Psychology of Intelligence and Personality

Objectives

Intelligence

1. Understand the scope and meaning of the theories of intelligence;

2. Learn about the different theories of intelligence, including their limitations and potential;

3. Distinguish between basic and higher cognitive processes.

Personality

1. Acquire knowledge on the models and theories of personality;

2. Understand different methods of personality assessment;

3. Cooperate with others in exploratory research projects

Assessment of Intelligence and Personality (practical component)

1. Meet instruments used in the evaluation of intelligence and personality in children and adults, including those assessed for the Portuguese population;

2. Apply some tests to evaluate intelligence, understanding the logic of its quotation and result interpretation;

3. Understand the ethical principles both of cognitive psychological evaluation and personality assessment.

Program

I. Intelligence

1. Concept of intelligence.

2. History of intelligence assessment.

          2.1. Contribution of Galton, Cattell e Binet

3. Perspectives and approaches to intelligence.

           3.1. Psychometric approach (e.g., Spearman, Guilford)

           3.2. Developmental Theories (e.g., Piaget)

           3.3.  Information Processing Theories (e.g., Sternberg, Gardner).

4. Limits and potentialities of intelligence assessment

5. Intelligence assessment: children, adolescents and adults (e.g., MPCR, Wechsler Intelligence Scales: WPPSI-R, WISC-III, WAIS-III).

II. Personality

6. Concept of personality.

7. Personality Theories (e.g., Psychoanalitic, Big Five).

8. Personality assessment (e.g., Eysenck Personality Questionnaire).

 

9. Psychometric properties of assessment instruments: Reliability and Validity

10. Ethical issues in the assessment of intelligence and personality.

Teaching Methodologies

The teaching methodology involves theoretical classes and theoretical-practical classes. In addition to theoretical exposition of various contents, in the theoretical-practical classes the students will have the opportunity to work with several assessment instruments of intelligence and personality. There will also be activities for the administration, scoring and interpretation of results of several assessment instruments adapted and validated for the Portuguese population.

Bibliography

Aiken, L. R. (1999). Personality assessment: Methods and practices (3rd ed). Hogrefe & Huber Publishers.

Aiken, L. R. (2004). Assessment of intellectual functioning (2nd ed.). Plenum Press.

Anastasi, A., & Urbina, S. (2000). Testagem psicológica (7ª ed.). Artes Médicas.

Gonçalves, M. M., Simões, M. R., Almeida, L.S., & Machado, C. (Coords.) (2003). Avaliação psicológica: Instrumentos validados para a população portuguesa (Vol. I). Quarteto.

Fernandez-Ballesteros, R., & Vizcarro Guarch, C. (2014). Evaluación psicológica: Conceptos, métodos y estudio de casos (2º ed.). Ed Pirámide.

Hall, C. S., & Lindsey, G. (1984), Teorias da Personalidade. EPU.

McCrae, R. R., Terracciano, A., & Members of the Pers. Profiles of Cultures Project. (2005). Personality profiles of cultures: Aggregate personality traits. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 89, 407-425.

Weiner, I. B. & Greene, R. L. (2008). Handbook of personality assessment. John Wiley & Sons.