Personality-Theory and Assessment

Catalog description

This course will provide an overview of critical concepts, theory and knowledge about personality structure, dynamics, change and development. Using case examples, the assessment and diagnosis of personality will be explored through the integration of test data, interview, history, and theoretical understanding. The course is designed to facilitate the student’s development of a viewpoint that can be related to treatment issues and concepts of health and maladaptive behavior. Specific theory topics include: drive theory; ego psychology; object relations theory; interpersonal theory; self psychology; social constructivism; biological/evolutionary; and French post-structuralist and feminist perspectives on personality theory. The theories will be examined regarding issues of individual differences and group differences, including differences in culture, gender, sexual orientation, and social and economic class.