PSYC07020 2022 Personality and Individual Differences

General Details

Full Title
Personality and Individual Differences
Transcript Title
Personality Individual Differ
Code
PSYC07020
Attendance
70 %
Subject Area
PSYC - 0313 Psychology
Department
SOCS - Social Sciences
Level
07 - Level 7
Credit
05 - 05 Credits
Duration
Semester
Fee
Start Term
2022 - Full Academic Year 2022-23
End Term
9999 - The End of Time
Author(s)
Anna Fewer-Hamilton
Programme Membership
SG_HENGL_H08 202200 Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English and Psychology SG_WENGL_H08 202500 Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English and Psychology SG_WPSYC_H08 202500 Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Psychology and English
Description

This module introduces the main psychological theories about personality and individual differences, and addresses human motivation, disposition, aptitude, intelligence, self-concept, behaviour, and social interaction.

The methodologies that psychologists employ to research, develop, and apply these approaches to understanding individual difference will be considered, along with related debates, controversies, and emerging areas of interest. In addition, this module will explore the contribution of the personalities and perspectives of key theorists to their theories.

Theories will be evaluated across several dimensions including their position on human agency, their level of refutability, their nomothetic or ideographic emphasis, and their heuristic and applied value.

Students will research, study, and interrogate the work of key personality theorists, tracing the evolution, rigour, and legacy of their models, and will share this learning in co-constructed classroom experiences.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module the learner will/should be able to;

1.

Describe a variety of psychological approaches to explaining and understanding personality and individual differences.

2.

Explain the main ideas underpinning key psychological approaches to individual differences.

3.

Examine evidence from psychological research in the field of personality and individual differences.

4.

Critically compare and evaluate personality theorists and theories.

5.

Appraise the relevance of a range of psychological models of personality and individual difference.

Teaching and Learning Strategies

Through lectures, interactive tutorials, and co-constructed classroom activity, students will be encouraged to approach their learning through a ‘psychological lens’ by researching, analysing, considering evidence and research data, and evaluating the applications and implications of the models studied.

Learning activities may include engagement with relevant research articles, video, directed reading, demonstration psychometric assessments, popular fiction, non-fiction and film, and a dedicated virtual learning environment (Moodle).

Assessment will facilitate both feedback and feed forward through formative and summative evaluation of a multi-part assignment phased across the semester.

Students are expected to engage in approximately 3 Independent Learning Hours per week.

Module Assessment Strategies

Assessment will involve ongoing continuous assessment in the form of a group research based project with individual elements. Opportunities for formative feedback and feed forward, from both peers and lecturer, will be scheduled throughout the semester. Groups will present their work in class from Week 7 onwards with the individual element submitted 2 weeks after each presentation. Summative feedback and feed forward will be provided upon completion of the assignment.

The required citation style for this module is American Psychological Association (APA).

Repeat Assessments

Repeat assessment will require completion of course work as appropriate and will be discussed at Examination Board meetings in line with IT Sligo policy.

Indicative Syllabus

LO 1: Describe a variety of psychological approaches to explaining and understanding personality and individual differences.

  • Trait Approaches.
  • Psychoanalytic Approaches.
  • Biological Approaches.
  • Cognitive Approaches including Behaviourist and Humanist influences.
  • Individual Differences in Intelligence.

LO 2: Explain the main ideas underpinning key psychological approaches to individual differences.

  • What do we mean by personality?
  • How can we study the differences between individuals?
  • Is there a 'one size fits all' (universal) way of describing and explaining people's personalities?
  • Why are people's personalities the way they are?
  • Is intelligence inherited?
  • Do psychologists always agree on the answers to these and other questions about personality and individual differences?

LO 3: Examine evidence from psychological research in the field of personality and individual differences.

  • Historical aspects.
  • Methodologies in individual difference research.
  • Personality assessment and intelligence testing.
  • Debates, dilemmas, and developments for psychologists studying individual differences.

LO 4: Critically compare and evaluate personality theorists and theories.

