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Course Name
PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES
Lecturer:
Prof. Irina Zinovieva, D.Sc., Ph.D.
Type of Course Educational Degree
Core Course Master’s
Year Semester
First 2nd
ECTS Workload
6 60 (lectures: 30 hours, seminars: 30 hours)
Type of education
Full-time education
Assessment Language of Education
Four papers and a final exam English
Preliminary requirements:
None
Evaluation:
Writing 4 papers (4 X 15%) and Final exam (40%)
Course Aims
The course of Personality and Individual Differences covers two areas. The first gives an introduction into
the content and dynamics of human personality and the understanding and measurement of individuality.
The second provides basic knowledge of individual differences focusing on the factors that initiate and
maintain individual and group differences such as heredity and social environment, situation, social status,
and cultural context. Other key topics in this part are differences among large societal groups such as gen-
der, social classes, and human races. On the practical side, the course teaches approaches to integrating
different methods such as psychological tests, interviews, and observation into a comprehensive diagnosis
of individuality.
Course content
1. Biological basis of personality. Behavioral genetics and personality. Temperament.
Lecture 2 academic hours
Seminar: Basic source: John, O.P., R.W. Robins, & L. A. Pervin (Eds.) (2008). Personality:
Theory and Research. Third edition. New York: The Guilford Press.
2 academic hours
2. Needs and Motivation. Basic needs. Hierarchy of needs. Motivation for achievement, belonging-
ness, and power. Personal projects.
Lecture 2 academic hours
Seminar: Reading and discussion. Sources:
Funder, D. C., & Ozer, D. J. (Eds.). (2010). Pieces of the Personality Puzzle: Readings in Theory
and Research (5th ed.). New York: W.W. Norton.
Higgins, E. T. (1996). Ideals, oughts, and regulatory focus: Affect and motivation from distinct
pains and pleasures. In P. M. Gollwitzer & J. A. Bargh (Eds.), The psychology of action: Linking
cognition and motivation to behavior. New York: Guilford, 91–114.
Emmons, R. A. (1986). Personal strivings: An approach to personality and subjective well being.
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51, 1058–1068.
2 academic hours
3. Emotion. Moods. Types of emotions. Emotion and cognition. Typical emotional state of a person.
Feelings.
Lecture 2 academic hours
Seminar: Reading and discussion. Source: Funder, D. C., & Ozer, D. J. (Eds.). (2010). Pieces
of the Personality Puzzle: Readings in Theory and Research (5th ed.). New York: W.W. Norton.
2 academic hours
4. Personal Meaning. Types of meaning. Personal system of meanings. Values. Meaning of life. Cul-
tural basis of the personal system of meanings.
Lecture 2 academic hours
Seminar: Reading and discussion on web-based sources (EBSCO database). Also: Frankl,
V. E. (1962/1980). Man’s search for meaning: An introduction to logotherapy. New York: Simon
& Schuster.
2 academic hours
Writing of a paper on a topic from 2-4. Evidence from EBSCO database search–topic of student choice.
(15% of the final evaluation)
5. Self. Self-concept. Dimensions of the Self. Self-confidence. Self-efficacy. Individualization of the
Self. Self-actualization. Culturally specific construction of the Self.
Lecture 2 academic hours
Seminar: Reading and discussion.
Sources:
John, O.P., R.W. Robins, & L. A. Pervin (Eds.) (2008). Personality: Theory and Research. Third edi-
tion. New York: The Guilford Press.
2 academic hours
6. Personality Traits. Empirical and conceptual bases of a personality theory. A universal personality
system. Operation of the system. The subjective experience of personality.
Lecture 2 academic hours
Seminar: Reading and discussion. Sources:
Funder, D. C., & Ozer, D. J. (Eds.). (2010). Pieces of the Personality Puzzle: Readings in Theory and
Research (5th ed.). New York: W.W. Norton.
McCrae, R.R., & Costa, P.T. (1997) Personality trait structure as a human universal. American Psy-
chologist, 52, 509-516.
McCrae, R. R., Terracciano, A., and Members of the Personality Profiles of Cultures Project. (2005).
Universal features of personality traits from the observer's perspective: Data from 50 different cul-
tures. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 88, 547-561.
2 academic hours
7. Structure of Behaviour. Planned and spontaneous behaviour. Structure of goal-directed behaviour.
Regulation of behaviour.
Lecture 2 academic hours
Seminar: Reading and discussion.
Sources:
Mischel, W., Shoda, Y., & Ayduk, O. (2007). Introduction to Personality: Toward an Integrative Sci-
ence of the Person (8th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: J. Wiley & Sons.
EBSCO database: search-topic of student choice.
2 academic hours
Writing of a paper on a topic from 5-7. Evidence from EBSCO database search–topic of student choice.
(15% of the final evaluation)
8. Nature - Nurture controversy. Nature and nurture in intelligence. Nature and nurture in personali-
ty. Nature-nurture interactions.
Lecture 2 academic hours
Seminar: Reading and discussion.
Sources:
Mischel, W., Shoda, Y., & Ayduk, O. (2007). Introduction to Personality: Toward an Integrative Sci-
ence of the Person (8th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: J. Wiley & Sons.
EBSCO database: search-topic of student choice.
2 academic hours
9. Gender Differences. Attitudes towards gender specific roles. Gender differences in cognitive per-
formance. Gender differences in aspirations and achievement. Leadership style and gender.
