Psychology of Personality
Overview
This unit explores key themes in the development of personality theory. The psychodynamic, psychosocial, biological, trait, humanistic, and social cognitive approaches to understanding personality are compared and critically evaluated according to the available evidence. Assessment of individuals according to each theory is also critically evaluated. Applications of the personality theories to real-world problems are emphasised in the unit so that students begin to appreciate the importance of understanding differences between people and how these differences drive behaviour.
Requisites
Rules
Pre-requisite
25 Credit Points of Level 2 PSY Units
AND
STA20006 Analysis of Variance and Regression
Equivalent
HAY308 - Psychology of Personality; HAYG430 - Psychology of Personality; LSY300 - Psychology of Personality; LSY600 - Psychology of Personality; PSS310B(C) - Psychology of Personality; SLSY300 - Psychology of Personality
09-February-2025
01-June-2025
08-June-2025
08-February-2026
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Explain the main features of major perspectives on the psychology of personality (e.g., psychoanalytic/neoanalytic, biological/evolutionary, trait, motive, learning and social-cognitive approaches, and narrative identity)
- Apply personality theory for practical outcomes using an appropriate technology
- Critically evaluate how various approaches to personality explain specific issues such as the unconscious, the self, personality change, the effect of early childhood experiences, and the role of motivation
- Integrate theories of personality to better understand individual differences
- Investigate a personality-related research question and present the findings in an appropriate manner
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live Online Class | 1.00 | 13 week | 13 |
| Online Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning | 10.54 | 13 week | 137 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Hawthorn and Swinburne Online
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live Online Lecture | 2.00 | 10 weeks | 20 |
| On-campus Lecture | 2.00 | 2 weeks | 4 |
| On-campus Class | 1.00 | 12 weeks | 12 |
| Unspecified Activities Independent Learning | 6.50 | 12 weeks | 78 |
| Live Online Class | 1.00 | 12 weeks | 12 |
| Specified Activities Various | 3.00 | 12 weeks | 36 |
| Online Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning | 11.50 | 12 weeks | 138 |
| TOTAL | 300 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assignment | Individual | 40% | 3,5 |
| Assignment | Group | 20% | 2,3 |
| Examination | Individual | 40% | 1,3,4 |
| Minor Essay | Individual | 40% | 1,3,4 |
Content
- Major theories of personality
- Assessment of personality
- Applications of personality theory
- Graduate Attribute 2 (Communication 2 - Communicating using different media)
- Graduate Attribute 5 (Digital Literacies 1 - Information literacy)
- Graduate Attribute 6 (Digital Literacies 2 - Technical literacy)
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.