Psychology of individual differences 2500-PL-PS-OB2L-2
1. Introduction to individual differences. Categories for the description of individual differences. Individual differences and their social consequences.
2. Biological and environmental influences on personality. Main sources of individual differences.
3. The concepts of temperament: Eysenck’s PEN Model + Gray’s Neuropsychological Model of Temperament + Cloninger’s Psychobiological Model of Personality.
4. Pavlovian properties of the central nervous system. The concept of activation. Strelau’s Regulative Theory of Temperament: basic assumptions.
5. Development of the Regulative Theory of Temperament.
6. Factorial models of personality and individual differences: Five-Factor Theory of Personality by P.T. Costa and R.R. McCrae.
7. Beyond the Five Factor model: the HEXACO Model by M.C. Ashton and K. Lee, the Dark Triad, Bifactor models.
8. Some concepts related to the temperament of children: Buss and Plomin’s EAS Temperaments Model + Kagan’s Inhibited and Uninhibited Temperament Model + Interactive Theory of Temperament by A. Thomas and S. Chess.
9. Affective temperaments. The functional significance of temperament.
10. Intelligence and abilities – general issues. Personality and intelligence.
11. The concept of intelligence and its structure in terms of psychometric: Spearman, Thurstone, Guilford and Cattell.
12. Structure of intelligence in the psychometric approach: the concept of multiple intelligences by Gardner and Carroll’s model of intelligence.
13. Cognitive approach to intelligence: Sternberg’s Triarchic Theory of Intelligence and Nęcka’s Formal Theory of Intelligence.
14. Biological approach to intelligence.
15. The concept of cognitive style: characteristics of the construct and its meaning.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge. Student
- Knows the basic concepts of individual differences
- Knows the most important issues related to individual differences
- Knows the main theories of temperament and intelligence
Skills. Student
- Can explain the source of individual differences
- Properly differentiates the concepts of temperament and intelligence
- Correctly explains the relationship between temperament and intelligence and behavior
Attitude. Student
- Keeps criticism of the theory of individual differences
- Recognizes the advantages and disadvantages of different theories of temperament and intelligence
Assessment criteria
Written examination: a test comprised of 25 closed questions.
Evaluation criteria:
15-16 points - sufficient
17-18 points - satisfactory plus
19-20 points - good
21-22 points - good plus
23-24 points - very good
25 points - excellent
Practical placement
none
Bibliography
References required:
Strelau, J. (2014). Różnice indywidualne. Historia-determinanty-zastosowania. Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Naukowe Scholar.
Suggestion for further reading:
Deary, I.J. (2012). Inteligencja. Sopot: Gdańskie Wydawnictwo Psychologiczne.
Pisula, W., Oniszczenko, W. (2008). Genetyka zachowania i psychologia ewolucyjna. W: J. Strelau, D. Doliński (red.). Psychologia. Podręcznik akademicki (t.1, s. 303 – 338). Gdańsk: Gdańskie Wydawnictwo Psychologiczne.
Strelau, J. (2006). Temperament jako regulator zachowania. Z perspektywy półwiecza badań. Gdańsk: Gdańskie Wydawnictwo Psychologiczne.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: