PERSONALITY THEORY Psych 407, Lec 001 Fall, 2006
Instructor:
Michael T. Hynan
Office:
Office Hours:
M:
Phone: 229-5099
(office) or 229-4746 (main office)
e-mail:
hynan@uwm.edu
Home Page: www.uwm.edu/~hynan
Text: Personality
Theories by Bem P. Allen (2006),
You should be enrolled in a discussion:
601-605. No discussions the 1st week of class.
Personality Theory is more like a
Philosophy course than most Psychology courses you have encountered. In this
semester we will cover 11 different, yet inter-related, perspectives on the
structure and function of human personality. Most of these perspectives come
from the thoughtful speculations of individuals (often psychotherapists), who
rely on their own introspection, experience with patients, and observations of
the world around them. They also use idiosyncratic scientific methods to
formulate and revise their theories. Each theorist has also been influenced by
other personality theorists and the prevailing philosophical perspectives of
his or her culture. In this class we will examine the structure and dynamics of
personality in each theory. We will also attempt to understand each theory in
terms of the theorist's personal experience, cultural background, and prior
theorists. Each theory will be critically examined for impact and validity from
a number of different perspectives. We will also examine how well each theory
explains adult behavior (ex., adult personality types) in terms of how the
proposed core of personality (i.e., the ways in which people are all the same)
reacts to different developmental experiences.
If you are taking this course to find the
best or true theory of personality, you will be disappointed.
Instead, this class can be better described as an exploration into a world of
fascinating (and not so fascinating) ideas about how people relate to
themselves intra-psychically and to their social world. Course requirements, as
described below, include 3 exams and an optional paper for extra credit.
Outlines for each lecture can be
downloaded by going to www.uwm.edu/~hynan and
following the link to this course.
Course Outline:
I.
Introduction:
What is personality and what are theories of personality? How are personality
theories evaluated?
II.
Conflict Theories. People against
the world and people against themselves. The unconscious, and the
"discovery" that psychological variables affect somatic processes
A. Freud and Psychoanalysis, Chapter 2.
B. Jungian Analysis, Chapter
3.
C. Murray and Personology.
Chapter 15.
Exam l --- 40 questions. Oct. 9 + 10 days.
III.
Ego Theories. Rationality and
reality contact are given a stronger
role in managing conflicts.
A. Horney's
Social-ego Theory, Chapter 5.
B. Erickson's Psychoanalytic
Ego Psychology, Chapter 7.
IV.
Fulfillment Theories. The
possibility that people can live without conflict. People actualizing themselves and striving
for ideals.
A. Adler's Individual
Psychology, Chapter 4.
B. Existential Perspectives, web
reading--www.ship.edu/%7Ecgboeree/binswanger.html
Lecture notes on Existentialism
C. Rogers' Person-centered
Theory, Chapter 9.
Exam 2 --- 40 questions. Nov. 8 + 10 days
D. Maslow's
Basic and Growth Needs, Chapter 10.
V.
Behavioral Approaches. Do we need "Personality" as a concept
to explain behavior? Personality as a set of habits and/or cognitions.
A. Skinner and Radical
Behaviorism, Chapter 14.
B. Moderate and Cognitive
Behaviorists, pp.270-286 & Chapt. 13
Final Exam: 40 questions: Wed, Dec., 20
Final grades for
this course will be dependent on three things:
A) Exam performance, 3 exams, 40 questions
each, worth a total of 120 pts.
B) Discussion score, 0-40 pts. Discussion
requirements will be described to you by your teaching assistant.
C) Optional paper, 0-20 pts.
All exams will
be multiple choice exams. Dates for the
first two exams will be announced 7-10 days before the exam day. Final grades
will be based on the sum total of your performance on the three exams,
discussion, and optional paper. Grading in the class will be based on a curve
Optional Paper: Students may write an optional paper
between 7 and 15 pages (double-spaced) on any area of personality involving
theories. Papers will be graded between
0 and 20 pts. These additional points may
increase your grade. Papers are due on
At the end of
the semester A will be added to B and a distribution of 0-160 will be created.
Grading in the class will be based on a curve, and tentative grades will be
assigned based on this distribution. If you have not written an optional paper,
the tentative grade will be your final grade. If you have written an optional
paper, the paper score will be added to the sum of A + B. The new sum score (A
+ B + C) will determine your grade, based on the previous distribution.
Policy on make-up exams: If you expect to miss a scheduled exam
please notify the instructor of the reasons for your absence prior to exam
time. This may be done by you in person,
or by phone, or by message to my mailbox in the main office of the Psychology
Department (GAR 224, 229-4746). If
acceptable prior notification is received, you will receive a make-up exam of
multiple choice format; otherwise you will receive either an essay exam or an
oral exam covering the same material.
If anyone has need for note-taking or
test-taking accommodations, please feel free to come and discuss this with me
early in the semester. Also, anyone needing test-taking accommodations for
religious observances is invited to discuss this with me early in the semester.
Information on Psychology Dept. policies on participation by students with
disabilities, accommodation for religious observances, academic conduct,
complaint procedures, grade appeal procedures, and other standing policies
(e.g., sexual harassment, incompletes) is available in the main office of
Psychology,