Theories of Personality 4 Approaches to Self-Discovery

Transcription

1 Theories of Personality Summer 2013, 5/13-6/27, PSYC-235-N01L, page 1 Learning Objectives Theories of Personality 4 Approaches to Self-Discovery Brian T. Yates, Ph.D., Department of Psychology To contact me, me at: brian.yates@mac.com Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn. - Benjamin Franklin 1. identify four basic approaches to describing, explaining, predicting, and improving personality, including, for each approach: a) a fundamental and unique assumption regarding human nature b) an original theory and an historical predecessor c) two or more newer theories from this approach d) a unique method of assessing personality e) a unique method of changing personality f) a unique danger posed by a theory belong to this approach 2. apply this knowledge by a) using two or more theories from each of those approaches to describe, explain the etiology of, and recommend a way to mitigate one negative aspect of your personality b) using two or more theories from each of those approaches to describe, explain the etiology of, and recommend a way to prevent deterioration of one positive aspect of your personality c) judge the relative worth of these theories for helping you understand your personality

2 Theories of Personality Summer 2013, 5/13-6/27, PSYC-235-N01L, page 2 How we ll achieve those Learning Objectives To help you learn theories of personality, we use carefully selected readings, lectures and in-class discussion, and writing assignments. In this course you learn four markedly different ways of describing, understanding, and possibly improving your and others' personalities. We will all explore, in succession, the Trait, Dynamic, Learning, and Holistic families of personality theories. In your Self-Paper, you apply concepts garnered from each to understanding one negative and one positive aspect you select for your own personality. To better understand theories of personality, we also enhance your understanding of philosophy, history, and social movements. Through the vehicle of the Self-Paper, you'll see how major approaches to self-understanding developed by Asian, European, and American philosophers and psychologists can illuminate radically different explanations of, and prescriptions, for your personality. We also explore how these four alternative perspectives on personality were shaped by a) wars, b) social movements (e.g., feminism in the 1920s and 1970s, the "Age of Aquarius" in the 1960s), c) discrimination (e.g., anti-semitism between the World Wars), d) familial, financial, and educational circumstances of individual theorists, and e) interactions between historical events, social movements, and personal incidents in the theorists' lives. For each of these four families of theories, you start learning with lectures and readings. These provide basic concepts that guide most theories in the group, noting philosophical theories that presaged the psychological ones. Theories illustrating these original concepts are described next, followed by newer theories. Brief biographies of major personality theorists are presented along with their theories, with a focus on understanding how social, political, and economic events in the theorists' lives may have shaped their theories. Applications of the theories to the assessment and improvement of personality are examined as well.

3 Theories of Personality Summer 2013, 5/13-6/27, PSYC-235-N01L, page 3 Units of the Course: 1. Introduction (a less intensive start, so everyone can get used to the distance education format) 2. Trait approach 3. Dynamic approach 4. Learning approach 5. Holistic approach 6. Conclusion (no readings or lectures: just write the 2 assigned sections of the Self-Paper & join in a debate about advantages, disadvantages, and dangers to society of each approach), Each unit s lectures end by discussing personality phenomena for which that particular group of theories has unique insights, as well as unique dangers posed by each group of theories. Take the Reading Exam on each assigned chapter or other assignment as you finish it. Each unit has 3 assigned chapters or other readings. Attend and participate in lectures! You get 1 extra credit point for each lecture you attend--just write your name on a piece of paper and give it to me at the end! After each lecture, take the Lecture Exam for that lecture: it should be available within 24 hours after the lecture. Finally, submit two Self-Paper sections in which you use principles from several specific theories in that family to analyze one negative and one positive aspect of your personality. While attending lectures, reading, and writing, interact with me and fellow students with discussion. The tables on the next two pages provide two overviews of the entire course, including deadlines for each task. The first overview is by approach, with different rows for each approach. The second overview is by calendar date, which may be more convenient for scheduling.

