essay on human experience

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

How to Write Duke’s Optional Human Experience Essay

This article was written based on the information and opinions presented by Robert Crystal in a CollegeVine livestream. You can watch the full livestream for more info. 

What’s Covered:

What does diversity mean, why is duke asking this, relate your response to duke.

Duke has optional essays for this year’s application. Students can choose to respond to, at most, two of the four prompts. One option asks:

“We seek a diverse student body that embodies the wide range of human experience. In that context, we are interested in what you’d like to share about your lived experiences and how they’ve influenced how you think of yourself.” (250 words)

In this article, we break down what exactly this prompt is asking and how to approach it. If you are interested in learning more about Duke’s other supplemental prompts, you can read our article on how to write the Duke University essays . 

In this option, Duke is asking for you to share a unique perspective or experience you’ve had that would help Duke understand you better. You could talk about a community that you are part of, your family, or your cultural background. Don’t be intimidated by the word “diversity.” This word holds a great deal of power, and it can be intimidating because it covers such a huge spectrum of identities and experiences. 

Diversity could be related to your demographics, such as your socioeconomic status, health, culture, or ethnicity, which are often the areas that come to mind when you think about diversity. However, your own diversity can come from other areas of your life. It could be related to your interests, hobbies, values, and opinions. You can draw on anything that makes you different from others or something that makes you similar to a particular group of people. 

All these different elements of your demographic information are elements that are probably already indicated somewhere in your college applications. This essay is a great way for you to draw on an experience that has made you the person you are today but is not quite visible on your application.

This prompt enables students to discuss the diverse perspectives and experiences that they would bring to Duke. The university wants to accept students from unique backgrounds because it believes that this makes its community strong. You have 250 words to tell Duke how you will bring a different perspective to the school, so focus on the aspects of your life that make you stand out from other applicants. 

When considering your response, ask yourself this question: “What kind of communities will I seek out at Duke?” This is important to reflect on because it gets to the heart of the prompt. Admissions officers want to have an overall picture of what the incoming class will look like. They want to know what communities you will be part of or which areas of campus life you will contribute to if you attend the university. 

In a broader sense, Duke wants to discover who you are through these essays. It wants to know your unique perspectives and how you think about ideas and the world around you. Learning these aspects of your personality helps the admissions officers understand how you will function in the classroom and the community, so it is important that you are true to yourself in all senses. 

There is a common misconception around this prompt that your essay should be extremely profound and emotional. Your goal isn’t to make the reader cry. Your goal should be to give them an accurate representation of your life. Then, you want to connect that to your possible life at Duke .

Duke has an extremely unique culture because it is a large research university with a great athletics program and a lively social scene with a variety of opportunities for civic engagement and activities. The school particularly emphasizes the importance of students pursuing their academic and professional interests not only as a means for personal development but also as a way to contribute to the communities around them. 

In short, Duke has a collaborative environment that focuses on connecting each individual to their community. It wants to know what resources and communities you will seek out at Duke and more importantly, how you will give back to them.

While your essay doesn’t necessarily need to address characteristics like socioeconomic status, ethnicity, or disability, your essay should reflect the spirit of Duke’s unique campus community. It should demonstrate the unique perspective and experiences that you as an individual will bring to the school, and you should imply that you are eager to share your opinion with others and learn from those around you.

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

Academia.edu no longer supports Internet Explorer.

To browse Academia.edu and the wider internet faster and more securely, please take a few seconds to  upgrade your browser .

Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link.

• We're Hiring!
• Help Center

Human Experience: Philosophy, Neurosis and the Elements of Everyday Life

“…Human Experience is a genuine and original work of philosophy … It is exemplary in its clarity and rigor of expression.” — Continental Philosophy Review John Russon's Human Experience draws on central concepts of contemporary European philosophy to develop a novel analysis of the human psyche. Beginning with a study of the nature of perception, embodiment, and memory, Russon investigates the formation of personality through family and social experience. He focuses on the importance of the feedback we receive from others regarding our fundamental worth as persons, and on the way this interpersonal process embeds meaning into our most basic bodily practices: eating, sleeping, sex, and so on. Russon concludes with an original interpretation of neurosis as the habits of bodily practice developed in family interactions that have become the foundation for developed interpersonal life, and proposes a theory of psychological therapy as the development of philosophical insight that responds to these neurotic compulsions.

Related Papers

Mar Alvarez Segura , Martín F. Echavarría

Psychology’s historical rejection of ethics has led to an oversimplification of the origins and treatments of mental disorders. In this article, we present an analysis of how classical neurosis can be reformulated from an ethical and psychological interaction. We focus on the crucial role that egocentricity plays and argue that this term can help to clarify how ego defensive ethical decisions can undermine psychological capacities and contribute to a progressive depersonalization that can result in typical clinical disorders. In Christian anthropology, the virtues, especially humility and love have a crucial role in the positive growth of human affective and cognitive capacities. In addition, the person in his/her nature is endowed with the capacity to transcend the self and to escape egocentricity through self-giving love of God and of others. This capacity of self-giving is diametrically opposed to egocentricity and opens a new way for possible psychological recovery.

