In this assignment, begin by taking a retrospective look at your life  history, to discuss which aspects of your personality have remained  consistent and which aspects of your personality have changed over  time. Then, analyze the roles of nature and nurture in shaping your  personality. Subsequently, discuss possible sources of inaccuracy and  bias in any retrospective analysis. Finally, discuss the reasons why  systematic scientific studies are considered more valuable than  individual accounts. 

Write a three to four (3-4) page paper in which you:

Section 1 (1-2 paragraphs):

• Choose one of the following areas of your brain and explain what it does:      
  • Thalamus
  • Reticular formation
  • Brain stem (pons and medulla)
  • Cerebellum
  • Limbic system
  • One of the four lobes of the cerebral cortex
• Explain how the area you described contributes to a specific  activity from your everyday life.  (Example: During horseback riding,  the cerebellum integrates information from the motor systems and balance  system.)

Section 2 (1-2 paragraphs):

All of us have been shaped by both nature (biology) and nurture  (environment), making us the persons we are today.  In most cases, it is  difficult to completely disentangle the separate effects of nature vs.  nurture with much certainty.  However, we can make some educated guesses  based on our knowledge of familial tendencies that we may have  inherited, as well as knowledge of our environment and experiences.  In  this section, we ask for you to make some educated guesses about the  roles of nature and nurture in your life.

• Describe the role of nature (biology) in shaping what kind of  person you are today. Provide a specific example of the role of nature.
• Describe the role of nurture (environment) in shaping what kind of  person you are today.  Provide a specific example of the role of  nurture.

Section 3 (1-2 paragraphs):

• Describe the influences of culture, your environment, and biology on your gender role behavior. 
• Use specific examples from your own life to explain your answers.

Section 4 (1-2 paragraphs):

• Discuss the fallibility of memory in terms of bias and inaccuracy when you reflect on your past. 
• Identify specific memory biases that could affect how you remember your past.  Include factors related to cognition. 
• Use specific examples from your own life.

Section 5 (1 paragraph):

• Describe why the science of psychology places more emphasis on  results based on scientific studies than it does on personal experiences  and anecdotes.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

• Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12),  with one-inch margins on all sides; references must follow APA or  school-specific format.  Check with your professor for any additional  instructions.
• To keep this essay short and manageable, your only sources for  your paper should be your own experience and the Webtext. For this  reason, APA citations and references are not required for this  assignment.
• Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the  student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date.   The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required  page length.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

• Relate psychological concepts to real-world situations.
• Describe the major theories of personality development, learning,  memory, cognition, consciousness, development and social psychology.
• Use technology and information resources to research issues in psychology.
• Write clearly and concisely about psychology using proper writing mechanics.