how to teach the intro section

8/4/2019 How to Teach the Intro Section

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Copyright 2005 John D. Mayer Copyright 2005 John D. Mayer

How to Teach theHow to Teach the

Introductory PsychologyIntroductory PsychologyUnit onUnit on

Personality PsychologyPersonality PsychologyUsing the Systems FrameworkUsing the Systems Framework

by John D. Mayerby John D. Mayer


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The Step-by-Step Approach:The Step-by-Step Approach:

1.1. What The Personality Chapter in theWhat The Personality Chapter in the

Introductory Psychology BookIntroductory Psychology BookShouldShouldDoDo

2.2.

What the Personality Chapter in theWhat the Personality Chapter in theIntroductory Psychology BookIntroductory Psychology BookActuallyActually

Looks LikeLooks Like

3.3. How to Fix ItHow to Fix It


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1. What the Personality1. What the PersonalityChapter in the IntroductoryChapter in the Introductory

Psychology BookPsychology BookShould DoShould Do


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Wundts Conception of PersonalityWundts Conception of Personality

Personality is a systemPersonality is a system

A system is a set of interrelated parts.A system is a set of interrelated parts.Examples are:Examples are: The solar systemThe solar systemA college or universityA college or university

Subfields are organized from those studyingSubfields are organized from those studying

smaller units to those studying larger units.smaller units to those studying larger units.Personality was the large system thatPersonality was the large system that

organized the parts of psychologyorganized the parts of psychology


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Wundts Vision for PersonalityWundts Vision for Personality

(updated a bit)(updated a bit)

Personality

Sensation and

Perception

Motives and

Emotion

Emotion and

Cognition

Sensation Perception Memory Emotion CognitionConscious-

ness


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Most Introductory Psychology Books ProceedMost Introductory Psychology Books Proceed

from Smaller to Larger Systemsfrom Smaller to Larger Systems

The NeuronThe Neuron

SensationSensationPerceptionPerceptionMemoryMemory

MotivationMotivationEmotionEmotion

IntelligenceIntelligence

PersonalityPersonality


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Intro Books & PersonalityIntro Books & Personality

Personality

Sensation and

Perception

Motives and

Emotion

Emotion and

Cognition

Sensation Perception Memory Emotion CognitionConscious-

ness

Introductory Psychology books have an institutional memory of whatIntroductory Psychology books have an institutional memory of whatWundt envisioned: That personality would integrate what had comeWundt envisioned: That personality would integrate what had comebefore (and transition to the study of people in groups).before (and transition to the study of people in groups).

That is why they usually place personality at the end of the section onThat is why they usually place personality at the end of the section onparts of the person, just before the chapter on social psychology, or aparts of the person, just before the chapter on social psychology, or aseries of chapters on applications of psychologyseries of chapters on applications of psychology


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2. What the Personality2. What the Personality

Chapter in the IntroductoryChapter in the IntroductoryPsychology BookPsychology BookActuallyActually

Looks LikeLooks Like


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Does Your Introductory PsychologyDoes Your Introductory Psychology

Textbooks Chapter Look Like This?Textbooks Chapter Look Like This? Psychodynamic:Psychodynamic:

Freud: Conscious/Unc; Id Ego, SuperegoFreud: Conscious/Unc; Id Ego, Superego

Trait Theorists:Trait Theorists: Allports traitsAllports traits

Eysencks Big ThreeEysencks Big Three Costa & McCrae & Goldbergs The Big FiveCosta & McCrae & Goldbergs The Big Five

HumanismHumanism Maslows Need HierarchyMaslows Need Hierarchy

Social Learning:Social Learning: Rotters expectancy theoryRotters expectancy theory

Mischels behavioral expressionMischels behavioral expression

Banduras self-efficacyBanduras self-efficacy


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Just When You Wanted To Pull It All TogetherJust When You Wanted To Pull It All Together

The personality section addsThe personality section adds moremorefragmentationfragmentation

Many theoriesMany theories

All contradictoryAll contradictory

Contradictions within theoretical perspectivesContradictions within theoretical perspectives

Much of it is historical and lacks evidence but theMuch of it is historical and lacks evidence but the

textbook author doesnt necessarily say so for risktextbook author doesnt necessarily say so for risk

of offending professors who love the oldof offending professors who love the oldperspectives (as do I but Im not offended byperspectives (as do I but Im not offended by

change)change)


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3. How To Fix It3. How To Fix It


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Most Introductory Psychology TextbooksMost Introductory Psychology Textbooks

Provide all The Coverage You NeedProvide all The Coverage You Need

Your introductory psychology book hasYour introductory psychology book has

adequate coverage of personalityadequate coverage of personality

psychology.psychology.

