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PS20168: Social psychology, personality and individual differences

[Page last updated: 15 October 2020]

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2020/1
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Psychology
Further information on credits Credits: 12      [equivalent to 24 CATS credits]
Further information on notional study hours Notional Study Hours: 240
Further information on unit levels Level: Intermediate (FHEQ level 5)
Further information on teaching periods Period:
Academic Year
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Summary: ES50EX50
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • Assessment detail data for this unit is currently being updated as a change has been approved. Updated assessment information will be published here shortly.
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites: Before taking this module you are advised to take PS10086
Description: Aims:
The aims of the unit are as follows
* To enable students to understand the relationship between individual, social and cultural psychological processes.
* To familiarise students with research on the individual in the social context.
* To provide understanding of the major theoretical debates and recent developments in social psychology.
* To introduce students to the area of personality and individual differences.
* To provide knowledge and understanding of different perspectives on personality and individual differences.
* Classic as well as contemporary approaches will be highlighted.

Learning Outcomes:
On completion of this unit the students will:
* Be aware of key studies in social psychology.
* Be familiar with how psychologists approach the student of communication and the social construction of meaning.
* Understand the main theoretical debates about the relationship between the individual and the social and cultural context.
* Be familiar with six perspectives on personality and individual differences, i.e., the dispositional, biological, intrapsychic, cognitive/experimental, social and cultural, and adjustment domains, respectively.
* Be familiar with research methods and paradigms in the domain of personality and individual differences.
* Have awareness of some important discussions and controversies in personality and individual differences.

Skills:

* The student can demonstrate understanding of three levels at which personality can be studied, i.e., human nature in general, individual and group differences, and the unique individual. (T/F A)
* The student can demonstrate knowledge and understanding of six perspectives on personality and individual differences, i.e., the dispositional, biological, intrapsychic, cognitive/experiental, social and cultural, and adjustment domains, respectively. (T/F A)
* The student can demonstrate knowledge and understanding of research methods and paradigms used in personality psychology. (T/F A)
* The student can adopt multiple perspectives (e.g., cognitive processes versus cultural influences) and systematically analyse the relationships between them. (T/F A)
* The student can reason scientifically and take a critical view on arguments and research outcomes. (T/F A)
* The student can solve problems by clarifying questions, considering alternative solutions and evaluating outcomes. (T/F A)
* The student is able to plan and organise the study activities that are required in this unit, take charge of his or her own learning, and can reflect and evaluate personal strengths and weaknesses for the purpose of future learning. (T/F A)

Content:
The following is a brief outline of the topics that will be covered:
* Language as dialogue and social negotiation.
* Rhetoric and discourse: how we persuade, argue, negotiate and interpret.
* Construction of meaning.
* The role of metaphor and narrative.
* Communication processes.
* Effective and ineffective communication.
* The relationships between individual schemas, representations and lay theories, and social and cultural repertoires.
* Personality assessment and research methods.
* Six perspectives on personality and individual differences, i.e., the dispositional, biological, intrapsychic, cognitive/experiential, social and cultural, and adjustment respectively
* Intelligence and intelligence testing
* Mood and Motivation.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

PS20168 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department of Psychology

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2020/21 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2021/22 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2020/21.
  • Programmes and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.