Psychology Presentation Tips J. McNichol 2007

Outline Expectations of Student Presenter Expectations of Presentation Grading Scheme Example of Past Presentation Last Minute Tips Questions

Expectations of Student Presenter Pick theorist & character for analysis. Character approved from TA via . Goal is to apply knowledge from class. Critically analyze chosen character’s personality based on theorist you choose. Basically answer: what would theorist say about the character?

Expectations of Presentation Presentations can be alone or in pairs. Each presenter should present for 10 – 15 minutes. Allow approx. 3-5 minutes for questions. Each presenter is graded on what they say If in group either: -Pick same theorist, 2 characters. -Pick same character, 2 theorists.

Grading Scheme APA 10% Organization 10% Style 15% Grammar 10% Evidence & Research 20% Conclusions 15% Overall Content 20% Bonus 2%

APA (10%) References APA Formatting APA Help?? - Google APA - Nipissing Library Website - TA

Organization (10%) Order of arguments Stayed on topic Overall clarity Overall organization

Style (15%) Introduction presents topic Strength of ideas Logically argues ideas Ideas clearly presented Effective use of language Clearly expressed ideas Coherent point of view Overall style

Grammar (10%) Overall language SpellingPunctuation

Evidence (20%) Has specific evidence Persuasiveness of thesis - theory Integrates sources in arguments Persuasively makes case Effectively uses evidence to support

Conclusions (15%) Interesting and original Persuasive Provocatively makes point Contextualizes arguments Successfully summaries ideas

Overall Content (20%) Content specific to course Presentation style Response to questions

Bonus (2%) Future research What next? What could be done today that would help to explain your character’s personality?

Parts to My Presentation Biography of character – brief & prevalent. Extremely Brief Overview of Freud’s Psychodynamic Theory – just to get audience in right state of mind. Analyze character with as much of theory as possible. Sum up analysis together with conclusion.

Analyzing Character First introduce aspect of theory – definition Then show how it relates to character. Eg. Freud’s Defense Mechanisms with Manson: - Freud believed that defense mechanisms protect the self from anxiety and is initiated by the ego. - Freud believed that defense mechanisms protect the self from anxiety and is initiated by the ego. - Repression: Forcing threatening feelings into the unconscious; Manson would have repressed his negative childhood experiences. - Repression: Forcing threatening feelings into the unconscious; Manson would have repressed his negative childhood experiences. - Sublimation: Substituting unacceptable behavior with something that is acceptable; Prior to murders Manson was writing music, but since that failed he turned to murder as an expression. - Sublimation: Substituting unacceptable behavior with something that is acceptable; Prior to murders Manson was writing music, but since that failed he turned to murder as an expression.

Last Minute Tips Don’t exceed 15 min, you will be cut off. Don’t use clips that do not have a purpose or that are 10 minutes long. Have clips ready to go. Don’t overuse pictures, can be distracting. Don’t have tons of words on slideshow, audience can’t read it then.

More Tips Do not have your presentation word for word on the slideshow. HAVE A CONCLUSION!!! You will be asked a question. questions or practice… I get paid, so I don’t mind.

Questions…. My

Charles Manson Jessica McNichol

Outline Charles Manson: Early Life Charles Manson: The Murders Charles Manson: Possible Motive Charles Manson: The Aftermath Charles Manson in the eyes of Freud Clip of an interview with Manson Discussion and Questions

Manson: The Early Life Born, Cincinnati, Ohio, November 12, 1934 to a 16-year-old unwed girl named Kathleen Maddox 4 Charles’ biological father is unknown : Mother and Uncle convicted of sexual assault and holding up a gas station 4 Mother was an alcoholic and prostitute 4 Mother tried to put him into a foster home at 13 4

The Early Life Continued He attended the Gibault school for Boys and ran away within a year 4 Mother rejected him and he began living on the streets, supporting himself by stealing : was arrested for stealing a car and sent to National Training School for Boys 4 Psychiatrist noted that he has anti-social tendencies 4 – That same year, he raped another boy

The Early Life Continued 1952: already had 8 assault charges against him : model inmate, resulting in his parole at the age of : at age of 21 Manson married 17-year-old Rosalie Jean Willis and she became pregnant shortly thereafter : Rosalie gave birth to Charles Manson Jr., who committed suicide in

The Early Life Continued 1958: granted parole but arrested 9 months later for passing stolen cheques 4 March 21, 1967: Manson finally released from prison against his wishes 4 – He was 33 and more than half his life was spent in institutions – “Oh, no, I can't go outside there...I know that I can't adjust to that world.” – Obsession with the lyrics of rock group The Beatles

The Murders Manson attracted a group of followers 4 – Mainly young troubled women who had troubled emotional lives who were rebelling against their parents and society in general – They formed the core of the Manson “family” execution team, whom Manson ordered to kill pregnant actress Sharon Tate, her wealthy house guests and the LaBianca’s – All part of Manson’s plot to start a global race war

