PSY4151 - Personality and social psychology - 2019

6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL

Postgraduate - Unit



Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

Organisational Unit

School of Psychological Sciences

Chief examiner(s)

Miss Leah Braganza


Ms Eloise Perini

Unit guides


Monash Online

  • Teaching Period 2 2019 (Online)
  • Teaching Period 5 2019 (Online)


PSY4051, PSY4131.


Must be enrolled in either of the GDP course codes (M5013 or 4525).


This unit covers the key themes of social psychology and personality. The history and the philosophy of the different schools of social psychology and personality are examined to highlight changes in our understanding of social identity, meaning and relationships. The first half of the unit will demonstrate how social psychology theories, such as behaviour in groups, aggression, attraction, dehumanisation and attitude change, are applied and critiqued in light of contemporary behaviour and new knowledge. In the second half of the unit, several different personality theories will be compared and contrasted including psychoanalytic, phenomenological, trait, and social learning approaches to personality.



  1. Critically summarise, analyse and evaluate the major theoretical and research approaches within the field of social psychology.
  2. Compare and contrast historical and current theory on social processes and relate these to both individual factors and interpersonal relationships.
  3. Apply social psychology theories to a range of contemporary social questions, including belonging, identity, attraction, aggression, conflict and negotiation.
  4. Critically evaluate, and explain the origins and underlying assumptions of the psychoanalytic, humanistic, cognitive, learning, trait and biological theories of personality.
  5. Assess social psychology and personality theories and approaches in relation to gender, ethnicity and cultural diversity.
  6. Review and evaluate the practical applications, experimental procedures and research directions and goals associated with the above social psychology and personality theories.


  • Lab report (1,500 words) (35%)
  • Critical essay (1,500 words) (35%)
  • 6 x Secure online quizzes (30%)

Workload requirements

Students should expect to spend a minimum of 20 hours per week on this unit to achieve the learning outcomes.

This time will cover:

  1. video lecture materials;
  2. synchronous & asynchronous discussion;
  3. synchronous web-based 'class-time' for skills-based activities;
  4. weekly readings;
  5. weekly skills-based assessment tasks; and
  6. content-based assessment, including revision and formative assessment.

See also Unit timetable information

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study