Psychology of Individual Differences

Pre-requisites: Methodology of Psychological Research, Statistics in Psychology 1 and 2, Physiology of Nervous System and Biological Psychology.

Course objectives: Acquiring the basic fund of concepts and information, understanding the logical structure of problems and methods. Acquiring elementary methodical skills. Understanding the practical implications of theoretical and methodical considerations. Use of modern educational and technical resources.

Course description: Certain issues in philosophy of science important for the psychology of individual differences; Definition of individual differences and reasons for studying them; Trait; Basic personality traits and their internal mechanisms, Basic personality traits and emotions; Genetic/environmental determination and development of traits; Personality Disorders; Key determinants of behaviour: the situation, personality and interaction; Motives, needs, drives, interests, attitudes; Attribution in personality psychology; Intelligence, personality and the "no man's land" constructs between personality and intelligence; Ethical issues of the discipline. Practical classes: introduction to measuring instruments, data processing, use of electronic services, student presentations, research work, construction of simple instruments, discussion groups, educational films.

Learning Outcomes: Students have acquired basic concepts and information. Ability to use measuring instruments and design simple ones. Ability to apply appropriate statistical and psychometric methods. Ability to use important electronic services and software packages.

Literature/Reading:

• Knežević, G. (2005). Uvod u psihologiju individualnih razlika. Beograd: Filozofski fakultet. Skripta (1-120)
• Hol, K. & Lindzi, G.(1978). Teorije ličnosti. Poglavlja: Frojd (55-85), Adler (162-172), Maslov (259-267), Olport (411-439), Katel (489-517), Skiner (598-628). Nolit, Beograd
• Abramson, L., Seligman, M.& Teasdale (1978). Learned Helplessness in Humans: Critique and Reformulation. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 87:49-74.(prevedeno)
• Knežević, G., Džamonja-Ignjatović, T. & Đurić-Jocić, D. (2004). Petofaktorski model ličnosti. Beograd: Centar za primenjenu psihologiju (1-70)
• Knežević, G., Opačić, G. & Tenjović L. (1995). Teorija ličnosti ili skup neologizama: Empirijsko svedočanstvo u prolog tvrdnji da nijedan Cattell-ov faktor ne zadovoljava ni prvi uslov egzistencije. U K. Momirović (Ed.): Realnost psiholoških konstrukata
• Momirović K., (1998). O realnoj egzistenciji psiholoških konstrukata. U K. Momirović (Ed.): Realnost psiholoških konstrukata. Beograd: Institut za psihologiju, Filozofski Fakultet i IKSI, pp. 1-8. ČDA
• Savić, D., Knežević, G., Opačić, G. (2001). Individual differences in Stress reaction: An Introduction to a Mathematical Model. Psihijatrija danas, 32 (srpska i engleska verzija)