Course Information
Don MacDonald MS, LCSW, ACP
Instructor for Personality Theory (350-110) Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:00 AM to 12:15
PM in Room #209 of the Fairway Bldg. – North Campus
Burger, J.M. (2011) Personality (8 th Ed.) Belmont, CA: Thompson. (ISBN: 9780495813965)
Personality
Title
Author
ISBN
Publisher
Publication Date
Binding
Type
Price
Required
OBJECTIVES
Personality
Jerry M. Burger
978-0-495-81395-5
Wadsworth
March 8, 2010
Trade Cloth
Print
$261.95
It is essential that you keep up with the required reading. Because of time constraints, we will not be able to discuss all materials found in the readings perhaps…However, students are responsible for, and will be tested on all materials found in the textbook, class lectures, and notes. Students must assume responsibility for meeting course objectives.
Course Objectives
1. Demonstrate their content specific knowledge of multiple theories of personality an of the degree to which these theories are supported by empirical research
2. Critically analyze empirical studies which serve as the basis of claims made about personality.
3. Articulate how the behavior of a particular individual can be understood from the perspectives of theories of personality. Gather and interpret information needed to begin the assessment of an individual’s personality type.
4. Articulate an understanding of what factors influence the expression of personality.
This course is an introduction to personality, the unique and relatively stable patterns of behavior, thoughts, and feelings that make individual human beings, the different theoretical approaches-psychodynamic, cognitive, behavioral, humanistic, and existential-will be covered and will be related to personality ad personality development. Prerequisites: PSY 101, 102, or the approval of the department head.

Course Format:

The class will meet face to face in the assigned classroom (Room 209) in the Fairway
Bldg. from 11:00 am to 12:15 pm on Mondays and Wednesdays...class time will consist of lectures, personality inventory, discussions, group, and exams

There will be periodic quizzes which will be completed during class time. Please use a scant Ron and #2 pencil for the quizzes.
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There will be other assignments during the course of the class; approximately five assignments.

All assignments which are written, will use the APA style format.
…plagiarism will not be acceptable.
Attendance and Late Work Policy
Go to: ct-tamus/departments/catalog/2013-2014. All students are required to participate in class activities. Absences and lack of participation while in class, as well as frequent late arrivals and early departures, will have a negative impact upon your overall grade. Students are expected to participate in all required academic activities and meet all deadlines as noted in the syllabus.
LATE WORK WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. Plan carefully to get all work in on time. If you need to miss class, let me know ahead of time by e-mail or phone: My e-mail: d.macdonald@ct.tamus.edu/ my phone is a mobile (903)343-3342: You will still be required to turn in any assignments in on their due dates. Make-up exams will be possible under extreme circumstances.
Academic Integrity
Texas A&M University - Central Texas expects all students to maintain high standards of personal and scholarly conduct. Students found responsible of academic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary action. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on an examination or other academic work, plagiarism, collusion, and the abuse of resource materials.
The faculty member is responsible for initiating action for each case of academic dishonesty and report the incident to the Associate Director of Student Conduct. More information can be found at http://www.tamuct.edu/departments/studentconduct/facultyresources.php
.
Drop Policy
If you discover that you need to drop this course, you must go to the Records office and ask for the necessary paperwork. Professors cannot drop students; this is always the responsibility of the student. The Records Office will give a deadline for which the form must be returned, completely signed. Once you return the signed form to the Records Office and wait 24 hours, you must go into DuckTrax and confirm that you are no longer enrolled. If you see that you are still enrolled then (FOLLOW-UP) with the Records Office immediately. You are to attend class until the procedure is complete to avoid absence concerns. You will receive an F in the course if you do not follow procedures. If you receive financial aid or other tuition assistance, dropping a course may be require that you reimburse your lender.

Library Services
Information Literacy focuses on research skills which prepare individuals to live and work in an information centered society. Librarians will work with students in the development of critical reasoning, ethical use of information, and the appropriate use of secondary research techniques including: exploring information resources such as library collections and services, identifying sources such as subject databases and scholarly journals, executing effective research strategies, retrieving, recording, and citing relevant results correctly, and interpreting search results, deciding whether to expand the search. Library Resources are available through this web page: http://ct.tamus.edu/centra ltexas/departments/library.
Disability Support Services
If you have or believe you have a disability and wish to self-identify, you can do so by providing documentation to the Disability Support Coordinator. Students are encouraged to seek information about accommodations to help assure success in their courses. Please contact
Vanessa Snyder at (254) 501-5836 or visit Founder's Hall 114. Additional information can be found at http://www.tamuct.edu/departments/disabilitysupport/index.php
.
Tutoring
Tutoring is available to all TAMUCT students, both on-campus and online. Subjects tutored include Accounting, Finance, Statistics, Mathematics, and Writing (APA). Tutors are available at the Tutoring Center in Founder's Hall, Room 204, and also in the Library in the North Building.
Visit www.ct.tamus.edu/AcademicSupport and click "Tutoring Support" for tutor schedules and contact info. If you have questions, need to schedule a tutoring session, or if you're interested in becoming a tutor, contact Academic Support Programs at 254-501-5830 or by emailing cecilia.morales@ct.tamus.edu
.
Chat live with a tutor 24/7 for almost any subject on your computer! Tutor.com is an online tutoring platform that enables TAMU-CT students to log-in and receive FREE online tutoring and writing support. This tool provides tutoring in Mathematics, Writing, Career Writing, Chemistry,
Physics, Biology, Spanish, Calculus, and Statistics. To access Tutor.com, click on www.tutor.com/tamuct .
ASSIGNMENTS AND RESEARCH
Semester-long ongoing assignment: What better study of personality than the understanding of yourself. We will be taking some personality inventories throughout the course. You will be able to put these together into a cohesive report from your findings and research. The best policy is to be honest with yourself throughout and answer the screens as best as you understand yourself. I would suggest that you use a small three ring-binder to keep all of your tests in and be working on the report as you go along. Be as comprehensive as you are able (Assignment
#1).
Assignment #2: Article critiques: This assignment is designed to give you the opportunity to evaluate the claims made by scientists who study personality for each theory discussed in our chapters that address empirical research relevant to that theory. For this assignment you will choose four of the chapters to work on. For each chapter your choose, you will identify one (1) empirical article cited therein to critique…meaning an actual study with real people, method,