Guido Cusinato

The analysis of mental disorders necessarily requires careful and multilayered reflection. Psychiatry is indeed focused on complex phenomena and symptoms that can be only partly traced back to merely quantitative objectifiable data. This is the reason why we witness a growing methodological and conceptual “mutual enlightenment” between philosophy and psychiatry. Whereas philosophy offers notions that can help to take into account also the qualitative aspects and the lived experiences of pathologies, clinical psychiatry seems to represent one of the most relevant practical fields for philosophy to test its explanatory capacity in relation to its many important issues. The history of phenomenological psychopathology, in particular, shows that philosophers have demonstrated a keen interest in the practical consequences of these issues in the field of clinical psychopathology. It is important to note that, in diagnosing and analyzing some disorders as well as in providing therapeutic instructions, psychiatry turns to concepts that have a pronounced philosophical relevance. Human being, person, self, intersubjectivity, common sense, lived body (Leib) and inanimate body (Körper) are but some of the concepts employed to comprehend several psychopathologies – for instance, those entailing profound emotional and intersubjective disabilities such as schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder and depression. These notions have been the object of lively philosophical discussions. It is therefore quite difficult to imagine, for example, that the connections between time, body and otherness which emerge in certain psychopathologies could be analyzed in complete detachment from the philosophical debate over these issues or without asking whether there is any relationship between mental disorders and the peculiarity of human existence. Considering these convergences, this special issue offers to its readers a series of contributions that investigate the possible relationships between specific psychopathological symptoms and some crucial philosophical issues from various viewpoints. Joel Krueger and Michelle Maiese argue that the notion of “mental institutions” – discussed in recent debates about extended cognition – can help better understand the origin and character of social impairments in autism, and also help illuminate the extent to which some mechanisms of autistic dysfunction extend across both internal and external factors (i.e., they do not just reside within an individual’s head). In his two papers, John Cutting explores the modus vivendi of schizophrenia and that of depression in relation to Max Scheler's phenomenology. Guido Cusinato develops a critical reflection on Cutting’s proposal, highlighting the intersubjective and enactive dimension of valueception impairments. Underlying this discussion between Cutting and Cusinato there is a different way of interpreting the relationship between the modus vivendi of schizophrenia and Scheler’s phenomenological reduction. The next issue of the journal will include Cutting’s response to Cusinato’s observations. Guilherme Messas and Melissa Tamelini analyze two concepts of a philosophical origin – that of dialectics and that of essence – which, in their strict application to psychopathology, could be of considerable value for diagnostic purposes and for the introduction and follow-up of therapeutic strategies. Lucas Bloc and Virginia Moirera propose an outline of clinical phenomenology for eating disorders inspired by Merleau-Ponty’s philosophical phenomenology. Francesca Brencio explores the “pathic” dimension of existence, which is the capacity of both being affected and being situated within moods and atmospheres. The broader purpose of her paper is to show how the “pathic” dimension of existence is related to psychopathology and clinical practice, for example in affective disorders and schizophrenia. Valeria Bizzari draws attention to the interaffective and intersubjective dimensions of Asperger’s subjects. Finally, Gilberto di Petta and Mario Rossi Monti highlight the importance of the debate on these issues that took place in Italy, retracing the history of the Italian Society for Phenomenological Psychopathology and the School of Phenomenological-Dynamic Psychotherapy. There will be a further issue of the journal on this topic. All together, these papers aim to promote a closer comparison and collaboration between psychiatry and philosophy, going beyond a reductive and merely symptomatological conception of mental illness and widening the horizon so as to research areas that so far have remained on the margins of phenomenological psychopathology, such as the dimensions concerning value and affectivity. John Cutting and Guido Cusinato

Anna Bortolan , Alessandro Salice

alice pugliese

Kirsten Jacobson

In 2003, John Russon published Human Experience: Philosophy, Neurosis, and the Elements of Everyday Life. In my judgment, this work makes a major contribution to the philosophic comprehension of human nature. Russon unites a provocative synthesis of themes from phenomenology, psychoanalysis and deconstruction with a nuanced study of psychological life to offer an original interpretation of how we establish meaningful lives, and the problems that develop in that process. In this essay, I examine what I believe are the text’s two most insightful and distinctive contributions to the understanding of human nature, namely, Russon’s phenomenological interpretation of family experience, and his “narrative” interpretation of the body that suggests we can read people’s bodies and their actions as we might read a novel or a philosophical argument. I will focus especially on Russon’s argument that our embodiment simultaneously holds us in a past and enables us to turn us toward the possibility of an open future. Russon’s provocative contention that we often live out our embodiment as a “fossilized” memory of our family experience allows him to: 1) articulate the roots of neurosis in a new light, and 2) to reexamine and broaden the scope of sexuality within human experience by recognizing all genuine co-creative acts of meaning-making as inherently erotic. I will conclude the essay by considering how these novel and thought-provoking arguments are especially powerful insofar as they can readily serve as a resource to encourage and support the “existential health” of its readers. Russon’s work in Human Experience does this by speaking directly and constructively to the real demands of the development of one’s personhood, especially in terms of one’s responsibilities to oneself, to others, and to one’s surrounding world—a form of “living communication” that very few philosophical texts accomplish.

Christina Bleyer

Grazer Philosophische Studien

Shaun Gallagher

In this paper I examine William James’ concept of the ‘warmth and intimacy’ of bodily self-consciousness and relate it to recent attempts to recast bodily self-consciousness in strictly neural terms. James takes bodily ‘warmth and intimacy’ to solve a number of problems related to the material and spiritual aspects of self and personal identity. He mentions but does not fully explore the possible disruptions in the bodily sense of ownership that can come about as the result of experimental and pathological circumstances, and that would have to qualify such solutions. I argue that an explanation in strictly neuroscientific terms does no better in accounting for bodily self-consciousness. Both James and proponents of the ‘body-in-the-brain’ theory ignore the social aspects of the self and the role they play in accounting for bodily self-consciousness and its various disruptions.

Psychosomatic Medicine and the Philosophy of Life

Michael A Schwartz

Basing ourselves on the writings of Hans Jonas, we offer to psychosomatic medicine a philosophy of life that surmounts the mind-body dualism which has plagued Western thought since the origins of modern science in seventeenth century Europe. Any present-day account of reality must draw upon everything we know about the living and the non-living. Since we are living beings ourselves, we know what it means to be alive from our own firsthand experience. Therefore, our philosophy of life, in addition to starting with what empirical science tells us about inorganic and organic reality, must also begin from our own direct experience of life in ourselves and in others; it can then show how the two meet in the living being. Since life is ultimately one reality, our theory must reintegrate psyche with soma such that no component of the whole is short-changed, neither the objective nor the subjective. In this essay, we lay out the foundational components of such a theory by clarifying the defining features of living beings as polarities. We describe three such polarities: 1) Being vs. non-being: Always threatened by non-being, the organism must constantly re-assert its being through its own activity. 2) World-relatedness vs. self-enclosure: Living beings are both enclosed with themselves, defined by the boundaries that separate them from their environment, while they are also ceaselessly reaching out to their environment and engaging in transactions with it. 3) Dependence vs. independence: Living beings are both dependent on the material components that constitute them at any given moment and independent of any particular groupings of these components over time. We then discuss important features of the polarities of life: Metabolism; organic structure; enclosure by a semipermeable membrane; distinction between “self” and “other"; autonomy; neediness; teleology; sensitivity; values. Moral needs and values already arise at the most basic levels of life, even if only human beings can recognize such values as moral requirements and develop responses to them.

