PSY 240 - Personality Development

Description: Typical personality development with emphasis on the analysis of classic and contemporary theories of personality structure and dynamics. Examination of psychological traits and mechanisms with respect to the dispositional, biological, intrapsychic, cognitive-experiential, social and cultural, and adjustment domains. 

Prerequisites: PSY 101

Credits: 3
Lecture: 3
Lab: 0

Course Content:

1. Nature of personality - historical perspective and major approaches
2. Personality assessment, measurement, and research design
3. Dispositional domain - traits, trait taxonomies, and dispositions over time
4. Biological domain - genetics, physiology, and evolutionary perspective
5. Intrapsychic domain - psychoanalytic approaches, motives and personality
6. Cognitive/experiential domain - cognitive topics, emotion, and approaches to self
7. Social and cultural domain - personality and social interaction, gender, and culture
8. Adjustment domain - stress, coping, adjustment, and health
9. Future of personality psychology

1. Describe the history of the study of personality and major approaches to personality development. (1)
2. Specify components of clinical assessment and research classification of personality. (2)
3. Differentiate the major theoretical approaches to personality development. (3-8)
4. Analyze the specific application of selected models of personality development. (3-8)
5. Recognize the interaction of individual characteristics and situational factors on the development of personality. (3-8)
6. Explain how personality theory affects approaches to psychotherapy. (3-8)
7. Discuss the influence of current personality development research in relation to personality theory. (2, 9)

1. Demonstrate thoughtful and precise writing skills by completing at least 1500 words of monitored writing.