Personality Psychology

Perhaps no major area of study has grown more rapidly and with more vigour in recent years than psychology. With roots in both philosophy and physiology, psychology – the systematic study of behaviour – stands today as a separate scientific discipline. In its efforts to understand how and why organisms behave as they do, psychology provides insight into every aspect of our lives: our perception of the world; our ability to use language and to learn, remember, create, and problem-solve; our emotional expression; our personality development; our sense of self; our motivation, choice-making, and ability to cope; our interpersonal relations; and our behaviour in groups.

The aim of this lesson is to introduce some basic knowledge of psychology through theoretical explanations and practical examples. It is meant to enhance understanding of the human personality and suggest practical application.

Learning objectives:

1. Provide definition and state the purposes and fields of Psychology.
2. Outline the general factors influencing personality.
3. Explain different types of temperaments and classify types of personality.
4. Describe abnormal personality patterns and classify personality disorders.