The Murders Continued August 19, 1969: Manson orders members of the “family” to go to the home of Terry Melcher and kill whoever was on the premises 4 Sharon Tate,her unborn child, Steven Parent, Abigail Folger, and Jay Sebring were all killed by Manson’s “family” 4

The Murders Continued The following night, Leno LaBianca and his wife Rosemary were killed in their home by the Manson family 4 There was a strong link between the Tate- LaBianca murders: motive; the instigator; the two main assassins; and witnesses common to both cases 4

Possible Motive There were many possible motives but one in particular stands out 4 REJECTION: Manson had been rejected by the music industry and wanted revenge 4 – 1968, Manson met record producer Terry Melcher through Dennis Wilson from the Beach Boys – Melcher and his girlfriend were living at the Tate house at the time and Manson auditioned for Melcher but never got signed – It is said that the house represented rejection for Manson and that it didn’t matter to him who the victims were

The Aftermath Manson has just spent his 38 th year in prison 4 Although not present, convicted on seven counts of murder and one count of conspiracy to commit murder 4 Tenth and most recent parole hearing was March 24, – He was refused parole – His next hearing is scheduled for 2007!

Other Facts on Manson Manson was friends with several notable musicians before the murders, including Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys 4 He was also a marginally successful musician himself who recorded several albums and whose songs have since been covered by other artists. 4 Manson’s name and image is a symbol of evil in today’s American Pop Culture 4

Charles Manson in the eyes of Sigmund Freud

Outline Extremely Brief Overview of Freud’s Psychodynamic Theory Levels of Mental Life Provinces of the Mind Drives of Personality Defense Mechanisms Summary of Manson’s Freudian Personality

Overview of Freud’s Psychodynamic Theory Freud’s understanding of human personality was based on his experiences with patients, his analysis of his own dreams, and his vast readings in science. 1 Freud believed that most of our behaviour is determined by past events (childhood experiences) rather than molded by present goals. 1

Levels of Mental Life Freud divided mental life into 2 levels: 1 1.) Conscious: mental elements in awareness at any given time 2.) Unconscious: which has two levels - unconscious: contains all the drives, urges & instincts that are beyond awareness but motivate actions. - preconscious: contains elements that are not conscious but can become conscious

Manson’s Freudian Mental Life Freud would say that Manson is mostly motivated by unconscious awareness Unconscious awareness is made up of the repression of anxiety provoking childhood experiences. 1 Manson’s traumatic childhood experiences with his mother would have attributed to Manson’s adult aggression, murderous tendency and personality disorder

Examples of Anxiety From Childhood Unknown biological father and 16 year old mother Mother on many occasions would abuse Charles Mother & Uncle convicted of sexual assault & armed robbery Mother sold a young Charles for a pitcher of beer In & out of reform school Had an IQ of 109

Provinces of the Mind The Id: is the unconscious, chaotic, out of contact with reality, and in service of the pleasure principle 1 The Ego: is the executive of personality, in contact with the real world, and in service of the reality principle 1 The Superego: serves as the moral and idealistic principles 1

A Pleasure Seeking Person Manson’s is controlled by the ID which is constantly attempting to satisfy desires - drinking, sex, drugs, rock & roll lifestyle He is unable to keep his ego in check

Drives of Personality Freud would say that Manson is motivated or controlled by thanatos or aggression, also known as the destructive drive 1. This drive originates in the Id. 1 This drive is also rooted in self destructiveness & the desire to change your physical appearance 1 – Self mutilating – Tattoos

Defense Mechanisms Freud believed that defense mechanisms protect the self from anxiety and is initiated by the ego Repression: Forcing threatening feelings into the unconscious. 1 - Manson would have repressed his negative childhood experiences Sublimation: Substituting unacceptable behavior with something that is acceptable 1 - Prior to murders Manson was writing music, but since that failed he turned to murder as an expression

Defense Mechanisms Continued Introjection: people incorporate positive qualities of another person into themselves 1 - Manson took on the mannerisms of a famous musician to feel self worth Fixation: attachment onto an earlier stage of development 1 - Manson is fixated on the phallic stage; he is reckless, stubborn, proud, self assured, narcissistic, vain, he never received the love and affection needed in this stage and he is incapable of close love

Conclusions from Freud Charles Manson is a unique or distinct personality His personality was molded by repressed childhood experiences His Id takes over his personality to make him a Pleasure Seeking Person – constantly seeking satisfaction of desires He displays four main defense mechanisms to deal with his suppressed anxiety

Future Directions Freud’s theory only attributes child experiences. Look at Manson’s behavior as a conditioned or learned behavior. Look at the teenage years of his life, not just childhood.

Clip from Interview Displays Manson’s unremorseful and evil personality

What do YOU think? According to Freud then, what is a factor leading to Manson’s behavior?

References 1.) Feist, J & Feist G.J. (2006) Theories of Personality. New York: McGraw Hill. 2.) Bugliosi, Vincent. (1992) Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders. Norton: Arrow Books. 3.) Turner, Mark. (2006). Charles Manson. Retreived January 10, 2007, from 4.) (2007). Charles Manson. Retreived January 10, 2007, from Wikipedia Encyclopedia.