APA TOPSS Scholars Essay Competition

The APA Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools (TOPSS) is pleased to announce the topic for the 2008 APA TOPSS Scholars Competition. There will be three winners, each of whom will receive a $500 award. Submissions must be postmarked by March 3, 2008.

2008 Essay Topic

Popular movies often depict individuals with psychological disorders.  Many of these movies have earned awards and acclaim for their portrayal of people living with these disorders.  While some in the psychological community applaud efforts to depict those with psychological disorders in popular media, others are concerned that such portrayals do not accurately reflect the true struggles and triumphs of these individuals and their families.

What is your assessment of the portrayal of psychological disorders in motion pictures?
This essay competition requires you to conduct research on one psychological disorder to determine how accurately motion pictures depict the lives of persons living with this disorder. You will also have an opportunity to use social psychological concepts to explain how the general public perceives abnormal behavior.

Students are asked to address the following four sections in an essay that must be 3,000 words or less.  Papers must be written according to APA style.  Students will be judged according to the rubric below. 
                   
Part I – Salient Characteristics of Psychological Disorders

Choose one psychological disorder listed below and use the DSM-IV-TR to summarize the salient characteristics of this disorder. Conduct a literature review of at least three peer-reviewed journal articles that discuss this disorder and synthesize the findings of these articles.

Next, describe the salient features of the disorder that may be portrayed by the media. Additionally, list one common misconception of the disorder that may be held by the general public.

Disorders (choose one):

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Schizophrenia
• Bipolar Disorder

Part II - Motion Picture Analysis

Choose and watch one of the following movies below that depicts the psychological disorder you described in the previous section of your essay (Part I).  Using the DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria for the disorder and any relevant peer-reviewed journal articles, discuss whether the movie accurately portrays the symptoms of the disorder.  Cite at least two specific examples that support your argument for whether the movie portrays the disorder accurately.  This section should be no more than 500 words. 

Movies:

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

• As Good As It Gets (1997) – Rated PG-13

Schizophrenia

• A Beautiful Mind (2001) – Rated PG-13

Bipolar Disorder

• The Mosquito Coast (1986) – Rated PG

Part III – Application to Social Psychological Concepts

Define and then use two of the following social psychological concepts to explain how (mis)portrayal of abnormal behavior can have negative consequences for individuals and society at large:

• stereotyping and prejudice
• first impressions
• self-fulfilling prophecy
• attribution errors
• confirmation bias

Part IV – Conclusion

Briefly summarize your findings in 300 words or less.  Your conclusion should include, but is not limited to, an assessment of how abnormal behavior is portrayed in the popular media as well as in the film which you watched, and the overall social implications of labeling individuals living with psychological disorders.

Rules

Eligibility
Entrants must be high school students.
Entrants must have been enrolled or be presently enrolled in a high school psychology course.

The Paper
Papers must be typed or word-processed.
Papers must be no more than 3,000 words in length. Papers exceeding this length will be disqualified.
Papers must be in APA style.
Papers must be submitted in triplicate.
Papers must each be bound (staple, binder or paper clip).
Papers that are word-processed should include a copy of the entry on a computer disk.
The word-processing program must be identified.
Papers must include an abstract, not to exceed 120 words.
No identifying information should be included in the body of the essay (i.e., students should not list their name as a running head or mentioning school name in body of paper in any place EXCEPT the cover page). Papers not following this rule will be disqualified.
Students should be aware that essays will be screened for originality.

The Procedure
No more than TEN papers per school may be submitted.

All entries must include a cover sheet with the following information (all required):
-Student's name
-Student's year in school (e.g., junior, senior)
-Name, address, phone number, and e-mail address of current or past psychology teacher
-Student's school name, address, phone number, home address, and e-mail address

Psychology faculty at the college level will serve as judges.

Send the paper to:

TOPSS Scholar Competition
c/o Jewel Beamon, Education Directorate
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, N.E.
Washington, DC 20002-4242
Submission deadline is March 3, 2008.

Rubric (Out of 115 points)

Part I: Salient Characteristics of a Psychological Disorder (10 points per item).

A good answer will:

• include a clear summary of the salient characteristics of a disorder.
• include a description of the salient features of disorder portrayed by the media and an explicit misconception of disorder held by general public
• include a comprehensive review of the topic using a minimum of three print-based sources
• include a synthesis of research articles rather than a summary of individual articles
• include accurate use of APA style (i.e., language usage, headings, and citations)

Part II: Motion Picture Analysis (10 points item)

A good review will:

• include accurate use of DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria for the particular psychological disorder portrayed in the movie
• use at least two specific examples of how the criteria are/are not accurately portrayed in the movie
• include accurate use of APA style (i.e., language usage, headings, and citations)
• be no longer than 500 words

Part III:  Application to Social Psychological Concepts (5 points per item)

A good answer will:

• include clear and concise definitions of 2 of the 5 terms
• include an accurate discussion about how these concepts can explain how misunderstanding abnormal behavior can have negative consequences for individuals and society

Part IV: Conclusion (5 points per item)

A good conclusion will:

• include a clear assessment of how abnormal behavior is portrayed in popular media and in the movie that was watched
• include a clear assessment of social implications of labeling individuals
• be no longer than 300 words

Questions? Contact Jewel Beamon or phone (202) 336-6076.