1

PSY 3124
PERSONALITY PSYCHOLOGY
COURSE OVERVIEW

Programme : BSc (Hons) in Psychology

Course Lecturer/Module Leader : Dr. Alia Azalea
Email : aliaazalea@sunway.edu.my
Consultation hours : by appointment (via email, only on working days)

Lecture/ Workshop Duration : 11 September – 23 December 2023

Lecture : THU, 1500 – 1730 (LT 1)

Workshop : W2 – MON, 0800 – 0930 (UC 6-6)

W1 – MON, 1200 – 1330 (UC 6-6)
W3 – MON, 1400 – 1530 (UC 7-7)
W4 – THU, 1230 – 1400 (UC 6-1)

Course Description:
Personality can be defined as a dynamic and organised set of characteristics possessed by a person
that uniquely influences his or her cognitions, motivations, and behaviours in various situations
(Ryckman, 2004). Personality Psychology is a branch of psychology which studies various personality
theories. The emphasis is to construct a coherent picture of a person and his or her major
psychological processes.

Course Objectives:
The main objective of this course is to teach students the underlying concept of personality and how
it applies in different settings. In addition, it also examines the factors that affect personality
development.

Learning Outcome:
At the conclusion of this course, it is expected that students will be able to:
 Criticise personality looking from different theories of various approaches.
 Integrate the different theories and approaches in describing an individual’s personality.
 Discover the usefulness of common personality tests in understanding an individual’s
personality.

Delivery Methods:
Lectures are delivered with MS Power Point as visual aid. Each lecture covers a major topic. Students
should note that while each lecture is self-contained in terms of presentation, the topics are closely
interrelated, and this interconnectedness is essential to their understanding of the substance of this
course. While the focus will be on conveying facts and issues, lectures also point students to important

Our Vision: To be a World Class University

 2

readings and other resources that would supplement the lectures. These recommended readings and
other resources are part of the knowledge base on which students are assessed.

Workshops are designed to supplement lectures, encouraging students to discuss relevant issues and
helping them to strengthen their understanding of the contents of the lectures. Workshops consist
mostly of discussion topics, student led presentation and discussion of journal articles and other
resources, and/or short exercises that students are expected to complete in class. These journal
articles and other resources either provides broad overview of a content area or they reflect the
applications of personality theories in the society today. Students are expected to participate actively
in all workshop discussions.

Assessment
The allocation of marks for each assessment mode is:

Quiz (SLO1, CLO1) (Week 6) 20%

THU, 1500 – 1730 (19 October 2023) Lecture theatre 1
2 Short answer questions.

Personality analysis report – (SLO3, CLO3) (week 12) 40%

Due date: 30 Nov 2023 at 1200
Submission: eLearn

 Students are required to work in pairs to write a personality analysis report based on a political/
entertainment & business/religious & spiritual figures using Allport’s idiographic approach.
 Figures (choose 1):
1. Aung San Suu Kyi
2. Jeff Bezos
3. Warren Buffet
4. Deepak Chopra
5. Queen Elizabeth II
6. Pope Francis
7. Frida Kahlo
8. Jack Ma
9. Barack Obama
10. Taylor Swift
11. Mother Teresa
12. Eckhart Tolle
13. Oprah Winfrey
14. Malala Yousafzai
15. Mark Zuckerberg
Note: each figure can only be covered by 1 group per workshop group. You are to inform
the lecturer directly of your choice. It is on first come first serve basis.
 You are required to submit a maximum of 1600-word essay consists of the following components
but not limited to (See Appendix A for rubric):
o Personality approach evaluation:
 Review 3 journal articles (i.e., only scholarly peer-reviewed journals are accepted)
that discussed Allport’s idiographic approach to understand a person’s
personality.
 Identify the strength(s)/weakness(es) of Allport’s idiographic approach to
personality.
o Figure evaluation based on Allport’s idiographic approach:

Our Vision: To be a World Class University

 3

 Identify the traits to describe the figure you have chosen.

