GEORGIA HIGHLANDS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

PSYCHOLOGY 2128

INTRODUCTION TO Theories of Personality

SPRING 2007

 Instructor: Donna Mantooth       E-mail:   dmantoot@highlands.edu          

Messages: 706 368-7617(voice mail) or E-mail

Course Description: This course is a comprehensive study of the major theories of personality and their possible therapeutic applications. The theories of Adler, Erikson, Freud, Jung, Maslow, Rogers, Skinner and others are covered. Topics covered include, but are not limited to the major theories in personality and the applications of modern research to those theories.

 Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites: English 1101 or 1103 and Psychology 1101

Course Objectives: To successfully complete this course, students are expected to demonstrate a basic knowledge of the following:

1.      Students will demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the major theories of personality and the associated theorists.

2.   Students will demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the research findings of major personality theories.

3.   Students will demonstrate a basic understanding of the practical therapeutic applications of personality theories.

Class Format: The course will consist of class discussions, exercises, lectures, quizzes and/or exams,  and in and out of class assignments.

Required Textbook: Friedman, Howard S. and Schustack, Miriam W.,  Personality Classic Theories and Modern Research,  Third Edition, Allyn and Bacon Publishers, Boston, MA.

ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES INCLUDING CELL PHONES, PDAs, ETC MUST BE TURNED OFF AND OUT OF SITE DURING CLASS.

Attend all classes – Class attendance is required as there will be daily assignments or activities. You are responsible for all material covered in class. Any student having perfect attendance will receive 10 extra points added to their grade. If you must miss a class for any reason you forfeit the perfect attendance points. For every class you miss over two classes there will be two points deducted from your participation grade.

If you must miss an exam for a valid reason, you must notify the instructor prior to the exam that you will be absent. This can be done via phone or e-mail . If you do not notify the instructor prior to test time, you will receive a zero (0) for this exam and not be allowed to make it up. Make up exams will only be given under special circumstances and must be approved by the instructor. If approved, the make-up exam must be taken during the first class following your absence or at the next division exam make-up session. The division make up sessions for spring semester will be announced at the beginning of the semester.

Class Participation – The expectation is that you will be an active, involved participant in this class. Your participation grade will include not only your active involvement through questions and discussion, but also your class attendance and homework grades. In order to be successful, you need to come to class having read all assignments, be a participant and complete all assignments.

Exams – A total of four exams will be given during the course.

GRADE POINTS CAN BE EARNED AS FOLLOWS: 

                                                                     DUE DATES

Exam I                         200 points            February 05, 2007                 

Exam II                        200 points            March 14, 2007

Exam III                       200 points            April 23, 2007         

Project/Paper            200 points            April 25 - May 02, 2007

Participation/Attendance/Homework: 100 points                                                                       

Grading Point Guide

A = 830 – 900

B = 760 – 829

D = 620 -689

F = 619 and below

EXAMS

PROJECTS

Each student must choose either a service learning experience (detailed below) or a ten page paper detailing your own personality and how each theoretical perspective might have contributed to your personality formation. Whichever you choose, you must do a brief presentation to the class about your project.

Service Learning Guidelines

Students must complete 20 hours of service learning.  Specific sites must be approved by the instructor.  Students may check in the Service Learning Office located on campus or instructor for suggestions and upcoming activities.

Students must keep a reflective journal of their service learning experience. 

Basic Requirements for journal

1. At least one-half page for every daily service experience.

2. Typed, double-spaced in Times New Roman or Courier 12

3. Keep up with your time sheet

Tips for writing a reflective journal:

1. Include a brief description of your activities/job

2. What stood out, the best or worse thing that happened.  What did you learn from it?

3. List any new insights or how you have been impacted personally, academically, or occupationally.

4. What would you do differently or change about your experience?  Were you satisfied with your experiences?  Why or why not?

5. Relate your service experience to sociology. 

Final Essay

1. Write at least a three page summary which includes some of the following:

    a. What were the benefits of your service learning experience

    b. What did you learn overall about yourself? About the community? About your service site?

    c. What would you change to improve your service learning experience?

    d. How did your experience relate to the class readings, discussions, and activities?

    e.  Would you recommend this service learning experience to other students?  Why?  Why not?

     f.  Have your perceptions changed from your first impression of the service learning experience?

    g. What stands out about your experience, either good or bad?  What did you learn from that particular situation?

    h. Why did you choose the service learning option?  Would you choose the service learning option again?  Why? Why not?

Personality Paper

The paper must be ten pages typed double-spaced with a maximum 12 point font. The paper must be written in APA style with appropriate citations and references. The paper must include an

introduction that explains your personality characteristics. Subsequent information must include how you derived your personality style based on research that you do from the text and scholarly journals.

You must include information from every personality theory that could explain how you developed your specific personality. In your conclusion you should state which theory you believe gives the best

explanation for how you developed your specific personality.

Policies on student conduct and academic integrity will be adhered to in this course and can be accessed via the following web site:

 http://www.floyd.edu/subwebs/academicaffairs/academicintegritypolicy.htm

Disability Statement: “Any student who feels they may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should make an appointment with the College Access Center (706: 802-5003) to coordinate reasonable accommodations.  You are also welcome to contact me privately to discuss your specific needs.”

This message applies only to students receiving financial aid: Federal regulations state that if a student did not attend classes and received failing grades, then the grades were not earned and financial aid needs to be reduced accordingly. Please be advised that any student receiving a 0.00 GPA will be required to prove that the 0.00 GPA was earned by attending classes or completing requirements for each class. Students who have earned at least one passing grade for the semester will not be affected by this regulation. If a student has properly withdrawn from all classes, the student’s financial aid should be adjusted from the time they signed the withdrawal form.

You will find as we go through this class that a lot of psychological theories and methodology are controversial. I never expect you to agree with everything you read or all of my comments. I do expect you to be willing to bring your own ideas, questions, opinions and thoughts to the class and be willing to discuss them openly. Everyone in this class has a right to their own ideas, beliefs and values and I ask all my students to be open-minded, respectful of others who have differing opinions and ideas, and willing to listen and discuss your ideas and those of others. It is also very important to maintain acceptable classroom behavior. Everyone is expected to participate in class discussions, listen when others are talking and HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO PERSONAL SIDE CONVERSATIONS WHEN THE INSTRUCTOR OR ANOTHER STUDENT IS TALKING!

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER

Classes begin                                    January 08, 2007

Drop/Add dates                              January 08 -101, 2007

Martin Luther King Holidays          January 13 -15, 2007

Midterm                                              March 01, 2007 (Last day to drop with a W)

Spring Break                                       March 19 - 25, 2007

Graduation                                        May 12, 2007