Personality Psychology: The Science of What Makes You You!

***This is a FLEX class. There will be no live meetings.***

Personality Psychology: The Science of What Makes "You" You!
In this FLEX class, students will get the chance to learn about the field of personality psychology and explore their own personalities. 
Personality psychology is a particularly fascinating subject, because it is so relatable to every single one of us! Whether you're interested in becoming a psychologist one day, or you simply want to learn more about yourself and the people around you, this class is for you. This class is an in-depth extension on my popular one-time class "Personality Psych 101" with the addition of taking a personality assessment and learning about personality disorders.
Each week will focus on a different topic through pre-recorded lessons. While there are no live meetings in this course, that doesn't mean that learner participation is not encouraged! Through discussions and out of class assignments, learners will gain the same value that they would in a live class- except, they can do it on their own time. 

LEARNER INTERACTION: 
To ensure comprehension of the material covered, each class will come with a worksheet with three components: a before class component, a during class component, and an after class component. The content of these worksheets is not extensive nor demanding; rather, it encourages learners to apply the material learned in class to their every day lives. Learners will be asked to complete these worksheets in a week's time. For instance, the week 1 worksheet will be due the day of the week 2 class. Learners can post their finished worksheets (typed or written) to the class page. I will offer individualized attention to each student and offer feedback and comments on their work. 
In addition to the weekly worksheets, there will be a weekly discussion board on our class page for learners to interact with one another. Immediately following a class, I will post a discussion question that learners will be expected to answer in a minimum of one comment on the same thread. Learners will have the ability to read their classmates' insights and to respond to one another. I will also respond to each student's comment on the discussion board to facilitate open conversation and encourage learners to apply the insights gained to their everyday lives.

Week 1: Where does personality come from?
In week 1, we will learn how to define personality and what personality is and isn't. We will have a lengthy discussion about nurture vs. nature and how each uniquely affects our psychology. By the end of the lesson, learners will have a clearer understanding of the various influences on their own personalities.

Week 2: Personality through the ages
In week 2, we will discuss the earliest theories about personality, dating all the way back to the ancient Greeks! We will discuss different philosophies as they pertain to personality psychology, and what scientists typically believe today.

Week 3: Personality traits and you!
In week 3, we will learn all about how psychologists study personality, various personality assessments, and discuss findings from the Big 5 Personality Assessment, which students will be asked to take before class. 

Week 4: Personality disorders
In week 4, we will catch a glimpse into the intriguing field of abnormal psychology. We will take an overview of personality disorders and how they differ from typical personalities, as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders specifies. No diagnostic information will be provided, but rather the emphasis will be placed on personality traits and the difference between typical and atypical personalities.

I look forward to learning with you! See you in class!