results, etc.not a review: you should summarize the essential features of the study’s methodology and its major findings, and you should evaluate how strengths and weaknesses of the study impact the validity of the conclusions drawn by the authors. The four critiques are due on the Wednesdays shown on the calendar by midnight that day.
Assignment #3: Character Study. This assignment is designed to give you the opportunity to think creatively about personality and your newly acquired knowledge of personality theory. You will develop a personality profile for a fictional character of your own choosing (from whatever source you choose to use). Your profile should describe what the character is like from two differing theoretical perspectives and be from 2-3 pages in length. You may consult materials beyond the text to enhance your knowledge of personality theory, but you should not consult other sources for information what the personality profile of the character is. Be sure to identify points of convergence/divergence for the two theories chosen. Learning Objective #3)
Assignment #4 (Group Activity Personality Assessment of those within your group…Get together weekly to think critically about how personality is assessed. Ask each other questions about their personality. Each week you will pose a new question using this format for answering your question: 1) Not at all true about me, 2) Slightly true about me, 3) Moderately true about me, 4) Very true about me, 5) Completely true about me. You should also provide the group your own answers to the question…Each person should pose their own questions. The second half of this assignment-After the last set of questions you will write a brief description of the personality of one of your group members based upon the answers that they have provided (so you have looked within and now without).
Class Portal to Blackboard http://www.ct.tamus.edu/departments
UNILERT
UNILERT: is an emergency notification system service that gives Texas A&M University-Central
Texas the ability to communicate health and safety emergency information quickly via email and text messages. By enrolling in UNILERT university officials can quickly pass on safety related information regardless of your location. Please enroll today at: http://TAMUCT.org/UNILERT
CLASS CALENDAR
13 January
– Introduction to Personality/syllabus/Overview
15 January
– Chapter One and Two
20 January – Holiday. No class!
27 January – Quiz on Chapters One and Two
29 January _ Personality Screen
3 February
– Chapter Three

5 February – Chapter Three
10 February – Discussion on Personality Screen
12 February – Chapter Four
17 February – Quiz on Three and Four
19 February – Groups for assignment #4 – discussion
24 February – Personality screens
26 February – Chapter Five (Assignment #2 due)
3 March – Chapter Six
5 March – Chapter Seven
10 March – Spring Break
12 March- Spring Break
17 March – Groups
19 March –Personality Screen
24 March –Quiz on Chapters Five/Six/Seven
26 March – Chapter Eight
31 March – Chapter Nine
2 April – Chapter Ten
9 April – Chapter Eleven (Assignment #3 due)
14 April - Chapter Twelve
16 April – Chapter Thirteen
21 April - Chapter Fourteen
23 April - Chapter Fifteen
28 April – Chapter Sixteen
30 April - Reviews and finish group project (Assignment #4 due)

5 May – Review for Finals; answer questions
8 May – Final Examination and (Assignment #1 due semester-long) report on self- personality…We will also have time throughout the classes to take short personality screens for your project.
Grading
Assignment #1
Assignment #2
Assignment #3
Assignment #4
Quizzes
Final Examination
12 points
08 points
10 points
10 points
20 points
40 points
Course grades will be assigned as follows: A=90-100, B=80-99, C=70-79 D=60-69, F=<60
LATEWORK POLICY:
To promote time-management and organizational skills, individuals who fail to complete assignments on time will be penalized WITH THE FOLLOWING POINT REDUCTIONS:
12 days late…10% 3-7 days late…20% >7 days late…50%
SOME FINAL THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS COURSE
For those of you who are going on to consider a career in mental health, is an important foundational course. A solid understa nding of “normal” personality is a pre requisite to therapy or assessment. Those of you who are pursuing other career paths, will also, hopefully, find this a valuable learning experience. If whatever career you are considering involves working with other people, then you probably will benefit from this course which examines why people act the way they do. You may also gain some insights into yourself.
***Professor reserves the right to AMEND the syllabus during the semester. You will be notified of any changes made.