Students

PSY 336 – Personality

2014 – S2 Day

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Doris McIlwain
Contact via doris.mcilwain@mq.edu.au
C3A 406
Co-convenor & Lecturer
Andrew Geeves
Guest Lecturer
Wesley Tan
Guest Lecturer
Simon Boag
Guest Lecturer
Celia Harris
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
6cp at 200 level including PSY234(P)
Corequisites Corequisites
PSY222 or PSY248
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit considers theories and contemporary research addressing both shared features of personality and unique constellations and attributes. We evaluate the adequacy of self-report measures (and their alternatives) in capturing personality. We look at what underpins personality from the start and shapes its development, as well as the joys and costs of the dynamic system of adaption it represents. Special emphasis is given to the way that early deficits in the experience of emotion and attachment to others can have knock-on consequences for the development of empathy and morality (illustrated by exploring personality styles like narcissism, Machiavellianism and psychopathy). The ways in which people deceive themselves and deceive others are addressed, as well as why they might do this. Forms of personality change are explored with a view to promoting change as well as assessing it. Towards the end of the unit we pan out to consider more social and cultural influences on personality addressing the role of memory, narrative and audience uptake on personality. Separate seminar strands permit specialisation in research issues according to student interests.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • Gain a basic insight into central issues in contemporary personality research in terms of theory, psychometric and developmental issues.
  • Learn of the variety of approaches to the study of personality, and their relevance to everyday life, research and the working world.
  • Learn how to read critically, to take your own stance on an array of issues in writing and in discussion with your peers.
  • Write an essay that synthesises a body of material and argues for an original position.
  • Develop research skills and undertake an independent seminar research project, which may be developed either individually or in a small group
  • Acquire enough background knowledge to direct further studies in the area.
  • Learn how to communicate effectively during group discussions in seminars.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Due
10-point Summary 15% September 5
Essay 35% October 24
Exam 20% Formal Examination Period
Exam 15% Formal exam period
Exam 15% Formal Examination Period

10-point Summary

Due: September 5
Weighting: 15%

A small 10-point summary of major points describing and evaluating an article or issue covered in your seminar strand. You can submit this to your seminar leader before your essay submission if you wish to use it as an essay plan. This exercise is to get you to practise achieving logical flow to the points you make in an essay, exam or verbal presentation. It is also explicitly teaching you how to approach the short-answer section of your end of year exam.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Gain a basic insight into central issues in contemporary personality research in terms of theory, psychometric and developmental issues.
  • Learn how to read critically, to take your own stance on an array of issues in writing and in discussion with your peers.
  • Write an essay that synthesises a body of material and argues for an original position.
  • Develop research skills and undertake an independent seminar research project, which may be developed either individually or in a small group
  • Acquire enough background knowledge to direct further studies in the area.
  • Learn how to communicate effectively during group discussions in seminars.

Essay

Due: October 24
Weighting: 35%

Essays are set by seminar leaders and are related to the readings covered in seminars.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Gain a basic insight into central issues in contemporary personality research in terms of theory, psychometric and developmental issues.
  • Learn of the variety of approaches to the study of personality, and their relevance to everyday life, research and the working world.
  • Learn how to read critically, to take your own stance on an array of issues in writing and in discussion with your peers.
  • Write an essay that synthesises a body of material and argues for an original position.
  • Develop research skills and undertake an independent seminar research project, which may be developed either individually or in a small group
  • Acquire enough background knowledge to direct further studies in the area.

Exam

Due: Formal Examination Period
Weighting: 20%

You select one option from a choice of three.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Gain a basic insight into central issues in contemporary personality research in terms of theory, psychometric and developmental issues.
  • Learn of the variety of approaches to the study of personality, and their relevance to everyday life, research and the working world.
  • Learn how to read critically, to take your own stance on an array of issues in writing and in discussion with your peers.
  • Write an essay that synthesises a body of material and argues for an original position.

Exam

Due: Formal exam period
Weighting: 15%

Students are to describe and discuss as many points relevant to the short answer question. Students choose one option from a possible three topics.
 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Gain a basic insight into central issues in contemporary personality research in terms of theory, psychometric and developmental issues.
  • Learn of the variety of approaches to the study of personality, and their relevance to everyday life, research and the working world.

Exam

Due: Formal Examination Period
Weighting: 15%

These conceptual questions address the scope of the student's knowledge.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Gain a basic insight into central issues in contemporary personality research in terms of theory, psychometric and developmental issues.
  • Learn of the variety of approaches to the study of personality, and their relevance to everyday life, research and the working world.

Delivery and Resources

Lectures: Tuesday 2-4pm in X5B T1

There are 13 lectures of two hours duration. They are uploaded to the web for streaming or downloading.

Seminars: A formal roll is taken in seminars. Seminars begin in week 3 (Giselle Bill’s seminars will begin in week 4). In each seminar strand there are 6 classes, and they last for 2 hours (so we can show films). Each seminar leader offers a different series of seminar topics based on their personal research expertise. SO the seminar strand that Student One allocates students to will not necessarily be the one students will go to. In this course, students can choose which seminar strand to attend based on interests and what times possible for that person.

