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 three subject matters.

1. Psychology of personality

1.1. Introduction to the study of personality
1.2. Methods of investigation in the study of personality
1.3. The psychoanalytic perspective
1.4. The trait perspective
1.5. The biological perspective
1.6. The environmental perspective
1.7. The cognitive-social perspective
1.8. The cognitive perspective
1.9. The humanistic perspective
1.10. Overlap and integration between perspectives

2. Individual differences in cognitive field

2.1. Cognitive styles
2.1.1. Cognitive styles centered on cognition
2.1.2. Cognitive styles centered on personality
2.1.3. Cognitive styles centered on activity
2.1.4. Assessment tools

3. Individual differences in circadian rhythms

3.1. Circadian typology
3.1.1. Gender differences
3.1.2. Age differences
3.1.3. Personality differences
3.1.4. Assessment tools

Readings/Bibliography

There are no distinctions between attending and non-attending students.

Carver CS, Scheier MF, Giampietro M, Iannello P. (2019). Psicologia della personalità. Prospettive teoriche, strumenti e contesti applicativi. Seconda edizione. Milano – Torino: Pearson Italia.

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

Adan, A., Archer, S. N., Hidalgo, M. P., Di Milia, L., Natale, V., & Randler C. (2012). Circadian typology: A comprehensive review. Chronobiology International, 29 (9), 1153-1175.

Teaching methods

Traditional lectures, PowerPoint presentations.

Assessment methods

- The learning will be assessed through an oral examination. Three 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 between 0 and 10 based on the criteria of: a) completeness; b) explanatory clarity; c) ability of critical re-elaboration of learned material; d) 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. The minimum performance to overcome the oral examination is to get a final grade of at least 18/30. The final grade 30/30 will be assigned in case of full satisfaction of criteria at previous point in all replies.

- 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.

Teaching tools

PC, projector.

Office hours

See the website of Lorenzo Tonetti