Study Notes from Academic Advising and Personality Theories Lecture

Introduction

Melanie Sedge from Academic Advising speaks to students about academic status and support.
Discussion about finding parking and thanking those not in attendance.

Office Locations:
- Lee College Office
- International academic advisers at Trent International and Durham campus.
Importance of connecting with academic advisers during the first year.

Purpose: Discussion on academic status email sent in January.
Assessment Details:
- Academic standing is shown on transcripts, based on credit hours done.
- First assessment occurs after attempting three Trent credits, generally during the first year.
- Terminology is clarified:
  - Cumulative Average: Total average of all grades received.
  - General Degree: Threshold is 60%.
  - Honors Degree: Threshold is 65%.

Probation:
- If cumulative average is between 50-59.9%.
- Not an indication of inability to continue studies, merely a flag that warns the student.
Actions During Probation:
- Seek help from advisers to improve standing.
Suspension:
- Occurs if the term or cumulative average is below 50%.
- Students may sit out for twelve months.
- Advisers offer support options to improve standing prior to suspension.

Advisers hold appointments that can be difficult to secure due to high demand.
Booking Tip: Log into the Student Experience Portal at noon for available appointments for the next week.
Adviser's contact number provided for appointment booking.
Proactive approach to walking in on same-day appointments also suggested.

Critical date: March 10 for dropping courses to avoid impact on cumulative average.
Students encouraged to consult advisers regarding drop considerations due to course load and funding factors.
Pop-up booths around campus for additional support leading to the drop deadline.

My Progress Planning System:
- Tool for tracking degree requirements but known to have inaccuracies.
Academic Calendar:
- Recommended for ensuring right courses are tracked for graduation requirements.
Advisers provide clarity on program requirements.

Expectation for midterm grades to be posted with specific dates mentioned for final exams between tentatively scheduled dates.
Importance of checking personal portals for individualized exam schedules.

Four main theories discussed: Trait Approach, Psychodynamic Approach, Humanistic Approach, and Social Cognitive Theory.
- Trait Theory: Definition of personality in terms of traits, stability, and measurement methods (self-reporting, projective tests).
- Psychodynamic Theory (Freud's Theory): Id, superego, ego functions in personality formation, especially through childhood stages.
- Humanistic Approach: Emphasizes free will and the ability for personal growth, contrasting with determinism.
- Social Cognitive Theory: Personality shaped by interactions of environment, personal factors, and behavior.

Personality is described through enduring patterns of thinking, behavior, and feelings.
Two major measurement methods discussed:
- Self-report: A common method where individuals evaluate themselves.
- Projective Tests: Originated by Freud to uncover unconscious aspects of personality.

Gordon Allport's Contribution:
- Identified and categorized personality traits.
- Proposed three categories:
  - Cardinal Traits: Dominant traits that influence for all aspects of a person’s life; rare in occurrence.
  - Central Traits: Basic traits that serve as the foundation for personality.
  - Secondary Traits: Traits that may only appear in specific situations.
Raymond Cattell's Factor Analysis:
- Method for reducing the number of traits to manageable factors, leading to the development of the Five Factor Model.

Developed by Costa and McCrae; captures personality through five dimensions:
- Openness: Creativity and willingness to try new things.
- Conscientiousness: Organization and dependability.
- Extraversion: Sociability and engagement level with the environment.
- Agreeableness: Cooperative and congenial nature.
- Neuroticism: Emotional stability and levels of anxiety.
Important to identify that individuals fall along a continuum for each trait rather than fitting strictly into categories.
Extra details and examples provided for traits discussed to illustrate personality dimensions and impacts.

Freud's Model: Personality consists of three parts: Id, Ego, and Superego, working under specific principles (Pleasure principle, Morality principle, and Reality principle).
Psychosexual Stages: Five stages (oral, anal, phallic, latency, genital) where personality is developed; fixation at any stage can impact adult personality.

Centered around self-actualization and the inherent goodness of individuals; positive perspective on personality development.
Emphasizes freedom of choice and personal responsibility.
Criticles on lack of scientific measurement and operational definition of concepts like self-actualization.

Emphasizes the role of observational learning, including Bandura’s Bobo Doll experiments on learning through observation and consequence impact on behavior.
Discusses the idea of reciprocal determinism, where personality habits, thoughts, and environmental influences interact.
Locus of Control: Differentiates between internal (personal influence over outcomes) versus external (outside factors determining outcomes).
- Self-Efficacy: Belief in one's capabilities to succeed affects intentions and outcomes.
Learned Helplessness: Notion about stopping attempts to improve or succeed based on previously learned experiences.

Emphasized the significant role of various personality theories on understanding behaviors and interactions in both educational and social contexts.
Addressed risks of using rigid categorizations of personality while acknowledging the complexities introduced by different contexts and individual experiences.

Students given a prompt to reflect on their own experiences related to the discussed personality theories and their application in real life.
Encouraged engagement with the material and thoughts on personal connections to the academic performance and identity formation during their tenure at university.