Outline

Overview

All of us observe our social worlds and try to understand why people behave, think, and feel as they do. In this unit you will study a number of influential theories, philosophical and empirical approaches in Personality and Social Psychology. You will examine key topics in the scientific assessment of personality, attitudes and emotions, including an introduction to psychometric testing (e. g. , validity and reliability) in Personality and Social Psychology. Specifically, in the Personality component you will be exposed to conceptual analysis and will be expected to examine critically theories from the Social Cognitive and Psychometric traditions. In the Social Psychology component you will examine salient social constructs such as social influence, the causes of prejudice and possible reduction strategies, and explore how cognitive processes affect social judgment and behaviour. In this unit you will develop a broad understanding of the leading theories and research in the areas of Personality and Social Psychology.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Psychology Academic Operations
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	PSYC1001
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	PSYC2013 or PSYC2014
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Fiona White, fiona.white@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 1 September 2025

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length	Use of AI
Written exam ?	Final Exam See Canvas for details.	50%	Formal exam period	2 hours	AI prohibited
Outcomes assessed:
Contribution	Lecture Engagement See Canvas for details.	5%	Ongoing	See Canvas for details.	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Out-of-class quiz	Practice Quiz (Personality) See Canvas for details.	0%	Week 03 Due date: 24 Aug 2025 at 23:59 Closing date: 24 Aug 2025	See Canvas for details.	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Research Report An APA-formatted report based on an experiment conducted in the first tutorial.	40%	Week 07 Due date: 19 Sep 2025 at 23:59 Closing date: 17 Oct 2025	2000 words	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Contribution	Research Participation See Canvas for details.	5%	Week 13 Due date: 09 Nov 2025 at 22:59	5 hours	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ? = early feedback task ?

Early feedback task

This unit includes an early feedback task, designed to give you feedback prior to the census date for this unit. Details are provided in the Canvas site and your result will be recorded in your Marks page. It is important that you actively engage with this task so that the University can support you to be successful in this unit.

Assessment summary

Lecture Engagement (5%): Lectures will be delivered on campus on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. Students who engage with lectures will receive marks toward their Lecture Engagement assessment proportional to their engagement. See Canvas for full details.

Research Participation (5%): Students can volunteer to participate in research run by students and academics in the School of Psychology. Students will receive 1% for every hour of participation recorded (i.e. five hours will yield the maximum of 5%). An alternative to the Research Participation assessment is available if made by request to the Unit of Study Coordinator before 11:59pm on Sunday of Week Four - the alternative will be a written assignment. See Canvas for more details.

Research Report (40%): The Research Report is an APA-formatted report based on an experiment conducted in the first tutorial and set references. See Canvas for full details.

Final Exam (50%): Each lecture, tutorial, and the Research Report will be assessed in a two-hour closed book exam held after the teaching period ends. The initial version of the Final Exam will consist of multiple-choice questions, but if you are approved by Special Consideration to miss the initial Final Exam, any Replacement Exam will consist of short-answer questions. The Final Exam is a compulsory assessment, so if you do not attempt it, you will receive an Absent Fail (AF) grade, and it is also a hurdle assessment, so students will need to meet the required standard in order to pass the unit. See Canvas for more details.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

You can use generative AI tools for open assessments. Restrictions on AI use apply to secure, supervised assessments used to confirm if students have met specific learning outcomes.

Refer to the assessment table above to see if AI is allowed, for assessments in this unit and check Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks and AI use.

