Course Syllabus
Athabasca University
Psychology (PSYC) 356
Introduction to Personality Theories and Issues (Revision 4)
Revision 4 closed, replaced by current version.
View previous syllabus
Delivery mode: Individualized study or grouped study.
Online-enhanced.
Credits: 3 - Social Science
Prerequisite: PSYC 289 and PSYC 290 are strongly recommended.
Centre: Centre for Psychology
PSYC 356 has a Challenge for Credit option.
Course website
Overview
This course surveys the field of personality from a scientific perspective. The key theorists and concepts associated with each perspective are highlighted, along with the strengths and limitations of that approach.
Outline
Unit 1: Introduction to Personality Theory
Unit 2: Freud: Psychoanalysis
Unit 3: Adler: Individual Psychology
Unit 4: Jung: Analytical Psychology
Unit 5: Klein: Object Relations Theory
Unit 6: Horney: Psychoanalytic Social Theory
Unit 7: Fromm: Humanistic Psychoanalysis
Unit 8: Sullivan: Interpersonal Theory
Unit 9: Erikson: Post-Freudian Theory
Unit 10: Maslow: Holistic-Dynamic Theory
Unit 11: Rogers: Person-Centered Theory
Unit 12: May: Existential Psychology
Unit 13: Allport: Psychology of the Individual
Unit 14: Eysenck, McCrae, and Costa's Factor and Trait Theories
Unit 15: Skinner: Behavioral Analysis
Unit 16: Bandura: Social Cognitive Theory
Unit 17: Rotter and Mischel: Cognitive Social Learning Theory
Unit 18: Kelly: Psychology of Personal Constructs
Evaluation
To receive credit for the course, you must complete all assignments, receive a grade of 50 percent or better on the final exam and a composite course grade of at least “D” (50 percent). The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:
| 5 Quizzes (5% each) | Term Paper | Final Exam | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25% | 35% | 40% | 100% |
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.
Course Materials
Textbook
Feist, J., & Feist, G. J. (2006). Theories of personality
(6th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
Other Materials
The course materials includes a workbook, and student manual.