SUBJECT

Title

Personality Psychology 2.

Type of instruction

lecture+seminar

Part of degree program
Typically offered in

Autumn/spring semester

Course description

Aim of the course:
Personality Psychology 2 focuses on different personality theories that describe the structure, the
emergence, the development and the dynamics of personality. The representations of these
aspects in forms of healthy and pathological functions are also examined. The main emphasis is
on the following approaches: 1. psychoanalysis, 2. neoanalytical perspective, 3. humanistic
psychology, 4. cognitive perspective and self-regulation. We present the basic assumptions of the
different approaches, the way of thinking of theoreticians, the preferred methods of
measurement, as well as basic concepts and therapeutic aspects of psychopathology.

Learning outcome, competences

knowledge:

  • the basic concepts of psychoanalysis, the neoanalytical perspective, learning theories, humanistic psychology and psychosocial and social-cognitive theories
  • the discussions of the aforementioned personality approaches on the basic processes and functions of personality; the problems of the measurement of personality; healthy / mature personality functioning; personality disorders and their therapeutic treatment

attitude:

  • an open and problem-centered attitude towards different approaches and models of personality
  • a constructive understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of different personality models

skills:

  • after completing the course, the student will be able to approach a personality-related problem in multiple ways and choose the model that is most usable for answering a particular research or practical question
  • the students will be able to grasp a personality related problems in its complexity by using different approaches and by choosing the most suitable personality psychology model he students will be able to choose the personality assessment method(s) that best suit(s) a particular research or practical question
  • the student will be able to explain and understand psychopathology related issues from different perspectives

Topics of the course
1. The Psychoanalytic Perspective
2. Neoanalytical Perspective (ego psychology and psychosocial theories)
3. Self-Actualization and Self-Determination
4. The Cognitive Perspective and Self-regulation
5. Personality Disorders
6. The healthy / mature personality
7. Positive Psychology

Readings

Compulsory reading list

 Carver, C. S., Scheier, M. F. (2014): Perspectives on personality: Pearson New International
Edition. (7th edition). Required chapters: The Psychoanalytic Perspective (pp. 129-150);
Psychosocial Theories (pp. 161-182); Self-Actualization and Self-Determination (pp. 221-
248); The Self-Regulation Perspective (pp. 277-303); Personality in Perspective: Overlap
and Integration (pp. 305-314)
 Carver, C. S., Scheier, M. F. (2003): Ego Psychology. In: Perspectives on personality. Ch.10. (5th
edition)
 Freud, F. (1989). An outline of Psycho-Analysis. W. W. Norton & Company
 Erikson, E. H. (1968/1994). The life cycle: Epigenesis of Identity. In Identity: Youth and
Crisis. Ch. 3. W. W. Norton & Company.
 Freud, A. (1966/1992). The mechanisms of Defence. In The Ego and the Mechanisms of
Defence. Ch. 4. The Hogarth Press.
 Jung, C. G. (1968/1990). The Concept of the Collective Unconscious (Ch.2). Conscious,
Unconscious, and Individuation (Ch.10). In The Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious. 2nd
edition. Princeton University Press.
 Rogers, C. R. (1961/2004). Some hypotheses regarding the facilitation of personal growth
(Ch.2). What it means to become a person (Ch.6). In On Becoming a Person: A Therapist’s View
of Psychotherapy. Constable & Robinson.
 Maslow, A. S. (1968/1999). Deficiency motivation and growth motivation. In Toward a
Psychology of Being. Ch.3. John Wiley & Sons. 3rd ed.
 Csikszentmihályi, M. (1991). The conditions of flow. In Flow: The Psychology of Optimal
Experience. Ch.4. Harper Perennial

Recommended reading list

 FREUD, S. (2003). The ’Wolfman’ and Other Cases. The Pengiun Press.
 FREUD, S. (1923/1961). The Ego and the Id. In The ego and the id: And other works. The
Standard Edition of the Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund Freud. Vintage
 HAMILTON, N. H. (1988). Self and Others: Object Relations Theory in Practice. Jason Aronson.
 KERNBERG, O. F. (1975). Borderline conditions and pathological narcissism. Jason Aronson.
 BAUMEISTER, R. F; Tierney, J. (2012). Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength.
The Pengiun Press.
 CSIKSZENTMIHALYI, M. (1998). Finding Flow: The Psychology of Engagement With Everyday
Life. Basic Books.
SELIGMAN, M. E. P. (2002). Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your
Potential for Lasting Fulfillment. New York