Personality Syllabus (Graduate)

PSY 515

www.ship.edu/~cgboeree/gradperssyl.html

Dr. C. George Boeree

[The self] is a drop of the cosmos, and its surface tensions bespeak only a fragile and indefinite barrier that marks a region of relative structuring, relative independence. This structuring and independence can exist only because they are relative, that is, because of the confluence of the self and the non-self. As the musician melts into and identifies with his beloved instrument, the Hopi Indian on the rim melts into his Grand Canyon. -- Gardner Murphy

This course will involve reading about and discussing a variety of personality theories, from Freud’s to Frankl’s. I hope that this course will contribute to your own understanding of yourself and others.

Text: There is no text to buy. I have put my own “text” on the internet so that you can read it there or download it or print it out to read at you leisure. Clicking on the theorist’s name in the outline below will get you to the actual chapter.

If you do not have access to the internet personally, there are computers available at the computer labs on campus. If you have no experience with the internet, please find a friend in the class to help you, or ask the people at the computer labs. If all else fails, there will be a couple of print-outs of the chapters at the circulation desk at the library.

Grades: Grades will be based on attendance, participation, and a journal. The journal is simply a page or two due each week in class, consisting of “quotes, quibbles, and questions,” i.e. things you liked from that week's readings, things you disliked, and things you didn’t understand or would like elaborated. These journal entries will provide the basis for discussion.

Office: 323 Wright Hall

Office phone: (477)-1109

Psych. dept. phone: (477)-1657

E-mail: cgboeree@ark.ship.edu

Outline:

1. Hello!

2. Introduction
and Freud

3. Anna Freud
and Erikson

4. Rank
and Jung

5. Adler
and Fromm

6. Horney
and Ellis

7. Skinner
and Bandura