Overview

This unit explores key themes in personality and individual differences. Psychodynamic, psychosocial, biological, trait, humanistic, and social cognitive theories of personality, and concepts of individual difference (e.g., intelligence, mental ability) are critically evaluated in terms of both evidence and from a cross-cultural perspective. Applications of personality theory and concepts of individual difference to real-world problems are emphasised in the unit so students can appreciate the importance of understanding differences between people and how these differences relate to behaviour.

Requisites

Prerequisites
STA20006 Analysis of Variance and Regression

Rules

Pre-requisite
25 Credit Points of Level 2 PSY Units i.e. PSY2XXXX
AND
STA20006 Analysis of Variance and Regression

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Teaching Period 3
Location
Online
Start and end dates
03-November-2025
08-February-2026
Last self-enrolment date
16-November-2025
Census date
28-November-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
02-January-2026
Results released date
03-March-2026
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
02-March-2026
31-May-2026
Last self-enrolment date
15-March-2026
Census date
31-March-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
21-April-2026
Results released date
07-July-2026
Teaching Period 1
Location
Online
Start and end dates
09-March-2026
07-June-2026
Last self-enrolment date
22-March-2026
Census date
07-April-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
28-April-2026
Results released date
30-June-2026
Teaching Period 3
Location
Online
Start and end dates
02-November-2026
07-February-2027
Last self-enrolment date
15-November-2026
Census date
01-December-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
22-December-2026
Results released date
02-March-2027

Unit learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
 

  1. Explain the features of major perspectives on the psychology of personality (e.g., psychoanalytic/psychosocial, biological/evolutionary, trait, motive, social-cognition, and narrative identity).
  2. Apply personality theory for practical outcomes using an appropriate technology
  3. Critically evaluate personality theory as a Western cultural construction, and describe Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives on identity development.
  4. Integrate theories of personality and concepts of individual difference to better understand behavioural diversity in a range of contexts.
  5. Investigate a research question in personality and/or individual differences and present the findings in an appropriate manner.

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Activity Type Activity Total Hours Number of Weeks Hours Per Week
Live Online Lecture 20 10 weeks 2
On-campus Lecture 4 2 weeks 2
On-campus Class 12 12 weeks 1
Unspecified Activities Independent Learning 78 12 weeks 6.5
Specified Activities Various 36 12 weeks 3
Total Hours: 150 Total Hours (per week): 14.5

Swinburne Online

Activity Type Activity Total Hours Number of Weeks Hours Per Week
Live Online Class 12 12 weeks 1
Online Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning 138 12 weeks 11.5
Total Hours: 150 Total Hours (per week): 12.5

All Applicable Locations

Activity Type Activity Total Hours Number of Weeks Hours Per Week
Live Online Class 13 13 week 1
Online Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning 137 13 week 10.54
Total Hours: 150 Total Hours (per week): 11.54

Assessment

All Applicable Locations

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Assignment Individual  40%  5 
Assignment Group  20%-30%  2

Hawhorn

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Final-Semester Test Individual  30%-40%  1,3,4 

Swinburne Online

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Examination Individual  40%  1,4 

Content

  • Major theories of personality
  • Concepts of identity and individual difference
  • Applications of personality theory and individual difference
  • 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)Major theories of personality
  • Concepts of identity and individual difference
  • Applications of personality theory and individual difference
  • 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.