow-up reflection that examines how their perspectives have evolved throughout the

course.

Task for Final Reflection:

1. Evaluate your original essay and reflect on your initial responses

2. Add a new section that addresses:

How has your understanding of psychological science and diversity

changed since the beginning of the semester?

What course readings, discussions, or community-based project

experiences most influenced your thinking?

How do you now answer the original essential questions? What has

shifted?

What new questions about psychology, diversity, and representation have

emerged for you?

How might these insights influence your future academic, professional, or

personal decisions?

Format Options:

Add a new section to your original document

Write a dialogue between your “beginning-of-semester” and “end-of-semester”

selves

Create a comparative analysis highlighting changes in your thinking

Use any creative format that effectively demonstrates your growth and learning

Submission: Your final document should include both your original essay (unchanged)

and your new reflection This comparative reflection will serve as a capstone to your

learning journey and help you synthesize the critical perspectives you’ve developed

throughout the course.

WRITE MY PAPER