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Assignments and supplementary readings are due on the date listed. Check often (weekly) for schedule revisions/updates/additions. Supplementary class readings are available via Blackboard. The file for each reading is a "PDF" file. If you would like to download Acrobat, visit http://get.adobe.com/reader/. Acrobat is a free download and should be on all campus computers.
Please bring a copy of the readings to class with you on the day we discuss them.
| INTRO TO COURSE: What is Personality? | |
| T 1/19 | |
| TH 1/21 | Visit
the websites below and take each of the three personality tests (please
take them in the order indicated). Print and bring in your results (you
will not have to share your results with anyone). All three together
should take about 30 minutes. 1. Projective: http://www.utpsyc.org/TATintro/ 2. Self-Report: http://www.utpsyc.org/Big5/ 3. Behavior: http://www.utpsyc.org/LIFE/ |
| TRAIT and PERSON X SITUATION PERSPECTIVES |
|
| T 1/26 | Reader: Allport, “What is a Trait of Personality?” |
| TH 1/28 |
Reader
- McCrae and Costa, “A Five Factor Theory of Personality” (We will go over this theory extensively in class.) Assignment Due: Topic Discussion Preferences |
| T 2/2 | ---- |
| TH 2/4 | Reader-
Mischel, “Personality Coherence and Dispositions in a Cognitive-Affective Personality (CAPS) Approach” (We will go over the key sections of this article in class. Pay special attention to Figure 1 as it summarizes the most important elements of the CAPS model.) |
| BIOLOGICAL/NEUROSCIENCE PERSPECTIVE | |
| T 2/9 | |
| TH 2/11 | (snow day) |
| T 2/16 | Reader -
Canli, “Functional Brain Mapping of Extraversion and Neuroticism:
Learning from Individual Differences in Emotion Processing” (Focus on trying to explain Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, as well as understanding the discussion about "neural context". Also, is 5-HTT the "neuroticism gene"? Why yes and why no?) |
| TH 2/18 | Johnson
(2004;
Mind Wide Open, Chpt. 4: Survival of the Ticklish -
Blackboard) |
| T 2/23 | Taylor et al. (Blackboard) |
| TH 2/25 | (no class) |
| T 3/2 | EXAM 1 |
| PSYCHOANALYTIC PERSPECTIVE | |
| TH 3/4 | Nye- Chapter 2 (This is an overview of the details of Freud's theory. You do need to know about defense mechanisms & psychosexual development, but we will not go over those ideas in class. So, be sure you understand those sections in the reading. Let me know if you have questions.) |
SPRING BREAK (yay!) |
|
| T 3/16 | Reader
- Jung, “Psychological Types” (We will not be going over the reading in class, but you are responsible for the material. Jung is known for his notions of "collective unconscious" and "archetypes." He is also known for what is included in this reading: (a) a definition of introversion and extraversion that is quite different from that of McCrae & Costa and Eyseneck; (b) presenting the different styles of thinking that are now used by one of the most popular personality tests, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.) Also: visit this website to learn more about the personality types measured by the Myers-Briggs test. The different forms of the Myers-Briggs Inventory are copyrighted and require specialized training & qualifications to administer. Based on my reading about each of the four types, I would call myself an INTP. How about you? |
| TH 3/18 | Westen (1998;
Psychological Bulletin - Blackboard) Prior to reading this article, be sure to find out which section you have been assigned to read and what questions you should focus on by consulting the READING/DISCUSSION GUIDE. Please note you do not have to read the entire article, and we will be working together as a class to summarize the key elements. |
HUMANISTIC
PERSPECTIVE |
|
| T 3/23 | Reader - Rogers, “Some Observations on the Organization of Personality” Rogers (1980; Six Vignettes from A Way of Being; Blackboard) |
| TH 3/25 | Nye
- Chapter 4 (This chapter should pull together the concepts we are discussing by providing a systematic overview of Rogers' view of personality) |
LEARNING/COGNITIVE
PERSPECTIVE |
|
| T 3/30 | Nye- Chapter 3 thru page 77 (This reading should be a review of what you learned in PSY101 with an emphasis on behaviorism as a theory of personality. We won't discuss the reading, but you do need to know the basic terms associated with operant conditioning) Nye - Epilogue (pp. 161-166) |
| TH 4/1 | Reader
- Bandura, “The Self-System in Reciprocal Determinism” (The primary idea to take away from this article is the definition of reciprocal determinism and how/why it is important to a social-cognitive understanding of personality.) |
YOUR PERSPECTIVE |
|
| T 4/6 | Theory
Building Exercise |
| TH 4/8 |
EXAM 2 |
| TOPICS IN PERSONALITY PSYCHOLOGY | |
| T 4/13 | Topic Project Presentations
- Everyone should
complete the assigned
readings as indicated below. Stress & Coping - Colette, Grace, Sam, Maggie N. Folkman & Moskowitz (2000) - Blackboard |
| TH 4/15 | Happiness: A Worthwhile Pursuit? - Maggie G., AlexJo, Melissa Wiederman, 2007 -Blackboard |
| T 4/20 | Happiness: How to Get It - Brendan, Ben, Kelly, Louisa |
| TH 4/22 | Romantic Love (no reading) - James, Jenn, Nicky |
| T 4/27 | Personality Disorders (no reading) - Carolyne, Anna H., Evan, Deborah |
| TH 4/29 | Culture & Personality - Michelle, Kim, Lindsey Reader: Markus & Kitayama, “The Collective Fear of the Collective: Implications for Selves and Theories of Selves” |
| T 5/4 | Culture & Personality: A Trait Perspective - Taylor, Anna G., Anvi, Dan Reader: McCrae (2004), “Human Nature and Culture: A Trait Perspective” |
| TH 5/6 | |
TOPIC EXAMS Due by Noon on the Wednesday of finals week (please submit via Blackboard Digital Dropbox) |
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