Neurophenology and It Applications to Psychology

Susan Gordon

RELATED PAPERS

Journal of Research APAU

KANHAIYA Lal

Ricardo Kuster

The Pan African medical journal

Mazin M T Shigidi

Digital Communications and Networks

Luisa Castro

Igor Nesmyanovich

Sjuttonhundratal

Anne Eriksen

Jefferson Cano

15th IEEE/NPSS Symposium. Fusion Engineering

Alexey Radovinsky

American Journal of Physiology-Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology

Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology

Sergio Miranda

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology

DAVID ANTONIO CRESPO ALVAREZ

Geoffrey Rosenthal

Araceli Vallecillo Orellana

Revista Espinela

Jesús Tadeo Palacios Valverde

cultural geographies

Milena Chimienti

Physical Review Letters

David Corti

IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing

Samy Elmahdy

Bioscience Journal

Rodrigo Junior Nandorf

Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry

Steven Benner

Frank Hagelberg

Daru : journal of Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences

maliheh soodi

Progress in Lipid Research

International Journal of Economic and Enviromental Geology

RELATED TOPICS

•   We're Hiring!
•   Help Center
• Find new research papers in:
• Health Sciences
• Earth Sciences
• Cognitive Science
• Mathematics
• Computer Science
• Academia ©2024

Essay on Human Life

Students are often asked to write an essay on Human Life in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Human Life

What is human life.

Human life is the period from birth to death. It is full of moments that can be happy or sad. People learn, play, work, and make friends. Life is precious, and each person’s journey is unique.

Growth and Learning

As we grow, we learn many things. Kids go to school to get knowledge. This helps them become smart and ready for the future. Learning never stops, even when school is over.

Challenges and Success

Life has challenges. Sometimes, things can be tough, but overcoming these problems makes us stronger. Success comes when we try hard and don’t give up.

Helping Each Other

It’s important to help and care for others. Sharing love and kindness makes the world better. When we help someone, we make their life happier, and ours too.

250 Words Essay on Human Life

Human life is a beautiful and complex journey. It starts when a baby is born and continues until the person grows old and passes away. During this time, people learn, play, work, and make friends. Life is like a story with many chapters, each telling a different part of a person’s adventure.

As children grow, they start to understand the world. They go to school to gain knowledge and skills. School is not just about learning from books; it’s also about making friends and learning to get along with others. Growing up involves learning right from wrong and making choices that shape who they become.

Working and Contributing

Adults usually have jobs to earn money. They work to take care of themselves and their families. Work can be a way to help others too. Some people become doctors to heal the sick, while others might teach or create things. Work is a way to contribute to society and find meaning in life.

Enjoying Life

Fun and happiness are important parts of life. Playing sports, reading books, or watching movies are ways people relax and enjoy their time. Spending time with family and friends makes life special. Laughter and joy are treasures in the journey of life.

Human life is precious and unique. It’s filled with learning, growing, and sharing. Every person has their own story with ups and downs. It’s important to cherish each moment and make the best of our time on Earth. Life is an amazing gift, and we should all make it count.

500 Words Essay on Human Life

Human life is a beautiful and complex journey. It starts when a baby is born and continues until that person grows old and passes away. During this time, people learn many things, meet others, and experience a wide range of emotions like happiness, sadness, love, and fear.

The first part of human life is growing up. This is when a child learns to walk, talk, and understand the world around them. School plays a big part in this stage. Here, kids learn about numbers, words, and how to get along with friends. They play games, read stories, and explore new ideas. It’s a time full of fun and learning.

Working and Making a Living

As people get older, they start working. Some become teachers, doctors, or artists. The work they do helps them earn money to buy food, clothes, and a place to live. Work can be hard, but it’s also where adults make friends and feel proud of what they can do.

Family and Relationships

Family is a big part of human life. Families can be made up of parents, children, grandparents, and many others. They take care of each other and share love and support. Besides family, people also make friends and sometimes fall in love. These relationships make life full and happy.

Challenges and Overcoming Them

Life isn’t always easy. Sometimes people get sick, face tough problems, or feel very sad. These moments are hard, but they also teach us to be strong. With help from family and friends, people can overcome these challenges and learn from them.

Fun and Leisure

Life isn’t all about work and problems. People also have fun! They play sports, watch movies, and go on vacations. Fun times help people relax and enjoy the world. It’s important to have a good balance between work and play.

The Meaning of Life

Many people wonder about the meaning of life. Why are we here? What’s our purpose? There are many answers to these questions. For some, life is about finding happiness. For others, it’s about helping people or making discoveries. Everyone has their own idea of what makes life special.

Human life is a special adventure with ups and downs. From being a small child to becoming an adult, people go through many changes and face different situations. Each person’s life is unique, but everyone shares the need for love, friendship, and happiness. It’s important to remember that no matter what happens, human life is precious and worth living to the fullest.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Human Dignity
• Essay on Human Behaviour
• Essay on Human Cloning

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Happy studying!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Aspect of Human Experience Essay

Introduction.

Several works of American literature reflect different aspects of human experience throughout history. Other literary works may have one idea or theme throughout the book, while others combine several themes together.

Writers use different literary devices to express their massages and capture the attention of their readers. This essay shall focus on death as an inescapable human experience.

“An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge”

In a short story, “ An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge ” by Ambrose Bierce presents the death of the most pivotal character, Peyton Farquhar. Peyton denies reality of death as a way of postponing it. He goes into a dream whereby he escapes away from death when the weight of his body snaps the rope. Peyton also swims to a safe ground under heavy gunfire where he returns to his farm.

