Personality Syllabus Spring Semester 2012

Ocean County College Professor’s Syllabus Personality Syllabus Spring Semester 2012

Course Title: Personality Theory PSYC 174 Professor’s Name: Neil J. Lavender, Ph.D., Full Professor of Psychology Office Location: Bartlett Bldg. 3d floor, Rm. 313 Phone: (733) 255-0400 Ex. 2426; Email: [email protected] Office Hours: ______To arrange a meeting with your instructor in addition to the regularly scheduled office hours, please contact me directly or contact the Department of Social Science, Education and Public Service at (732) 255-0400 Extension 2210 Required text and materials: Personality Theories by Barbara Engler. The workbook, if available, is optional. Do not use books by other authors. Also, use latest edition Ocean Cruiser: Students will need to access “Ocean Cruiser”, OCC’s student internet and email service. To log on, go to www.ocean.edu and click on Ocean Cruiser. Your user name is firstname_lastname and your PIN is your student ID number which you can find on any correspondence from the college. If I need to communicate with you, I will do it through this. Course Description: While most people understand, or seem to have an intuitive understanding of the word personality, there exists at least 50 definitions of the term. I like to define it as an enduring tendency to think behave and feel in a certain manner across many different situations. Your book will contain other definitions as well. But probably the most important part of personality theory is that it begins to give us answers the question “who am I?” In my mind, this is what makes the course so exciting! You will see as we progress in this course that there are numerous ways of looking at personality. We call these ways of looking at personality perspectives, or, more scientifically, theories. While there are numerous ways of looking at personality, we will learn personality from the major series of psychoanalysis, behaviorism, humanism and existentialism (usually combined and treated as one theory), and cognitive theory (usually combined with behaviorism). A more recent approach is trait theory. We will study at least one theorist from each major perspective. Prerequisite for this course is general psychology (SS 172 at Ocean County College.). From the Catalog: A study of adult personality focusing on representative theories fr om the major schools of personality theory (psychoanalytic, social learning, humanistic, and cognitive) and methods of studying personality (e.g. case studies, personality tests, empirical research, etc.)

Attendance Policy: Students are expected to attend and be prepared to participate in all scheduled class meetings. You are to bring a #2 pencil to all tests and keep and maintain class notes. You are allowed to miss 10% of your classes maximum without penalty which is 3 for this semester. Students must see me ahead of time to arrange for all excused absences. Excessive cutting will be penalized by a reduction in your final grade 2-5 points. Perfect attendance is rewarded by adding 4 points to your final grade. You are responsible to obtain the class notes for missed classes. Grading: Your Grade is based on: -2 Tests each counting 40% of your grade -4-5 in class Labs 20% of your grade -Class Participation -Extra Credit optional Book Report Tests: Students grades are based upon 2 tests, a midterm and a final, each one counted as 40% of your grade. Tests are True-False or Multiple Choice (You are required to bring a #2 pencil to class on the day of the test). Students missing any tests will take a cumulative final on the very last day of class which will count as the missed test(s). Labs: In addition to the tests, students will be required to participate in group discussions called “Labs”. During these labs, students will collaborate with their group partners in discussing and completing an activity that psychologists do. Full participation is required. All group members who actively participate will receive the same grade. Approximately 4-6 labs are scheduled during the course of the semester. Students who do not do their share of work in a group will be penalized in their grade. Note: There are no make-ups for a missed lab (you can’t make up a class discussion!) but you are allowed to miss one, or, if you have completed them all, drop your lowest grade. Your lab average counts for 20% of your grade.

Class Participation Grades: You are expected to participate in class. Lack of class participation may result in point deductions from your final grade. Points may be deducted for:  Absences (more than 3)  Tardiness  Being a distraction to others, o such as talking, o use of cell phone, o texting, sleeping, etc.

Extra Credit Book Report: An optional book report will count as extra credit if you desire to do it. You will receive up to 6 extra credit points on your final average. Here are the instructions: You may not use a book from another class, whether it is my class or anyone else’s from the past. The following is a list of books accepted for book reports You will need to use one of the below books for your report, other books will not be accepted. These books are not found at the Ocean County College bookstore and must be purchased either at a bookstore or a web site. I have been very successful in getting books very quickly from Amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com. Their prices are very good. Also, from time to time, these books will go out of print only to come back into print by another publisher. Don't be frustrated. If the book you wish to read is unavailable, you might be successful by looking in the local libraries.

