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
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
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
03-March-2025
01-June-2025
Last self-enrolment date
16-March-2025
Census date
31-March-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
24-April-2025
Results released date
08-July-2025
Teaching Period 1
Location
Online
Start and end dates
10-March-2025
08-June-2025
Last self-enrolment date
23-March-2025
Census date
04-April-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
02-May-2025
Results released date
01-July-2025
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

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Explain the features of major perspectives on the psychology of personality (e.g., psychoanalytic/psychosocial, biological/evolutionary, trait, motive, social-cognition, and narrative identity).
  • Apply personality theory for practical outcomes using an appropriate technology
  • Critically evaluate personality theory as a Western cultural construction, and describe Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives on identity development.
  • Integrate theories of personality and concepts of individual difference to better understand behavioural diversity in a range of contexts.
  • 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 Venue Type and Activity Detail
Live online  Lecture  20 10 weeks  2  
On-campus Lecture 4 2 weeks  2  
On-campus  Class 12 12 weeks 1 Tutorial
Unspecified Activities Independent Learning 78 12 weeks 6.5 Independent study, Assignment preparation, Revision
Specified Activities  Various 36 12 weeks  3 Assigned reading
Total Hours:   150 Total Hours (per week): 14.5  

Swinburne Online

Activity Type Activity Total Hours  Number of Weeks Hours Per Week Venue Type and Activity Detail
Live online  Lecture  20 10 weeks  2  
On-campus Lecture 4 2 weeks  2  
On-campus  Class 12 12 weeks 1 Tutorial
Unspecified Activities Independent Learning 78 12 weeks 6.5 Independent study, Assignment preparation, Revision
Specified Activities  Various 36 12 weeks  3 Assigned reading
Total Hours:   150 Total Hours (per week): 14.5  

All Applicable Locations

Activity Type Activity Total Hours  Number of Weeks Hours Per Week Venue Type and Activity Detail
Live online  Class 20 13 weeks  1 Collaboration
Online Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning 137 13 weeks  10.54 Textbook readings, PowerPoint slides, Discussion boards, Independent study, Assignment Preparation Revision
Total Hours:   150 Total Hours (per week): 11.54  

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Assignment Individual  40%  5 
Assignment Group  30%  3
Hawthorn      
Type Task Weighting ULO's
Final-Semester Test Individual  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)

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.