This is rather a short dream, but to Peyton, it takes several hours when he is escaping from reality and enemies. Bierce notes that we should embrace death since it is an inevitable part of human existence instead of escaping from it. He considers death a dignitary, which should be received by formal manifestation of respect, even by those familiar with him. Peyton had even tried to destroy a bridge in order to stop his capture.

Death is inevitable. It finally comes. Peyton mind wondered from fantasy to reality. He thought of his wife, kids and his plantation. He then felt a stunning blow, a blinding white light, and then darkness and silence. Peyton was finally dead. His dead body swung beneath the timber of the bridge.

Bierce uses several stylistic devices to capture the theme of death in his short story. He uses foreshadowing technique (Casson, 2000). This shows how Peyton escaped death when the noose around his neck snapped. He then swims to safety amidst heavy gunfire. This escape is a dream. At the end of the story, the narrator reveals Peyton’s death, which happens almost instantly.

Bierce uses dream to present human beings attempt to escape death. This is dream within a dream device (Sylvan, William & Cain, 2007). Peyton dreams that he has escaped the union forces. He further moves into a daydream where he sees the beauty of nature and freedom. This is a fantasy of human beings to think that they can postpone their death.

The author also employs the use of irony. Peyton has slaves in bondage, which are his source livelihood. Ironically, he ends up in bondage. Peyton learns that bondage is scary just like death. He discovers that and attempts to escape from it the same way he tries to escape death. Bondage and death are alike.

“A Rose for Emily”

William Faulkner is a writer best known for his exploration of moral aspects of history. In this short story, “A Rose for Emily”, he presents the changing times and death. Faulkner presents death in the story through death-haunted life of Emily. Emily dies a slow death.

The story compares her to drowned person who has been in the water for too long and has turned pale. The narrator also refers to Emily as a spare skeleton to imply that she is already dead but still on her feet.

Emily tries to deny death. She is constantly in a bizarre relationship to dead bodies of her previous lovers. She refuses to accept death by clinging to her late father’s body only to end up giving it reluctantly.

Emily also refuses to acknowledge the death of Homer, though she was responsible for his death. She kills Homer so that she can permanently have him. Homer’s body is lifeless, which make them far apart. Emily is trying to join life and death.

Finally, Emily dies. The residences of Jefferson have a chance to access her house. The house is just as mysterious as the owner. Mystery and death are both scary. We should accept the mysteries as part of life. Like Emily, everybody has secrets. We act in mysterious ways we can neither understand nor explain just like Emily.

William Faulkner uses death as a symbol of passing times (Sylvan, William & Cain, 2010). Emily represents the Old South. Upon her death, the remnants of the Old South also die likewise to the old men in uniforms who are about to die.

People fear death. Jefferson townspeople do not want to lose the history of the past, but the townspeople must accept changing traditions and embrace modernity.

The gold head of Emily’s cane, tarnished toilet, and Homer’s corpse represent deteriorating age and, finally death. The author also symbolizes death through the use of dust.

The author associates Homer’s dead body with dust in the house to symbolize death. It creates a horrible scene in the house. Dust creates an atmosphere of mysteries surrounding Emily’s life. Mysteries surrounding Emily’s life and house symbolize death.

The authors of the two short stories demonstrate that death will always triumph no matter how hard we try to escape it. Death comes to people in different ways: slow or fast. Peyton Farquhar meets his death through hangman by the bridge but tries to escape this through fantasy while Emily dies a slow death. People should simply embrace deaths and mysteries as an aspect of human life experience.

Casson, A. (2000). English Literature and Composition. Indianapolis: Cliffs Notes.

Sylvan, B., William, B., & Cain, W. (2010). Literature for Composition: Reading and Writing Arguments about Essays, Stories, Poems, and Plays (9th Edition). London: Longman.

Sylvan, B., William, B., & Cain, William. (2007). An Introduction to Literature. London: Longman.

• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2024, January 15). Aspect of Human Experience. https://ivypanda.com/essays/aspect-of-human-experience/

"Aspect of Human Experience." IvyPanda , 15 Jan. 2024, ivypanda.com/essays/aspect-of-human-experience/.

IvyPanda . (2024) 'Aspect of Human Experience'. 15 January.

IvyPanda . 2024. "Aspect of Human Experience." January 15, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/aspect-of-human-experience/.

1. IvyPanda . "Aspect of Human Experience." January 15, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/aspect-of-human-experience/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Aspect of Human Experience." January 15, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/aspect-of-human-experience/.

• Civil War in America: "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" by Ambrose Bierce
• Reality v. Imagination in Bierce's "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge"
• Suspense in “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge”
• Contemporary Literature. Elements of Short Stories
• Slavery as a Cause of the American Civil War
• Manning’s Leadership Within and Beyond Football
• "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" by Ambrose Bierce
• Final Project Budget Analysis Submission
• Special Bierce’s Style of Narration
• The Dream in Bierce's "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge"
• “The Good Soldiers” by David Finkel
• "Fiesta" a Short Story by Junot Diaz
• Ken Blanchard “Who Moved my Cheese”
• Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko
• The Lottery and The Ambitious Guest

Public Humanities

Stanford Public Humanities

Public Humanities advances research in the humanities, arts, and social sciences critical to the understanding of our rapidly changing human experience and ensures that these ideas reach a broad public. 

Art by Kristina Closs

"In Their Own Words" new essay and radio series features faculty voices

Stanford faculty reflect on a question or topic they have been grappling with throughout their careers.

For graduate students

The Public Humanities Initiative facilitates a path to public engagement and publication for students interested in writing about the arts and humanities for a wide popular audience. 

The Feminist Present

Hosts Adrian Daub and Laura Goode welcome a range of feminists from academia, journalism, activism, and more in "The Feminist Present," the 1st podcast from the Clayman Institute for Gender Research.

Critic.Reading.Writing

Stanford English professor Ato Quayson shares reflections on the humanities through discussions on literature, art, film, history, philosophy, and more.

