Syllabus for

PSYCHOLOGY OF PERSONALITY

G. Scott Acton
Rochester Institute of Technology

 
This course is a survey of descriptive and causal aspects of individual differences in personality traits and intelligence. Students should gain a good understanding of how the methods and findings of correlational and experimental research contribute to the study of personality from a natural science approach.
 

Prospectus

Alternative Representations

Grading

 

 

Introduction to Personality Psychology (September 7)

Larsen, R. J., & Buss, D. M. (2005). Introduction to personality. In Personality psychology: Domains of knowledge about human nature (2nd ed., pp. 1-23). Boston: McGraw-Hill.

 


Personality Assessment, Measurement, and Research Design (September 9)

Larsen, R. J., & Buss, D. M. (2005). Personality assessment, measurement, and research design. In Personality psychology: Domains of knowledge about human nature (2nd ed., pp. 24-57). Boston: McGraw-Hill.

 


Traits and Trait Taxonomies (September 14)

Larsen, R. J., & Buss, D. M. (2005). Traits and trait taxonomies. In Personality psychology: Domains of knowledge about human nature (2nd ed., pp. 62-93). Boston: McGraw-Hill.

 


Theoretical and Measurement Issues in Trait Psychology (September 16)

Larsen, R. J., & Buss, D. M. (2005). Theoretical and measurement issues in trait psychology. In Personality psychology: Domains of knowledge about human nature (2nd ed., pp. 94-125). Boston: McGraw-Hill.

 


Exam #1 (September 21)

Exam #1

 


Personality Dispositions Over Time: Stability, Change, and Coherence (September 23)

Larsen, R. J., & Buss, D. M. (2005). Personality dispositions over time: Stability, change, and coherence. In Personality psychology: Domains of knowledge about human nature (2nd ed., pp. 126-157). Boston: McGraw-Hill.

 


Genetics and Personality (September 28)

Larsen, R. J., & Buss, D. M. (2005). Genetics and personality. In Personality psychology: Domains of knowledge about human nature (2nd ed., pp. 162-191). Boston: McGraw-Hill.

 


Physiological Approaches to Personality (September 30)

Larsen, R. J., & Buss, D. M. (2005). Physiological approaches to personality. In Personality psychology: Domains of knowledge about human nature (2nd ed., pp. 192-229). Boston: McGraw-Hill.

 


Exam #2 (October 5)

Exam #2

 


Evolutionary Perspectives on Personality (October 7)

Larsen, R. J., & Buss, D. M. (2005). Evolutionary perspectives on personality. In Personality psychology: Domains of knowledge about human nature (2nd ed., pp. 230-265). Boston: McGraw-Hill.

 


Psychoanalytic Approaches to Personality (October 12)

Larsen, R. J., & Buss, D. M. (2005). Psychoanalytic approaches to personality. In Personality psychology: Domains of knowledge about human nature (2nd ed., pp. 270-303). Boston: McGraw-Hill.

 


Psychoanalytic Approaches: Contemporary Issues (October 14)

Larsen, R. J., & Buss, D. M. (2005). Psychoanalytic approaches: Contemporary issues. In Personality psychology: Domains of knowledge about human nature (2nd ed., pp. 304-335). Boston: McGraw-Hill.

 


Exam #3 (October 19)

Exam #3

 


Motives and Personality (October 21)

Larsen, R. J., & Buss, D. M. (2005). Motives and personality. In Personality psychology: Domains of knowledge about human nature (2nd ed., pp. 336-369). Boston: McGraw-Hill.

 


Cognitive Topics in Personality (October 26)

Larsen, R. J., & Buss, D. M. (2005). Cognitive topics in personality. In Personality psychology: Domains of knowledge about human nature (2nd ed., pp. 374-405). Boston: McGraw-Hill.

Gottfredson, L. S. (1997). Mainstream science on intelligence: An editorial with 52 signatories, history, and bibliography. Intelligence, 24, 13-23.

 


Emotion and Personality (October 28)

Larsen, R. J., & Buss, D. M. (2005). Emotion and personality. In Personality psychology: Domains of knowledge about human nature (2nd ed., pp. 406-443). Boston: McGraw-Hill.

 


Exam #4 (November 2)

Exam #4

 


Approaches to the Self (November 4)

Larsen, R. J., & Buss, D. M. (2005). Approaches to the self. In Personality psychology: Domains of knowledge about human nature (2nd ed., pp. 444-471). Boston: McGraw-Hill.

 


Stress, Coping, Adjustment, and Health (November 9)

Larsen, R. J., & Buss, D. M. (2005). Stress, coping, adjustment, and health. In Personality psychology: Domains of knowledge about human nature (2nd ed., pp. 566-601). Boston: McGraw-Hill.

 


Disorders of Personality (November 11)

Larsen, R. J., & Buss, D. M. (2005). Disorders of personality. In Personality psychology: Domains of knowledge about human nature (2nd ed., pp. 602-639). Boston: McGraw-Hill.

 


Exam #5 (Finals Week)

Exam #5

 


Last modified September 2004
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