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Undergraduate | SWI-PSY30008 | 2023
Psychology of Personality
Take learning, narrative and psychoanalytic approaches to studying personality. Look deep into the unconscious. Learn how early childhood experiences can shape personality traits. Gain an understanding of how personality disorders are characterised.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Entry requirements
- Prior study needed
- Duration
- 13 weeks
Start dates
- 27 Feb 2023,
- 28 Aug 2023
HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
About this subject
Students who successfully complete this subject will be able to:
- Explain the main features of some of the major perspectives on the psychology of personality (e.g., psychoanalytic/neoanalytic; trait, motive, learning and social-cognitive approaches, and the narrative approach).
- Describe elements of historically important theories within each perspective.
- Discuss some major elements of contemporary theories within each perspective.
- Critically evaluate how various approaches to personality explain specific issues such as the unconscious, the self, personality change, the effect of early childhood experiences, the effect of motivation on personality.
- Explain how an integration of many of these theories leads to a better understanding of individual differences in personality.
- Theories of personality
- Assessment of personality
- Application of personality theory
This subject 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 subject so that students begin to appreciate the importance of understanding differences between people and how these differences drive behaviour.
Please note: assessment values are indicative only, details will be advised at the start of the subject.
- Assignment — Written Assignment (40%)
- Final Assessment (TBC) (40%)
- Mid-study period test — Online (20%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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- QS Ranking 2023:
- 18
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2023:
- 13
Entry requirements
Prior study
You must have successfully completed the following subject(s) before starting this subject:
one of
- SWI-STA20006-Analysis of Variance and Regression
SWI-STA20007 (Not currently available)
Others
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
0.125 EFTSL
This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
Student feedback
7 student respondents between: 17 July - 17 July 2023.
100%of students felt the study load was manageable
100%of students felt this subject helped them gain relevant skills
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