PSYCHOLOGY OF PERSONALITY
PY 331
Schiller International University
Course Syllabus
Fall 2008
Instructor: Laurence E. Heglar, PhD
Office hours: following class.
Meeting times: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:30 to 11:45
Location: Room 302
Telephone: 676.406.071
E-Mail: laurence_heglar@schiller.edu
Instructor Web Site: http://www.institutobios.org/

Course Description:

     The study of personality occupies a rather special place in psychology. Personality theories try to propose general perspectives to explain what we are as human beings. Hence they talk about basic issues such as human nature, motives and the organization of our behavior and mental life. Personality theories are used as guides in conducting therapy, as well as in trying to predict people's behavior in settings such as work, consumer behavior and education.
     The purpose of this course is twofold. First, to examine the development of personality theories during this century, starting with Freud, whose psychoanalytic theory forms a reference point for most later theories. From there we will examine some of the most important Neo-Freudians and their modifications of Freud's perspective. We then move to the development of the American perspectives of behaviorism, humanism, and psychological testing, with particular emphasis on their origins in European philosophy and psychology.
     The second theme of this course will be that of sensitizing ourselves to human variation. We will therefore be concerned with issues of seeing and explaining differences and commonalities between people within and between cultures.

Course Objectives:

At the end of this course, students will be able to:
  • describe the basic concepts of psychoanalytic theory -
  • describe the differences between the various neo-Freudian perspectives (Adler, Jung, Erikson, Fromm, and Horney) and those of Freud -
  • discuss the origins and characteristics of behaviorism and the issue of determinism in psychology -
  • demonstrate an understanding of the phenomenological reaction against both Freud and behaviorism, and show understanding of various humanistic perspectives -
  • demonstrate understanding of the cognitive approach to personality -
  • demonstrate knowledge of how personality tests are constructed and be able to describe the dispositional approach in personality theories -
  • identify factors which help explain variations in human development, esp. sociological/cultural factors.

Basic Text: Monte, C. & Sollod, R.(2003), Beneath the Mask: An Introduction to Theories of Personality (Seventh Edition). Wiley. ISBN 0471263982    Textbook Web Site.
Students should bring their text to class

Additional Readings: Additional readings are listed in the Course Outline below, and students should download these readings from the Course Syllabus web page at http://www.institutobios.org/courses.htm.

Grading:
Midterm Examination (essay) = 20%
Final Exam (cummulative essay) = 50%
Paper = 30%

Exams: There will be two essay exams, a midterm and a final. The final exam will be cummulative.
Use of the Internet: Students are expected to use the internet during this course. The following resources are being made available:
Course syllabus: This syllabus is online at http://www.institutobios.org/courses.htm. This is in case you lose your paper copy, and you will need this online syllabus to visit selected websites and to download selected readings.
Textbook web site resources: The textbook web site (see link above) has some resources students may find useful. For each chapter a Test Prep page is available with a series of questions you should be able to answer after reading the chapter. There are also links to websites for all the personality theorists covered in the text.
Supportive web sites: As part of your assignment on certain days, you should use the link on the Course Syllabus to peruse the selected web site pertaining to the day's topic.
Attendance: Attendance is expected at Schiller International University.


Course Outline:

