Professor: Dr. Irene Hanson Frieze                                                                                 Assistant: Bonka S. Boneva
E-mail: FRIEZE                                                                                                            E-mail: BONA
Office: 426 Langley Hall (624-4336)                                                                               Office: 257 Langley Hall (624-4420)
Office hours: Tues 9:30-10:30                                                                                        Office hours: Weds 3:30-4:30
    or by appointment

Course Description:

This introductory course is an overview of psychological research of human personality. Topics include theories about the nature of personality, group differences in personality traits, psychodynamic and motivational explanations of personality, individual differences in responses to stress, self esteem and self concept, changes in personality over the lifespan, biological explanations of personality, and the influence of personality on life tasks.

Prerequisites:

The student should have completed one of the Introduction to Psychology course before taking this course.

Required Text:

Cloninger, S. (1996). Personality: Description, Dynamic, and development. New York: W. H. Freeman. [ISBN 0-7167-28257]

Methods of Evaluation: [1000 regular points]. The course is graded on a point basis such that:

        A+ = 975 and above                         C+ = 775 and above
        A = 925 and above                           C = 725 and above
        A = 900 and above                           C- = 700 and above
        B+ = 875 and above                         D+ = 675 and above
        B = 825 and above                           D = 625 and above
        B- = 800 and above                          D- = 600 and above

Regular Points [1000] can be earned in any of the following ways:

• Multiple Choice Exams: Three in-class exams (250 points each = 750 points total). Each will have 50 questions. [Make-up exams will be (more difficult) essay exams and can be taken up to 2 weeks late].
 
• Essay Questions on Exams. Each exam will have an essay question that is worth up to 50 points, for a total of 150.
 
• Writing Five Multiple-Choice Questions. Before each exam, students will be given the opportunity to submit one or two multiple-choice questions they have written. Up to 5 total questions can be submitted for regular points during the semester. [Additional questions submitted earn extra credit.] These should have five responses, and not be too difficult or too easy. They should require some thought to answer correctly and not be a simple identification requiring only memorizing. The correct response should be noted, along with the textbook page or lecture date where one can verify the correct answer. Questions are worth up to 20 points each for a total of 100 points.

• Additional Multiple Choice Questions. Up to three additional multiple choice questions can be submitted for extra credit. Each is worth 20 points, for a total possible of 60 points. These must be submitted before the relevant exam by the date that regular questions are due.
 
• Questions Used on exams. Multiple choice questions selected for the exam will receive an additional bonus of 10 points each, up to 30 points.

September 1. Overview of the course.

September 3. The scientific study of personality.

Reading: Chapter 1. Introduction.

Reading: Chapter 2. Personality descriptions.

Reading: Chapter 3. Personality traits.

September 22 - 29. Specific traits. Male-female differences. Race and ethnic differences in traits.

Reading: Chapter 4. Group differences.

October 6 - 13. Unconscious aspects of personality.

Reading: Chapter 6. Psychodynamics.

Reading: Chapter 7. Motivation in personality.

Reading: Chapter 8. Adaptation to the environment.

Reading: Chapter 9. Self.

November 10. Second exam.

November 12 - 17. Lifespan personality. Does the personality change?

Reading: Chapter 10. Continuity and change.

Reading: Chapter 11. Biological aspects of personality.

Third student multiple choice questions due in class December 10, 11 a.m.

December 8 - 10. Personality in daily life.

Reading: Chapter 12. Social tasks and personality.

December 16 (Wednesday). Third exam. 2 - 3:30 p.m.
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Specific page numbers from the text that students are responsible for and some additional readings will be provided in lecture.