Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Personality Theory (Face-to-Face)

PSY 3700-01

Course: PSY 3700-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: PSY
CRN: 30804

Course Description

The objective of this course is to provide an understanding of general concepts related to Personality Theory in Psychology. We will explore various theoretical perspectives on the nature of systematic and individual differences among humans and learn to use theory as a lens through which to view and interpret human behavior.

Required Texts

Required Text: Personality Theories, (9th ed.) by Barbara Engler

Learning Outcomes

ESSENTIAL LEARNING OUTCOMES
1) Knowledge of Human Cultures and the Physical and Natural World-
  • Become familiar with main themes and concepts in personality theory.
2) Critical Thinking
  • Learn to think flexibly and to incorporate different theoretical perspectives.
  • Apply understanding to real-world observations and experiences
3) Inquiry & Analysis
  • Learn about various methodologies utilized in research
  • Understand the use of research and theory

Course Requirements

Grading
A = 100-94%     B+ = <90-87%    C+ = <80-77%    D+ = <70-67%    F < 61%
A- = <94-90%    B = <87-84%    C = <77-74%    D = <67-64%
B- = <84-80%    C- = <74-70%    D- = <64-61%
  • Exams — 50%
  • Popular Personality Project — 35%
  • Participation & Study Guides — 15%
  • Total — 100%
Please note that Canvas provides an ESTIMATE of grades. Based on what has/has not been entered yet, Canvas may significantly over or underestimate your grade. For an accurate grade, please communicate with me regularly.
Assignments & Exams
Exams:
You will take three ‘section’ exams in this class during the semester. Exam content will be gathered from a combination of in-class material, content from the textbook, and possibly some assigned extra readings (articles). The section exams are not cumulative. There will also be a cumulative Final Exam during finals week. The lowest exam score will be dropped from your overall grade. While we will not go over exams in class, I am happy to have you come to my office to review your exams during office hours or at other times by appointment.
Popular Personality Analysis:
The overall goal of this assignment is for you to gain a greater depth of understanding of theory through practical application to a case study. Early in the semester, you will identify a character or personality in popular media to which others in the class would have access. You may select a character in a play, movie, novel, television show, etc. Throughout the semester, this person or character will be a “case study” that you can draw on to engage in discussion in class and in writing assignments. Throughout the semester, you will be constructing a paper that explains a theory and does so by applying the theory to a character. Details of each segment of the assignment will be on Canvas.
Specific requirements (minimum length, references) are included in the final assignment description in Canvas, so read it EARLY.
Additionally, you will be required to meet with a writing fellow at least 4 times in person or over Zoom throughout the semester, with deadlines for each (generally the weekend before the associated assignment is due). Details will be provided on Canvas. It is YOUR responsibility to communicate well with your writing fellow, schedule appointments well in advance of deadlines, and come prepared to the meetings.
Participation:
Additionally, throughout the semester, be ready to discuss your character from the theoretical perspective currently being explored in class. You should come to class ready to start the discussion with a theoretical concept and how it is exemplified in your character. One or two sentences is insufficient, you should mention “this part of so-and-so’s theory” and “my character illustrates this by XYZ.” Barring volunteers, I may ask any student at random to informally present their character and use the current theory to explain the character’s behavior and choices. Each student will be expected to participate in this manner at least twice during the semester as part of the course participation grade. Please speak to me about any concerns regarding this requirement.
Chapter Study Guides:
As part of your participation score, there will be a regular journal assignment in which you will write about what you are reading in the textbook, providing examples of concepts using your character or other representations. This assignment will be discussed further in class and additional details will be provided on Canvas.

Course Outline

Week ofTopicAssignments Due and/or Exams
Aug 28Syllabus & IntroductionChapter 1; Study Guides due throughout, see Canvas
Sept 2, 4Sample Analysis; DefinitionsChapter 1; Sept 4- Character Selection
Sept 9, 11Psychoanalytic- FreudChapter 2; Sept 8- Theory Selection
Sept 16, 18Freud; Individual Psych- AdlerChapter 4
Sept 23, 25Adler; Psychodynamic- HorneyChapter 5; Sept 27- 1st WF mtg
Sep 30, Oct 2Horney; Exam 1 Object RelationsChapter 7; Sept 29- Outline; Sept 30, Oct 1- Exam 1
Oct 7, 9Obj. Relations; Behavioral- Dollard & MillerChapter 8
Oct 14, 16Fall Break; SkinnerChapter 8; Oct 25- WF mtg 2- 1st Draft
Oct 21, 23Social Learning- BanduraChapter 9; Oct 27- Draft 1 edits
Oct 28, 30Trait Approach- Cattell; Exam 2; Biological- EysenckChapter 11, 12; Oct 28, 29- Exam 2
Nov 4, 6Humanistic- Maslow, RogersChapter 13
Nov 11, 13Existential- MayChapter 14; Nov 15- WF mtg 3- Draft 2
Nov 18, 20May; Cognitive- KellyChapter 14, 15; Nov 17- Draft 2 edits
Nov 25, 27Thanksgiving BreakNo Class
Dec 2, 4Cognitive; Wrap UpChapter 15; Dec 4- Final Draft WF meeting; Dec 5, 6- Exam 3
Dec 10Final Paper due
Dec 9FINAL EXAM— 9:00 – 10:50 amAll exams, including the final will likely be online, see Canvas for details. ** No late work accepted after Dec 7

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Late Assignments
Late work will be accepted on a case-by-case basis. In other words, I reserve the right to refuse any late work handed in. Contacting me before the assignment is due increases the likelihood of consideration. I generally incur a late penalty of up to 15% reduction in total points possible per calendar day, usually no more than 50% of the total possible points. Unless we have made arrangements before the last day of class, I am unable to accept ANY late work after the last day of class other than the final exam and final paper. Exams cannot be turned in late.

Attendance Policy

I have found that students are best able to succeed in my classes if they come prepared and participate regularly. There will be many in-class examples, activities, discussions, and concepts presented which are not in the textbook. Attendance counts as a portion of the final grade and will be tracked via attendance in person (though please contact me if there are extenuating circumstances, see Canvas for details). As most students learn best when given material in a variety of ways (textbook and lecture and discussion), consistent participation is extremely important to understanding concepts and ideas in this class. Such participation in class discussions must be appropriate and respectful. This includes recognizing each individual’s right to have and share his or her own opinion without fear of retribution, harmful criticism, or violation of individual confidentiality.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.