 For each trait identified, to show proof of how it was identified (clear sources
citation and referencing is needed).
 Criticise the strengths and shortcomings of the figure for having such personality.
o Trait personality measurement evaluation:
 Identify personality test(s) based on Trait approach you would choose to
administer to understand your figure’s personality profile. Provide justification for
your choice.

Guidelines
 Font: Times New Roman
 Font size: 12 (body text)
 Double spaced
 APA 7th Format, citations and referencing

EXCERPT FROM ACADEMIC REGULATIONS 2022 (PG. 38)

Extensions and Late Submissions:

I2.1 The University requires students to adhere to submission deadlines for any form of assessment.
I2.2 Subject lecturers are authorised to grant extensions for coursework within their own subjects
and agreements will be documented.
I2.3 Extensions must be requested by students to subject lecturer in advance of the deadline, and
proper justifications be provided for the request.
I2.4 Any work submitted after the deadline, or after any period of extension granted shall be
marked as a Fail or awarded a zero.

This is applicable for ALL cohorts currently undertaking UG studies at Sunway University
disregarding what has been stated in any previous documents (e.g., Programme handbooks 2019-
2021, previous course overviews etc.)

Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as taking information from some other source or author without acknowledging
the source and making it seem as if the work is that of your own. This is a very serious crime in an
academic setting where credit must be given to the original author where it is due. The act of
plagiarism is treated as similar to copying. According to the university regulations in respect of
academic malpractice (refer to Sunway University Student Handbook for Undergraduate
Programmes), there would be three categories of plagiarism/ academic malpractice:

 Naïve malpractice
 First Offence:
o Minor
o Major
 Subsequent Offence

The penalty for plagiarism in classroom exercises varies depending on the nature of the academic
malpractice. Penalties may range from a warning letter by the Head of Department to cases referred
to the Registrar for consideration by a full Panel of Inquiry. For details of the penalties for each
category of the plagiarism/academic malpractice, please refer to Sunway University Student
Handbook for Undergraduate Programmes.

Our Vision: To be a World Class University

 4

A more important aspect of this issue is the prevention of plagiarism, and students are responsible for
learning ways to cite and quote sources using the APA 7th edition format. Lecturers will generally show
their students how to avoid plagiarism and teach them methods for quoting authors and interpreting
the works of the authors in their own words when requested.

Examination
40% final exam
3 essays, answer 2.

Course Outline:
The following is the course outline, with recommendations for the topics and their sequencing to be
covered by each lecture. The compulsory readings for each topic are included, and discussions will
take place during workshops. Readings may be added during the course as and when they are deemed
appropriate.

Reference /
Week Lecture Topic & Content Workshop & Due Date
Reading Material
1 Introduction Forming group for
assignment
2 Topic 1: The Psychoanalytic Burger (2019) Ch. Projective test and
Approach 3 discussion.
 Freud discovers the
unconscious
 The Freudian theory of
personality
 Application
 Assessment
 Strengths and criticisms
NEO-PI exercise
3
No lecture, public holiday Workshop group 4 to join
other Workshop groups for
this week
4 Watch movie “Inception” and Movie: Inception Presentation and discussion
answer questions (Nolan, 2010) on Dreams based on the
characters in ‘Inception’ and
how Freud would interpret
those dreams and how it
defines the characters’
personality.
5 Topic 2: The Psychoanalytic Burger (2019) Ch. Discussion on different Neo-
Approach: Neo-Freudian 5 Freudian Personality
 Limits & liabilities of perspectives to explain the
Freudian theory CBS News (2022) Amber Heard and Johnny
 Alfred Adler Depp personality.
 Carl Jung
 Erik Erikson
 Karen Horney
 Application

Our Vision: To be a World Class University

 5

 Assessment
 Strengths and criticisms
Review for Quiz
6
QUIZ Workshop group 4 to join
other Workshop groups for
this week
Topic 3: The Trait Approach Burger (2019) Ch. Assignment discussion
 Important trait theorists 7
 Factor analysis and the
search for structure
7  The situation versus trait
controversy
 Application
 Assessment
 Strengths and criticisms

