Personality
Theories
Psych 456 / 556
Spring, 2008
Instructor: Vinai Norasakkunkit, Ph.D.
Time: TuTh: 12:00pm – 1:15pm
Location: AH 39
Office hours: AH36, TuTh: 4:00pm - 5:00pm; MW: 9:00am – 12:00pm
Phone: X6317
E-mail: vinai.norasakkunkit@mnsu.edu
Syllabus and Powerpoint slides available at D2L.
Course overview:
The purpose of this course
is to increase students’ awareness of the variety of theoretical viewpoints
that exist regarding the nature of human personality and the factors that
influence human behavior. We will examine the different theoretical
viewpoints in terms of what they may have to say about personality structure
and its development, emotion, motivation, cognition, the development of
psychopathology, and clinical applications for personality change.
Students will also be asked to evaluate the prominent theoretical perspectives
critically and to consider cultural variations in personality constructs. It is
hoped that students will be able to incorporate the most useful aspects of each
approach and synthesize them to develop their own perspective regarding the
nature of human personality development and functioning.
Structure of the course
Mastery of the material requires that you stay current on the reading assignments and attend class regularly. The lectures will assume that you have already done the reading for the week, so your understanding of each lecture will be best if you have done the reading first. To help encourage reading and attendance, there will be unannounced in-class exercises that will be part of your grade. The lectures will assume that you have already done the reading for the week, so your understanding of each lecture will be best if you have done the reading first. On occasions, I will be showing films in class to supplement the theories that you encounter in your readings. I will also occasionally hand out supplemental readings to compliment the lectures. Any supplemental reading can be assumed to be fairly light and will be due on the same week as the required readings from your text.
Paper assignment
You will be required to write a 5-8 page review paper on a personality topic you are particularly interested in (e.g., sensation-seeking, shyness, genetics of personality, etc.). The format should be 12-point Times-Roman font, double-spaced, and 1 inch margins. The citations in the body of the text and references in the reference page must be in APA format. Papers will not be accepted after the due date.
Graduate students will have to do a 10 min oral presentation in class of their paper. This oral presentation will be counted towards 5% of their paper grade.
More details on the paper assignment can be found here.
Requirement
Total 100%
Make-up exams
Make-up exams will only be considered in the event that a student misses an exam due to a medical, and sometimes, personal emergency. Students are expected to speak with me at one of my office hours before an exam day to discuss circumstances. I reserve the right to ask for documentation of the emergency should the need arise.
Extra credit
Students will be expected to concentrate on the course assignments at hand. However, extra credit assignments that will be considered are volunteering as a participant in psychological research at MSU and/or doing a one-page writing assignment. Each hour of research they participate in (or for each writing assignment) will add 1% to the FINAL percentage that determines your course grade with a limit of three extra credit assignments (research hours and/or paper) in total. Students will be responsible for bringing the research credit slips in to me for each research study they participate in. Keep in mind that opportunities to participate in research studies are contingent on how many psychological research projects looking to recruit participants are taking place in any given semester. Therefore, opportunities to participate in research may vary from semester to semester. In any event, students should not count on research participation to work as a substitute for showing up in class, doing the readings, or studying for the exams but rather as an opportunity to slightly improve their overall grade.
Disabilities
Every attempt will be made
to accommodate qualified students with disabilities. If you are a student
with a documented disability, please see me as early in the semester as
possible to discuss the necessary accommodations, and/or contact the
Disabilities Services Office at (507)389-2825 (V) or 1-800-627-3529 (MRS/TTY).
INCOMPLETES
Incompletes are meant to be used in cases of extreme medical or personal emergency. These are the only situations in which an incomplete will even be considered. If a situation of this type should arise, I would need to be contacted as soon as possible so that a contract could be negotiated to outline what work would need to be finished and in what time frame. I reserve the right to ask for documentation of the emergency should the need arise. University policy states that any consideration of incompletes is contingent on the student having already done passing work for the semester.
UNABLE
TO DEAL WITH CERTAIN TOPICS IN CLASS
You
may note in the class syllabus certain topics that may in some cases cause
severe discomfort or other strong emotional reactions from some students.
If you believe that in- class discussion of such material might be more
than you can handle please see me right away so that we can
determine whether you should remain in this course.
ACADEMIC
DISHONESTY
It is assumed that in this class each student and I will act in a professional and honest manner. Therefore, any student who engages in an act of Academic Dishonesty, such as cheating on an exam, plagiarism, etc., will receive a failing grade for that task and in most cases a failing grade for the course. Please review the sections on Academic Standards, Cheating, and Plagiarism in your student handbook. If you still have questions about Academic Honesty or expectations in this course see me as early as possible in the semester.
Text:
Pervin, L. A., & John,
O. P. (2005). Personality: Theory and research (8th ed.).
Tentative Calendar
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Week of |
Topic
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Reminders |
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Jan 15 |
Chapter 1 |
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Jan
22 |
Chapter 2 |
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Jan 22 |
Chapter 3 |
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Jan 29 |
Chapter 4 |
Library tour this week |
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Feb 5 |
Chapter 5 |
Library assignment due this Thursday |
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Feb 12 |
Chapter 6 |
Exam
1 next week on Tuesday, Feb 19: Covers Ch. 1-6 |
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Feb 19 |
Chapter 7 |
Exam
1 this week Tuesday: Covers Ch. 1-6 |
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Feb 26 |
Chapter 8 |
Start
thinking about a paper topic and write 1-2 page prospectus to be turned next
Thursday(expectations for prospectus will be explained in class). Substitute instructor
will be present on Feb 28. No office hours until March 6. |
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March 4 |
Chapter 9 |
Paper prospectus due March 6. Substitute instructor will be present on March 4. No
office hours until March 6. Spring break next week. |
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March 18 |
Chapter 10 |
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March 25 |
Cognitive Theory: George A. Kelly |
Chapter 11 |
Exam 2 next Tuesday (April 1: Covers Ch. 7-10 |
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April 1 |
Chapter 11 (continued) |
Exam 2 this Tuesday: Covers Ch. 7-10 |
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April
8 |
Chapter
13 |
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April
15 |
Parts
of Article (pdf) Article 2 (pdf) |
Paper due next Tuesday (April 22) |
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April
22 |
Catch
up week |
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Paper
due Tuesday in class Date and Time for Exam 3
during finals week. |
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April
29 |
Graduate
Student and Extra Credit Presentations |
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Date and Time for Exam 3
(next week) will be announced in class. |