Philosophy Talk Radio

Join philosophers in conversation about issues ranging from popular culture to our most deeply held beliefs about science, morality, and the human condition.

Andrew Brodhead/Stanford News

So, you want to write an op-ed? The Public Humanities can help.

The program aims to equip faculty and students with the skills to engage in public discourse and communicate their ideas outside the halls of academia. ​​​​​​​

Faculty in the News

• Immigration Detention Should Have No Place in Our Society | Ana Raquel Minian | New York Times
• The Deaths of Effective Altruism | Leif Wenar (Philosophy) | Wired 
• What Are the Values of a University? | Dan Edelstein (French and Italian) | Inside Higher Ed 
• Leaders Don't Need to Choose Between Empathy and Efficiency | Jamil Zaki (Psychology) | Fast Company 
• How runaway disability compensation is straining Veterans Affairs | Mark Duggan (Economics) | The Hill 
• The Five-Day Office Week is Dead | Nicholas Bloom (Economics) | New York Times 
• Behind the Most Famous Men in Economics There Have Always Been Women | Jennifer Burns (History) | New York Times

No events to view at this time. Please check back again soon.

Human Experience Essays

Exploring the intersection of technology and human experience, exploring the essence of home: elements, perspectives, and definitions, bad memories, good decisions, and the three joels, meaningfulness of life among children, popular essay topics.

• American Dream
• Artificial Intelligence
• Black Lives Matter
• Bullying Essay
• Career Goals Essay
• Causes of the Civil War
• Child Abusing
• Civil Rights Movement
• Community Service
• Cultural Identity
• Cyber Bullying
• Death Penalty
• Depression Essay
• Domestic Violence
• Freedom of Speech
• Global Warming
• Gun Control
• Human Trafficking
• I Believe Essay
• Immigration
• Importance of Education
• Israel and Palestine Conflict
• Leadership Essay
• Legalizing Marijuanas
• Mental Health
• National Honor Society
• Police Brutality
• Pollution Essay
• Racism Essay
• Romeo and Juliet
• Same Sex Marriages
• Social Media
• The Great Gatsby
• The Yellow Wallpaper
• Time Management
• To Kill a Mockingbird
• Violent Video Games
• What Makes You Unique
• Why I Want to Be a Nurse
• Send us an e-mail

Home — Essay Samples — Life — Life Experiences — Personal Experience

Personal Experience Essays

Personal experiences are the threads that weave the fabric of our lives. Writing a personal experience essay isn't just about storytelling; it's about finding meaning, connecting with others, and leaving your mark on the world. So, why should you write an essay about your personal experiences? Let's explore the importance together! 🌟

Personal Experience Essay Topics 📝

Selecting the right essay topic is key to crafting a compelling narrative. Here's how to pick one:

Personal Experience Argumentative Essay 🤨

Argumentative essays based on personal experiences require you to defend a viewpoint or argument. Here are ten intriguing topics:

• 1. Argue for or against the idea that personal experiences are the most influential factors shaping an individual's personality.
• 2. Defend your perspective on whether overcoming adversity through personal experiences builds stronger character.
• 3. Debate the impact of personal experiences on shaping one's political beliefs and values.
• 4. Argue for the significance of sharing personal experiences in order to promote empathy and understanding among diverse communities.
• 5. Defend the idea that personal experiences play a crucial role in career development and decision-making.
• 6. Debate the ethical implications of sharing deeply personal experiences in the era of social media and oversharing.
• 7. Argue for the therapeutic benefits of writing about and reflecting on personal experiences.
• 8. Defend your perspective on whether personal experiences should be a central part of school curricula.
• 9. Debate the influence of personal experiences on an individual's approach to health and wellness.
• 10. Argue for or against the notion that personal experiences can serve as catalysts for social change and activism.

Personal Experience Cause and Effect Essay 🤯

Cause and effect essays based on personal experiences explore the reasons behind events and their consequences. Here are ten topics to consider:

• 1. Analyze the causes and effects of a life-changing personal experience on your academic or career choices.
• 2. Examine how personal experiences can lead to personal growth, increased self-awareness, and improved well-being.
• 3. Investigate the effects of travel experiences on personal perspectives and cultural understanding.
• 4. Analyze the causes and consequences of sharing personal experiences with others, including its impact on relationships.
• 5. Examine how personal experiences can influence one's hobbies, interests, and leisure activities.
• 6. Investigate the impact of a significant personal experience on your family dynamics and relationships.
• 7. Analyze the causes of personal transformation through exposure to diverse cultures and environments.
• 8. Examine how personal experiences can shape one's attitude toward risk-taking and adventure.
• 9. Investigate the effects of sharing personal experiences through writing, art, or storytelling on your personal well-being.
• 10. Analyze the causes and consequences of personal experiences that challenge societal norms and expectations.

Personal Experience Opinion Essay 😌

Opinion essays based on personal experiences allow you to express your subjective viewpoints. Here are ten topics to consider:

• 1. Share your opinion on the importance of documenting personal experiences for future generations.
• 2. Discuss your perspective on whether personal experiences should be kept private or shared openly.
• 3. Express your thoughts on how personal experiences have shaped your sense of identity and self-worth.
• 4. Debate the significance of personal experiences in fostering empathy and compassion among individuals and communities.
• 5. Share your views on the role of personal experiences in building resilience and coping with life's challenges.
• 6. Discuss the impact of personal experiences on your approach to decision-making and problem-solving.
• 7. Express your opinion on the therapeutic benefits of writing or talking about personal experiences.
• 8. Debate the influence of personal experiences on your sense of purpose and life goals.
• 9. Share your perspective on how personal experiences can inspire creativity and artistic expression.
• 10. Discuss your favorite personal experience and the lessons or insights it has provided.