Week 8 - Mid-Semester Break

Topic 4: The Biological Burger (2019) Ch. Journal discussion on

Approach 9 & 10 personality and mate
 Hans Eysenck’s theory of selection
personality Mende (2022)
 Temperament
9 Moreno et al.
 Evolutionary personality
psychology (2022)
 Application
 Assessment
 Strengths and criticisms

10 No class. Assignment preparation

Topic 5: The Humanistic Burger (2019) Ch. Discussion on Humanistic

Approach 11 approach to explain human
• The roots of humanistic behavior.
psychology Movie: Into the
• Key elements of the Wild
Case study:
humanistic approach (Penn, 2007)
11 Christopher Johnson
• Carl Rogers
• Application McCandless
• Assessment an American adventurer
• Strengths and criticisms who sought an increasingly
nomadic lifestyle as he
grew up.
Topic 6: The Behavioral/ Burger (2019) Ch. Discussion on the use of
Social Learning Approach 13 Behavioral/Social Learning
• Behaviorism approach to interpret
12
• Basic principles of Channel 4 (2019) assertiveness of individuals
conditioning
• Social learning theory Assignment submission

Our Vision: To be a World Class University

 6

• Social-cognitive theory DUE DATE: 30 Nov 2023 at

• Application
• Assessment
• Strengths and criticisms
Topic 6: The Behavioral/
Social Learning Approach
 Gender roles
13  Observational learning of
aggression
 Learned helplessness
1200
Burger (2019) Ch. Journal discussion on gender
14 roles, observational learning
of aggression, learned
Bhandari (2018) helplessness and intimate
partner/domestic violence
Min et al. (2020)

Topic 7: The Cognitive Burger (2019) Ch. Journal discussion on gender

Approach 15 & 16 differences in memory
• Personal construct theory recollection
• Cognitive personality Samson (2018)
variables
14 • Cognitive representation of Staugaard &
the self Berntsen (2021)
• Assessment
• Strengths and criticisms

15 Review for Final Exam

Readings:

(1) Textbook:
Burger, J.M. (2019). Personality (10th Edition). Cengage.

(2) Additional References:

Topic 1:
 Nolan, C. (Director). 2010. Inception [Film]. Warner Bros. Pictures, Legendary Pictures, Syncopy.

Topic 2:
 CBS News. (2022, May 7). 10 shocking moments from Amber Heard's testimony [Video]. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcqoMBlf6hA

Topic 4:
 Mende, R.V. (2022). Women choosing younger men: Exploring evolved mate preferences and
mate choice copying. Sexuality & Culture, 26, 665–684. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-021-
09914-w
 Moreno, L., Gutiérrez, G., Cruz, J., Javela, L., Gonzáles, M., & Rodríguez, J. (2022). Long-term
Mate Selection in Latin America: Evidence from Lonely-Heart Ads. Revista Colombiana de
Psicología, 31(1), 77-92. https://doi.org/10.15446/rcp.v31n1.89118

Topic 5:
 Penn, S. (Director). 2007. Into the Wild [Film]. Paramount Vantage, River Road Entertainment,
Square One C.I.H., Linson Film.

Our Vision: To be a World Class University

 7

Topic 6:
 Bhandari, S. (2018). South Asian women’s coping strategies in the face of domestic violence in
the United States. Health Care for Women International, 39(2), 220-242.
https://doi.org/10.1080/07399332.2017.1385615
 Channel 4. (2019, December 14). First Dates | The FUNNIEST & CUTEST Dates from Series 13 |
All 4 [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DGb8thJppw
 First Dates. (2020, November 6). Fran & Will, The Perfect Match? [Video]. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EFaUUGxh9I
 Min, H.Y., Lee, J.M., & Kim, Y. (2020). An integrative literature review on intimate partner
violence against women in South Korea. Korean J Women Health Nurs, 26(4), 260-273.
https://doi.org/10.4069/kjwhn.2020.11.15