Start

Day

Duration

Location

11am

Monday

2 hours

W6B 350

2pm

Monday

2 hours

E6A 131

4pm

Monday

2 hours

E6A_131

9am

Tuesday

2 hours

W5A 101

4pm

Tuesday

2 hours

X5B 143

6pm

Tuesday

2 hours

X5B 138

12:00

Friday

2 hours

E5A 170

15:00

Friday

2 hours

E5A 170

Unit Schedule

Date

Lecturer

Topic

1. August 5

Dr Andrew Geeves

Seminar Allocation.

Describing Personality: Personality Traits

2. August 12

Andrew

Describing Personality: Nomothetic and Idiographic approaches: using traits to profile groups and profile a single individual

3. August 19

Andrew

Describing Personality: Personality and music performance: the idiographic approach in action

4. August 26

 

Dr Simon Boag

Describing Personality: Unconscious processes

5. September 2

Ten point summary due

Andrew

Development of personality: The influence of the past on personality: remembering, repeating and working through

6. September 9

Andrew

Development of personality: The estranged familiar: deceiving others, deceiving ourselves

7. September 16

Andrew

Development of personality: Strong City: the allure and dangers of charisma

Break- Sept 20

 

 

October 5

 

 

8. October 7

Doris

Assessing Personality

9. October 14

Wes Tan

Mentalising and sense of self

10. October 21

Essay Due

Doris

Emotion & Memory: The consequences for spontaneity & sense of self

11. October 28

Dr Celia Harris

Memory & self

12. November 4

Doris

A nested sense of self: narcissism, machiavellianism & psychopathy

13. November 11

Doris

Can personality change? Exam preparation.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

Assessment Policy  http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html

Grading Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html

Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Gain a basic insight into central issues in contemporary personality research in terms of theory, psychometric and developmental issues.
  • Write an essay that synthesises a body of material and argues for an original position.
  • Develop research skills and undertake an independent seminar research project, which may be developed either individually or in a small group
  • Acquire enough background knowledge to direct further studies in the area.
  • Learn how to communicate effectively during group discussions in seminars.

Assessment tasks

  • 10-point Summary
  • Essay
  • Exam
  • Exam
  • Exam

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Acquire enough background knowledge to direct further studies in the area.
  • Learn how to communicate effectively during group discussions in seminars.

Assessment tasks

  • 10-point Summary
  • Essay

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Gain a basic insight into central issues in contemporary personality research in terms of theory, psychometric and developmental issues.
  • Learn of the variety of approaches to the study of personality, and their relevance to everyday life, research and the working world.
  • Learn how to read critically, to take your own stance on an array of issues in writing and in discussion with your peers.
  • Write an essay that synthesises a body of material and argues for an original position.
  • Acquire enough background knowledge to direct further studies in the area.

Assessment tasks

  • 10-point Summary
  • Essay
  • Exam
  • Exam
  • Exam

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Gain a basic insight into central issues in contemporary personality research in terms of theory, psychometric and developmental issues.
  • Learn of the variety of approaches to the study of personality, and their relevance to everyday life, research and the working world.
  • Learn how to read critically, to take your own stance on an array of issues in writing and in discussion with your peers.
  • Write an essay that synthesises a body of material and argues for an original position.
  • Develop research skills and undertake an independent seminar research project, which may be developed either individually or in a small group
  • Acquire enough background knowledge to direct further studies in the area.

Assessment tasks

  • 10-point Summary
  • Essay
  • Exam
  • Exam
  • Exam

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Learn of the variety of approaches to the study of personality, and their relevance to everyday life, research and the working world.
  • Learn how to read critically, to take your own stance on an array of issues in writing and in discussion with your peers.
  • Write an essay that synthesises a body of material and argues for an original position.
  • Acquire enough background knowledge to direct further studies in the area.

Assessment tasks

  • 10-point Summary
  • Essay
  • Exam
  • Exam
  • Exam

Creative and Innovative

Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Gain a basic insight into central issues in contemporary personality research in terms of theory, psychometric and developmental issues.
  • Learn of the variety of approaches to the study of personality, and their relevance to everyday life, research and the working world.
  • Learn how to read critically, to take your own stance on an array of issues in writing and in discussion with your peers.
  • Write an essay that synthesises a body of material and argues for an original position.
  • Develop research skills and undertake an independent seminar research project, which may be developed either individually or in a small group
  • Acquire enough background knowledge to direct further studies in the area.
  • Learn how to communicate effectively during group discussions in seminars.

Assessment tasks

  • 10-point Summary
  • Essay
  • Exam
  • Exam
  • Exam

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Learn how to read critically, to take your own stance on an array of issues in writing and in discussion with your peers.
  • Write an essay that synthesises a body of material and argues for an original position.
  • Develop research skills and undertake an independent seminar research project, which may be developed either individually or in a small group
  • Learn how to communicate effectively during group discussions in seminars.

Assessment tasks

  • 10-point Summary
  • Essay
  • Exam

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Gain a basic insight into central issues in contemporary personality research in terms of theory, psychometric and developmental issues.
  • Learn of the variety of approaches to the study of personality, and their relevance to everyday life, research and the working world.
  • Develop research skills and undertake an independent seminar research project, which may be developed either individually or in a small group
  • Acquire enough background knowledge to direct further studies in the area.

Assessment tasks

  • 10-point Summary
  • Essay
  • Exam
  • Exam
  • Exam

Socially and Environmentally Active and Responsible

We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Acquire enough background knowledge to direct further studies in the area.

Assessment tasks

  • 10-point Summary
  • Essay