Cognitive Science 0129 - Personality Psychology

Personality psychology (along with the related field of social psychology) seeks to understand people's characteristic patterns of social behaviors, attitudes, and emotions with an emphasis on how individuals differ from one another (compared to social psychology's emphasis on situational effects). This course will explore major theoretical contributions and empirical evidence. Personality psychologists attempt to understand why different people do different things in the same situation using quantitative research (correlational and experimental). This research examines: 1) biological underpinnings of personality, 3) environmental effects on personality, and 3) differences in how people perceive and process information about their social world. Student evaluations will be based on class participation, written critical responses to selected readings, verbal summaries and presentations of selected readings, and a research proposal that will consist of a project proposal, a draft, and a final paper.

Mind, Brain, and Information Writing and Research Independent Work In this course, students are expected to spend at least six to eight hours a week of preparation and work outside of class time. This time includes reading, writing, research.