Syllabus
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Instructor: E-mail: Phone: Office: Office hours: Location: Times: Website: Required text: |
Marisa Menchola, M.A. menchola@u.arizona.edu 621-4003 Psychology 214 By appointment Modern Languages 314 Monday – Friday, from 9:00 to 10:45 www.u.arizona.edu/~menchola/personality05.htm Larsen, R.L., & Buss, D.M. (2005). Personality Psychology: Domains of Knowledge About Human Nature. 2nd edition. McGraw Hill. |
II. Goals for this class
We spend 100% of our waking hours dealing with personalities (even if it’s just our own). Personality Psychology develops theoretical approaches, research methods and assessment instruments to help improve our understanding of the fascinating complexity of human personality.
My objective for this class is that you learn and critically evaluate 1) what psychologists know about personality; and 2) how they have come to know it. This means we will discuss the main theoretical perspectives on personality and get acquainted with the methods that make the scientific study of personality different from non-scientific speculations.
III. Class Schedule
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Date |
Topic |
Chapter |
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07/11 |
I. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND Personality Psychology. Personality vs. situation.
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|
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07/12 |
Sources of personality data. Research methods in personality psychology.
|
2 |
|
07/13 |
The Biological Bases of Behavior: Genes, personality, and environment.
|
6 |
|
07/14 |
Physiologically based dimensions of personality.
|
7 |
|
07/15 |
Evolution: Human nature.
|
8 |
|
07/18 |
EVALUATION I
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|
|
07/19 |
II. THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES Introduction to Dispositional approaches. Defining personality traits.
|
3 |
|
07/20 |
Classifications of personality traits. Are there “fundamental” traits?
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|
|
07/21 |
Stability (and change) of personality traits.
|
5 |
|
07/22 |
Introduction to Psychodynamic approaches. Freud’s theory of personality structure, dynamics, and psychosexual development.
|
9 |
|
07/25 |
Psychosocial development. Attachment and adult relationships.
|
10 |
|
07/26 |
The dynamics of personality: Needs and motives.
|
11 |
|
07/27 |
Introduction to Cognitive/Experiential Approaches. Personal views and goals. Mischel’s CAPS model.
|
12 |
|
07/28 |
Emotion and personality. Happiness, anxiety, depression, anger: Are they traits?
|
13 |
|
07/29 |
Approaches to the self: Self-concept, self-esteem, and social identity.
|
14 |
|
08/01 |
EVALUATION II
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|
|
08/02 |
III. OTHER DOMAINS IN THE STUDY OF PERSONALITY Interpersonal and social influences. Gender differences.
|
15 |
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08/03 |
Cultural personality psychology.
|
17 |
|
08/04 |
The effects of personality on physical health. Last day to turn in drafts for review.
|
18 |
|
08/05 |
What is abnormal? Personality disorders.
|
19 |
|
08/08 |
Assessment of personality and attempts to predict behavior. Can personality be changed? PAPERS DUE.
|
4 |
|
08/09 |
Judging personality in everyday life. Are we accurate judges of ourselves and others?
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|
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08/10 |
EVALUATION III |
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There is a total of 100 points you can obtain in this class:
|
Evaluations |
Final number of points |
Grade |
|
q Evaluation I: 20 points q Evaluation II: 20 points q Evaluation III: 20 points q Writing Assignments: 20 points q Paper: 20 points |
90+ 80 – 89 70 – 79 60 – 69 59 – |
A B C D E |
r The evaluations will consist of multiple choice questions (10 points) and brief essay questions (10 points).
r There will be 5 writing assignments, worth 5 points each. Only the 4 with the highest score count towards your final grade. These assignments consist of essays related to controversial issues that we discuss. Writing assignments are distributed in class. If you miss class on the day an assignment was distributed, you will not be able to make it up.
r The paper will be based on a reading you get to choose from 3 authors: Sigmund Freud, Gordon Allport, or Walter Mischel.
r No curve will be used in grading.
Most of all, I want this class to be a productive and enjoyable experience for all of us. Here are some important things to keep in mind:
r We’ll be discussing a wide range of topics, and some may be controversial. It is up to each and every one of us to maintain a friendly and respectful environment where we all feel comfortable sharing our ideas and opinions. No inappropriate, offensive, or threatening behavior will be tolerated in this class. If you have doubts about what might be considered inappropriate, please discuss it with me. You can also find relevant information online at the following webpages: The U of A Student Code of Conduct (http://web.arizona.edu/~studpubs/policies/studcofc.htm) and the U of A Policy on Threatening Behavior by Students (http://policy.web.arizona.edu/policy/threaten.shtml).
r Cheating or plagiarizing of any sort will result in a failing grade. If you have doubts about what constitutes plagiarizing, please ask me. You can also review the U of A Code of Academic Integrity at http://studpubs.web.arizona.edu/policies/cacaint.htm.
r Make-up evaluations can be arranged only in case of a) an emergency (by definition, foreseeable events like schedule conflicts and vacations are not emergencies); and b) a holiday observed by the religion you are affiliated with. Make-up exams will be oral.
r If you are registered with SALT or the DRC and anticipate that you will be requesting special accommodations, please let me know and submit the appropriate documentation as early as possible.
r The night-before rule: Feel free to e-mail me your questions about the class. However, I will not reply to e-mails with exam-related questions received after 6:00pm the night before the exam.
r I need your feedback to know what you find most useful. Please schedule a meeting with me or e-mail me any questions, concerns or comments that you may have.
r Some strategies to avoid stress and do well? Don’t miss class. Use the class period as study time: Ask questions! A final tip: Reviewing your daily class notes every night for 15 or 20 minutes can make a difference.