Postgraduate Module Descriptor

ERPM007Z: Personality and Individual Differences

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

Module Aims

The module will introduce you to theories, research and practice in relation to the psychology of personality and individual differences. In the pursuit of this we aim to:

Develop in you a broad and critical understanding of the ways in which personality and individual differences influence various aspects of human behaviour
Introduce you to a range of instruments and tools used in this psychological study, including for example, questionnaires, interviews and psychometric tests
Develop your awareness of the issues, controversies, challenges and potential problems in measuring personality and individual differences

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here - you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills	1. Demonstrate a broad knowledge of theories of personality and individual differences and a basic understanding of how these might be applied to some key topics 2. Describe how instruments and tools like questionnaires and psychometric tests may be used in personality research 3. Illustrate how our understanding of personality and individual differences depends on the methods used to measure these concepts and the theories employed to frame them 4. Illustrate a good basic knowledge and understanding of a range of societal and behavioural issues relating to individual differences in personality
Discipline-Specific Skills	5. Illustrate detailed factual and conceptual knowledge of theoretical positions and see relationships and differences between them 6. Identify and critically evaluate the main areas of controversy in these areas of research 7. Solve complex problems creatively, critically and systematically
Personal and Key Skills	8. Develop clear and logical arguments in your writing or visual representation of these topics 9. Manage and source information and material for use in written assessments 10. Read, review and critically evaluate relevant research evidence and literature

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary over time, it is envisaged that the syllabus will consider a range of issues that relate to the current and historical study of personality and individual differences, drawing on theory, assessment of personality and empirical research. The syllabus will likely include:

A general introduction to personality and individual differences
Psychoanalytic theory
Personality trait theory
Personality type theory
The person-situation debate
Biological and evolutionary approaches
Personality and intelligence tests; reliability and validity of such measures
Behaviourist, social learning and cognitive approaches
Humanistic approaches
Intelligence
Personality disorders
Individual differences and psychosis

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
27	123	0

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching	27	Engagement online with taught content
Guided Independent Learning	27	Reading (textbooks, journal articles, web resources and lecture slides) in preparation for online taught content
Guided Independent Learning	60	Work on assessments
Guided Independent Learning	9	Collation and review of class materials
Guided Independent Learning	27	Undertaking additional class tasks and activities (e.g. on ELE) and preparing for online taught content.

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).