Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon Portland Community College

Course Content and Outcomes Guides (CCOG)

CCOG for PSY 214 archive revision 201704

You are viewing an old version of the CCOG. View current version »

Effective Term:
Fall 2017 through Summer 2021
Course Number:
PSY 214
Course Title:
Introduction to Personality
Credit Hours:
4
Lecture Hours:
40
Lecture/Lab Hours:
0
Lab Hours:
0

Course Description

Covers a variety of personality theories including the theoretical and scientific explanations for individuals' characteristic patterns of perception, thought, emotion and behavior. Emphasizes the understanding and mastery of personality constructs applied to students' personal and professional lives. Recommended: PSY 201A or PSY 202A. Audit available.

Intended Outcomes for the course

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.

Social Inquiry and Analysis

Students completing an associate degree at Portland Community College will be able to apply methods of inquiry and analysis to examine social contexts and the diversity of human thought and experience.

Outcome Assessment Strategies

  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.

Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills)

  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.