Advanced Personality

Psychology 551

Fall 2015

Advanced Personality

Course Information

Time/Day: Monday & Wednesday 8:10 – 9:30

Location: SB 303

Instructor Information

Instructor: Duncan G. Campbell, Ph.D.

Email:

Office: Skaggs Bldg, Room 312

Office Hours: TBA and by appointment

Phone: (406) 243-4731

Required Text & Readings

1. John, O.P., Robins, R.W. &Pervin, L.A. (2008). Handbook of Personality: Theory and Research, 3rd Ed. New York: The Guilford Press.

***This is NOT available in the bookstore. Please secure a copy from a commercial vendor.

1. Additional required readings are listed in the course schedule. These supplemental readings will be available via Moodle.

Course Objectives

This course introduces personality psychology in two parts. We begin by examining the history of personality as a topic of study, an issue that reflects the history of our science in general. We will also attend briefly to some general orienting and methodological issues. Then, continuing with our focus on history, the first division examines classic theories of personality, with a focus on early ‘theorists’, who derived models of personality in concert with clinical work. By examining early works you will gain an appreciation of how historical theoretical perspectives contribute to contemporary theory and inform psychotherapeutic interventions. Toward the end of the course’s first section, we examine contemporary models of personality, with an emphasis on trait and social-cognitive approaches. Many of the topics addressed in the first division represent theorists’ and researchers’ attempts to answer questions like, “What does it mean to be a person?” “How do people come to be who and how they are?” or “How might we best characterize and understand individual differences?” The second division of the course addresses major issues in the field from multiple theoretical perspectives. These issues include, for example, gender, culture, physical and mental health, etc. Once the course is complete, I expect you will be knowledgeable about historical and contemporary theoretical perspectives and you will recognize the links among them. You will also understand the variety of topics that occupy the attention of contemporary personality psychologists. Finally, the course should enhance your appreciation of how issues related to personality inform clinical and/or research endeavors.

Learning Outcomes:

Students will:

1.Demonstrate knowledge-based competencies regarding major historical and contemporary theoretical models of human personality.

2.Demonstrate understanding of individual and cultural differences and their development and how these stem from and contribute to personality.

3.Demonstrate competencies regarding the integration of theoretical and scientific literature applicable to a range of issues. These competencies will be evidenced in students’ intensive participation in class-based discussions throughout the semester. Finally, students will demonstrate specific in-depth knowledge and competency regarding the scientific literature in a personally-chosen area of personality psychology.

Course Requirements

Class participation

We will meet twice a week to discuss the assigned readings. Didactic methods will include occasional brief lecture on key points and interactive discussion. Because our primary learning tool will be active discussion, you are required to attend each class meeting fully prepared and familiar with the required readings (see Commentary/advance discussion points below). I expect that each of you will contribute to each class period. Class participation will constitute 15% of your final grade. Failure to participate actively in each class period will reduce your participation points.

Commentary/advance discussion points

To facilitate your engagement in classroom-based discussion, each of you will prepare and submit (via Moodle’s Announcements forum) 3-4 discussion points for each class period on the reading schedule marked with an ‘*’. The specific content and format of the discussion points are up to you, but I envision that they will reflect issues that caught your interest in the reading material, and/or issues that you’d like to pose for discussion to your classmates. In the past, some of our most engaging (and enriching) discussions have come from student comments related to the following: the relevance of the readings for clinical interventions; thoughts/ideas about research inquiries; discussions and comments regarding comparisons/contrasts among the various theoretical perspectives; and discussions about how one theory appears to have flowed from or emerged in opposition to previous work. You are required to submit these discussion points before class, so that everyone has an opportunity to think them over before we come together. This requirement providesan incentive for you to review the required readings thoughtfully before class and to provide some structure to our shared in-class time. Advance commentaryis required for 22 class meetings [23 class meetings are identified with an ‘*’; you will not submit commentary for the class period for which you are the discussion leader (see next section)]. Each submission will ‘earn’ between 0 and 2 points (the total points from this requirement constitute 44% of your final grade).

Discussion Leader

Beginning with the turn in our attention to mid-level topics/content areas in week 11, teams of students will guide the discussion for a single class period. The topics and at least one general reading have been outlined. You and your partner(s) will identify 2-3 additional relevant readings. The discussion leader assignment as a whole will count for 16% of your final grade.

Discussion leader responsibilities include the following.