--Instructions. The directions for this assignment are simple, do not make it more complicated than it is. You are simply to summarize, in as much detail as possible, what you have read. Your job is to convince me that you have read and understood the entire book. In order to achieve this, you will need to write information packed sentences, not wasting any words. For example you should write "this is a book about childhood schizophrenia." rather than " the author has written a highly informative book that talks about schizophrenia in childhood. Although I am not very experienced in this disorder has I have not met anyone with this disorder and I don't think I am likely to, there were a lot of useful facts about this disorder." Your grade will be based upon the thoroughness and detail in your report. I don't think you will be able to do a good job on this in less than 10 pages. As I am also interested in your response to the book, please write about one paragraph (not much more please) on your impressions of the book.

Reports should be done in a twelve point type with one inch margins and double spaced. It helps me to read the use when you use one of the more popular types such as Times New Roman (Western), Arial, or Courier. Be sure to give reference when quoting (page #) and use quotation marks. Not doing this = plagiarism. Here is a list of the books that you can choose from:

An Outline of Psychoanalysis. S. Freud. W.W. Norton & Company; Reissue edition (October 1989) A summary of some of the most major points of Freud's theory of psychoanalysis. Freud is an excellent writer and his books have won many awards.

Neurosis and Human Growth: The Struggle Toward Self- Realization. K. Horney. Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company; (May 1991) One of the best and most concise descriptions of neurosis I have ever read. This is a highly readable book that was written for the layperson as well as the professional. The theory is very simple to grasp.

Final Analysis: The Making and Unmaking of a Psychoanalyst. J. Mousson.Publisher: Pearson Addison Wesley; (October 1990) A heretic from psychoanalysis talks about how it ruined his life.

Reason and Emotion in Psychotherapy. A. Ellis A type of cognitive manifesto. A break through work in cognitive therapy.

The Meaning of Anxiety. R. May Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company; Revised edition (June 1996) An Existentialist view of anxiety.

About Behaviorism. B.F. Skinner. Publisher: Vintage; (February 12, 1976) In this book, the most well-known behaviorist of all time writes a summary of all the key points about behaviorism, often addressing the criticisms of his theoretical opponents.

On Becoming a Person: A Therapist's View of Psychotherapy C. Rogers. Publisher: Mariner Books; (September 1995) An excellent and highly readable exposition on Humanism.

Dora : An Analysis of a Case of Hysteria S. Freud Publisher: Simon & Schuster; Reprint edition (November 1997) One of Freud's most famous cases. Reads like a novel.

Changing Directives: The Strategic Therapy of Jay Haley Publisher: Milton H Erickson Foundation Press; (December 1, 2001) Jay Haley is an excellent example of strategic psychotherapy. This is cutting edge stuff. Imagine treating a patient by suggesting play children's records and dance!

Toxic Co-workers, A. Cavaiola & N. Lavender. New Harbinger 2000. (yeah, I'm one of the authors.) Although I might be prejudiced, I believe this is one of the best primers on personality disorders written for the layperson. Although the book is geared to people working with others who have personality disorders, it provides a highly detailed description of all the personality disorders.

Grading Scale: A = 90%+ Excellent

B+ = 87 - 89% Very Good

B = 80 - 86% Good

C+ = 77 - 79% Above Average

C = 70 - 76% Average

D = 65 - 69% Passing - Below Average

F = 64 and below Failure

Course Outline: Midterm Covers the following chapters and related class lectures: Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 Psychoanalysis S. Freud

Chapter 3 Carl Jung Chapter 5 Karen Horney Chapter 6 Erik Erikson (Do the reading in text, I don’t lecture on this)

Final Exam covers the following chapters and related class lectures: Chapter 5 Eric Fromm Chapter 8 Behavior and Learning theories Dollard, Miller(Do the reading in text, I don’t lecture on this) and B.F. Skinner (I lecture on him). Chapter 9 Social Learning Theory Bandura Chapter 13 Humanistic and Existential Theories A. Maslow(Do the reading in text, I don’t lecture on this), C. Rogers (I lecture on him). Chapter 14 Existentialism Rollo May Chapter 15 Personal Construct Theory G. Kelly Chapter 16 Ellis, Beck, Lazarus (Do the reading in text, I don’t lecture on this)