Personal Experience Informative Essay 🧐

Informative essays based on personal experiences aim to educate readers. Here are ten informative topics to explore:

• 1. Provide an in-depth analysis of the impact of a specific personal experience on your career choices and aspirations.
• 2. Explore the therapeutic benefits of journaling and writing about personal experiences for mental health and well-being.
• 3. Investigate the history and significance of storytelling as a means of preserving personal experiences and cultural heritage.
• 4. Analyze the connection between personal experiences and the development of emotional intelligence.
• 5. Examine the influence of personal experiences on decision-making processes and risk assessment.
• 6. Investigate the role of personal experiences in shaping cultural perceptions and worldviews.
• 7. Provide insights into the art of crafting compelling narratives based on personal experiences.
• 8. Analyze the impact of personal experiences on an individual's resilience and ability to adapt to change.
• 9. Examine how personal experiences can serve as valuable life lessons and sources of wisdom.
• 10. Investigate the therapeutic benefits of group discussions and support networks for individuals sharing similar personal experiences.

Personal Experience Essay Example 📄

Personal experience thesis statement examples 📜.

Here are five examples of strong thesis statements for your personal experience essay:

• 1. "Through the lens of personal experiences, we uncover the profound impact that seemingly ordinary moments can have on our lives, reshaping our perspectives and guiding our journeys."
• 2. "Personal experiences serve as powerful mirrors reflecting our growth, resilience, and capacity to navigate life's challenges, ultimately shaping the narratives of our existence."
• 3. "The sharing of personal experiences is an act of vulnerability and courage, fostering connections, empathy, and a deeper understanding of the human condition."
• 4. "Our personal experiences are the brushstrokes on the canvas of our identity, influencing our choices, values, and the stories we tell ourselves and others."
• 5. "In exploring personal experiences, we embark on a journey of self-discovery, unlocking the untold stories that shape our uniqueness and enrich our shared human tapestry."

Personal Experience Essay Introduction Examples 🚀

Here are three captivating introduction paragraphs to kickstart your essay:

• 1. "Amid the chaos of everyday life, our personal experiences are the constellations that guide us, the moments that define us. As we embark on this essay journey into the depths of our own stories, we unravel the threads of our existence, each tale a testament to the power of the personal."
• 2. "Picture a canvas where the brushstrokes are the chapters of your life—a canvas waiting for you to paint your experiences, thoughts, and emotions. The personal experience essay is your opportunity to create a masterpiece that reflects the colors of your journey."
• 3. "In a world of noise and distractions, our personal experiences are the melodies that resonate within us. As we venture into the heart of this essay, we uncover the symphony of our lives—a composition of highs, lows, and the beauty in between."

Personal Experience Conclusion Examples 🌟

Conclude your essay with impact using these examples:

• 1. "As we close the chapter on this exploration of personal experiences, we are reminded that our stories are the threads that connect us all. The journey continues, and each experience, no matter how small, contributes to the tapestry of our shared humanity."
• 2. "In the final brushstroke of our personal experience essay, we recognize that our stories are not finite; they are ever-evolving, ever-inspiring. The canvas of life awaits, ready for us to create new narratives and continue shaping our destinies."
• 3. "As the echoes of our personal experiences linger, we stand at the intersection of past, present, and future. The essay's conclusion is but a pause in the symphony of our lives, with countless more notes to be played and stories to be written."

How My Life Experiences Have Shaped My Personal and Academic Growth

The importance of intellectual experience, made-to-order essay as fast as you need it.

Each essay is customized to cater to your unique preferences

+ experts online

Whispered Wisdom: Conversations with Nature

An unforgettable experience in my life, my background: life story as a definition of you, personal experience that made me better than before, let us write you an essay from scratch.

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Motivation Through Failure: My Life Experience

The role of memorable memories in our lives, the time my uncle died, the importance and role of hard work and efforts in your success, get a personalized essay in under 3 hours.

Expert-written essays crafted with your exact needs in mind

My Most Embarrassing Moment

Memories of happiness and accomplishments in my life, life experience that made me who i am, how i have learnt to appreciate people, the importance of positive people around you, a narrative about regrets in life, the influence of grandmother on my life, mistakes made and lessons learned, my experience in learning to read and write, personal writing: my childhood story, personal writing: experience at the mall, basketball court – my second home, the lessons i have learnt from my life experience, the best travel experience of my life - burma, changing my view of life, the beginning of my nightmare: first day of high school, a personal experience of a course of multicultural education, the lessons i’ve learned in middle school, shyness is not always a curse, relevant topics.

• Law of Life
• Overcoming Obstacles
• Childhood Memories
• Life Changing Experience
• Professionalism
• Personal Growth and Development
• Overcoming Challenges

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Bibliography

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

We use cookies to enhance our website for you. Proceed if you agree to this policy or learn more about it.

• Essay Database >
• Essay Examples >
• Essays Topics >
• Essay on Psychology

Human Experience Essay

Type of paper: Essay

Topic: Psychology , Human , Relationships , Culture , Development , Theory , Love , Learning

