In this course three key areas of psychology will be introduced: social psychology, personality psychology & developmental psychology.
The course will chart key developments, theories and foundational research that continues to have an impact on current approaches. The course will address the big questions in psychology, such as: How does the social environment influences the way people think, feel and behave?; Are there stable personality traits that determine people’s behaviours across time and different situations?; What are the psychological requirements for using and understanding language?; What are the key developmental stages from birth to young and then late adulthood and how is psychological functioning impaired if these developmental stages are disrupted?
No prerequisite knowledge is required for this course. Students can enrol in PSYC1004 before completion of PSYC1003. Completion of both PSYC1003 and PSYC1004 is required for most later-year psychology courses.
Honours Pathway Option:
Students enrolled in the Honours pathway option (HPO) will be required to do some alternative assessment (as listed in the Indicative Assessment). The material will be set at a higher conceptual level, requiring more advanced and extensive research.
Participation in the HPO must be approved. Students opt in to the HPO by registering on the Learning Management System (LMS). Details of the HPO requirements and approval process for each course will be provided on the LMS at the start of the semester.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Examine key topics in social psychology, including humans as social animals and their implications for their psychology, social norms, social influence, stereotyping and prejudice.
- Explain key topics in developmental psychology, including classical developmental theories and contemporary research on biological, cognitive, and social development.
- Describe and discuss the key models of personality, including trait, psychodynamic, and biological models.
- Evaluate theoretical and empirical concepts in social, developmental, and personality psychology and critically consider and review material with your peers.
- Integrate information from multiple and potentially conflicting sources in the field of developmental, social, or personality psychology, construct a logical argument and effectively communicate this in written format.
- Individually or in groups, critically analyse classic studies in psychology and reflect on how colonisation, cultural biases, and personal experiences shape our understanding of psychological science.
Other Information
Final exam is a hurdle. A Pass mark (50%) or greater is required in the final examination before the course can be passed as a whole.
Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) required competencies:
As part of the mandatory requirements from the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC), students must demonstrate the specific competencies listed in the learning outcomes for this course. For example, group tasks assess the required demonstration of teamwork skills, and participation assesses the required demonstration of oral communication skills. Spme students may be eligible to have recommended reasonable adjustments applied to materials, activities or assessment tasks provided the integrity of the course, and the competencies being assessed, are maintained.
For more information, please contact the Course Convenor.
Indicative Assessment
- Research Essay (30) [LO 1,2,3,5]
- Question Generation and Review (5) [LO 1,2,3,4,5]
- Research Participation (5) [LO 4,6]
- Mid-semester exam (15) [LO 1]
- In-lab reflective assignment
(15) [LO 4,6] - End of semester exam (Hurdle) (30) [LO 2,3]
- The HPO assessment varies from year to year but is designed to build and strengthen basic research skills and will be worth 5% of the final mark. It will replace 'question generation and review' in the course. (0) [LO 1,2,3]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
The expected workload will consist of approximately 130 hours throughout the semester including:
- Face-to face component which may consist of 3 hours of lectures per week (1 x 2 hour lecture and 1x 1 hour lecture) plus 7 x 2 hours laboratory classes spread across the semester plus 5 hours research participation.
- Approximately 75 hours of self-directed study which will include preparation for lectures, presentations and other assessment tasks.
Inherent Requirements
No inherent requirements have been identified for this course.
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
Burton, L., Westen, D., & Kowalski, R. (2022). Psychology: Sixth Australian and New Zealand Edition (6th ed.). Milton Qld: John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.
Burton, L. J. (2021). An interactive approach to writing essays and research reports in psychology (5th ed.). Milton Qld: John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 4B
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
Second Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7713 | 27 Jul 2026 | 03 Aug 2026 | 31 Aug 2026 | 30 Oct 2026 | In Person | N/A |