1)You will identify and deliver 2-3 additional readings in the content area. Your selections can include seminal articles about theory issues or particularly informative articles from the research literature. Please consult with me about the readings at least 4 weeks before your assigned discussion leader date. Without exception,you must identify and make available your selected readings at least 10 days prior to your discussion date. If you miss this deadline you will not earn the points available for this component of the discussion leader activity. (6 points)

2)You and the other member(s) of your team will lead the discussion for the full class period. (10 points)

Final Paper

Each of you will write a paper on an issue relevant to personality psychology. The specific topic is up to you.The paper should be written as if you intend to submit it for publication. It must, in other words, stand alone as a coherent and cohesive product. If you examine an issue related to your personal research program, please note that the paper for this course must be an original piece of work.

Your paper should be between 20 and 25 pages (APA format). To ensure that the scope and coverage of your paper is appropriate and to encourage you to stay on task, you will submit a written abstract (5% of your final grade) in class on the 26th of October. The paper itself is worth 20% of your final grade. It is due Wednesday, December 16 @ 12:00PM. Late abstracts will not be accepted unless extraordinary circumstances exist and are discussed in advance of the due date. Papers submitted after the Dec. 16 deadline will incur aninitial 10% deduction. An additional 10% deduction will be applied for each day the paper is late.

Course Expectations, Guidelines and Policies

Class Participation

We will meet twice a week to discuss the assigned readings. Didactic methods will include occasional brief lecture on key points and discussion. Because our primary emphasis will be on active discussion, you are required to attend each class meeting fully prepared and familiar with all of the required readings (see Discussion Questions/Comments below). I expect that each of you will contribute to each class period. Class participation will constitute 15% of your final grade. Failure to participate actively in each class period will reduce your participation points.

Academic Integrity

Academic dishonesty is antithetical to the mission of the University of Montana; all students must practice academic honesty. Misconduct is subject to an academic penalty by the course instructor and/or a disciplinary sanction by the University. Academic misconduct –including plagiarism- will result in an “F” for the course and might result in dismissal from your academic program and the university. Please let me know if you have any questions about what might constitute plagiarism.Please also familiarize yourself with the Student Conduct Code.

Class Attendance and Punctuality

I expect you to attend every scheduled class period and to be on time. Class absences are acceptable for the following reasons: 1) your own illness; 2) illness or health care needs of a family member; 3) travel for an academically-relevant event (e.g., conference attendance). Please let me know as soon as you can if you know in advance of a scheduled absence. If you must miss class because of your own illness or a family health care obligation, please let me know before class or as soon as possible. If you choose to use a laptop or iPad to take notes, please restrict your use of these devices to course-related activities during our class meetings.

Absences

Students who missclass FOR ANY REASONwill write a brief (≈ 1 page, single-spaced) reaction paper summarizing your reflections on the assigned readings. The paper must be submitted as soon as possible after the missed class period. Be advised: Failure to complete the paper before the next class period will result in a 2-point deduction of your class participation grade.

Policy on Incomplete Grades

An ‘Incomplete’ will be assigned only when student hardship precludes completion of the course requirements during the semester. It is the student’s responsibility to discuss with me the possibility of an Incomplete prior to the end of the semester. Any student taking an Incomplete is required to finish the course requirements as soon as possible after the semester’s close. The student must communicate his/her plan for course completion to me as soon as he/she is able to do so. Per University policy, Incompletes become failing graduates automatically after 12 months.

Disability Modifications

The University of Montana assures equal access to instruction through collaboration between students with disabilities, instructors, and Disability Services for Students. If you think you may have a disability adversely affecting your academic performance, and you have not already registered with Disability Services, please contact Disability Services in Lommasson Center 154 or call 406.243.2243. I will work with you and Disability Services to provide an appropriate modification.

Grading

Participation: 15 points

Discussion Questions: 44 points

Discussion Leader: 16 points

Abstract/Paper: 25 points

TOTAL: 100 points

Course Schedule

1. Greenberg, J.R. & Mitchell, S.A. (1983). Interpersonal Psychoanalysis. In Object Relations in Psychoanalytic Theory (pp. 79-115). Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
2. Horner, A.J. (1984). Organizing processes and the genesis of object relations. In Object Relations and the Developing Ego in Therapy (pp. 1-23). New York: Jason Aronson, Inc.
3. Pincus, A.L. & Ansell, E.B. (2012). Interpersonal Theory of Personality. In I. Weiner, H.A. Tennen, & J.M. Suls, (Eds.). Handbook of Psychology, Personality and Social Psychology (2nd Edition). Somerset, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.