Psychology of Personality
PSY 334.1; PSY 334
Theories of Personality
PSY 204
Spring 2015
Instructor: Dr. Mahinur Asanovna Mamatova
Office: Main Building of AUCA, room 209
Office Phone: (996) – (312) 66-33-09 (ext. 238)
Office Hours: M. W. 3:00 pm- 4:00 pm by previous appointment
E-mail: makhinur@gmail.com
Prerequisites: Intro to Psychology or General Psychology
Course Status: required
Credits: 6 (3)
Classes: T., Th. 1:00 pm
Language of instruction: English
Course Description:
This course is an introduction to basic psychological approaches to explaining the nature of human personality. The
course will explore classical theories of personality. This course is a platform for advanced study in Abnormal
Psychology, Counseling Psychology, and Organizational Psychology.
Course Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this course, student will be able to:
1. Describe major divisions in the study of personality – theory, structure, development, and dynamics
2. Understand intrinsic and extrinsic factors that influence individual behavior;
3. Recognize the enduring features that differentiate people;
4. Understand basic factors that might lead to the onset of psychological disturbance.
Text-book:
Magnavita, Jeffrey J. (2002). Theories of personality: contemporary approaches to the science of personality. New
York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Or
Feist, Jess & Feist, Gregory, J. (1998). Theories of personality, 4 th ed. McGraw-Hill, Inc.
Passkey to e-course: pp2015
Course Requirements
1. Classroom attendance is required – 30 points. To be in class on time is expected. Late students will NOT be
admitted into the class. Please finish up your personal businesses before class begins. Student is expected to be on
class during entire class - time with no early leaving. Missed class by reason of general medical condition or
emergency will NOT affect your attendance rate.
2. In-class work – 30 points. You are expected to take active part in on-class discussion of the assigned article,
presentation, textbook chapter, and study case.
3. Presentation – 35 points. Each student will be required to make one presentation. Topics can be selected from class
themes available below (see Class Schedule). This is your right to perform joint presentation. Creativity in
performance of original idea is strongly encouraged. Please see the instructor to discuss a topic of your presentation
ahead of time.
1
Grading Criteria for Presentation
Content
Understanding
Criticism
Clarity of statements
Performance
7 points
8 points
8 points
5 points
7 points
35 points
4. Article Analysis – 35 points. The student is required to write 1-2 page review of the classical article from the field of
Psychology of Personality. See the handout with suggested list of articles and select the one. Your review should
provide comprehensive answers to the questions: what is the major message of the article? Which aspects of the
theory of personality this particular article is exploring? How this article helps you to understand better the theory of
personality? The paper should be uploaded on e-course by April 21, 11:00 pm. Late papers will NOT be accepted.
Grading Criteria for Article Analysis
Understanding of the text
15
Proper use of concepts
8
Terminology
6
Accuracy and clarity
6
______________________________________
Total
35 points
5. Mid-term Exam - 30 points. It will be held on March 3 at regular time. The exam will include the themes learned
prior to this date. There will be multiple choice, true/false, fill-in-the blank and short essay questions.
6. Final Exam – 45 points: The final will be given during the session time. This exam will cover all factual materials of
the course plus the information from class discussions. If you miss a scheduled exam, you must hold an oral make up
exam with the instructor within three (3) days of the exam. Failure to do so will result in a score of 0 on the missed
exam. The exam will be multiple choice and short answers. The exam will be worth 45 points.
Course Grading Scale
Attendance
30 points
In-class Work
30 points
Presentation
35 points
Article Analysis
35 points
Mid-term exam
30 points
Final exam
45 points
____________________________
Total
205 points
2
A = 195 -205
A-= 183-194
B+= 167-182
B = 151 - 166
B- = 135 - 150
C+= 119 - 134
C = 103 - 118
C- = 87 - 102
D = 71 - 86
F = below 71
There are no extra-assignments for this course. However bonus (up to 15 points) will be given for creativity and
independence of thoughts.
Course Cheating Policy
The proven cases of plagiarism will be processed through AUCA Academic Dishonesty Policy. Don’t cheat on exams.
Document your references properly to prevent case of plagiarism. See APA Student’s Writer Manual.
Course Conduct Policy
Norms and rules of academic conduct are common for everyone on-campus. Politeness and intelligence of personal
behavior are unconditionally expected. Please turn off your cells, beepers and other ring sounders. If you are waiting
for important call set the cell on regime “vibration”. Finish up your breakfast or taking a snack before coming to class.
Don’t chat on the class. It interrupts my attention and attention of your classmates.
Course Themes
January 20
Introduction to the syllabus. Definition of Personality. How do psychologists define personality and
use the concept of personality? Theories of Personality
January 22
Psychodynamic theories of personality. Sigmund Freud and Classical Psychoanalysis. Basic
assumptions. Mental apparatus. Structure of personality. Pleasure principle. Reality principle. Mental
determinism. Mental energy
January 27
Classical Psychoanalysis: Libido and Tanatos. Anxiety. Defense mechanisms
January 29
Classical Psychoanalysis: developmental phases
February 3
Classical Psychoanalysis: Oedipus Complex
February 5
Classical Psychoanalysis: Evaluation of the theory
February 10
Revisions of Classical Psychoanalysis: Jung and Adler
February 12
Carl Gustav Jung and Analytical Psychology. Basic assumptions
February 17
Alfred Adler and Individual Psychology. Basic assumptions
February 19
Neo-Freudians: Karen Horney. Neurotic personality.
February 24
Neo-Freudians: Erich Fromm
3
February 26
Evaluation of theories: Jung, Adler and Neo-Freudians
March 3
Mid-term exam
March 5
Learning approach: Learning principles. Radical behaviorism. Basic assumptions. Classical Pavlovian
Conditioning. J. Watson.
March 10
Learning approach: Operant Conditioning. Theory of Reinforcement. B.F. Skinner.
March 12
Learning approach: Albert Bandura and Social Learning Theory
March 24
Cognitive Approach: George Kelly and the theory of personal constructs
March 26
Cognitive Approach: Albert Ellis and application of Cognitive Theory
March 31
Trait theory. Gordon Allport.
April 2
Evaluation of cognitive-behavioral theories.
April 7
Phenomenological theories of Personality. Philosophical background. Basic assumptions.
April 9
Phenomenological theories: Carl Rogers
April 14
Phenomenological theories: Abraham Maslow
April 16
Evaluation of phenomenological theories
April 21
Biological basis of Personality: natural selection, heredity, brain
Article Analysis Paper Due
April 23
Application of personality theories
April 28
Contemporary researches in Psychology of Personality
April 30
Future directions in Psychology of Personality
May 7
Course Review
TBA
Final Exam
4