Topic 7:
 Samson, L. (2018). The effectiveness of using sexual appeals in advertising: Memory for sexual
and nonsexual visual content across genders. Journal of Media Psychology, 30(4), 184–195.
https://doi.org/10.1027/1864-1105/a000194
 Staugaard, S.R., & Berntsen. D. (2021). Gender differences in the experienced emotional
intensity of experimentally induced memories of negative scenes. Psychological Research, 85,
1732–1747. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00426-020-01334-z

Our Vision: To be a World Class University

 8

Appendix A

SCORE SCALE F D C B A SCORE

Allport’s
Approach
Evaluation
Journal review (0-3) (4) (5) (6-7) (8-10)
(10 marks) Not Only 2 Three journal Clear three VERY clear
provided or journal reviews but journal and detailed
only 1 review unclear reviews three journal
journal reviews
review
Strength(s) & (0-1) (2) (2.5) (3) (4-5)
weakness(es) Not Missing a Some Clear VERY clear
of Allport’s provided or component strengths & strengths & and detailed
idiographic only 1 weaknesses weaknesses strengths &
approach (5 component but unclear weaknesses
marks) provided
but unclear
Figure
Evaluation

Figure trait (0-3) (4) (5) (6-7) (8-10)

identification Not Trait Some traits Clear traits VERY clear
with proof (10 provided or provided with proof with proof and detailed
marks) only 1 with no but unclear traits with
component proof proof
provided
but unclear
Strengths & (0-3) (4) (5) (6-7) (8-10)
shortcomings Not Missing a Some Clear VERY clear
of figure (10 provided or component strengths & strengths & and detailed
marks) only 1 shortcomings shortcomings strengths &
component but unclear shortcomings
provided
but unclear
Trait (0-1) (2) (2.5) (3) (4-5)
personality Not Test(s) Some test(s) Clear test(s) VERY clear
measurement provided or provided provided with with and detailed
evaluation (5 only 1 with no justification justification test(s) with
marks) component justification but unclear justification
provided
but unclear
Total mark /40

Our Vision: To be a World Class University

 9

Copyright Statement
These teaching materials are protected under the Copyright Act 1987. Duplication, in any form,
including digitally, is prohibited by law and a punishable offence. ©2021

SELECTED STUDENT REGULATIONS

STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT

2.5 Materials with Copyright

Duplication, in any form, including digitally, of materials with copyright is strictly prohibited under
the Copyright Act 1987, as amended and supplemented from time to time.

The Copyright Act 1987 governs the protection of copyrighted works in Malaysia. Copyright works
refer to lecture notes, slides and reading materials, as well as other literary, musical or artistic works
(which includes books, plays, photographs, sculptures, paintings, computer programs) and films,
sound recordings or broadcasts.

Any unauthorised reproductions, sale or hire, distribution and public exhibition by way of trade,
constitutes infringement of copyright. Any breach of the Copyright Act 1987 is a punishable offence
by the enforcement authorities. Students who violate the Copyright Act 1987 can be penalised by
the University in accordance to the Disciplinary Procedures for Students as outlined below.

STUDENT HANDBOOK

3.19 Academic Malpractice

Warning Concerning Copyright Restrictions

Duplication, in any form, including digitally, of materials with copyright is strictly prohibited under
the Copyright Act 1987, as amended and supplemented from time to time.

The Copyright Act 1987 governs the protection of copyrighted works in Malaysia. Copyright works
refer to lecture notes, slides and reading materials, as well as other literary, musical or artistic works
(which includes books, plays, photographs, sculptures, paintings, computer programs) and films,
sound recordings or broadcasts.

Any unauthorised reproductions, sale or hire, distribution and public exhibition by way of trade,
constitutes infringement of copyright. Any breach of the Copyright Act 1987 is a punishable offence
by the enforcement authorities. Students who violate the Copyright Act 1987 can be penalised by
the University in accordance to the Disciplinary Procedures for Students outlined in the Student
Code of Conduct.

For more information, please refer to the official portal of Intellectual Property Corporation of
Malaysia (MyIPO) at https://www.myipo.gov.my/en/home/

Details of the procedures involved in cases of Academic Malpractice can be found in the University
Academic Malpractice Policy and Procedures documents available in the iZone.

Our Vision: To be a World Class University