Psychology of Personality

PSY30008 12.5 Credit Points Hawthorn, Online Available to incoming Study Abroad and Exchange students

Duration

  • 1 Semester or teaching period

Contact hours

  • 3 Hours per Week

On-campus unit delivery combines face-to-face and digital learning. For Online unit delivery, learning is conducted exclusively online.

2021 teaching periods

Hawthorn

Higher Ed. Semester 1 HOL Study Period 1

Dates:
1 Mar 21 - 30 May 21

Results:
6 Jul 21

Last self enrolment:
14 Mar 21

Census:
31 Mar 21

Last withdraw without fail:
16 Apr 21

Dates:
1 Mar 21 - 30 May 21

Results:
29 Jun 21

Last self enrolment:
14 Mar 21

Census:
22 Mar 21

Last withdraw without fail:
16 Apr 21
More teaching periods
HOL Study Period 3

Dates:
30 Aug 21 - 28 Nov 21

Results:
21 Dec 21

Last self enrolment:
12 Sep 21

Census:
20 Sep 21

Last withdraw without fail:
15 Oct 21

Swinburne Online

Teaching Period 1 Teaching Period 3

Dates:
8 Mar 21 - 6 Jun 21

Results:
29 Jun 21

Last self enrolment:
21 Mar 21

Census:
2 Apr 21

Last withdraw without fail:
23 Apr 21

Dates:
8 Nov 21 - 13 Feb 22

Results:
8 Mar 22

Last self enrolment:
21 Nov 21

Census:
3 Dec 21

Last withdraw without fail:
31 Dec 21

Prerequisites

2020 
25 Credit Points of second level PSY units
AND
STA20006 Analysis of Variance and Regression

Aims and objectives

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.
 
1. Explain the main features of some of the major perspectives on the psychology of personality (e.g., psychoanalytic/neoanalytic, biological/evolutionary, trait, motive, learning and social-cognitive approaches, and the narrative approach)
2. Describe elements of historically important and contemporary theories within each perspective
3. 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
4. Explain how an integration of many of these theories leads to a better understanding of individual differences in personality
5. Investigate a personality-related research question and present the findings in an appropriate manner 
 
 
 
 

Courses with unit

BA-PSY - Bachelor of Psychological Sciences – on campus and OUA delivery
BA-PSYS – Bachelor of Psychological Sciences – SOL delivery
BH-PSY – Bachelor of Psychology (Honours), Standard entry
BH-PSY1 – Bachelor of Psychology (Honours), Graduate entry
BA-HSC1 – Bachelor of Health Science
BA-HSCPROF – Bachelor of Health Science (Professional)