Words: 1600

Published: 11/22/2019

ORDER PAPER LIKE THIS

Arguably, human behavior refers to a variety of activities and behaviors in which human beings perform. These individual behaviors are influenced by numerous factors, which include value, attitudes, rapport, coercion, emotions, culture, ethics, authority, genetics as well as hypnosis. Most of these behaviors can be acceptable, unusual and common. Psychologists have always devoted their time in trying to understand mental process, human behaviors and ways in which they develop and interact with fellow human beings. An experience of human beings involves five broad perspectives on behaviors of individual. All these five perspectives emphasize on diverse factors and behaviors. These are learning, biological, cognitive, psychodynamic and sociocultural perspectives (Easterby-Smith & Lyles, 2005). As a matter of fact each of these perspectives always elaborates on the development, beginning and the maintenance of numerous human relationships. Perhaps most of the models and theories that fit biological perspective seek to elucidate behaviors of people as outcome of anatomy and physiology. Physiologically, all actions thoughts and feelings are associated to events of human body. The advancement in technology has enabled biological psychologists to study how hormone flow, genes form as well as electrical impulses in people body affects behaviors (Gray, 200). Furthermore, it is possible to examine how the changes of the entire body functioning can completely change the behavior and relationships of couples and lovers. Love according to many scholars is biological, this is because it entails intimacy and being close to each other always so as to share affections, feelings and observe the reciprocate to be given create care. Generally, biological perspective concerns understanding how biological aspects of human body affect learning abilities, perception of actions and emotions. Genetic approaches inquire about peoples activities such as temperament, language and emotions. Romance in some cases is triggered by the genes. The brain and other nerve system provide valuable information in understanding human behaviors. Human behaviors is controlled by the brain, it lays down limits and boundaries of human behavior. One of the important theories of biological perspectives is that we can’t understand ourselves well if we don’t know our own bodies. Actually the theory elaborates on the relationship between body and mind as well as how it influences the health and behaviors of individuals. For example, it is alleged that poor health conditions can lead to negative stance towards others. In love relationship, theories of biological perspective states that the emotions of individuals develop after numerous body changes (Easterby-Smith & Lyles, 2005). Emotions develop after many sensations have been formed by the muscular activities. Under biological theory, certain form of stimuli will develop a reaction in the brain nerves which lead to different emotions. In this occasion love can be the emotional response developed. Another theory is attachment theory which describes long-term dynamics in human relationships. The development of love relationship between adults depends on how securely they are attached to each other. The stability and organization of people lead to development of love. The relationship starts with attraction between those people we like and expect both personal and emotional support. The love relationship according to biological perspective theories depends on the fulfillment of the expected things, these entire takes place in the brain (Easterby-Smith & Lyles, 2005). Other theories include materialism, dualism, natural selection and heredity. In love relationship and marriage there is a neurobiological structure which facilitates bonding in a way that encourages reproduction accompanied by ability to cope, security and anxiety reduction. Essentially, this type of bonding that is developed at the beginning of relationship develops and guides individuals in the entire relationship duration. Human experience and behaviors too are influenced by learning. Arguably, this approach asserts that, most individual characters happens because of learning, hence the simplest method of understanding individuals is observing the way they learn. Theories that are prominent in this approach include social learning and behaviorism. Both theories assume that learning is continuous, conscious and observable. Behaviorists probably believe that individual actions are responses to learned stimuli. The concepts behind this theory are that positive response is triggered by positive stimuli. On the other hand bad stimuli trigger negative response. In a love relationship, attractive behaviors begin through learning of each other (Zastrow & Karen, 2000). People begin to develop love relationship by learning to deliberate act in their environment so as to create a preferred situation of affairs. In most cases actions that yield positive outcome in a relationship could be repeated by the parties involved, whereas negative results were avoided at all cost. All this behaviors and outcomes led to the learning of individual behaviors. Youth in romantic relationship always realize that love is so difficult due to more emotional demands. Sociocultural perspective puts its focus on the background in which human beings live can be analyzed and examined in order to understand them better. According to Gray, it is important to understand people’s behavior well; mostly this is achieved through realization of cultural, social, and sociocultural surroundings (Zastrow & Karen, 2000). The perspective emphasizes on peoples culture not individual. Perhaps to comprehend why individuals have certain behavior qualities, psychologists look on the community effects on individual development. Actually, sociocultural perspective explains how most of the love relationship and marriage begin, be maintained and developed. Psychologists affirm that, those specific cultures which encourage love relationships are those societies which mutual empowerment and empathy are encouraged as a toll of social interaction (Gray, 2000). Those people with adaptive reasoning always pose rational and flexible attribution, especially concerning circumstances and conditions that will arise in love relationship as well as marriage. Hence they always provide realistic explanations for a variety of behaviors. Cultures in most cases have factors that cultivate love relationships and others which can impair development of love. Culture increases personal sense of identity, worthiness and motivates individuals to be in a relationship. Additionally, diversity of cultures has different perceptions which include individualism and collectivism. Individualistic cultures are assumed to be more accepting to romantic and love relationships (Easterby-Smith & Lyles, 2005). According to many scholars development, beginning and maintenance of love as well as intimacy stem from socio-cultural perspective. Study of human culture reveals romantic love exists in all cultures. Even the communities in which marriage was arranged by the elders, the couples concerned were asked permission. Psychologically, cognitive perspective focuses exclusively on the process of thought. Psychologists on this field accentuate on what runs in the mind of people so as to understand why people behave and do certain things. Probably, the thoughts of individuals led to actions. In relationship what couples think is demonstrated on the actions in the society. Objectively, this perspective is to figure out how interpretations and perceptions relate to personal behavior (Gray, 2010). Cognitive perspectives affect stability of marriage and loving relationship. Individuals in relationship always think in an adaptive manner to conflicts, concerns, care and goals. This thinking makes relationship to develop. Its maintenance depends on the commitment to these adaptive behaviors among the two parties. This perspective is based on human inner conflicts and it affects development. The approach assumes our feelings and behavior are strongly exaggerated by unconscious motives. Additionally, feelings and love relationship are probably entrenched to childhood behavior. Behaviors of human beings are determined and have a genuine cause (Zastrow & Karen, 2000). Furthermore, behaviors are motivated by instinctual drives which include life instinct and sex drive. On relationship, psychodynamic perspective long lasting and stable marriages are formed and maintained when individuals self-function and are free from neuroses. A motivation of people to be in love is propelled by divergence between psychological forces, unconscious and instinctual. Other psychologists came up with equal basic assumptions on psychodynamic perspective; it includes conscious, unconscious and dynamic minds that affect human behavior. Early childhood experiences affect the development and beginning of love relationship. Individuals who enjoyed childhood life and lived in a united family could easy be moved to fall in love (Gray, 2000) According to Freud the conflict, inner forces as well as conflict are not controlled by individuals, people are not in control nor aware. Mental clinicians explore human mind to finding events and occurrence from childhood to the stage of developing romantic relationship. Romantic relationships begin and develop without the partners being aware. These five perspectives are the same this is because it determines the causes of some culture traits. Perhaps these behavioral perspectives influence the beginning, maintenance and development of love relationship especially in marriage. Cognitive and biological perspectives discuss the physiological aspects of human behavior that influences marriage. On the other hand socio-cultural and learning perspective emphasizes on how community affect the maintenance and development of relationship. Finally psychodynamic perspective is all about unconscious motives. The five perspectives clear some thoughts of some human way of thinking and behaving. The diversity of these perspectives gives psychologists a more sufficient way of explaining human behavior. The biological, cognitive, learning, psychodynamic and sociocultural perspectives explain how romantic relationships begin, are maintained and develop.