It is just organized in a fragmented wayIt is just organized in a fragmented way

It likely goes perspective-by-perspectiveIt likely goes perspective-by-perspective

(although a few use other organizations)(although a few use other organizations)


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There are better organizationsThere are better organizations

The Systems Framework for Personality (Mayer,The Systems Framework for Personality (Mayer,

1998) is an Outline with Four Topics1998) is an Outline with Four Topics

1.1. What is personality: It is the organization of the majorWhat is personality: It is the organization of the major

psychological subsystems we have studied thus farpsychological subsystems we have studied thus far2.2. What are personalitys parts: They are motives,What are personalitys parts: They are motives,

emotions, cognitionas we have studied thus faremotions, cognitionas we have studied thus far

3.3. What is personalitys organization?What is personalitys organization?

1.1. Structure: The Big Five; Conscious/unconsciousStructure: The Big Five; Conscious/unconscious2.2. Dynamics: Mental DefenseDynamics: Mental Defense

4.4. Development (or leave until the Development chapter)Development (or leave until the Development chapter)


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Or, In a Bit More DetailOr, In a Bit More Detail

What Is Personality?What Is Personality? Now we come to the part that begins toNow we come to the part that begins to

pull psychology together.pull psychology together. Define personality as a systemDefine personality as a system

Personalitys PartsPersonalitys Parts We have already examined many ofWe have already examined many of

personalitys parts throughout thispersonalitys parts throughout this

semester.semester. Attachment; object relationsAttachment; object relations Memory = Autobiograhpical memoryMemory = Autobiograhpical memory Emotions = A persons emotional styleEmotions = A persons emotional style Motives = A persons motivesMotives = A persons motives

Personality OrganizationPersonality Organization Structural Trait OrganizationsStructural Trait Organizations

The Big Three (Eysenck)The Big Three (Eysenck) The Big Five (Costa, McCrae, Goldberg,The Big Five (Costa, McCrae, Goldberg,

etc.)etc.) Global Structural organization:Global Structural organization:

Conscious-unconsciousConscious-unconscious e.g., Freud: Conscious/Unc; Id Ego,e.g., Freud: Conscious/Unc; Id Ego,

SuperegoSuperego But there are newer, better organizationsBut there are newer, better organizations

(e.g., the Systems Set)(e.g., the Systems Set)

Personality Organization (continued)Personality Organization (continued) Dynamics of ActionDynamics of Action

Mischels interactionismMischels interactionism Rotters expectancyRotters expectancy Banduras self-efficacyBanduras self-efficacy

Dynamics: Self ControlDynamics: Self Control Freud (and others): Defense and copingFreud (and others): Defense and coping

Personality DevelopmentPersonality Development You may want to postpone this to theYou may want to postpone this to theDevelopment chapter, but if not:Development chapter, but if not:

Eriksons stagesEriksons stages Maslows concept of self-actualizationMaslows concept of self-actualization

Now you can tell your own story aboutNow you can tell your own story aboutthe whole personalitythe whole personality

Then say, In the Next Chapter, WellThen say, In the Next Chapter, Well

Move up a Level of Analysis, andMove up a Level of Analysis, andDiscuss People in Groups: SocialDiscuss People in Groups: SocialPsychologyPsychology


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Or use the systemsOr use the systemsframework lectureframework lecture

reorganizerreorganizerSee:See:

http://www.personalitysystem.com/PVBhttp://www.personalitysystem.com/PVB

Assets/creatinglectures/sidebysidelectuAssets/creatinglectures/sidebysidelectures.pdfres.pdf


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ConclusionsConclusions

The Introductory Psychology book typically placesThe Introductory Psychology book typically placesPersonality at the conclusion of many chapters on majorPersonality at the conclusion of many chapters on majorpsychological subsystems.psychological subsystems.

In this sense, the are remembering Wundts idea thatIn this sense, the are remembering Wundts idea thatpersonality should draw the field togetherpersonality should draw the field together

Most Introductory Psychology books provide the coverageMost Introductory Psychology books provide the coverageyou need to teach personality in a systems manneryou need to teach personality in a systems manner

Its (almost) as simple as re-ordering your lecturesIts (almost) as simple as re-ordering your lectures


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Further ReadingsFurther Readings

Overview of the systems framework:Overview of the systems framework: Mayer (1998). A systems framework for the field of personality.Mayer (1998). A systems framework for the field of personality.

Psychological Inquiry, 9,Psychological Inquiry, 9, 169-179.169-179.

Extensions Relevant for Introductory Psychology:Extensions Relevant for Introductory Psychology:

Mayer, J. D. (2004). Classifying change techniques according toMayer, J. D. (2004). Classifying change techniques according tothe areas of personality they influence: A systems frameworkthe areas of personality they influence: A systems frameworkintegration.integration. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 60,Journal of Clinical Psychology, 60, 1291-1315.1291-1315.

Mayer, J. D. (2003). Structural divisions of personality and theMayer, J. D. (2003). Structural divisions of personality and theclassification of traits.classification of traits. Review of General Psychology, 7,Review of General Psychology, 7, 381-401.381-401.

A personality textbook based on the system:A personality textbook based on the system: Mayer (2005). Personality psychology: A systems approach (3Mayer (2005). Personality psychology: A systems approach (3rdrd

Classroom Test Edition). Boston: Pearson Custom.Classroom Test Edition). Boston: Pearson Custom.

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