53171 - Psychology of Personality and Individual Differences

Learning outcomes

- Learning the theoretical models of personality and their historical development

- Learning the main investigation methods of personality

- Learning the different features of individual differences

- Learning the assessment tools of individual differences in the analysis of personality

Course contents

The course will deal with the following two subject matters.

 

1. Psychology of personality

1.1. Historical introduction to the study of personality

1.2. Methods of investigation in the study of personality

1.3. Main theoretical perspectives in the study of personality

 

2. Individual differences

 

2.1. Individual differences in cognitive field

2.1.1. Cognitive styles centred on cognition

2.1.2. Cognitive styles centred on personality

2.1.3. Cognitive styles centred on activity

 

2.2. Individual differences in circadian rhythms

2.2.1. Biological rhythms

2.2.2 Regulation of sleep–wake rhythm

2.2.3. Circadian typology: individual and personality differences

2.2.4. Examples of conflicting clocks

Readings/Bibliography

Carver CS, Scheier MF, Giampietro M, Iannello P. (2023). Psicologia della personalità. Prospettive teoriche, strumenti e contesti applicativi. Terza edizione. Milano: Pearson.

 

Cadamuro A. (2004). Stili cognitivi e stili di apprendimento. Da quello che pensi a come lo pensi. Roma: Carocci editore. Chapter 2.

 

Ficca G, Fabbri M. (Eds.) (2019). Psicologia del sonno. Santarcangelo di Romagna (RN): Maggioli Editore. Chapter 2, paragraphs 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3. Chapter 13, paragraphs 13.2.5, 13.2.6, and 13.2.7.

Teaching methods

Traditional lectures, PowerPoint presentations, and seminars by experts.

Assessment methods

- The learning will be assessed through an oral examination. Two questions will be asked, aimed to verify the learning outcomes.

- One question for each subject matter, as outlined within the section Course contents, will be asked.

- Each answer will receive a score ranging between 0 and 5, based on the following criteria:

• 0: answer not given or completely wrong.
• 1-2: answer characterized by the presence of both correct and wrong parts, poor completeness, explanatory clarity, ability of critical re-elaboration of learned material and ability to establish connections between the different course contents.
• 3-4: correct answer, characterized by sufficient/good completeness, explanatory clarity, ability of critical re-elaboration of learned material and ability to establish connections between the different course contents.
• 5: correct answer, characterized by excellent completeness, explanatory clarity, ability of critical re-elaboration of learned material and ability to establish connections between the different course contents.

- The final grade will be the result of the sum of the scores assigned to each answer, multiplied by 3. The minimum performance to overcome the oral examination is to get a final grade of at least 18/30. Honors will be awarded if a complete mastery of the subject matter will be shown with reference to each answer.

- During oral examination tools as calculators and dictionaries are not allowed.

- The registration to the oral examination should take place through the university application AlmaEsami, observing the expected deadlines.

- No in “itinere” tests are granted, while a pre-appeal is granted at the end of the lessons.

Teaching tools

PC, projector.

Office hours

See the website of Lorenzo Tonetti