Class Policies: Statement of Civility: Students are expected to be prepared to participate in class, giving the professor their fullest attention. Cell phones are turned off and out of sight. Students and faculty are to exercise mutual respect and civility. You will be asked to leave if you talk during lectures or disrupt the class. Additionally, 1) Late papers are not accepted. 2) All book reports and assignments (except the labs) should be type-written and spell- checked and be “of college level”.3) Students are to keep track of their grades. You should know how well you are doing at any given time. 4) You are responsible for all missed assignments, contact members of your lab group to get missed lecture notes, 5) Finally, I expect you to be mature and active learners who want to be in my class. You are responsible for your education. Statement of Plagiarism: Students should refer to the student handbook and review Policy #5180. Plagiarism is the presentation of the work of others as your own; it is not limited to copying the work of another student. Copying from Encyclopedias or texts and cutting and pasting the work of others from Internet sources often are not considered plagiarism by many students; they are forms of plagiarism. You must paraphrase such material in your own words and cite the source you obtained the material from when writing a paper. You must also paraphrase material from a text in an open book exam rather than copying sections into an answer. If you do present someone else’s work verbatim, you must frame it in quotation marks and cite the source in a footnote. Such quotations should be used sparingly as a paper should be primarily your work rather than a string of quotations. Incompletes: In rare cases, such as when a student moves out of the country or has been seriously ill or disabled for a long period of time, and incomplete may be requested. Incompletes are not given for students who have simply fallen behind in their work. It is very important that when a student takes an accelerated course, such as a three or five week course, that they seriously consider this policy before taking the course. All Incompletes must be requested in writing. Withdrawals: Ocean County College as a hard and fast rule regarding withdrawals. A student will receive a W. when he or she requests withdrawal in writing up until 60% of the time this semester has passed. It is important to restate here that the withdrawal must be requested in writing. After 60% of the class has passed, it is impossible for the student to obtain a W. and the student will need to complete the course for a grade. It is imperative that the student understands that they will not be able to request a W. from the professor after that time. Student Resources: There are many helpful services for student at Ocean County College. Things like counseling, tutoring, seminars, etc. are available to all students. Most are free of charge. Students should log on to www.ocean.edu for detailed information. Accommodations: If there is any student in class who has special needs because of a learning or other type of disability, please notify me so I can discuss special accommodations with you. You will need to provide your paperwork. Disclaimer: The schedule and procedures described in this course outline are subject to change depending upon the needs of the class.

Theories of Personality Learning Objectives:  Objective: To become familiar with the major models and traditions related to the study of personality and personal growth.  Outcome: Students will be able to articulate the underlying themes, methodology, and assumptions of each model and tradtion.  Objective: To examine, in depth, specific theories under each of the major psychological models of personality. To examine each theories concepts and principles, their explanation of personality development, their assessment techniques, and their application to treatment of psychopathology.  Outcome: Students will be able to articulate the major concepts and principles of each personality theory discussed in the class and in the text. Students will be able to articulate each theories assessment techniques and the theories approach to the treatment and understanding of psychopathology. Students will be able critically evaluate each theory.  Objective: To become familiar with a specific set of criteria which can be used to evaluate any theory of personality.  Outcome: Students will be able to critically evaluate a theory of personality using the outlined criteria.  Objective:To develop the skills necessary to be able to draw on these theories to describe and explain an individual's personality or behavior. OCC General Education Goals Addressed in the Course: 1. To develop the ability to communicate effectively through reading, listening, speaking and writing.

The student will be able to:

a. Read and listen analytically, with understanding and openness toward other points of view.

b. Write and speak standard American English with clarity, continuity, fluency and accuracy.

2. To develop the ability to solve problems by collecting, organizing and evaluating information.

a. State a problem clearly.

b. Gather information from libraries and other educational sources.

c. Develop a hypothesis.

d. Select a research methodology.

e. Conduct the research.

f. Observe, classify, analyze, synthesize and evaluate data.

g. Interpret results and draw conclusions in terms of the stated problem. h. Demonstrate competency with computers and other educational tools in using information to solve problems.

i. Recognize the relationships among information, theories and applications.

3. To develop and understanding of the concepts, theories and fundamental principles of the natural and social sciences.

a. Identify biological and social factors affecting human behavior.

b. Identify social problems, outline their possible causes, and analyze the potential effects of suggested remedies.

4. To develop the understanding of health and well being necessary to confront the challenges facing individuals, families and communities.

a. Identify important issues of health and well being.

b. Analyze and evaluate how issues of health and well being affect the individual, community and humankind at large.

To foster the curiosity, creativity and desire to become autonomous learners for life. The student will be able to:

a. Understand basic theories of human motivation and learning