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College of Social Sciences

PSY/405
Theories of Personality
5/13/14-6/16/14
Copyright 2010, 2009, 2007 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved.

Course Description

This course surveys the field of personality from a scientific perspective, examining the general approaches to
understanding personality. The key theorists and concepts associated with each perspective are highlighted,
along with the strengths and limitations of the different approaches.

Policies
Students/learners will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained within the
following two documents:

University policies: You must be logged into the student website to view this document.

University policies are subject to change. Be sure to read the policies at the beginning of each class. Policies
may be slightly different depending on the modality in which you attend class. If you have recently changed
modalities, read the policies governing your current class modality.

Course Materials

Feist, J., & Feist, G. J. (2009). Theories of personality (7th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw Hill.

All electronic materials are available on the student website.

Week One: Introduction to Personality
Details Due Points
Objectives 1.1 Define personality.
1.2 Examine theoretical approaches in studying personality.
1.3 Analyze factors that may influence an individuals personality
development.

Readings Read Ch. 1 of Theories of Personality.
Read this weeks Electronic Reserve Readings.

Participation Participate in class discussion. All week 2
Discussion
Questions
Respond to weekly discussion questions. Day 2
(Weds)
and Day
4 (Fri)
3
Learning Team
Instructions
Resource: Learning Team Toolkit
Complete the Learning Team Charter

Individual
Introduction to
Personality Paper
Prepare a 1,050- to 1,400-word paper in which you examine
personality theory. Address the following concepts:

Day 7
(Mon)
10
2



Define personality.
Examine theoretical approaches in studying personality.
Analyze factors that may influence an individuals personality
development
Be sure to follow APA-format, include an
introduction and conclusion and use 3-5 academic
references. Please note that a paper without 3-5
academic references will lose a minimum of 20
points on a scale of 100.



Week Two: Psychodynamic Personality Theories
Details Due Points
Objectives 2.1 Describe the assumptions, reliability, validity, and applications of
psychodynamic personality theories.
2.2 Analyze the strengths and limitations of psychodynamic
personality theories.
2.3 Analyze individual personality characteristics, using
psychodynamic personality theories.
2.4 Explain interpersonal relations, using psychodynamic
personality theories.

Readings Read Ch. 26 & 8 of Theories of Personality.
Read this weeks Electronic Reserve Readings.

Participation Participate in class discussion. All week 2
Discussion
Questions
Respond to weekly discussion questions. Day 2
(Weds)
and Day
4 (Fri)
3
Individual
Personality
Overview
Prepare a 1050- to 1,400-word paper that is based on the theories
of personality covered in the readings. Choose two and analyze the
strengths and limitations of the theories. Compare and contrast them
in relationship to:

Basic or underlying assumptions
Deterministic versus free will
Awareness of self (e.g., conscious versus unconscious motives
for behavior)
Be sure to follow APA-format, include an
introduction and conclusion and use 3-5 academic
references. Please note that a paper without 3-5
Day 7
(Mon)
15
3



academic references will lose a minimum of 20
points on a scale of 100.

Learning Team Submit the Learning Team Charter Day 3
(Thurs)



Week Three: Humanistic and Existential Personality Theories
Details Due Points
Objectives 3.1 Describe the assumptions, reliability, validity, and applications of
humanistic and existential personality theories.
3.2 Analyze the strengths and limitations of humanistic and
existential personality theories.
3.3 Analyze individual personality characteristics, using humanistic
and existential personality theories.
3.4 Explain interpersonal relations, using humanistic and existential
personality theories.

Readings Read Ch. 1012 of Theories of Personality.
Read this weeks Electronic Reserve Readings.

Participation Participate in class discussion. All week 2
Discussion
Questions
Respond to weekly discussion questions. Day 2
(Weds)
and Day
4 (Fri)
3
Learning Team
Humanistic and
Existential
Personality Theories
Matrix
Complete the Humanistic and Existential Personality Theories
Matrix, using the text, the University Library, the Internet, and other
resources.

Prepare a 700- to 1,050-word analysis of the strengths and
limitations of the theories listed in explaining individuals behavior.
Address the following:

Analyze how humanistic and existential theories affect individual
personalities.
Explain how humanistic and existential theories influence
interpersonal relationships.

Attach your matrix to your analysis when you submit it to your
facilitator.

Be sure to follow APA-format, include an
introduction and conclusion and use 3-5 academic
Day 7
(Mon)
15
4



references. Please note that a paper without 3-5
academic references will lose a minimum of 20
points on a scale of 100.



Week Four: Dispositional Personality Theories
Details Due Points
Objectives 4.1 Describe the assumptions, reliability, validity, and applications of
dispositional personality theories.
4.2 Analyze the strengths and limitations of dispositional personality
theories.
4.3 Analyze individual personality characteristics, using dispositional
personality theories.
4.4 Explain interpersonal relations, using dispositional personality
theories.

Readings Read Ch. 13 & 14 of Theories of Personality.
Read this weeks Electronic Reserve Readings.

Participation Participate in class discussion. All week 2
Discussion
Questions
Respond to weekly discussion questions. Day 2
(Weds)
and Day
4 (Fri)
3
Individual
Personality Analysis
Select two of the following theoretical approaches: psychodynamic,
humanistic and existential, dispositional, or learning. Make sure the
two selected are not the same as from Week Two.

Prepare a 1,400- to 1,750-word paper in which you compare and
contrast the theories selected. Address the following items:

Describe the role of personality in affecting situational behavior.
Examine the personality characteristics attributed to each of the
theories in your approach.
Explain the interpersonal relational aspects associated with the
theories selected.
Be sure to follow APA-format, include an
introduction and conclusion and use 3-5 academic
references. Please note that a paper without 3-5
academic references will lose a minimum of 20
points on a scale of 100.

Day 7
(Mon)
20
5



Learning Team

Complete your reference list for Week 5s assignment.

Day 3
(Thurs)



Week Five: Learning Personality Theories
Details Due Points
Objectives 5.1 Describe the assumptions, reliability, validity, and applications of
learning personality theories.
5.2 Analyze the strengths and limitations of learning personality
theories.
5.3 Analyze individual personality characteristics, using learning
personality theories.
5.4 Explain interpersonal relations, using psychodynamic learning
personality theories.

Readings Read Ch. 1517 of Theories of Personality.
Read this weeks Electronic Reserve Readings.

Participation Participate in class discussion. All week 2
Discussion
Questions
Respond to weekly discussion questions. Day 2
(Weds)
and Day
4 (Fri)
3
Learning Team
Learning Personality
Theories Matrix
Complete the Learning Personality Theories Matrix, using the text,
the University Library, the Internet, and other resources.

Prepare a 700- to 1,050-word analysis of the strengths and
limitations of the theories listed in explaining individuals behavior.
Address the following:

Describe how learning theories affect individual personalities.
Explain how learning theories influence interpersonal
relationships.

Attach your matrix to your analysis when you submit it to your
facilitator

Be sure to follow APA-format, include an
introduction and conclusion and use 3-5 academic
references. Please note that a paper without 3-5
academic references will lose a minimum of 20
points on a scale of 100.

Day 7
(Mon)
15


6




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