Jane Hellman  recently completed her final project, earning her MALS degree.  In this issue we are featuring an interview with Jane about her project entitled, “Personality Psychology and Russian Fiction:  An Analysis of Tatyana Tolstaya’s Elderly Characters.”  Brenda  Bujold’s final project will be featured in our Winter 2011 issue.

What is your final project about?

As an interdisciplinary project my thesis includes the disciplines of psychology and literature.  In particular, I focus on personality psychology and the process of aging by applying the six-foci theoretical framework regarding the development of personality to two elderly Russian women in short stories written by Tatyana Tolstaya.  This involves explaining the various components within the framework and then correlating how they are manifested in the two characters. 

What was the most challenging aspect of the project?

One of the greatest challenges (but also one of the most interesting aspects) was combining the two disciplines.  Such a process requires the awareness of and adherence to the knowledge base of each discipline, but the endeavor also requires creativity in constructing a thesis that is inclusive but unique.

What did you learn, either about the subject or about yourself?

As an English major undergraduate I was always (and still am) impressed with how talented authors were able to understand and convey human behavior.  This project has added to my knowledge about the specific elements of personality as put forth in a social science construct.  Knowing these variables has aided in my awareness of how a writer creates realistic characters.

What advice do you have for your fellow MALS students as they think about and prepare for their final projects?

I would suggest that awareness of timing is critical.  From proposal to completion the thesis-writing process is time-consuming, and one must also allow additional time for committee members to respond regarding suggested inclusions and revisions.  If a student has an anticipated completion date, be prepared to extend that if necessary!    It is also a challenge to balance the two disciplines, and to be certain that one discipline isn’t represented more than the other.  This is where the committee members’ input was additionally so valuable.

Jane’s Committee Members were Prof. Deb McGinnis, Psychology, Chair; Prof. Jeff Insko, Department of English; and Prof. Tamara Jhashi, Department of Art and Art History.