If you use AI, you must always acknowledge it. Misusing AI may lead to a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The University expects students to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

Our website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. This includes advice on how to avoid common breaches of academic integrity. Ensure that you have completed the Academic Honesty Education Module (AHEM) which is mandatory for all commencing coursework students

Penalties for serious breaches can significantly impact your studies and your career after graduation. It is important that you speak with your unit coordinator if you need help with completing assessments.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction to personality and social psychology/Basic Concepts in tests & measurement	Lecture (1 hr)
	Reliability	Lecture (1 hr)
	Validity	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 02	Factor Analysis	Lecture (1 hr)
	Trait theories of personality	Lecture (1 hr)
	Humanistic Traits Theory	Lecture (1 hr)
	Introduction to Psyc2017 and Data collection for Research Report	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 03	Cattell's theory	Lecture (1 hr)
	The Big-5, Part I	Lecture (1 hr)
	The Big-5, Part II	Lecture (1 hr)
	Webinar: Discussion of Research Report Results	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 04	The dark triad of personality	Lecture (1 hr)
	Personality aspects and factors	Lecture (1 hr)
	Personality and gender	Lecture (1 hr)
	Traits 1	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 05	Personality change 1	Lecture (1 hr)
	Personality change 2	Lecture (1 hr)
	Personality change 3	Lecture (1 hr)
	Traits 2	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 06	Emotions	Lecture (1 hr)
	Coping and Emotion Regulation	Lecture (1 hr)
	The Humanist approach to Personality: Maslow & Rogers	Lecture (1 hr)
	Research Report Writing Exercise/Peer Feedback	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 07	Behaviourist approach to Personality: Watson & Skinner	Lecture (1 hr)
	Social Cognitive Theory and Personality 1: Bandura	Lecture (1 hr)
	Social Cognitive Theory and Personality 2: Bandura	Lecture (1 hr)
	The Dark Side of Personality and Emotions (Research Report due on Friday, Sept 19)	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 08	The changing form of racial prejudice	Lecture (1 hr)
	Implicit and explicit measures of racial prejudice	Lecture (1 hr)
	Theories of the causes of racial prejudice	Lecture (1 hr)
	Implicit Measures of Prejudice	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 09	Strategies to reduce racial prejudice 1	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 09	Strategies to reduce racial prejudice 2	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 10	The formation and Reduction of Prejudice	Tutorial (1 hr)
	Social influence: Reciprocation 1	Lecture (1 hr)
	Social influence: Reciprocation 2	Lecture (1 hr)
	Social influence: Liking 1	Lecture (1 hr)
	The Formation and Reduction of Prejudice	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 11	Social influence: Liking 2 & Unity	Lecture (1 hr)
	Social influence: Consistency-Commitment & Authority	Lecture (1 hr)
	Social influence: Social Validation and Scarcity	Lecture (1 hr)
	Tactics of Manipulation (USS Evaluation)	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 12	Automatic and nonconscious processes, social judgment and behaviour 1	Lecture (1 hr)
	Automatic and nonconscious processes, social judgment and behaviour 2	Lecture (1 hr)
	Controlled processes, social judgment and behaviour 1	Lecture (1 hr)
	Automatic Behaviour	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 13	Controlled processes, social judgment and behaviour 2	Lecture (1 hr)
	Affective processes, social judgment and behaviour 1	Lecture (1 hr)
	Affective processes, social judgment and behaviour 2	Lecture (1 hr)
	Control and Self-Regulation (Research report returned)	Tutorial (1 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

As noted in the Assessment table, the Final Exam is a compulsory assessment, so a student who does not attend it and is not approved to miss it will receive an Absent Fail (AF) grade.

Please note, marks for the Lecture Engagement assessment can be achieved by attending lectures, but there is no other consequence related to lecture attendance.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. develop an understanding of the key concepts in two foundational areas of psychology – personality and social psychology
LO2. apply key concepts to critique various theories and research practices in personality and social psychology
LO3. demonstrate and use the principles of scientific measurement in personality and social psychology and apply the APA style of scientific writing to the generation of a research report
LO4. construct and create scientific information that can be communicated both orally and through written work
LO5. find, analyse and judge information for its reliability and significance for the disciplines of personality and social psychology
LO6. engage in group discussions to identify, recognise and debate the strengths and limitations in the various approaches used by personality and social psychologists.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Early feedback task

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

PSYC2017: Personality and Social Psychology

Semester 2, 2025 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Early feedback task

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links