Debate about the merits of the psychodynamic perspective led us to wonder about the extent of its inclusion in personality textbooks and its coverage by teachers of the undergraduate personality psychology course. We reviewed the tables of contents of 25 recent personality textbooks and found only 4 that had no chapters dedicated to psychodynamic…

I summarize multidisciplinary paradigms and best practices' recommendations for professional learning by higher education faculty members. This review leads to an innovative narrative model for academic life that synthesizes current personality and vocational psychology theory and positive psychology's emphasis on virtues and character…

Classic personality theories, although intriguing, are outdated. The five-factor model of personality traits reinvigorated personality research, and the resulting findings spurred a new generation of personality theories. These theories assign a central place to traits and acknowledge the crucial role of evolved biology in shaping human…

This article describes an in-class activity designed to demonstrate Freud's structural theory of the psyche, specifically the roles of the id, ego, and superego, as well as the interplay among them. Additionally, the activity visually illustrates Freud's ideas about the levels of consciousness associated with these 3 components. Pre-post quiz…

This study entailed the development and implementation of a classroom activity designed to introduce students to the concept of factor analysis. We implemented the activity in both a personality theories course and a tests and measurements course. Data suggest that students learned about factor analysis from this activity, while enjoying it.…

Previously, psychology instructors have used popular music to illustrate psychological concepts in the classroom. In this study, students enrolled in a personality theories class heard 13 popular songs that demonstrated various concepts. Students then selected and analyzed their own songs that contained elements of personality theories. Test…

Presents method for introducing William Sheldon's approach to psychology through a classroom demonstration using student observations. Sheldon contends that three general body types relate to three types of personality. (KC)

A method is described for incorporating student papers based on published biographies or autobiographies into an upper-division undergraduate personality theory course. Students are required to submit a term paper analyzing their selected target person, using concepts from a variety of theories presented in the course. (Author/RM)

Discusses how college-level personality theory courses can increase student understanding of psychological concepts and assumptions about human nature and behavior. The author describes an activity in which students extract the underlying personality theories found in the works of Kurt Vonnegut and J.R.R. Tolkien. (AM)

Describes how the author uses the well-known 1965 film series THREE APPROACHES TO PSYCHOTHERAPY as a case study for interpreting the filmed client's personality from various theoretical perspectives. Explains how assignments were organized around the films and discusses how students benefited from the exercise. (Author/GEA)

Reviews criticisms of traditional personality theories and describes alternative, more inclusive, theories that teachers should consider adding to their courses. Suggests that teachers expose students to theories respecting diversity, feminist approaches, theories stressing relatedness, and the reformulations of traditional theories. (KO)

Reports how 10 college students in a psychology of personality course increased their awareness of their own implicit theories of personality by completing an 18-item questionnaire dealing with various issues of personality. Instructor-supplied responses representing the perspectives of Freud, Skinner, Rogers, and Glasser were used to foster…

This study used the Self-Consciousness Scale to test the hypothesis that socially anxious people could seek to avoid embarrassment and do poorly in small group discussions as a result. Those people high in private self-consciousness (lacking concern for social evaluation) would participate more in discussions. Findings supported the hypothesis.…

Describes a series of writing assignments in which entry level graduate students in a personality theory class wrote four short papers interpreting the personality of a character from a children's story or comic strip. Explains that each paper utilized a different theoretical orientation: psychoanalytic, dispositional, phenomenological, and…

To make psychology course content more relevant to college students, popular television presentations can be used to illustrate psychological concepts. Students in a theories of personality course wrote brief essays explaining the behavior of their favorite TV characters. (RM)