4 Theories of Personality Summer 2013, 5/13-6/27, PSYC-235-N01L, page 4 What To Do to Learn & Get a Great Grade in this Course: for each unit, be sure to.. Read 2 of the assigned text chapters & take the exams for those chapters. For each of the four approaches (Trait, Dynamic, Learning, Holistic), start learning by delving into two chapters of readings that you select from the text for the same family of theories. (In most units there's more than two chapters to choose from). Take the Reading Exam on each chapter as you finish it. The Intro unit has 1 chapter to read, plus this syllabus. The Conclusions unit has no readings. Complete two readings exams for the Intro, Trait, Dynamic, Learning, and Holistic units 5 or more days before the deadline for the unit, and receive 1 point of extra credit per unit! Only the first two readings exams in a unit will be counted. Watch 4 Lectures & taken the exams for each. Watch four of the recorded lectures for the approach: your pick! The first lecture in each approach gives you the basic concepts that guide most theories in the approach. It also notes philosophical theories that presaged the psychological ones. I'd start with this one. Theories illustrating these original concepts are described in the next few lectures, followed by one or more lectures on newer theories. Biographies of major personality theorists are presented along their theories, with a focus on understanding how social, political, and economic events in the theorists' lives shaped their theories. Applications of the theories to assessment and improvement of personality are examined next. A wrap-up lecture often discusses personality phenomena for which that particular group of theories has had unique insights. Complete four lecture exams for the unit 3+ days before the unit deadline, and get 1 extra credit point! Only the first 4 Lecture exams that you take in a unit will be counted. Post to, and Respond to Postings, on the Unit's Discussion Board Forum. Next (do this throughout the unit) contribute to the class Discussion Board, in the Forum for the current unit. Make some posts! Quality and quantity are important. Try for 4 to 5 postings for the Intro, Trait, Dynamic, Learning, Holistic, and Conclusion units. Pose new questions, and respond to postings already on the forum. Post 2+ days before the unit deadline, and receive 1 extra credit point. Write & Upload to Blackboard the Assigned Sections of your Self-Paper. Finally, using the template downloaded from each unit of the course Blackboard site, submit two sections of your Self-Paper in which you use principles from several specific theories in that family to analyze one negative and one positive aspect of your personality. Include the terms for the concepts, and the names of the theorists, in each section of your paper. Use italics, underlining, or boldfacing to highlight a) theorists' names, and b) terms you're using for the specific concepts and principles you're applying. Upload your sections for the unit to Blackboard 1+ days before the unit deadline to receive 1 extra credit point.

5 Theories of Personality Summer 2013, 5/13-6/27, PSYC-235-N01L, page 5 Deadlines Note: 11:59 PM in DC!) Read about theories of personality in Feist & Feist s etext or text 25% of course grade Listen & Watch lectures and videos 25% of course grade Discuss reflect, ask and answer questions about theories of personality 25% of course grade Apply theories of personality to a negative and positive aspect of your personality. 25% of course grade 1 extra credit each time: Read from the start, test at least 5 days before deadline test at least 3 days before deadline post at least 2 days before deadline; try starting way earlier! write & submit at least 1 day before deadline Introduction Tu 5/21 Syllabus. [10 points], text chapter 1 [10 points] Time management, Introduction to theories of personality [20 points total] Reflections, questions, responses about Introductory lectures, videos, readings [10 points] Define & give examples of 1 negative [5] & 1 positive [5] aspect of your personality. about 1 single-spaced page. Trait theories Tu 5/28 Trait text chapters 13, 14 [10 points each] Trait audio lectures with slides: choose 4 [5 points each] Reflections, questions, responses about Trait lectures, videos, readings [20 points] Trait etiology, mitigation of negative [10] and preservation of positive [10] aspects. about 2 single-spaced pages. Dynamic theories Tu 6/04 Dynamic text chapters 2, 4, 6, 7 [choose 2 chapters, 10 points each] Dynamic audio lectures with slides: choose 4 [5 points each] Reflections, questions, responses about Dynamic lectures, videos, readings [20 points] Dynamic etiology, mitigation of negative [10] and preservation of positive [10] aspects. about 2 single-spaced pages. Learning theories Tu 6/11 Learning text chapters 15, 16, 17 [choose 2 chapters, 10 points each] Learning audio lectures with slides: choose 4 [5 points each] Reflections, questions, responses about Learning lectures, videos, readings [20 points] Learning etiology, mitigation of negative [10] and preservation of positive [10] aspects. about 2 single-spaced pages. Holistic theories Tu 6/18 Holistic text chapters 10, 11, 12, 18 [choose 2 chapters, 10 points each] Holistic audio lectures with slides: choose 4 [5 points each] Reflections, questions, responses about Holistic lectures, videos, readings [20 points] Holistic etiology, mitigation of negative [10] and preservation of positive [10] aspect. about 2 single-spaced pages. Conclusion Tu 6/25 no readings, no readings exams for Conclusions no lectures or videos, no lecture exams for Conclusions Debate between 4 approaches to theories of personality. Contribute 5 substantive postings. [10 points] Your reactions to theories for your negative [5] and positive [5] aspect. about 1 single-spaced page. Access by: Feist & Feist text or etext Bb Quicktime, YouTube BB Discussion Board forums Self-Paper template sections for Unit Assessed (graded) by: Choose 2 tests for each of the 5 units readings, 10 points each test = 20 points per unit Choose 4 lecture exams for each of the 5 units, 20 points each. TA, Professor reads and scores your postings for unit, 10 points per unit Professor reads your Self-Paper sections, file posted by you in each approach s Self-Paper assignment Points