  • Assumptions and approaches of trait theories. Eysenck’s 3 factor model. The Big Five.
  • Psychoanalytic theories of personality structure and development, for example Freud’s Psychoanalytic approach, Jung’s Analytic Psychology, Erikson’s Psychosocial Developmental approach.
  • Behavioural genetics, heritability, and twin studies.
  • Evolving biological perspectives on individual differences from Humours to Neurotransmitters. Eysenck’s General Arousal Theory.
  • The Behaviourist origins of cognitive models of personality. Theorists may include Watson, Skinner, Dollard and Miller.
  • The Cognitive components of Social Learning theory eg Bandura, Rotter, and Social Constructivist theory eg Kelly.
  • The Humanist understanding of individual differences eg Maslow, Rogers.
  • Psychological theories and ways of measuring intelligence eg Galton, Binet, Terman. General intelligence (g) and Multiple Intelligences, IQ (intelligence Quotient).

LO 5: Appraise the relevance of a range of psychological models of personality and individual difference.

  • Measuring Personality and Intelligence.
  • Quality issues in psychometric testing: reliability, validity, test development and administration.
  • Examples and applications. Using tests of individual difference to predict outcomes in real world situations eg job performance, academic achievement.

Coursework & Assessment Breakdown

Coursework & Continuous Assessment
100 %

Coursework Assessment

Title Type Form Percent Week Learning Outcomes Assessed
1 Group Project Project Group Project 20 % Week 7 1,2,4
2 In Class Presentation Project Assessment 30 % Week 7 1,2,4
3 Individual Reflective and Theoretical Report Coursework Assessment Written Report/Essay 50 % OnGoing 3,5

Full Time Mode Workload


Type Location Description Hours Frequency Avg Workload
Lecture Lecture Theatre Lecture 2 Weekly 2.00
Tutorial Flat Classroom Tutorial 1 Weekly 1.00
Independent Learning Not Specified Independent Learning 3 Weekly 3.00
Total Full Time Average Weekly Learner Contact Time 3.00 Hours

Required & Recommended Book List

Required Reading
2017 Personality, Individual Differences and Intelligence
ISBN 1292090510 ISBN-13 9781292090511

A comprehensive and accessible fourth edition of a market leading text on personality, individual differences and intelligence that offers up-to-date research and a wealth of pedagogical features.

Recommended Reading
2008-01-22 Beneath the Mask: An Introduction to Theories of Personality Wiley
ISBN 0471724122 ISBN-13 9780471724124

Beneath the Mask presents classical theories of human nature while emphasizing the theorist's progression of ideas. The eighth edition continues to discuss the ideas of personality theorists developmentally. This account of personality theory incorporates the personal origins of ideas to highlight the links between the psychology of each theorist and that theorist's own psychology of persons. It also explores how the personal histories, conflicts, and intentions of the theorist entered that thinker's portrait of people.

Recommended Reading
Personality Theories SAGE Publications
ISBN 9781412970624 ISBN-13 1412970628

Module Resources

Journal Resources
URL Resources

Companion website for the recommended textbook https://wps.pearsoned.co.uk/ema_uk_he_maltby_pidi_4/ 

Personality and Individual Differences, the Official Journal of the International Society for the Study of Individual Differences (ISSID)- Open access articles https://www.journals.elsevier.com/personality-and-individual-differences/

International Personality Item Pool https://ipip.ori.org/

The Psychological Society of Ireland http://www.psihq.ie/

Other Resources

Examples of Supplementary Resources (Literature, Popular Fiction, Non-fiction, Film)

Cardinal, M., & Bettleheim, B. (2013). The Words to Say It (9th ed. edition). Van Vactor & Goodheart.

Columbus, C. (1999). Bicentennial Man

Dexter, C. (2002). The Complete Inspector Morse Collection. Pan Books.

Frankl, V. E., & Allport, G. W. (2000). Man’s Search for Meaning (4th edition). Beacon Press.

Gillespie, C. (2018). I, Tonya.

Herrnstein, R. J., & Murray, C. (1996). The Bell Curve: Intelligence and Class Structure in American Life (Illustrated edition). Simon & Schuster Ltd.

Additional Information

As a 5 credit module, the total student independent effort hours for this module are 3 hours per week.