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When we say that someone acts a certain way because of their personality, what does that mean? Personality psychology, in contrast to abnormal and clinical psychology, is the study of normal and exceptional personalities, their assessment and development, and the processes that define them. Personality psychologists have been influenced by the “grand” theories of personality that tend to have more historical significance than relevance for current personality theories and research. Although Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, may be the best-known personality psychologist, the psychoanalytic approach is only one of several approaches to personality that exist today. Contemporary personality theories are more specific but still fall under broad paradigms or approaches, including the trait approach, the biological approach, the humanistic approach, the cognitive approach and the behavioral/social learning approach. Gain an in-depth understanding of personality psychology for greater insight into yourself and other people in your life and as a foundation for further study in psychology or related professions.
Course Outline
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Course Objectives
- Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each of the major theoretical approaches to personality (psychoanalytic, trait, biological, humanistic, cognitive and behavioral/social learning)
- Name historical figures associated with each theoretical approach and explain why they were influential
- Apply these theoretical approaches to case studies and real life
- Understand contemporary approaches to assessing and researching personality
What You Learn
- Introduction to the study of personality psychology
- Psychoanalytic approach
- Trait and biological approaches
- Humanistic and cognitive approaches
- Behavioral/social learning approach
How You Will Learn
- Discussion forums
- Videos and websites
- Theory quizzes
- Online reading assignments
- Module papers
- Proctored final exam