PSYC 321, Winter 2022 Course Syllabus Elizaveta Solomonova

Time: Place: Instructor:

PSYC 321 52 Fundamentals of Personality syllabus
Wednesdays 18:00-20:30
In person (CC 115, Loyola Campus) /on zoom (depending on evolving
pandemic)
Elizaveta Solomonova, PhD
[email protected]

Office Hours: Wednesdays, on zoom or in-person (room TBD). 13:00-

15:00, by appointment only.

Course objectives: This course will provide an introduction to theories,

approaches and recent advances in Personality Psychology and
Personality Science. Major theories of personality will be discussed
(psychoanalytic, trait theory, existential and others), compared and
contrasted and put in context of contemporary empirical science, clinical
work and cultural contexts. The guiding questions of the course will be:
1) what makes us us? 2) how are people similar to each other and how do
people differ? 3) what are the different aspects that contribute to
personality? 4) are our personalities stable or can people change? 5) can
there be a scientific study of personality? 6) what is the relevance of
personality theories to fundamental, applied and clinical work? 7) are
personality types universal across cultures?

Instructional Method. This course will consist of weekly lectures,

delivered in person when possible or online via zoom (depending on
government and university directives), readings and group projects. The
Moodle platform will be used to circulate readings, announcements and
to discuss class material in forum form. The instructor will be available to
meet with students as needed during office hours or by appointment. I
will be happy to provide help with writing the optional paper, give
feedback on progress of projects, and talk about anything in relation to
this course. Please do not wait until the last minute to ask your questions.

Optional critical review paper:

Write a 5-7-page critical review paper on an empirical article (describing
results of an experimental study or a survey) of your choice in the domain
of personality psychology. A review article/book chapter/theoretical
 paper may not be used for this exercise. Your paper must have the
following sections:
 - Introduction: Why is this topic important? What is the state of
knowledge about this topic, what are the knowledge gaps?
 - Article review: Objectives, Hypotheses, Methods (population studied,
variables and techniques) used, Brief summary of the results.
 - Critical discussion: What have we learned? Expand on the results.
How does this paper contribute to knowledge about the topic? What are
the strengths/weaknesses of the
methods? How does this paper change our understanding of the
topic? What are the next steps? Please not that critical discussion
does not necessarily mean negative critique. Rather, you are invited
to reflectively think about the implications of the findings of the
article of your choice.
- The paper must integrate at least 5 other sources (peer-reviewed
articles, book chapters), discuss theory and methodology of the
article.
The research paper should be written in accordance with the APA
rules and is due on March 30 on Moodle.
If a student misses the midterm, the paper will replace its grade
midterm (30% of the final grade). No deferred or substitute
midterms will be available. Students may also choose to write the
paper AND write the midterm. In this case, the best note of the two
will be used for final note calculations.

A midterm exams: The midterm exam will take place on February 23. It
will cover all assigned material (lectures and readings) from the
beginning of the class until the midterm. The midterm exams will consist
of multiple-choice questions, fill-in-the blank questions, and short answer
questions. The midterm is worth 30% of the final grade.

Final exam, worth 35% will be scheduled during the final exam week. It
will consist of a short essay question. The final will be an open book take-
home exam and it will be cumulative: it will cover all material seen in
class.

Group project: Students will be assigned to small groups (5 people in

each) to work on current theories of personality psychology.
 Each group will be asked to produce a presentation (recorded in any
video format, e.g. powerpoint/keynote with audio) on an aspect of
personality psychology or personality science of their choosing.
 The format of the video is open (recorded zoom presentation,
animation, recorded in-person presentation, etc.).
 For an example of a successful video project see
https://www.brainfacts.org/for-educators/programs-and-events/brain
- awareness-video-contest
 Potential themes will be discussed in class and detailed instructions
regarding expectations of form and content will be provided in class.
 Please note that the projects do not have to focus on brain aspects of
personality, you may choose any topic or approach, including
psychoanalytic, clinical, existential, empirical, etc.
 Projects will be worth 25% of your grade.

Project reports will be individual work, and will consist of 3-4 page
essay style summary of your project. Please also include a statement of
your contribution to the project (no more than one paragraph). The
project report will be worth 10% of your grade. It should be formatted
according to the APA (double spaced, Times New Roman 12pt, in-text
references, etc). the reports must have references both in text and in the
bibliography.
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_forma
tting_and_style_guide/ge neral_format.html

In the event that it is impossible to participate in group work

(technological or personal difficulties for example), students may opt for
an individual project. In this case, explicit instructor permission must
be obtained.

Projects and reports are due on April 6.

Readings: required readings for this course will be taken from two open
access online textbooks: Kelland, M. (2017, July 07). Personality Theory.
OER Commons. Retrieved January 09, 2022, from
https://www.oercommons.org/authoring/22859-personality-theory
Schimmack, U. (2020). Personality Science. The Science of Human
Diversity https://app.tophat.com/e/826754/assigned (please make
sure to log in as “guest”)

Readings are complementary to the lectures: there will be overlap

between the two, but all material (from lectures and from readings) can
be tested on the exams.

Email policy: I will do our best to answer your emails in a timely manner
(within 2 weekdays), but due to the high volume of daily emails, I ask you
to kindly respect the following general guidelines:
1) Make sure you include your name;
2) Check the syllabus first, if the information you need is in the syllabus,
your email will likely be unanswered;
3) Emails received during the weekend of after 5pm may only be seen the
next weekday during work hours (9am-5pm).