Lecture 2 academic hours
Seminar: Reading and discussion. Source: Unger, R. K. (2001). Handbook of the Psychology
of Women and Gender. NY: John Wiley & Sons.
2 academic hours
10. Social Class Differences. Social class structure of society. Social class specific values, parental styles,
and aspirations. Culture and social class associated expectations.
Lecture 2 academic hours
Seminar: Discussion on new data for Bulgaria and the UK.
2 academic hours
11. Cultural Differences. Cultural differences in cognitive functions? Cultural differences and personali-
ty. Cultural differences in the global world.
Lecture 2 academic hours
Seminar: Reading and discussion.
Sources:
Markus, H. R., Kitayama, S. (1991). Culture and the self: Implications for cognition, emotion, and
motivation. Psychological Review, 98, 224-253.
EBSCO database: search-topic of student choice.
2 academic hours
Writing of a paper on a topic from 8-11. Evidence from EBSCO database search–topic of student choice.
(15% of the final evaluation)
12. Personality and Individuality - an ecological approach. Critical analysis of personality study. Is indi-
viduality a possible subject of scientific inquiry?
Lecture 2 academic hours
Seminar: Discussion on the text of the lecture. Writing a critical paper. Evidence from EBSCO data-
base search–topic of student choice.
2 academic hours
13. Individuality and its Internal World. The process of the personal internal world. Protection of the
internal world. Building uniqueness. Integration and partialisation of the internal world.
Lecture 2 academic hours
Seminar: Discussion on the text of the lecture. Writing a critical paper. Evidence from EBSCO data-
base: search-topic of student choice.
2 academic hours
14. Individuality and the Regulation of Behaviour. Intellectual regulation. Emotional regulation. Per-
sonal meaning regulation. Unconscious regulation. Personal style.
Lecture 2 academic hours
Seminar: Discussion on the text of the lecture. Writing a critical paper.
2 academic hours
Writing of a paper on a topic from 12-14. Evidence from EBSCO database search–topic of student choice.
(15% of the final evaluation)
15. Methods for studying individuality. Alternatives to methods for personality assessment. Taking ac-
count of the time. Person-by-person data analysis.
Lecture 2 academic hours
Seminar: Discussion on the text of the lecture. Writing a critical paper.
2 academic hours
Basic Sources
Zinovieva, I. (2011). Personality and Individuality. Sofia: LM Productions (in Bulgarian).
John, O.P., R.W. Robins, & L. A. Pervin (Eds.) (2008). Personality: Theory and Research. Third edition. New
York: The Guilford Press.
Further readings
Cooper, C. (2010). Individual Differences and Personality (3rd ed.). New York: Oxford University Press.
Emmons, R. A. (1986). Personal strivings: An approach to personality and subjective well being. Journal
of Personality and Social Psychology, 51, 1058–1068.
Frankl, V. E. (1962/1980). Man’s search for meaning: An introduction to logotherapy. New York: Simon &
Schuster.
Funder, D. (2010). The Personality Puzzle (5th ed.). New York: W.W. Norton
Funder, D. C., & Ozer, D. J. (Eds.). (2010). Pieces of the Personality Puzzle: Readings in Theory and Research
(5th ed.). New York: W.W. Norton.
Higgins, E. T. (1996). Ideals, oughts, and regulatory focus: Affect and motivation from distinct pains and
pleasures. In P. M. Gollwitzer & J. A. Bargh (Eds.), The psychology of action: Linking cognition and moti-
vation to behavior. New York: Guilford, 91–114.
Larsen, R.J., & Buss, D. M. (2009). Personality Psychology: Domains of Knowledge About Human Nature (4th
ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
McCrae, R.R., & Costa, P.T. (1997) Personality trait structure as a human universal. American Psychologist,
52, 509-516.
McCrae, R. R., Terracciano, A., and Members of the Personality Profiles of Cultures Project. (2005). Univer-
sal features of personality traits from the observer's perspective: Data from 50 different cultures. Jour-
nal of Personality and Social Psychology, 88, 547-561.
Mischel, W., Shoda, Y., & Ayduk, O. (2007). Introduction to Personality: Toward an Integrative Science of the
Person (8th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: J. Wiley & Sons.
Miserandino, M. (2011). Personality Psychology. Boston, MA: Pearson Academic.
Standards of Academic Integrity
Generally, academic fraud and dishonesty include, but are not limited to the following categories: cheating,
fabrication, plagiarism, multiple submissions, etc.
Cheating: Using unauthorized notes, aids or information on an examination; altering a graded work
prior to its return to a faculty member, allowing another person to do one’s own work and submit-
ting it for grading.
Fabrication: Inventing or falsifying information, data or citation; presenting data gathered outside
of acceptable professorial guidelines; failing to provide an accurate account of how information,
data or citations were gathered; altering documents affecting academic records; forging signatures
or authorizing false information on an official academic document, grade, letter, form or any other
university document.
Plagiarism: Submitting material that in part or whole is not one’s own work; submitting one’s own
work without properly attributing the correct sources of its content.
Multiple Submissions: Submitting identical papers or course work for credit in more than one
course without prior permission of the instructor.
A breach of ethics or act of dishonesty can result in:
failure of an entire course (blatant plagiarism, cheating on a test or quiz);
academic suspension or expulsion from the university.
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