Psychology 2550B-001

Introduction to Personality Theory and Research

If there is a discrepancy between the outline posted below and the outline posted on the OWL course website, the latter shall prevail.

1.0    CALENDAR DESCRIPTION

A survey of the history, methodology and content of the study of individual differences. Topics to be covered include: evaluation of typical personality assessment methods and a consideration of modern empirical research in personality theory and assessment.

Antirequisite: Psychology 2050

Antirequisites are courses that overlap sufficiently in content that only one can be taken for credit. So if you take a course that is an antirequisite to a course previously taken, you will lose credit for the earlier course, regardless of the grade achieved in the most recent course.

Prerequisite: At least 60% in a 1000 level Psychology course
4 lecture hours, 0.5 course

Unless you have either the requisites for this course or written special permission from your Dean to enroll in it, you may be removed from this course and it will be deleted from your record. This decision may not be appealed. You will receive no adjustment to your fees in the event that you are dropped from a course for failing to have the necessary prerequisites.

2.0    COURSE INFORMATION

Instructor: D. Vollick, Ph.D.    
Office: SSC 7440    
Office Hours: By appointment
Email: dvollic@uwo.ca

Teaching Assistant:Rebecca Factor    
Office:            
Office Hours:        
Email: rfactor@uwo.ca         

Time and Location of Classes:  Mondays & Wednesdays; 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm; SSC 2036

If you or someone you know is experiencing distress, there are several resources here at Western to assist you.  Please visit:  http://www.uwo.ca/uwocom/mentalhealth/ for more information on these resources and on mental health.


Please contact the course instructor if you require material in an alternate format or if you require any other arrangements to make this course more accessible to you.  You may also wish to contact Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) at 519-661-2111 ext 82147 for any specific question regarding an accommodation.

Note:  Dr. Vollick does not lend out either his notes or his Power Point slides

3.0  TEXTBOOK

Required:   Meschel, W., Shoda, Y, & Ayduk, O. (2008). Introduction to personality (8th ed.). Toronto: Wiley

4.0    COURSE OBJECTIVES

After successfully completing this course, students will have obtained a solid understanding of the history, methodology, and content of the study of individual differences. Personality theories address a fundamental paradox in the study of individual differences in psychological functioning: no two people are exactly alike, yet all people are in some ways similar. This course introduces you to theories of personality and to the research upon which these theories are based. You will come to understand how a particular behaviour can be interpreted in diverse theoretical ways. These diverse interpretations demonstrate the intricacies of describing an abstract, complex entity such as personality. Topics to be covered include evaluation of typical personality assessment methods and a consideration of modern empirical research in personality theory and assessment

5.0     EVALUATION

Student evaluation will be based on two in-class exams and a final exam, all based on
the text and other material presented in class.  Each exam will be worth 1/3 of your total
mark on the course, and will consist of multiple choice questions. The exams will be non-cumulative

Although the Psychology Department does not require instructors to adjust their course grades to conform to specific targets, the expectation is that course marks will be distributed around the following averages:


70%    1000-level and 2000-level courses
72%     2190-2990 level courses
75%     3000-level courses
80%     4000-level courses
   
The Psychology Department follows the University of Western Ontario grading guidelines, which are as follows (see http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/general/grades_undergrad.pdf ):

A+    90-100    One could scarcely expect better from a student at this level
A    80-89        Superior work that is clearly above average
B    70-79        Good work, meeting all requirements, and eminently satisfactory
C    60-69        Competent work, meeting requirements
D    50-59        Fair work, minimally acceptable
F    below 50    Fail

6.0  TEST AND EXAMINATION SCHEDULE

First Exam:    February 1, 2015: in SSC 2036 during regular class time. It will consist of 80 Multiple-Choice Questions and cover all material from both lectures and the text pertaining to Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6. (1/3 of total mark)

Second Exam:    March 9, 2015: in SSC 2036 during regular class time. It will consist of 80 Multiple-Choice Questions and cover all material from both lectures and the text pertaining to Chapters 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, & 12. (1/3 of total mark)

Final Exam    During Final Exam Period. It will consist of 80 Multiple-Choice Questions and cover all material, from both lectures and the text, pertaining to Chapters 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, & 18. (1/3 of total mark)
            
Note: These exams are not cumulative.

