SYLLABUS FOR PSYK 350-125 Texas A&M University –Central Texas
Course Information
Don MacDonald MS, LCSW, ACP
Instructor for Personality Theory (350-125) Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
in Room #210 of the Fairway Bldg. – North Campus
Burger, J.M. (2011) Personality (8th Ed.) Belmont, CA: Thompson. (ISBN: 9780495813965)
Personality
Title
Author
ISBN
Publisher
Publication Date
Binding
Type
Price
Required
Personality
Jerry M. Burger
978-0-495-81395-5
Wadsworth
March 8, 2010
Trade Cloth
Print
$261.95
OBJECTIVES
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.
Course Overview and Description
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:
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The class will meet face to face in the assigned classroom (Room 210) in the Fairway
Bldg. from 6:oo PM to 9:00 P{M 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.
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/centraltexas/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
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CLASS CALENDAR
18 March – Introduction to Personality/syllabus/Overview Chapter one
20 March – Chapter Two Personality screen and group meeting
25 March - Chapter Three personality screen (test on one and two)
27 March – Chapter Four- personality screen and group
1 April – Chapter Five- personality screen (test on three four and five)
3 April- Chapter Six- personality screen and group
8 April- Chapter Seven- personality screen and group
10 April- Chapter Eight (test on six, seven, and eight
15 April- Chapter Nine- personality screen and group
17 April- Chapter Ten- personality screen and group
22 April- Chapter Eleven…Note* assignment #3 due
24 April- Chapter Twelve (test on ten, eleven, and twelve)
29 April- Chapter Thirteen…Note* assignment #4 due
1 May- Chapter Fourteen…
6 May- Chapter Fifteen… *Note assignment #1 due
8 May- Chapter Sixteen and tie up discussion
Grading
Assignment #1
12 points
Assignment #2
08 points
Assignment #3
10 points
Assignment #4
10 points
All Examinations
60 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:
1-2 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 understanding 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.