6 Theories of Personality Summer 2013, 5/13-6/27, PSYC-235-N01L, page 6 NOTE: All exams are closed-book, no notes, no consultation or advice with anyone, and no internet searching. Late Assignments receive a zero score, regardless of the reason (Exams, Discussion Board Postings, Papers) A Reading exam, Lecture exam, Discussion Board posting, or Self-Paper section assignment submitted after 11:59 PM (in Washington, DC USA) of the deadline for the unit is scored zero. Computer, internet connection, and Blackboard problems do not count. There are no exceptions to this. Plan to complete your work early--and get extra credit! And be absolutely sure you've backed up your paper as you're writing it: it to yourself, upload it to Google doc's, or drop it in DropBox: whatever works! To avoid problems with Blackboard, etc.: only take exams when you have a reliable internet connection do not take exams in WiFi environments that may shut down your connection restart your computer before starting each exam do not have any other programs running, or any other windows open while taking the exam: just take the exam do not switch to other windows or programs during an exam (exams are closed book, no notes, no advice, no internet searches) be certain that you have finished the exam before doing anything else on your computer. etext or Text: your choice Feist, J., & Feist, G. J. (2009). Theories of personality (7th edition) Print ISBN-10: Print ISBN-13: etext ISBN-10: etext ISBN-13: Use the free CourseSmart app and read the text on-line, or from any computer or downloaded to one computer, for $79.25 and save yourself about half of the cost of the print version!--and it s probably greener:

7 Theories of Personality Summer 2013, 5/13-6/27, PSYC-235-N01L, page 7 Self-Paper Outline (built into the Self-Paper template) I. Introduction A. Define and give examples of a current negative aspect (5 points; these examples should be from your current, everyday life) B. Define and give examples of a current positive aspect of your personality. (5 points; these examples should be from your current, everyday life) II. For the negative aspect of your personality, explain how each of the four families of theories would answer the following questions. A. Trait approach (10 points): 2. What maintains the aspect in its present form? 3. How might this negative aspect be mitigated? B. Dynamic approach (10 points): 2. What maintains the aspect in its present form? 3. How might this negative aspect be mitigated? C. Learning approach (10 points): 2. What maintains the aspect in its present form? 3. How might this negative aspect be mitigated? D. Holistic approach (10 points): 2. What maintains the aspect in its present form? 3. How might this negative aspect be mitigated? III. For the positive aspect of your personality, explain how each family of theories would answer the following questions. A. Trait approach (10 points): 2. How might this positive aspect diminish in the future? 3. How could you best prevent this possible diminution? B. Dynamic approach (10 points): 2. How might this positive aspect diminish in the future? 3. How could you best prevent this possible diminution? C. Learning approach (10 points): 2. How might this positive aspect diminish in the future? 3. How could you best prevent this possible diminution? D. Holistic approach (10 points): 2. How might this positive aspect diminish in the future? 3. How could you best prevent this possible diminution? IV. Conclusion Summarize your personal reactions to the interpretations and prescriptions offered by these families of theories for: A. Your negative aspect. (5 points) B. Your positive aspect. (5 points)