7.0   CLASS SCHEDULE

•    The lecture schedule may change, however the exam dates are final.
•    You will glean more from the class if you read the lecture material prior to class.
•    Lectures will contain material not in the text, and I will not be covering all material in the text.
•    Remember, you will be tested on all material in the text, as well as that presented in class lectures

Jan.4                Chapter 1 – introduction and overview of various personality theories    
Jan.6                Chapter 2 – various research methods in personality
Jan.11              Chapter 3 – traits and types as the basis of personality
Jan.13              Chapter 3
Jan.18              Chapter 4 – dispositions as the basis of personality
Jan.20              Chapter 5 – heredity and personality development
Jan.25              Chapter 5
Jan.27              Chapter 6 – the brain and evolution and personality development

Feb. 1               Exam 1 (during class)

Feb. 3               Chapter 7 – psychodynamic (Freudian) theories of personality development
Feb. 8               Chapter 7
Feb. 10             Chapter 8 – applying psychodynamic theory & processes (diagnosis & therapy
Feb 15 - 19        Reading Week
Feb. 22             Chapter 8
Feb. 24             Chapter 9 – post-Freudian theories and applications
Feb. 29             Chapter 10 – behavioral (learning) theories of personality development
Mar. 2               Chapter 11 – analyzing and modifying behaviors applying behavioral theory
Mar. 7`              Chapter 12 – humanistic/existential theories of personality development

Mar. 9                Exam 2 (during class)

Mar. 14              Chapter 13 – internal view - self-concepts, self-assessments, & self-awareness
Mar. 16              Chapter 14 – social cognitive theories of personality development
Mar. 21              Chapter 14
Mar. 23              Chapter 15 – processes of social cognition (e.g., self-schemas)
Mar.28              Chapter 16 – integration of the above theories (the person as a whole)
Mar. 30             Chapter 17 – self-regulation – from goal pursuit to goal achievement
Apr. 4                Chapter 17
Apr 6                Chapter 18 – societal, gender, and cultural differences
        
Final Exam    Final Exam Period (TBA)



8.0     STATEMENT ON ACADEMIC OFFENCES

Students are responsible for understanding the nature and avoiding the occurrence of plagiarism and other scholastic offenses. Plagiarism and cheating are considered very serious offenses because they undermine the integrity of research and education. Actions constituting a scholastic offense are described at the following link:  http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/scholastic_discipline_undergrad.pdf

As of Sept. 1, 2009, the Department of Psychology will take the following steps to detect scholastic offenses. All multiple-choice tests and exams will be checked for similarities in the pattern of responses using reliable software, and records will be made of student seating locations in all tests and exams. All written assignments will be submitted to TurnItIn, a service designed to detect and deter plagiarism by comparing written material to over 5 billion pages of content located on the Internet or in TurnItIn’s databases. All papers submitted for such checking will be included as source documents in the reference database for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of papers subsequently submitted to the system. Use of the service is subject to the licensing agreement, currently between Western and Turnitin.com http://www.turnitin.com

Possible penalties for a scholastic offense include failure of the assignment, failure of the course, suspension from the University, and expulsion from the University.

9.0    POLICY ON ACCOMMODATION FOR MEDICAL ILLNESS

The University of Western Ontario’s policy on Accommodation for Medical Illness can be found at:
http://www.westerncalendar.uwo.ca/2015/pg117.html

Students must see the Academic Counsellor and submit all required documentation in order to be approved for certain accommodation:
http://counselling.ssc.uwo.ca/procedures/medical_accommodation.html


10.0        OTHER INFORMATION

Office of the Registrar web site:  http://registrar.uwo.ca

Student Development Services web site: http://www.sdc.uwo.ca

Please see the Psychology Undergraduate web site for information on the following:

    http://psychology.uwo.ca/undergraduate/student_responsibilities/index.html

- Policy on Cheating and Academic Misconduct
- Procedures for Appealing Academic Evaluations
- Policy on Attendance
- Policy Regarding Makeup Exams and Extensions of Deadlines
- Policy for Assignments
- Short Absences

- Extended Absences
- Documentation
- Academic Concerns
- 2015 Calendar References

No electronic devices, including cell phones, will be allowed during exams.