PSYH 460 - 560

Theories of Personality

Summer II, 2008

Course Description: This course is designed to provide students with a solid grounding in the various theoretical approaches to personality structure and dynamics. Individual theorists include representatives from the psychoanalytic, behavioral, humanistic, existential, cognitive, trait, life-span, and social-learning approaches to the study of personality. Attention is given to social and cultural conceptions of personal adjustment, and the application of personality theory to these conceptions in the practice of counseling and psychotherapy.

Course Objectives:

• Define personality and identify the major psychological approaches to the study of personality.

• State the specific goals that each major personality theory attempts to accomplish.

• Explain the goals and methods of personality assessment appropriate to each major approach to personality theory.

• Articulate cross-cultural issues in the contemporary study of personality.

• Develop a gender-balanced understanding of personality theory.

• Describe the influence of environmental factors on personality development

• Discuss the use of personality theory as an explanatory tool in everyday behavior.

• Describe the relationship between one’s conception of good personal adjustment and the prevailing social and cultural values.

• Describe the utilization of findings in the study of personality theory for improved personal adjustment in the various domains of counseling and psychotherapy.

•  Develop a one’s own  personality theory based on application of research findings to personal experience.

Required Textbooks:

No textbook required; all readings online