Individual Differences

This module will provide you with a critical understanding relating to the theoretical knowledge of individual differences, personality and intelligence. It has been developed to meet the requirements of the British Psychological Society (BPS) Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) curriculum, as approved by the BPS Membership & Qualifications Board. Students will critically examine the process of identifying particular traits and characteristics within individuals alongside the application of these in explaining and predicting behaviour.   

On successful completion of the module, you will be able to critically evaluate psychological theories relevant to individual differences and their ability to explain and predict behaviour; demonstrate a deep and critical understanding of contemporary debates, research and applications of research into individual differences and develop a deep understanding of research planning and design in the psychology of individual differences.

Topics covered may include: 

• Approaches to personality, e.g., Traits, cognitive, humanistic and biological
• Psychometric testing, e.g. validity, reliability, ethics and consequences of testing in applied settings
• Theoretical approaches to individual differences, e.g. intelligence, cognitive style, emotion, motivation, mood
• Contemporary debates in individual differences, e.g. idiographic-nomothetic debate
• A range of other topics in individual differences, e.g. mental health, gender, culture and ethnicity.