DATETOPICREADING
Sept. 11 Critical Thinking:
What & Where is "Personality?"		 Text, Ch. 1 - Varieties of Theory & Basic Issues
An Essay on Seeing and Development (Word .doc)
Sept. 16 Models & Understanding Text, Ch. 1 - Varieties of Theory & Basic Issues
Explaining Form and Organization
Sept. 18 The Beginnings of Psychoanalysis - Hysteria Text, Ch. 2 - Psychoanalysis: The Clinical Evidence
Brill, Basic Principles of Psychoanalysis - Cartharsis (.pdf file)
Suggested web site: About Psychoanalysis - American Psychoanalytic Association Web Site
Sept. 23 The Meaning of our Behavior
Methods		 Text, Ch. 2 - Psychoanalysis: The Clinical Evidence
Brill, Basic Principles of Psychoanalysis Symptoms(.doc file)
Sept. 25 Underlying causes of behavior
Sexuality		 Brill, Basic Principles of Psychoanalysis
Psychopathology of Everyday Life(.pdf file)
Sept. 30 Freud's Dreams Text, Ch. 3 - Psychoanalysis: The Dynamic Model of the Mind
Brill, Basic Principles of Psychoanalysis
Dreams I(.pdf file)
Suplementary: Dream Types (.pdf file) (optional)
Oct. 2 Freud: Development Text, Ch. 3 - Psychoanalysis: The Dynamic Model of the Mind
Freiberg, The Magic Years
Toilet Training (.pdf file)
Oct. 7 Freud: Development Oedipal Complex
Freiberg, The Magic Years
About the Oedipal Complex (.pdf file)
Identification (.pdf file)
Oct. 9 Freud: Development Defense Mechanisms
Freiberg, The Magic Years"Laughing Tiger"(.pdf file)
The Acquisition of Moral Values (.pdf file)
Oct. 14 Anxiety & Defense Mechanisms Text, Ch. 3 - Psychoanalysis: The Dynamic Model of the Mind
Oct. 16 Breaking from Freud: Alfred Adler Text, Ch. 5 - Individual Psychology
Suggested web siteAlfred Adler Institute of San Francisco - What is Classical Adlerian Psychology?
Oct. 21 Breaking from Freud: Alfred Adler Text, Ch. 5 - Individual Psychology
Oct. 23 Midterm Exam Review
Oct. 28 Midterm Exam
Oct. 30 Carl Jung - The Favorite Son Text, Ch. 4 - Carl Jung: Analytical Psychology
Suggested web site C.G. Jung Homepage
Nov. 4 Analytical Psychology Text, Ch. 4 - Carl Jung: Analytical Psychology
The Jungian Personality Test - The Keirsey Temperament Sorter at Shrinktank.com
Nov. 6 Ego and Object Relations Theories
Nov. 11 Psychosocial theories
Erik Erikson		 Text, Ch. 8 - Psychosocial Theories
Introduction to Erikson's 8 Stages: web site<
Nov. 13 Psychosocial theories
Erik Erikson		 Text, Ch. 8 - Psychosocial Theories
Introduction to Erikson's 8 Stages: web site
Nov. 18 Behaviorism
Watson, Skinner		 Text, Ch. 14 - The Behaviorisms
The Behaviorist Manifesto by Watson (Word .doc)
Nov. 20 Social Learning Theory
Bandura		 Text, Ch. 16 - Social-Cognitive Learning Theories
Nov. 25 Needs and Motives
Maslow		 Text, Ch. 13 - Humanistic Self-Actualization Theory
Maslow's Vision of Human Nature
Nov. 27 The Phenomenological Perspective
Rogers		 Text, Ch. 13 - Humanistic Self-Actualization Theory
Dec. 2 The Phenomenological Perspective
Rogers		 Text, Ch. 13 - Humanistic Self-Actualization Theory
Dec. 4 Personality Assessment Personality Tests & Tools
Dec. 9 Personality Assessment Personality Tests & Tools
Dec. 11 Review
Dec. 15 - 19 Final Exam


Selected Additional Material
Notes on Writing Affirmations


This course syllabus is online at the instructor's web site: "http://www.institutobios.org/". Students may click on "Course Materials" and then on PY 331 - Psychology of Personality Also on this site students will find the instructor's Psychology Reference Page of internet sites in the field of psychology.
Students will find extra course materials, including tutorial quizes, web links, and special topic articles at the textbook web site, http://jws-edcv.wiley.com/college/bcs/redesign/student/0,12264,_0471263982_BKS_1446_____,00.html. This site provides you with chapter summaries and questions. It is highly recommended that you study these outlines in preparation for your exams.