8 Theories of Personality Summer 2013, 5/13-6/27, PSYC-235-N01L, page 8 Academic Integrity Unfortunately, in the past a few of my students have needed the following made explicit, so I must burden you with it as well. Please read the following with special care. Standards of academic conduct are set forth in the University s Academic Integrity Code, which can be found in the University Catalog. By registering for classes at A.U., you are acknowledging your awareness of the Code and obligating yourself to become familiar with your rights and responsibilities as defined by the Code. Violations of the Code will not be treated lightly, and disciplinary actions will be taken should such violations occur. The standard sanction for violations of the code is failure in the course. Please see me if you have any questions about the academic violations described in the Code in general, or as they relate to the requirements of this course in particular. All exams are closed-book, no notes, no consultation or advice with others, and no internet searching. If you do not follow these rules precisely and completely, you are in violation of AU s rules of academic integrity. All of your exam responses, and your Self-Paper, must be completely original: it must be your own writing, done for the first time for this course. All material drawn from other sources, whether a direct quote or a close paraphrasing (a "putting in your own words") must be placed within quotation marks and must be followed immediately by a reference citation (a footnote or APA-style citation with a References section at the end of your paper). To do otherwise is plagiarism, which is a violation of the Academic Integrity Code of American University. Also, I will not accept use of any material from a paper you have written for another course: do not do this, under any circumstances! All suspected plagiarism, including paraphrasing without quotation marks and without reference citation, will be reported to the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences with a recommendation for disciplinary action. This is a University regulation. And, as the College of Arts and Sciences says: I take plagiarism and academic dishonesty very seriously, and I am required to report cases to the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, whose policy is to fail students for the course. Please read the university's Academic Integrity Code closely, and be sure to ask me if you have any questions. The code is available online at

9 Theories of Personality Summer 2013, 5/13-6/27, PSYC-235-N01L, page 9 In writing papers, you must properly cite all sources (1) directly quoted, (2) paraphrased, or (3) consulted in any fashion. Sources include all printed material as well as the Internet. Proper citation means using a standard citation format: MLA, APA, or Chicago. It is also considered plagiarism if you merely rework source material, placing an author's thoughts in other words without contributing your own ideas. For that reason, you must include some kind of source note whenever drawing on someone else's interpretation. A source note can be a sentence or more in your paper, or it can be a footnote. A source note should clarify the extent to which your interpretation is indebted to your source, explaining both (1) what you use and (2) where you depart or differ from the source. It is also considered plagiarism to submit drafts, response papers, and other informal assignments without properly citing sources and acknowledging intellectual debts. Failure for the course is the typical sanction in such cases. I expect all work that you do to be your own work. Consulting with and sharing answers with other students violates the Academic Integrity Code, so too does consulting outside resources such as notes, textbooks, and the Internet. Student Evaluation of Teaching Near the end of the course, you will have the opportunity to evaluate this online class and your learning experience by completing an online Student Evaluation of Teaching. The evaluation contains the same set of questions used in assessing classroom-based courses, with the addition of four questions specifically applicable to online learning. As with any other face to face course, you are strongly encouraged to participate in this evaluation of your educational experience. A high participation rate is critical to AU s ability to continually improve and strengthen the quality of the University s learning opportunities.

10 Theories of Personality Summer 2013, 5/13-6/27, PSYC-235-N01L, page 10 Course Grades... are the average of the scores, each 0 to 100, for 1) Lecture exams, 2) Reading exams, 3) your Discussion Board contributions, and 4) your Self-Paper. Note: Extra credit points are added to the total of all 4 scores before averaging. Grade A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D F minimum Average none minimum Total (Average x 4) none