Easterby-Smith, M & Lyles, M. (2005). Blackwell Handbook of Organizational Learning and

Knowledge Management. Melbourne: Blackwell. Gray, P. (2010). Foundation for psychology study. New York: Worth Press. Zastrow, C & Karen, K. (2000). Understanding Human Behavior and the Social Environment.

London: Wiley.

Cite this page

Share with friends using:

Removal Request

Finished papers: 2574

This paper is created by writer with

ID 271755963

If you want your paper to be:

Well-researched, fact-checked, and accurate

Original, fresh, based on current data

Eloquently written and immaculately formatted

275 words = 1 page double-spaced

Get your papers done by pros!

Other Pages

Cold war literature reviews, law firm argumentative essays, bigotry argumentative essays, slave trade argumentative essays, personality disorder argumentative essays, lynching argumentative essays, negativity argumentative essays, scientific fact argumentative essays, organ donor argumentative essays, sedation argumentative essays, example of the greeks and their gods essay, national difference and political economy critical thinking sample, research proposal on women and new information technologies, example of should human genes be patentable argumentative essay, free essay on what led to okonkwo demise in things fall apart, example of finding my true north course work, example of southwest airlines essay, best practices used by boeings management research papers example, the power of their ideas book review samples, example of odysseus and agamemnon homecoming essay, free research paper on legionnaires disease, the best way to learn a english is through immersion moving to a country where research paper samples, good crucial decisions essay example, geographic questions and hypotheses report sample, essay on rock and roll, example of north american free trade agreement essay, sample article review on studying gender stereotypes, theory of learning essay sample, good essay about product modeling methods, fated love or not essays example, good essay on the case of greg f, the araby essays examples, mass energy essays, lactam essays, butyric essays, altern essays, amsler essays, cintas essays, ance essays, articulatory essays, expiring essays.

Password recovery email has been sent to [email protected]

Use your new password to log in

You are not register!

By clicking Register, you agree to our Terms of Service and that you have read our Privacy Policy .

Now you can download documents directly to your device!

Check your email! An email with your password has already been sent to you! Now you can download documents directly to your device.

or Use the QR code to Save this Paper to Your Phone

The sample is NOT original!

Short on a deadline?

Don't waste time. Get help with 11% off using code - GETWOWED

No, thanks! I'm fine with missing my deadline

Common Module Cheat Sheet - All Texts

Download a printable version here., module description.

In this common module students deepen their understanding of how texts represent individual and collective human experiences. They examine how texts represent human qualities and emotions associated with, or arising from, these experiences. Students appreciate, explore, interpret, analyse and evaluate the ways language is used to shape these representations in a range of texts in a variety of forms, modes and media.

Students explore how texts may give insight into the anomalies, paradoxes and inconsistencies in human behaviour and motivations, inviting the responder to see the world differently, to challenge assumptions, ignite new ideas or reflect personally. They may also consider the role of storytelling throughout time to express and reflect particular lives and cultures. By responding to a range of texts they further develop skills and confidence using various literary devices, language concepts, modes and media to formulate a considered response to texts.

Students study one prescribed text and a range of short texts that provide rich opportunities to further explore representations of human experiences illuminated in texts. They make increasingly informed judgements about how aspects of these texts, for example context, purpose, structure, stylistic and grammatical features, and form shape meaning. In addition, students select one related text and draw from personal experience to make connections between themselves, the world of the text and their wider world.

Key Statements

Dimensions of the human experience.

The human experiences represented in your prescribed/unseen texts will always be connected to one of the subcategories of the “wellness wheel”:

Words to include in textual analysis

These make markers happy for some reason.

• Appreciate - when making a judgement about the value of something
• Explore - when discussing the themes of the text
• Interpret - when discussing the audience’s interaction with the text
• Analyse - When discussing your understanding of the text
• Expression - When discussing the author/poet/artist’s connection to the text
• Elicit - When discussing how a technique results in an emotion

Plutchik Wheel of Emotions

Essay length.

For paper 1 unseen texts, a good estimate is 2-3 lines per mark, while the extended response should be ~800 words/6 pages. If you don’t hit those numbers, that’s totally fine, it’s just a good estimate.

RESOURCE: CHIPS Question Breakdown Strategy

Body paragraph structure.

• Statement about the concept
• What type(s) of experience from the wellness wheel is represented, and is it collective or individual?
• What emotions from the Plutkich wheel are present, and how are they used (Example/Technique from PETAL paragraphs)?
• How does the experience of the example present anomaly/paradox/inconsistency in the human experience?
• Personal reflection? Challenging the reader’s assumptions? Persuading you of something?
• Conclude with a mash of steps 1, 2, and 3

Positive and Negative Words

Words to describe the human experience that mean nothing but for some reason get more marks, targets of a text, punchy phrases.

• Aids in this improved understanding of the textual material
• Indicates the universality in the subject matter being contemplated
• Brings reader to consider more deeply the manner in which ___
• An intimacy is generated between the viewer and ___
• Creates a more nuanced understanding
• Attracting to the audience to both ___
• To further impress upon the reader the idea of ___
• Further clarify and cement reader’s understand of the literal content
• Further elucidates the impression that

Free Thesis Statements

• Texts represent how human experiences are dependent on one’s context and their ability to transcend the limitations of context
• Texts about human experience invite the audience to contemplate on their own experiences and reflect on the processes that shape their identity
• Human experiences may be recursive but they are transformative nonetheless
• Texts offer a representations of human experience that challenges our assumptions and thus intensifies our awareness of self and others
• Representation of relationships in texts highlight the way in which human experiences may differ in varied interactions
• Texts offer a representation of the human experience to record the social and emotional development of the individual and the collective
• Our experiences expose our capacity for fortitude and focus, particularly when our individual ideals are challenged by contextual values / societal expectations

Last updated on November 17, 2021