THE PSYCHOLOGY OF PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
PSYCHOLOGY 3601
SPRING 2005
Instructor: Joie Acheson, MA, LICSW emeritus, KRI
Office: 316E Bohannon Hall / Phone # 726-7458
Office Hours: Mondays: 8:30-9am, 2-3pm
Wednesdays: 8:30-9am, 2-3pm
Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays: by appointment
E-mail: jacheson@d.umn.edu
Course Description: This course examines personal development by exploring a wide variety of ways in which to change, grow, and achieve one’s creative potential. The focus is on the discovery of self and the authentic search for meaning in one’s own life. The class advances a multi-faceted approach to personal development combining theory, personal experience, and self-reflection.
Introduction: Divergent psychological approaches to personal development will be examined, from neuropsychological and cognitive theories, to psychodynamic and humanistic theories. Foremost, personal development and change is best understood with life application – therefore, in addition to looking at current research and theory, the class will have several “hands-on” components. You will participate in activities chosen to facilitate self-discovery and growth including: a creative presentation or paper, a vision quest with a written summary, community class attendance, and others.
For the creative development portion of your learning this semester, you will delve into some aspect of your own personal development and journey, and create a short (eight minute) presentation for the class. (You may choose to write a paper in lieu of the presentation.) You will identify factors, situations and people in your life which have promoted or inhibited positive change, and then share your analysis and insights. Your own imagination is your only limit – you may use video, music, art. Presentations are scheduled during the second half of the semester. This project is evaluated by your peers.
As individuals move closer in life to realizing their fullest potential there is often an increasing and spontaneous desire to serve others. To facilitate your own development in this area, you will have the opportunity to serve through social action, good deeds and other acts of kindness. We will discuss these pro-social behaviors in the context of such social-psychological theories as diffusion of responsibility, helping behavior and altruism. An additional activity is the Vision Quest, an intensive quiet time away from your busy life, in which you will observe your own reactions to the signs and wisdom of the natural world.
You will attend six in-class yoga sessions throughout this course. This personal development discipline will offer you the opportunity to experience and analyze the effectiveness of making a commitment to your own overall wellness. In addition, you will choose one community class to attend in any mind-body modality of your choice.
Towards the semester’s end, you will write about your reactions to these experiences.
Objectives: At the conclusion of the semester you will have acquired a basic cognitive and experiential understanding of how individuals change and develop by examining and analyzing pertinent psychological theory and immersing yourself in personal development practices. Most importantly, you will be able to identify factors in your own life that either promote or inhibit positive change. You will have used your creativity in exploring your chosen personal development topic in depth.
Class Format: Monday and Wednesday class times are devoted to lecture, discussion, experiential activities, and class presentations. Friday sessions will be used to learn and practice yoga, undertake your Vision Quest, practice stewardship activities, and to attend the required community class. Your six sessions of yoga instruction will take place in Bohannon Hall # 311.
Attendance: Class attendance is required and will show direct relationship to your final grade. Attendance is taken at all yoga classes. If you do miss any class, you are responsible for all of the material covered that hour, including announcements or changes to the syllabus. Exams combine both lecture and text material. (YOU MAY LOSE A FULL LETTER GRADE FOR POOR ATTENDANCE.)
Requirements:
Texts:
Goud, N. & Arkoff, A. (2003) Psychology and Personal Growth, Allyn & Bacon
Coelho, P. (1995) The Pilgrimage, San Francisco: Harper/Collins
Schlosser, E. (2001) Fast Food Nation, Houghton / Mifflin.
Ruiz, D. M. (1997) The Four Agreements, Amber-Allen Publishing.
Reading Assignments:
Weeks 1-3: Read Personal Growth sections 1,3,4, & 6 only
Weeks 4-6: Read The Pilgrimage
Weeks 7-10: Read Fast Food Nation
Weeks 11-13: Read The Four Agreements
Grading: Personal Development Presentation Proposal=(15 pts); Personal Development Presentation or Paper = (50 pts); Yoga Class attendance = 30 pts; 4 Book Reviews= (20 pts each); Vision Quest = 50 pts; Midterm Examinations= (50 pts each); Stewardship / Mind-Body Paper = 30 pts; Class Evaluation= (15 pts); Final Exam= (80 pts). Points will be totaled and percentages of those points will be used to determine grades using the following table:
A = 100-92% A- = 91-90% B+= 89-88% B = 87-82% B- = 81-80% C+ = 79-78%
C= 77-72% C- = 71-70% D+ = 69-68% D = 67-62% D- = 61-60% F = 59-0%
Class Assignments:
Workload: For undergraduate courses, one credit is defined as equivalent to an average of three hours of learning effort per week (over a full semester) necessary for an average student to achieve an average grade in the course. For example, a student taking a three credit course that meets for three hours a week should expect to spend an additional six hours a week on coursework outside the classroom.
Students with Disabilities: Individuals who have any disability, either permanent or temporary, which might affect their ability to perform in this class are encouraged to see me at the start of the semester. Adaptation of methods, materials, or testing may be made as required to provide for equitable participation.