PSYCHOLOGY 311: PERSONALITY
-- THEORY AND RESEARCH
FALL 2008
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Professor: Michael MacLean, Ph.D. |
Phone: 878-3100 |
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Course Description: The course will provide a comprehensive exposure to the major theories of personality, the methods used to investigate these theories, and the resulting empirical evidence. By the end of the course, students will be better able to critically examine and apply theories and empirical research with regard to personality and psychology in general.
Required Text:
Cervone, D. & Pervin, L. A. (2008). Personality: Theory and research (10th ed.). New York: Wiley.
Course Requirements:
Exams: Understanding of course material will be assessed through four exams that will cover material from lectures, class discussion, and assigned readings. Exams will consist of multiple-choice and short essay questions. You will be expected to know the basic concepts of theories and the research relevant to them. You will also be expected to be able to apply the theories and research findings to new situations. Because of the importance of being able to integrate the course material presented throughout the semester, the final exam will be cumulative and worth twice as many points as the three midterm exams.
Theory Application Paper: A paper in which personality theory is used to examine the behavior of a character in a novel or film will be required. This is an opportunity to apply your theoretical understanding of psychology to explain someone's behavior. You will be free to choose which theory discussed in the course you will use in this assignment. The paper will involve providing a brief description of the scenario and the character(s) involved, followed by a thorough description of how the characters’ behavior would be explained by the theory you have chosen (e.g., Freud's psychoanalytic theory). The paper will be three typed, double-spaced pages.
Extra-Credit Quizzes: During the course of the semester, a number of short quizzes (1-3 points) will be administered covering a current topic of the class (e.g., the day’s assigned reading, the previous lecture, etc.). Points earned on these tests will be added to your point total for the semester.
Grades: Final grades will be based on total number of points accumulated on the exams, paper and quizzes. Each will be weighted as follows:
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3 midterm exams = |
210 points |
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Paper = |
50 points |
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Final exam = |
140 points |
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Total possible = |
400 points |
Letter grades will be assigned based on percentage of total points earned. The cut-offs will be as follows:
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Grade: |
A |
A- |
B+ |
B |
B- |
C+ |
C |
C- |
D+ |
D |
E |
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Minimum Pct.: |
93% |
90% |
87% |
83% |
80% |
77% |
73% |
70% |
67% |
60% |
<60% |
To monitor your grade as the semester
progresses, simply keep track of your scores and how many total points were
possible. (Recall that % = Your Score/Points Possible * 100). Progress will
be reported periodically on the course website.
Sure-Fire Methods for Maximizing Your
Learning and Achieving Success: Class attendance is strongly recommended. Although
attendance will not be recorded for grading purposes, skipping class will
result in missing important information. Lectures and materials presented in
class will include new information not covered in the text as well as in-depth
exploration and application of text material. Most students in this course find
that missing class hurts their grade considerably. In addition, important
announcements regarding exams, papers, and extra credit will be made in class.
Students who miss class are responsible for obtaining this information.
Completing the assigned reading prior to class will have several benefits. First, it will provide background knowledge that will render the lectures more meaningful. Second, it will allow for more informed classroom discussion, benefiting you and your classmates. Third, extra credit quizzes (described in more detail above) covering the assigned reading and previous lectures will be administered at the start of some classes.
Course Policies:
- Academic dishonesty such as cheating on exams and plagiarism is unethical and unfair to your classmates. Consequently, such dishonesty will be taken very seriously, resulting in automatic failure of the course. In addition, I reserve the right to refer you to the Dean of the College for further disciplinary action.
- Make-up exams will be given only under extraordinary circumstances (e.g., documented medical emergency). In such situations, you must notify the professor before the start of the exam. Make-up exams may be of a different format (e.g., essay and/or oral). All make-up exams will be held during Bengal Pause on the last day of classes.
- Courtesy and consideration for your fellow classmates is important to a positive learning environment. As such, it is important that you avoid distracting your classmates by holding private discussions or by coming in late or leaving early. In addition, please turn off your cell phone or set it to vibrate if an emergency call is expected. Your attention to these matters will make for a more enjoyable and fruitful atmosphere for everyone.
- It is recommended that you get to know some of your classmates. This can greatly facilitate the sharing of knowledge within the class (e.g., forming study groups, getting class notes).
Course Outline:
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Date |
Topic |
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Tue. |
Aug. 26 |
Welcome! |
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Thu. |
28 |
What is Personality? |
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Tue. |
Sept. 2 |
How Do We Know About Personality: Research Methods |
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Thu. |
4 |
"" |
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Tue. |
9 |
Sex & Violence: Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory |
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Thu. |
11 |
"" |
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Tue. |
16 |
"" & Test Review |
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Thu. |
18 |
Exam 1 |
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Tue. |
23 |
The Jung and the Restless: Neo-Freudian Theories |
pp. 134-154 |
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Thu. |
25 |
"" |
pp. 101-103 |
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Tue. |
30 |
"" |
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Thu. |
Oct. 2 |
Send in the Reinforcements: Behavioral Theories |
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Tue. |
7 |
"" |
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Thu. |
9 |
I Am What I Am: Trait Theories |
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Tue. |
14 |
"" |
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Thu. |
16 |
"" |
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Tue. |
21 |
Exam 2 |
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Thu. |
23 |
Born to Be Wild...or Not: Biological Theories |
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Tue. |
28 |
"" |
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Thu. |
30 |
"" |
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Tue. |
Nov. 4 |
Be All That You Can Be: Humanistic Theories |
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Thu. |
6 |
"" |
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Tue. |
11 |
Veterans’ Day: No Class |
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Thu. |
13 |
Exam 3 |
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Tue. |
18 |
Life Is What You Make of It: Personal
Construct Theory |
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Thu. |
20 |
Just as I Thought: Cognitive Theories |
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Tue. |
25 |
"" |
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Thu. |
27 |
Thanksgiving
Recess: No Class |
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Tue. |
Dec. 2 |
Applying Personality Theory |
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Thu. |
4 |
Wrap Up/Conclusion |
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Thu. |
11 |
Final Exam (7:40 - 9:30 a.m.) |
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* all chapters are from the Cervone & Pervin text
