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 ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	Previous or concurrent completion of PSYC5111 or PSYC5112
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Rebecca Pinkus, rebecca.pinkus@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 31 August 2026

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length	Use of AI
Written exam	Final Exam See the 'Assessment summary' below and Canvas for details.	50%	Formal exam period	2 hours	AI prohibited
Outcomes assessed:
Contribution	Lecture Engagement See the 'Assessment summary' below and Canvas for details.	5%	Ongoing	Described on Canvas.	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Critical Literature Review See the 'Assessment summary' below and Canvas for details.	15%	Week 07 Due date: 20 Sep 2026 at 23:59 Closing date: 18 Oct 2026	Described on Canvas.	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Reflective Task See the 'Assessment summary' below and Canvas for details.	5%	Week 10 Due date: 18 Oct 2026 at 23:59 Closing date: 30 Oct 2026	Described on Canvas.	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Interactive oral	Research Translation See the 'Assessment summary' below and Canvas for details.	25%	Week 12	Described on Canvas.	AI prohibited
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ?

Assessment summary

Lecture Engagement: Students who attend lectures in person will participate in an activity during each lecture and receive a fixed mark for each participation. Students who cannot attend a lecture can instead watch the recording of that lecture via Canvas during the same week that lecture ran and will receive a fixed mark for each recorded on-time watch. See Canvas for more details.

Critical Literature Review: Students will develop an APA-formatted advanced critical literature review on the research topic pertaining to the data collected during tutorials. See Canvas for more details.

Reflective Task: In a written journal entry, students will reflect on their own experience with social influence processes and/or respond to an ethical dilemma involving social influence processes. See Canvas for more details.

Research Translation: In an interactive oral assessment, students will evaluate the research design of the research conducted in tutorials, and apply the findings to broader practice and contexts. See Canvas for more details.

Final Exam: The unit's content will be assessed in a two-hour closed book exam held in the University's Final Exam period. If you do not attempt the Final Exam, you will need to apply for Special Consideration, from which the only outcome will be a 'replacement', which will be held in the University's Replacement Exam period. If you do not attempt the Final Exam and are not approved for Special Consisderation, you will receive an Absent Fail (AF) grade for this 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 I	Lecture (1 hr)
	Trait theories of personality II	Lecture (1 hr)
	Introduction	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 03	Interpreting factor analysis	Lecture (1 hr)
	Personality as process	Lecture (1 hr)
	Contemporary Personality Theory	Lecture (1 hr)
	Tutorial 2	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 04	The Structure of Personality	Lecture (1 hr)
	The Dark Triad	Lecture (1 hr)
	The Origins of Personality	Lecture (1 hr)
	Traits 1	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 05	The Person-Situation Debate	Lecture (1 hr)
	Cohort Diffeednces and Generational Change	Lecture (1 hr)
	Traits, States, and Lifespan Development	Lecture (1 hr)
	Traits 2	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 06	The Self-concept and Personal Goals	Lecture (1 hr)
	Self-awareness, Accuracy, and Self Regulation	Lecture (1 hr)
	The Humanist approach to Personality: Maslow & Rogers	Lecture (1 hr)
	Tutorial 5	Tutorial (2 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	Tutorial (2 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 (2 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	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 (2 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	Tutorial (2 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 (2 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	Tutorial (2 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

As per Section 60(5)(c), 68(2)(a), and 68(3) of the University’s Coursework Policy, a student must comply with a Unit of Study’s attendance requirement – for this Unit of Study, a student must be recorded as having attended at least five of the ten tutorials, and if a student does not meet this requirement, they will receive an Absent Fail (AF) grade.

As noted in the Assessment table, the Research Translation and Final Exam are compulsory assessments, so a student who does not attend either 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, so attending lectures is one way to achieve the marks for that assessment, 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.

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. Critically evaluate advanced and contemporary theories, approaches, and concepts in personality and social psychology
LO2. Justify and apply key principles of psychological measurement, including reliability and validity, to the assessment of personality and social psychological constructs in novel or complex contexts
LO3. Apply and integrate theoretical and empirical knowledge to analyse complex personality and social psychological phenomena across diverse and evolving contexts
LO4. Collaboratively and independently reflect on, debate, and synthesize the implications of psychological theories and research practices in personality and social psychology, demonstrating critical judgement
LO5. Design and produce a research report that demonstrates advanced understanding and integration of theoretical frameworks, methodological rigour, and research findings in personality and social psychology, according to the conventions of APA Style

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.

This is the first time this unit of study has been offered. Your feedback is valued and appreciate so that it can be taken on board for future versions of this unit of study.

Disclaimer

Important: the University of Sydney regularly reviews units of study and reserves the right to change the units of study available annually. To stay up to date on available study options, including unit of study details and availability, refer to the relevant handbook.

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

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

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

PSYC5217: Understanding the Self and Others

Semester 2, 2026 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

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

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links