Differential Psychology of Intelligence and Personality

Code:

LPSI202

Acronym:

PDIP

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Psychology

Instance: 2025/2026 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Psychology
Course/CS Responsible:	First degree in Psychology

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
LPSIC	186	Official Curricular Structure	2	-	6	54	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

This course aims at contributing to the training of students that may enable them to: 

1. To organize, systematize, and structure the acquired knowledge in a common structure, ranking it according to its level of importance and generality; 

2. To use the acquired knowledge concerning intelligence and personality constructs and group differences to collect and critically analyse new scientific (theoretical and empirical) and non-scientific data, using different sources of information and methods. 

3. To apply the acquired knowledge to formulate or evaluate intervention and research proposals in different specialization domains of Psychology.

Learning outcomes and competences

At the end of the semester/course, students should be able

1. To know the most important theoretical frameworks regarding intelligence and personality;
2. To know and organise, according to its relevance, the most important empirical findings regarding individual differences on intelligence and personality, in particular as a function of gender, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, generation and culture;
3. To understand the most important perspectives and empirical findings regarding the origins of group and individual differences;
4. To be able to conduct literature search and review that allows autonomous and adequate updating of information on this domain;
5. To recognise the advantages and limitations of differential or correlacional research method;
6. To discuss, in a critical and grouded manner, social, ethical and political context implications of the acquired knowledge, namely its applications on research and/or intervention projects in different specialization domains of Psychology.
7. Promoting awareness of diversity, discrimination and inclusion issues and the sustainable development goals of eradicating poverty, quality education, gender equality, and reducing inequalities.

Working method

Presencial

Program

Antecedents, object, aims, methods, and evolution of Differential Psychology

Intelligence- Theoretical frameworks: psychometric, factorial or differential, cognitive and comphreensive or contemporary. Group differences: socioeconomic status, ethnicity, gender, and generation.

Personality- Theoretical frameworks: overview of psychodynamic, humanist/existentialist, and sociocognitive theories and dispositional/factorial perspective. Relationship with other constructs: intelligence, emotions and well-being. Origins of the group differences: nature –heredity (adoption and twins studies) and brain structure/hemispheric specialization and nurture-environment (family, school, intervention projects, psychological resilience studies).

Mandatory literature

Almeida, L. S., Guisande, M. A. & Ferreira, A. I. ; Inteligência : perspectivas teóricas. , Almedina, 2009. ISBN: 978-972-40-3631-1
Hansenne Michel; Psicologia da personalidade. ISBN: 972-796-126-6
Sternberg Robert J. 340; Personality and intelligence. ISBN: 0-521-42835-1
Andrade Cláudia; Olhares sobre a psicologia diferencial. ISBN: 978-989-730-058-5
Sternberg, R. J., & Kaufman, S. B.; The Cambridge handbook of intelligence, Cambridge University Press, 2011
Ordem dos Psicólogos Portugueses; Linhas de orientação para a prática profissional no âmbito da intervenção psicológica com pessoas LGBTQ, 2020

Complementary Bibliography

R.J. Sternberg & S. B.Kaufman, ; The Cambridge Handbook of Intelligence . , Cambridge University Press. , 2011
P. G. Corr, & G. Matthews. ; The Cambridge Handbook of Personality., Cambridge University Press., 2009
Meyer; Prejudice, social stress, and mental health in lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations: Conceptual issues and research evidence, 2003

Teaching methods and learning activities

1. Theoretical lecture: syllabus exposition, using other activities (ex. Videos) to promote students’ participation and discussion.


2. Self- study and literature search and review to deepen and complement taught syllabus.


3. Practical group work to deepen and apply learned contents.


4. Evaluation: ehe theoretical component is assessed in a distributed manner through the completion of two distributed assessment tests with 2 short answer questions and one developmental answer. An 8.5 in the first test is required to take the second. Students pass if they obtain an average of at least 10 points in both tests. Alternatively, in the appeal period, they can take an exam with 4 direct response and development questions. In either case, distributed assessment or examination in the appeal period, the direct response questions assess mastery of specific content and the developmental response question assesses the capacity for discussion and argumentation.The theoretical component is weighted at 70% The theoretical-practical component is weighted at 30%. The practical work, carried out in groups, aims to assess the ability to apply theoretical and empirical knowledge associated with Differential Psychology and the correlational method: the analysis of the biography of a person chosen by the group in the light of intelligence and/or personality is prioritized, and there must be application of content, but also additional readings explored autonomously.
   
   
   

keywords

Social sciences > Psychological sciences > Psychology > Differential psychology

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Exame	70,00
Trabalho prático ou de projeto	30,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	60,00
Frequência das aulas	54,00
Trabalho de campo	48,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

Attendance at theory classes is not included in the assessment, but the student must attend 75% of the theoretical-practical classes.

Calculation formula of final grade

 Evaluation: exam 70% + practical group work 30%. 
1. The theoretical component is assessed in a distributed manner through the completion of two distributed assessment tests with 2 short answer questions and one developmental answer. An 8.5 in the first test is required to take the second. Students pass if they obtain an average of at least 10 points in both tests. Alternatively, in the appeal period, they can take an exam with 4 direct response and development questions. In either case, distributed assessment or examination in the appeal period, the direct response questions assess mastery of specific content and the developmental response question assesses the capacity for discussion and argumentation.The theoretical component is weighted at 70%
2. The theoretical-practical component is weighted at 30%. The practical work, carried out in groups, aims to assess the ability to apply theoretical and empirical knowledge associated with Differential Psychology and the correlational method: the analysis of the biography of a person chosen by the group in the light of intelligence and/or personality is prioritized, and there must be application of adquired knowledge, but also additional readings explored autonomously.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Working students and students with other specific statuses should take the exams and other assignments in the same way as ordinary regime students.
There may be adjustments that are duly justified and negotiated with UC faculty at the beginning of the semester, up to a maximum of the third week. 
The individual assignment is to be submitted in written form, in a report of up to 10 pages, including bibliographical references (APA standards), using Times New Roman or equivalent font and 1.5 spacing, and must be submitted by December 15.

Classification improvement

The improvement of the final classification is possible by repeating final exam up to the next season immediately following that in which approval was obtained.
It is not possible to improve the mark obtained in the practical work.