Final Cumulative Project: 
Movie Evaluation Assignment

In addition to entertaining us, movies offer detailed portrayals of human behavior.  Your task is to analyze, from a psychological perspective, the behaviors (emotions, moods, thoughts, etc.) and events depicted in the movie you choose.  You are not being asked to critique the film in terms of its value as a work of art or as entertainment.  Rather, you should think carefully about the human actions and events portrayed in the film.  Then, to make sense of this material, apply what you've learned this semester.  This assignment is comprehensive: You should bring any/all concepts encountered in this course that relate to the issues, interactions, and behaviors portrayed.

Choose ANY movie you want.

•       many can be checked out for free at the library
•       it does not have to be a "psychological" movie
•       just pick a movie you like
•       it must be rated G, PG, PG-13, or R

The title page must include the following information:

•       Your name
•       Name of movie
•       Rating (i.e. G, PG, PG-13, R)
•       2-3 main actors/actresses
•   A brief one-paragraph summary of the movie plot and main themes (this is to help me in case I have not seen your movie). Briefly discuss why you chose the movie you did. This part will be graded, but it is mainly to help me understand the summary that will follow.

You will then write an EVALUATION (this is the meat of the assignment and the part that will be graded) of the movie and the behavior of the characters according to the following guidelines:

1.       Use 4 theories/concepts from different topics in the course (representing at least 2 different chapters) and discuss HOW each theory/concept you have chosen can be used to describe various scenes, events, people, thoughts, emotions and/or behaviors in the movie.  A thorough description of how each theory/concept relates directly to the movie will most likely be about 2 paragraphs in length.  Be sure to underline each theory/concept and chapter that it came from in the description.

2.       Using Chapter 2, incorporate one concept or theory related to the brain or neurons into the movie evaluation. Be sure to underline the theory/concept and chapter that it came from in the description.

3.       Describe one main character in the movie according to ONE of the theories of personality listed in Chapter 12 OR describe one main character in the movie according to ONE of the theories of development in Chapter 4.  Again, a thorough description of how this person associates with this theory will be about 2 paragraphs.  Be sure to identify and underline the theory you are discussing.

4.       As a conclusion to your evaluation, write a one to two paragraph summary in which you relate all of the theories/concepts you have covered and how they connect with one another to create the movie you have viewed.  There is an inter-relationship between many of the psychological concepts we have discussed this semester and this portion of the assignment should demonstrate your ability to assess those relationships and demonstrate a cohesive thought process.

DUE May 3^rd at 10:00 am, the start of class,
if you arrive after that time, the paper will be considered late and the grade reduced by 1/3 for each 24 hours the paper is late.