This page will be updated frequently - please check it twice each week.

12/17/07

    The final exam scores have now been posted in the gradebook.  The mean was 77.7% with a range of 63% to 93%.  The course average you see is just an estimate until the final project grades are all input.   If you have questions or concerns about your class grade, please contact me when school begins in January - we can meet then.

12/7/07

    The final exam will consist of the essay (discussed below) and about 45 multiple choice questions (no short answer).  It will be in our regular classroom - please bring a pen and pencil w/eraser - Tuesday, 12/11, 9am-12noon.  The exam covers everything we have done since Exam II and some general, cumulative questions from the entire course.

12/5/07

    The essay question possibilities are here.  Remember, of these five only 2 will be on the exam and you will answer only one of those, for 20% of the exam grade.

12/4/07

   Those of you new to the Psych major, may not have seen this note:

    The semi-annual psych 220 research methods poster session will be held this Friday from 1 to 1:50 pm in the Bison Bison Antiquus lounge outside SCC 147.  If you have a moment, please come observe the good work these 6 groups have done over the semester and ply them with challenging questions.  The first 10 attendees will be awarded a cast-iron replica of Maslow’s ego*.  Hope to see you there.

--Bill Altermatt

*actual award may vary

11/20/07

     Related to ch. 16,  the following info utilizes CBT approaches for assessing and reducing Public Speaking Anxiety:  Public Speaking   [needs powerpoint].

11/14/07

      For whoever is interested, Dr. Bill Altermatt will be giving a talk tomorrow night (Thurs 11/15) on “the psychology of sexual orientation” sponsored by Love Out Loud.  It will focus on evidence for a biological / genetic contribution to sexual orientation, will be 50 minutes, and will be in SCC 137 at 8pm.

11/12/07

     I am leaving your paper outlines in my box (by 255) in case anyone wants to come get them a day early.  Please spread the word.

11/6/07

     Please note: JA #3 assignment has now been posted.  Both articles are linked to the vault page and require the password I gave you early in the term.  Please review the assignment and check that you can see the files, since this assignment is due the Tues after Thanksgiving break.

     Also, this week there are several events being put on by People for Peace and other groups, which may be of interest to some of you:

11/5/07

     Exam II M.C. scores are now posted.  The mean on MC only was 75.2%; range 56%-93%.  I will be grading essays this week - look for them by 11/13. 

10/30/07

     Exam II has 28 M.C. questions, and the single essay (worth 20%) described below.  For those of you who missed today, Michel's work (end of ch. 9) will not be on the exam.  Shapiro, McAdams and ch. 6-9 are all covered, as well as videos and class lectures. 

     The gradebook has now been updated w/ JA 2 scores, as well as a JA average column, further to the right.  If you have not received your paper back yet, it is in my outbox by  my door; please come get it before Thursday's exam.

10/26/07

         Possible essay questions are listed below to aid your preparation for Exam II.  You will be asked to address one of these questions in as much depth and detail as you can.  I will select 2 of the following 4 questions to put on the exam, and you will choose one of those two to answer.  The single essay will be worth 20 percent of your exam grade.  There will be approximately 30 multiple choice questions which make up the other 80 percent.

              Although these are fairly close to what you’ll see, I reserve the right to alter the questions slightly, so be sure to read what is actually on the exam carefully.  Since you will have two hours and the questions have been distributed ahead of time, your essay should be complete, clear and coherent.   Look at the types of comments I made on your earlier writing for the sort of thorough response I expect.  You should know the terms, concepts and critiques of each theorist in detail.  Wherever possible, integrate material from lecture and from the readings, rather than using only one source.  While I am not as strict about APA format in hand-written essays, try to indicate where you are drawing your ideas from with citations when appropriate. 

                   You should outline or draft all four essays as preparation for the exam, since such preparation will also help you study for the multiple choice portion.  As with last time, please consider writing a rough draft during the exam so you can edit and re-write it neatly afterwards.   However, you may not use drafts / notes during the test.  Having written it out once, it is likely to help you during the exam.  Please bring a pencil for the scantron sheet and a pen for the essay. 

• Compare and contrast S. Freud’s and E. Erikson’s theories of development.  Be sure to describe each of Erikson’s psychosocial stages in terms of the Freudian psychosexual stage it reflects, the emotional duality that it involves, and the particular ego strength that emerges from it.  Describe how J. Marcia’s work expanded Erikson’s stage theory.  Lastly, compare Erikson and Freud on at least two of Engler’s philosophical dimensions.

• Discuss B. F. Skinner’s view of personality and his method of behavior modification.  Be sure to describe different types and schedules of reinforcement and discuss any factors which impact their effectiveness.  Explain how behavior modification has been successfully employed in reality [as opposed to Skinner’s utopian fantasies].  Do you agree with Skinner’s approach?  Why or why  not?  Use at least two of Engler’s five philosophical dimensions to evaluate his Radical Behaviorism.

