PSYC211-25S2 (C) Semester Two 2025

Personality

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 14 July 2025
End Date: Sunday, 9 November 2025
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 27 July 2025
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 28 September 2025

Description

This course provides an introduction to classic and contemporary theory and research in personality psychology. Lectures and readings will cover a variety of perspectives on personality, such as: psychoanalytic, genetic and evolutionary, cultural, biological, humanistic, trait and behavioural. In the laboratory sessions, students will take various personality assessment instruments and participate in experiments to gain first-hand insight into cutting-edge personality research. PSYC211 is recommended preparation for PSYC379 Introduction for Psychopathology, and PSYC336 Industrial & Organisational Psychology.

Learning Outcomes

  • an understanding of key theories in personality psychology, the differences between these theories; and ability to critically evaluate theories of personality;
  • an understanding of the research methods commonly used in personality psychology;
  • the ability to critically evaluate classic and contemporary research methods in personality psychology;
  • hands-on experience via participation in contemporary personality science;
  • the ability to write up a succinct research proposal.

Prerequisites

Timetable 2025

Students must attend one activity from each section.

Lecture A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Wednesday 09:00 - 10:00 C2 Lecture Theatre
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
Lecture B
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Friday 13:00 - 14:00 C2 Lecture Theatre
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
Lab A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Monday 14:00 - 16:00 Ernest Rutherford 260
21 Jul - 24 Aug
15 Sep - 19 Oct
02 Tuesday 10:00 - 12:00 Psychology - Sociology 311 (22/7)
E12 (29/7-19/8, 16/9-14/10)
21 Jul - 24 Aug
15 Sep - 19 Oct
03 Tuesday 15:00 - 17:00 Psychology - Sociology 456
21 Jul - 24 Aug
15 Sep - 19 Oct
04 Wednesday 11:00 - 13:00 Jack Erskine 235
21 Jul - 24 Aug
15 Sep - 19 Oct
05 Thursday 09:00 - 11:00 Psychology - Sociology 456
21 Jul - 24 Aug
15 Sep - 19 Oct
06 Friday 14:00 - 16:00 Jack Erskine 235
21 Jul - 24 Aug
15 Sep - 19 Oct
07 Monday 09:00 - 11:00 Jack Erskine 235
21 Jul - 24 Aug
15 Sep - 19 Oct
08 Monday 12:00 - 14:00 Psychology - Sociology 307
21 Jul - 24 Aug
15 Sep - 19 Oct
09 Tuesday 12:00 - 14:00 Rehua 529
21 Jul - 24 Aug
15 Sep - 19 Oct
10 Thursday 11:00 - 13:00 Jack Erskine 443
21 Jul - 24 Aug
15 Sep - 19 Oct
11 Wednesday 14:00 - 16:00 Psychology - Sociology 307
21 Jul - 24 Aug
15 Sep - 19 Oct
12 Thursday 13:00 - 15:00 Psychology - Sociology 307
21 Jul - 24 Aug
15 Sep - 19 Oct

Examinations, Quizzes and Formal Tests

Test A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Monday 19:00 - 20:15 Jack Erskine 001 Computer Lab
18 Aug - 24 Aug
02 Monday 19:00 - 20:15 Jack Erskine 248 Computer Lab
18 Aug - 24 Aug
03 Monday 19:00 - 20:15 Rata 216 CAD Lab
18 Aug - 24 Aug
04 Monday 19:00 - 20:15 Rata 342 CAD Lab
18 Aug - 24 Aug
Test B
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Tuesday 19:00 - 20:15 Jack Erskine 001 Computer Lab
13 Oct - 19 Oct
02 Tuesday 19:00 - 20:15 Jack Erskine 010 Computer Lab
13 Oct - 19 Oct
03 Tuesday 19:00 - 20:15 Rata 216 CAD Lab
13 Oct - 19 Oct
04 Tuesday 19:00 - 20:15 Rata 342 CAD Lab
13 Oct - 19 Oct

Course Coordinator

Andrew Vonasch

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage 
Laboratory Assignments and Participation 15%
Research Proposal 25%
Test 1 30%
Test 2 30%

Textbooks / Resources

Required Texts

Funder, David Charles; The personality puzzle ; 9th; W.W. Norton, 2019.

The textbook is available at the University bookstore. Older editions are also acceptable, although the older the edition, the less similar it will be. I recommend avoiding anything older than 6th edition unless absolutely necessary.  

The course is not entirely built around the textbook but overlaps with the text in a complementary fashion. Reading the textbook should not be considered to be an alternative to watching lectures or vice-versa. There will be material covered in the lecture course that is not in the textbook and material in the textbook that is not covered in lectures.

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $998.00

International fee $5,188.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see School of Psychology, Speech and Hearing .

All PSYC211 Occurrences

  • PSYC211-25S2 (C) Semester Two 2025
  • PSYC211-25S2 (D) Semester Two 2025 (Distance)