PSY 231A: Personality Theories (Fall, 2002)
Dr. Stephen Dine Young
Office: Science Center 156
Office Hours: MW 1-2; F 11-12; & by appointment
Phone: 866-7319
e-mail: youngst@hanover.edu
Class Time: MWRF, 9-9:50
Course Description and Goals
This course will explore a variety of theories that attempt to understand the many dimensions of human personality. Issues of human ‘sameness’ and ‘difference’ will be highlighted. In other words, we will consider those characteristics that all people appear to share, and at the same time, we will consider those characteristics that distinguish people as unique individuals. Both breadth (representatives of each of the main approaches to understanding personality will be considered) and depth (through the use of primary sources as supplements to the text book) will be emphasized. Students will be encouraged to compare their own ideas about human personality to the ideas of established researchers and thinkers. Finally, students will be encouraged to apply their knowledge of personality to broader aspects of human functioning in such domains as culture, literature, religion, science, etc.
Texts
Engler, B. (1999). Personality theories: An introduction (5th ed.). Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co.
Freud, S. (1960/1923). The ego and the id. New York: W.W. Norton & Co.
Jung, C. (1964). Man and his symbols. New York: Dell Publishing Co.
Skinner, B.F. (1974). About behaviorism. New York: Knopf.
On Reserve
Freud, S. (1989/1908). Character and anal eroticism. In P.Gay’s (Ed.) The Freud Reader (pp.293-297). New York: W.W. Norton & Co.
Skinner, B.F. (1976/1948). Walden Two (ch. 1-8). New York: MacMillan Publishing Co.
Exams
There will be two in-class exams for this course including the final exam. The mid-term exam will be worth 100 points, and the final exam will be worth 125 points and include a few cumulative questions. All tests will be primarily long answer/short essay in form. Exam questions will often be taken from class lectures, discussions and reading material. A study guide highlighting broad topic areas and “big questions” will me made available to students in the week prior to the exam.
Course Writings & Class Presentations
This will be a writing-heavy course. Three papers will be brief reaction papers in response to your reading of the primary sources. These papers should be from 2 to 4 pages, and they are worth 25 points each. The reaction papers are opportunities to articulate thoughtful responses to almost anything a student finds interesting in a particular reading, thereby encouraging students to engage in a scholarly “dialogue” with the writers of the reading materials. I will continue this ongoing dialogue in my written responses to papers.
A 5-6 page course paper worth a total of 75 points will be due mid-term. For this project, students will be required to apply Freudian concepts to better understand the “personality dynamics” of some character (or characters) represented in a narrative medium (e.g., film, television, literature, poetry, theater, etc.).
A final paper (8-10 pages) will be worth 125 points. Each student will pick one personality theorist featured in your text but not discussed extensively in class. Students will concisely summarize a few important ideas about personality that this theorist developed and then use these ideas to interpret the characteristics of a historical/famous figure they are interested in. A bibliography and a detailed outline will be due at specific dates prior to the final paper.
In addition, a class presentation will be worth an additional 50 points. These presentations will be based on one of the reaction papers, the midterm paper or the final paper.
More detailed instructions and examples will be presented in class prior as the semester progresses. In addition, a detailed explanation of grading criteria will be provided. A 10% deduction per weekday will be made for late papers.
Homework Assignments
Several (approximately 5) short assignments will be due at different points throughout the semester. In some cases, I may announce these assignments only one class in advance of when they are due. While these assignments will not be especially time consuming, they will require that you keep up. Incomplete assignments will result in a 5 point deduction in your overall grade, and they will not be accepted late unless special arrangements have been made.
Attendance, Preparation & Participation
This is a seminar-based course; therefore class participation and attendance is expected. Attendance will be taken for each class. Students should not have more than one unexcused absence throughout the term. Unexcused absences beyond the first will result in a 5 point deduction per absence in your overall grade.
Regular, informed participation is also expected. This means that not only should students speak up, they should be prepared for class. Participation is worth 50 points and will be based on the following scale:
Outstanding 50 points
Excellent 45 points
Good 40 points
Average 35 points
Below Average 30 points
Grading (Total of 600 points)
540-600 A
480-539 B
420-479 C
360-419 D
359 & Below F
Assignment of +’s & -’s will be made based the overall distribution of scores.
Class Schedule
Date Topic Reading
9/2 Introduction to course --
9/4 An exercise in personality description --
9/5-9/12 Interpreting a cinematic personality --
9/13 Personality theory Engler, Ch.1
9/16 A re-introduction to Freud Engler, Ch.2
9/18-9/27 Exploring The Ego & the Id; Freud, pp. 1-62
Reaction Paper #1 due 9/25
9/30 A Freudian case study: “Katharina” Handout
10/2 A Freudian personality-type: The anal character Freud Reader, pp. 293-297
10/4 Midterm Paper due --
10/7 A re-introduction to Jung Engler, Ch. 3
10/9-10/17 Exploring Man & His Symbols; Jung, pp.1-94
Reaction Paper #2 due 10/11
10/14 Winter Break
10/18 Mid-Term Exam --
10/21 A re-introduction to Skinner Engler, Ch.8
10/23-10/30 Exploring About Behaviorism; Skinner, pp. 2-23, 163-183
Reaction Paper #3 due 10/30
10/31-11/1 Behaviorism & society Skinner, WII, Ch.1-8
11/4-11/11 Maslow & Humanistic Theories Engler, Ch.13
Final Paper Reference List due 11/04
11/13-12/6 Cattell, The Big Five, & the Biological Bases Engler, Ch.11
of Personality
Final Paper Outlines due 11/25
11/27-11/29 Thanksgiving Break --
12/4 Final Paper due
Wk. of 12/9 Final Exam (as per college schedule)