Lecture slides will be posted in pdf form on Moodle after class. I will do
my best to post lecture notes as soon as possible, but I am often going
over and changing my slides until the very last minute. Thus, I cannot
guarantee that the slides will be available before class. But I do guarantee
that they will be posted after class.

Evaluation Schedule
Midterm: february 23, 30%
Final Exam TBD 35%
Group projects April 6, both projects and 40% project reports
Optional paper March 30 (30%, replacing a missed midterm or a
midterm grade)

Material to be covered
Week 1
January 12 Introduction to Personality Psychology and Personality
Science
Reading: Kelland Personality Theory
https://www.oercommons.org/authoring/22859-
personality-theory/1/view

Week 2
Methods in Personality Science and Basic Scientific Constructs January 19
Reading: Schimmack Chapter 2

Week 3
January 26 Psychodynamic theories in Personality: Freud
Reading: Kelland: Sigmund Freud
https://www.oercommons.org/authoring/22859-personality-
theory/3/view

Week 4
February 2 Psychodynamic theories in Personality: Jung & contemporary
psychoanalysis
Reading: Kelland: Neo-Freudian Perspectives
https://www.oercommons.org/authoring/22859-
personality-theory/6/view

Week 5
February 9 Trait Theories: Allport, Catell, Eysenck
Reading: Kelland Trait Theories
https://www.oercommons.org/authoring/22859-personality-
theory/13/view (read until Big Five)

Week 6
February 16 The Big Five and their correlates
Reading: Schimmack Chapter 3;
Kelland Trait Theories https://www.oercommons.org/authoring/22859-
personality- theory/13/view (Big Five & beyond)

Week 7 February 23
midterm

Week 8 March 3
Spring break

Week 9 March 9
Personality over time: Erikson; stability vs. change Reading: Kelland Erik
Eriksson and Development Throughout Life
https://www.oercommons.org/authoring/22859-personality-theory/7/
view
Week 10
March 16 No class. Students are invited to use this week to work on group
projects

Week 11March 24
Culture & Personality: Possible invited speaker, Dr. Samuele Collu
Reading: Schimmack Chapter 10 & Chapter 11

Week 12 March 30
Biology & Personality, Personality disorders Reading: Schimmack
Chapter 8 and Chapter 9

Week 13
April 7 Existential Psychology & Personality
Reading: Kelland: Viktor Frankl chapter
https://www.oercommons.org/authoring/22859-personality-theory/7/
view

Week 14
April 13 Personality and Emotions, Humanistic Psychology,
Contemplative approaches to Personality
Reading: Schimmack, Chapter 13

Old schedule:
Material to be covered
Week 1
January 12 Introduction to Personality Psychology and Personality Science
Reading: Kelland Personality Theory https://www.oercommons.org/authoring/22859- personality-
theory/1/view

Week 2 Methods in Personality Science and Basic Scientific Constructs January 19

Reading: Schimmack Chapter 2

Week 3
January 26 Psychodynamic theories in Personality: Freud
Reading: Kelland: Sigmund Freud https://www.oercommons.org/authoring/22859-personality-
theory/3/view

Week 4
February 2 Psychodynamic theories in Personality: Jung & contemporary
psychoanalysis
Reading: Kelland: Neo-Freudian Perspectives https://www.oercommons.org/authoring/22859-
personality-theory/6/view

Week 5
February 9 Trait Theories: Allport, Catell, Eysenck
Reading: Kelland Trait Theories https://www.oercommons.org/authoring/22859-personality-
theory/13/view (read until Big Five)

Week 6
February 16 The Big Five and their correlates
Reading: Schimmack Chapter 3;
Kelland Trait Theories https://www.oercommons.org/authoring/22859-personality- theory/13/view
(Big Five & beyond)

Week 7 February 23
Midterm

Week 8 March 3

Week 9
midterm

Spring break
March 9 Personality over time: Erikson; stability vs. change Reading: Kelland Erik Eriksson and
Development Throughout Life
https://www.oercommons.org/authoring/22859-personality-theory/7/view

Week 10
March 16 Biology & Personality Reading: Schimmack Chapter 8 and Chapter 9

Week 11
March 24 Culture & Personality Reading: Schimmack Chapter 10 & Chapter 11

Week 12
March 30 Existential Psychology & Personality
Reading: Kelland: Viktor Frankl chapter https://www.oercommons.org/authoring/22859-personality-
theory/7/view

Week 13
April 7 Personality and Emotions, Humanistic Psychology Reading: Schimmack, Chapter 13

Week 14 April 13
"In the event of extraordinary circumstances beyond the University's
control, the content and/or evaluation scheme in this course is
subject
to change"
“As well, it may be necessary to change the format of this course to
an on- line experience should the need arise.”
Intellectual Property and Academic Integrity
The contents of this course (powerpoints, lecture notes, exams,
lecture recordings, etc.) are the intellectual property of the instructor
and may not be shared without the written permission of the
instructor. Sharing course materials without instructor’s permission
is a breach of the Academic Code of Conduct.
Concordia University has strict policies on plagiarism. Please
familiarize yourself with the university’s policies on plagiarism to
avoid being flagged. In general, it is best to over-cite than to under-
cite, and always use your own words when paraphrasing ideas, or
provide full citation and cite the source from where the ideas
originated. Suspected plagiarism cases will be reported to the
disciplinary office. https://www.concordia.ca/conduct/academic-
integrity.html