• The role of reinforcement is quite different in Skinner’s radical behavior theory and in newer social learning theories or Bandura and Rotter.  First, describe each theorist’s approach, then, discuss the different views of reinforcement held by Skinner, Bandura and Rotter.  Where do each of these theorists fall along the Freedom (1) vs. Determinism (5) philosophical dimension?

• Explain the basic premise behind Object Relations theory.  Discuss concepts from at least three of the following theorists’ work: Melanie Klein, Margaret Mahler, Heinz Kohut and Otto Kernberg.  Where applicable, discuss how they address problematic personality formation (i.e., psychopathology).  Where do the three you discussed fall along the philosophical continuum of Heredity (1) vs. Environment (5)?

10/18/07

    Reminders: as indicated in your syllabus, class is cancelled 10/25; please work on your notebooks and final paper outlines, catch up on reading, etc.  When we return 10/30, ch. 9 is due; Exam II is that Thurs, 11/1.  I will be posting possible essay questions before that (end of next week), as well as details re: the exam questions.  Your final project outlines are due 11/8.

   Also, advising week starts soon; as you plan your Spring schedule you may want to consider taking another 200-level course I will be teaching.  It counts as an elective for Psychology Majors/Minors and relates to some of the personality development material we study in this class.  This will be the last semester the course if offered.

Loss and Trauma in Life and Literature

 Psychology 245

   This course explores how experiences of suffering can derail, alter or strengthen the process of human development.  We will explore issues such as early parental absence, childhood maltreatment and deprivation due to such events as war and disaster.  Both psychological and literary works will be used to examine how specific developmental challenges impact identity formation.

Pre-requisites: Psy 111 or permission of instructor

       The grid we reviewed in class is here, in case it helps with studying ch. 8:

10/16/07

    Your exam I grades and resulting mid-term average are now posted.  If you owe me a hardcopy (having submitted the journal electronically) please bring that to class on Thursday or drop it off in my box this week.

     Again, the last day to withdraw from class officially is 10/30.  You should speak to your academic advisor and to me as you make such a decision.

10/3/07

  While I am still grading the exam, I wanted to pass along an ad Kristine S. found which very clearly portrays Freudian concepts alive and well in Western popular culture; enjoy....:

http://swissmiss.typepad.com/weblog/2007/09/new-wilkinson-c.html

10/1/07

   Any papers (JA 1) which have not been distributed are now in my outbox by my door - please come get them and review comments before the exam.  I will post the gradebook shortly so you can check the grade.

    Also, to clarify, the functions I refer to below (see *) are also called "viewpoints" elsewhere in Engler's first chapter.

9/27/07

The structure of Exam I will be as follows: 

Multiple Choice (30 questions) = worth 60% of exam grade

Short Answer (several explanation / identification-type questions) = 15%

2 Essay questions worth 12.5% each = 25%

In order to maximize your studying and to minimize anxiety which sometimes accompanies essay exams, I am posting five possible essay questions below.  You will see only 3 of these 5 options on the exam and you will then choose two to answer.  As explained in class, this is for preparation only, you will not be allowed to use notes or an outline during the exam.

• Describe fully (a) what Engler (2006) calls the three functions* of personality theories; (b) say why it is important to distinguish among the different functions; (c) use clear examples to make your point.

• In as much detail as you can, explain how Freud’s theory foreshadowed later theories that both (a) nature and (b) nurture are important to the development of personality?  (c) Describe one other key concept in depth from Freudian theory which continues to be relevant today.

• Describe (a) Adler’s theory fully (include all key concepts).  Describe (b) Horney’s theory fully (include all key concepts).  Using the philosophical continua, as well as specific concepts from their theories, contrast Adler to Horney (c): where did they agree or take a similar approach?  Where did they diverge or utilize differing assumptions?

• Describe (a) H. S. Sullivan’s theory fully.  Be sure to include key concepts and to (b) discuss the role of anxiety, as well as (c) his developmental stages and how they lead to the mature personality.   

• Briefly describe each of Engler’s five dimensions of philosophical assumptions (a); choose one of those assumptions (continua) and describe how Freud differs from Adler on that dimension (b).  Be sure to indicate (c) what concepts you are basing your views upon and give a clear example in which their differences would impact the understanding of personality.

9/26/07

     For you History of Psychology buffs - photos from Clark U. taken during Freud and Jung's visit are below, you will need Powerpoint to view them.  

Clark U. Archives

    In them,  you will see not only Freud and Jung, but also G. Stanley Hall, the first President of the American Psychological Association who was also president of Clark.  In addition, there are photos of Anna Freud and some others from Freud's 'inner circle.'  

9/21/07

9/14/07

The Cushman & Guilford article is now linked to our coursepage.  You will need the password given out in class when it is time to read that article.

9/12/07

The Learning Center’s Spotlight on Academics talks occur at 7 p.m. each Thursday night this fall. These talks are given by faculty and staff and designed to provide students with concrete, nuts-and-bolts strategies for making the most of their classes.  I will be leading the one on 10/4.

9/6/07

    For anyone who left the room before I remembered, there was a handout (#2) which i wanted you to fill out (it's very quick) before Tuesday.  Please come by my office to get it, they will be in the FROM envelope on my bulletin board.