Course Description
Nature and interrelationship of psychological traits, including maximum performance (intelligence, achievement, etc.) and typical behavior (interests, personality, etc.) traits. Also considered are the extent of racial, sex, age, and other group differences as well as the causal factors (genetics, environmental, etc.) in individual differences.
Athena Title
INDIVIDUAL DIFFEREN
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in PSYC 6530
Prerequisite
Permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Not offered on a regular basis.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, students should have learned: 1. About the history of individual differences, including when the notion of human differences first emerged as a concept. 2. About various models and approaches in the study of individual differences. 3. About statistical issues and research designs associated with individual difference investigations. 4. About the domains of individual differences, including intelligence, personality, values, interests, etc., and the ways in which these domains overlap. 5. About group differences research, including sex, age, social class, and ethnic group differences. 6. To critically evaluate findings and conclusions regarding individual and group differences. 7. To discuss individual differences from a variety of perspectives, recognizing the political and social consequences associated with the way society perceives differences.
Topical Outline
1. History of individual differences and general topics 2. Personality 3. Values and interests 4. Intelligence and special aptitudes 5. Overlap of domains 6. Sex differences 7. Age differences 8. Social class differences 9. Ethnic group differences