Psychology of Personality- Psychology 3373

Fall 2001, Room M107, 11:00 MWF

 

Instructor: Wayne Dixon, Ph.D.       Office: N.H. 108

Phone: 745-2656                      Hours: MWF 1:00 - 3:00,

TTH, 2:00 - 4:00

and by appointment

 

Textbook:

 

A. Carver, C. S., & Scheier, M. F. (1998).  Perspectives on personality (4th ed.).  Needham Heights, MA: Allyn and Bacon.

 

B. Slife, B. (1998).  Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Controversial

Psychological Issues (11th ed.).  WCB/McGraw-Hill.

 

Course Description:

 

     A comprehensive overview of contemporary and classical theories of personality, personality development, and concepts used in understanding personality.

 

 

Evaluation Methods:

 

A.  Grades:

 

     Grades will be based on total points.  Final grades will

     then be determined using the following system:

 

     Exam 1  100 points   360 to 400 points = A

     Exam 2  100 points   320 to 369 points = B

     Exam 3  100 points   280 to 319 points = C

     Debate  100 points   240 to 279 points = D

                          0 to 239 points   = F

 

Students will have the opportunity to earn up to 100 parts by presenting opposing sides of controversial psychological issues in a debate style format.

 

B. Attendance:

 

    Attendance is not officially part of the evaluation process in this class, however approximately 1/3 of the material covered in this course is presented only through class lectures, discussions, and demonstrations.

 

C. Cheating:

 


     Don't! If a student is caught cheating, he or she will receive a zero for that exam or assignment.

 

 

 

 

Course Requirements:

 

A. Exams:

 

Three multiple choice tests will be given covering the material assigned in the text and discussed in class.  Each test will be valued at 100 points.  If you miss an exam because of a legitimate excuse, a make-up exam will be given.  A legitimate excuse is a serious illness of a family member or loved one, a death in the family, or serious personal illness with a doctors note.

 

     Please act with respect and courtesy.

 

 

 

Tentative Course Outline:

 

Unit 1   Chapter 1- Introduction

         Chapter 2- Methods in the study of personality

         Chapter 3- Issues in personality assessment

         Chapter 4- Types, traits, and interactionism

         Chapter 5- Needs and motives

         Chapter 6- Inheritance, evolution, and personality

 

Exam 1: To be announced

 

Unit 2   Chapter 7- Biological processes and personality

         Chapter 8- Psychoanalytic structure and process

         Chapter 9- Anxiety, defense, and self-protection

         Chapter 10 - Ego Psychology

    Chapter 11 - Psychosocial theories

 

Exam 2: To be announced

 

Unit 3   Chapter 12- Conditioning theories

         Chapter 13- Social-cognitive learning theories

         Chapter 14 - Self actualization and self evaluation

         Chapter 15 - Personal constructs

         Chapter 16 - Contemporary cognitive views

         Chapter 17 - Self regulation

  

Exam 3: To be announced