Tag: Model Answer

Assignment Prompt & Instructions

Remember to respond to two peers while being respectful of and sensitive to their viewpoints. Consider advancing the discussion in the following ways:
Post an article, video, or additional research to reinforce a peer's idea or challenge them to see their point from a different perspective.
Engage in conversation with your peers around the analysis of their fictional character. Consider asking a question or sharing your own personal experience.
Reply with another interpretation of your peer's character or another application of theory that describes their behavior.
JESSICA POST
I went through many options in my head for fictional characters but had to go with Harry Potter. Harry was a child when both of his parents were murdered, and he happened to survive. Harry Potter is raised by his maternal aunt and her husband who are extremely neglectful and abusive to him throughout life. He is invited to join the Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry and ends up escaping his abusive home. This back story creates an interesting setting to analyze the character. Harry presents as the hero archetype. Throughout his adult life he strives to continue fighting evil for the good of all. He constantly puts himself in dangers way to save others and is always showing courage and strength. He also struggles with failure in any way and takes blame in any negative outcomes on himself. Harry also displays consistent defense mechanisms to escape negative emotions. He represses many of his childhood memories which slowly come out through the story. He also rationalizes the danger he puts himself in and downplays it to justify it without having to experience as much fear and anxiety. Lastly, he is in denial for the majority of his story in how he is tied to Voldemort and refuses to admit it until the very end. Harry always has emotional intelligence when it comes to other people. Anyone who goes through trauma or has experienced trauma he can recognize and has a great way of empathizing with them. He slowly develops emotional intelligence within himself and allows himself to remove denial and repression to find out who he really is and what happened to him as a child.
NATHAN POST
For this post, I’ve chosen Walter White from the television series Breaking Bad. Walter begins as a mild-mannered high school chemistry teacher who, after being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, turns to manufacturing methamphetamine to secure his family’s financial future. Throughout the series, he transforms into a ruthless drug kingpin known as “Heisenberg.” His character arc is one of the most compelling and psychologically rich in modern television.
Walter White’s personality can be examined through the lens of psychoanalytic theory, particularly Freud’s concepts of the unconscious and defense mechanisms. According to Shiraev (2024), the unconscious mind contains repressed desires and unresolved conflicts that influence behavior in ways we may not be fully aware of. Walter’s transformation suggests a surfacing of long-repressed drives—his need for control, recognition, and power. These were likely suppressed during his years of professional disappointment and domestic passivity. His unconscious resentment toward his unfulfilled potential and perceived emasculation emerges as he adopts the Heisenberg persona (Aarons, 2016). We also see clear examples of defense mechanisms, especially rationalization and projection. Walter frequently justifies his criminal actions as being “for his family,” even when his behavior serves his ego and ambition. Our textbook says, "that rationalization allows individuals to reinterpret unacceptable behavior in a socially acceptable way" (p.112).  Walter also projects blame onto others, including his wife, business partners, and even his enemies, rather than acknowledging his moral decline.
Finally, Walter’s emotional intelligence is notably low throughout much of the series. He lacks empathy, struggles with self-awareness, and often manipulates others without regard for their emotional well-being. His inability to recognize the emotional consequences of his actions contributes to the breakdown of his relationships and ultimately his downfall.
PEER POST RESPOND
In response to your peers, highlight in detail and discuss which aspects of healthcare are best regulated by the states and which by the federal government. Define the strengths and weaknesses of placing regulatory authority at each level of government. Finally, illustrate the arguments for and against private regulation of healthcare and health insurance.
LISA CAIN POST
The United States government has a significant impact on the healthcare industry through financing, regulation, and service delivery via programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act (ACA). It sets the standards for healthcare quality, safety, and accessibility and is the largest payer for healthcare services. Government regulations have a significant impact on healthcare businesses through the establishment of compliance requirements, the requirement for quality reporting, and the influence of reimbursement models. For example, the value-based care initiatives of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) encourage providers to focus on outcomes and cost-effectiveness rather than the volume of services they provide (Tang et al., 2004).
Health insurance is a significant factor affecting access to medical care. People who have insurance are more likely to get preventative care, manage chronic illnesses effectively, and refrain from overusing the emergency room. Increasing ACA subsidies, offering public insurance options, and expanding Medicaid in every state are some possible ways to reduce the number of Americans without health insurance. Healthcare delivery systems should concentrate on preventative care, use technology to be more efficient, and use care coordination models like patient-centered medical homes all at the same time to make sure high quality and lower costs. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation (Tolbert et al., 2024), such integrated approaches can improve outcomes and lower overall costs, leading to a more equitable and sustainable healthcare system.
RAMONA POST
The United States government has a significant impact on the healthcare industry through financing, regulation, and service delivery via programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act (ACA). It sets the standards for healthcare quality, safety, and accessibility and is the largest payer for healthcare services. Government regulations have a significant impact on healthcare businesses through the establishment of compliance requirements, the requirement for quality reporting, and the influence of reimbursement models. For example, the value-based care initiatives of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) encourage providers to focus on outcomes and cost-effectiveness rather than the volume of services they provide (Tang et al., 2004).
Health insurance is a significant factor affecting access to medical care. People who have insurance are more likely to get preventative care, manage chronic illnesses effectively, and refrain from overusing the emergency room. Increasing ACA subsidies, offering public insurance options, and expanding Medicaid in every state are some possible ways to reduce the number of Americans without health insurance. Healthcare delivery systems should concentrate on preventative care, use technology to be more efficient, and use care coordination models like patient-centered medical homes all at the same time to make sure high quality and lower costs. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation (Tolbert et al., 2024), such integrated approaches can improve outcomes and lower overall costs, leading to a more equitable and sustainable healthcare system.