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Explore the foundations of personality psychology, its importance, theories, and research methods. Understand how personality shapes behavior, cognition, and emotions. Discover the factors influencing individual differences and consistency in behavior. Join us to delve into the intriguing world of personality studies.
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Welcome to Psychology of Personality! • Please pick up a syllabus & index card from the front table and have a seat • On index card write: • Name, year & major • Psychology courses you have taken • Why you are taking this course • Something unusual/interesting about you
First Day Outline • 1. Syllabus • 2. Names, etc. • 3. Chapter 1
Personality Psychology An Introduction
Why Study Personality? • Understand people (and ourselves) • Predict how they (we) will behave • Helps us function effectively • Personality psychologists ask similar Qs but use different methods • Less bias and error
What is Personality? • Characteristics that account for consistent patterns of feeling, thinking, and behaving • Individual differences • Structure and process
Personality Theory • Value of theory • Systematizes observations/findings • Predicts new effects • Good theory • Comprehensiveness (bandwidth & fidelity) • Parsimony • (# explained * importance) / # principles • Research relevance
What, How & Why? • Structure (what?) • Traits and types • Process (why?) • Motivation (reduce tension v. self-actualize) • Growth & development (how?) • Nature and nurture • Change
Important Issues • Internal v. external causes of behavior • Freud v. Skinner (Personality v. Social) • Consistency over time and situation • If not then what’s the use? • Cognition, affect and behavior • Which comes first?
Next Class: • Read Pervin & John Chapter 2 • Research Methods