Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Upon successful completion students should be able to:

1. Analyze the determinants of personality characteristics to better understand their effects on cognitions, emotions, and behavior.
2. Think critically about and apply theoretical and research-based explanations for human behavior in order to successfully negotiate the
challenges of daily living.
3. Apply the major personality domains and theories to better understand one’s own behavior and the behavior of others.

1. Students will demonstrate learning outcomes by a combination of the tasks below:
2. Completing research or conceptual papers on topics appropriate for the course.
3. Responding to objective and/or subjective examinations which require integration, application, and critical examination of course concepts, issues, and themes.
4. Participation in classroom discussion and group exercises.
5. Participation in a service learning project.
6. Field trips and site visits.

1. Personality defined and described.
2. Assessment of personality including ethical considerations and the scientific method.
3. Psychodynamic approaches to personality.
4. Ego psychology and its contributions to personality theory.
5. Biological approaches to personality.
6. Behavioral/Learning approaches to personality.
7. Dispositional/Trait approaches to personality.
8. Cognitive/Social Learning approaches to personality.
9. Humanistic/Existential approaches to personality.
10. Cultural/social/anthropological views of personality including non-Western views of personality.
11. Psychopathology adjustment problems caused by certain personality styles.
12. Applications to individual differences.

Competencies and Skills:

1. Utilize various personality theories to explain differences among persons.
2. Use knowledge of personality theories to improve one = s personal adjustment and interpersonal relationships.
3. Critical thinking.
   1. recognize the complexity of human behavior, thought, and emotion.
   2. recognize theoretical & research based assumptions which provide a foundation for the study of personality.
   3. recognize personal assumptions about people such as prejudice, stereotypes, and attributional style which influence one = s understanding of self and others.
   4. appreciation of the concept that no one theoretical approach adequately integrates all knowledge and research about personality and its dynamics.