This course provides a comprehensive introduction to major theories in personality psychology. This course will primarily consist of instructor-led lectures, supplemented by multimedia instructional materials. In addition, students will engage in interactive discussions with AI tools (LLMs) to support the development and writing of research project reports.

This course begins with an overview of the definition of personality and the primary research methods used in personality psychology. It then systematically introduces major theoretical perspectives, including psychoanalytic approaches, phenomenological and humanistic theories, trait theories, and contemporary social-cognitive, cultural, and neurobiological perspectives. Across different course units, the instructor will also incorporate recent data science and neuroscience research related to personality, drawing in part from the instructor’s own ongoing work in these areas. In the research project component, students will engage in collaborative interactions with AI tools (LLMs). Through this process, students will not only learn how to use AI to deepen their understanding of theoretical frameworks, but also enhance their creativity and competence in applying personality theories to empirical research.

Assessment and Grading 1. Homework Assignments (10 assignments; 2.5% each; 25% total): Students will complete ten homework assignments throughout the semester. Each assignment accounts for 2.5% of the final grade. 2. Research Project Report (30%): Students are required to design research projects through collaborative interaction with AI tools (LLMs). Three theoretical perspectives will be covered: phenomenological theory, trait theory, and social-cognitive theory. For each perspective, students will work with AI to develop a research design grounded in the corresponding theoretical framework. 3. Final Examination (45%): A comprehensive final exam assessing students’ understanding of theories, concepts, and applications in personality psychology. *Outstanding Project Presentations and Bonus Credit* From each of the three research project reports, the instructor will select three outstanding submissions, resulting in a total of nine students. These selected students will deliver a 9-minute in-class presentation on May 25, 2026, consisting of 8 minutes of presentation and 1 minute of Q&A. Each selected student will receive an additional 5 points added to the final course grade. *Bonus for Homework Topic Selection* If a homework assignment topic is selected by the instructor and used as a question on the final examination, the student will receive 1 additional point added to the final course grade. Even if multiple assignments from the same student are selected, the maximum bonus remains 1 point per student. *Academic Integrity and AI Documentation Policy* Any research project report found to contain plagiarized content, including material copied from online sources or from other students’ work, will receive no credit. In addition, reports that do not include an accessible discussion link documenting interactions with a large language model (LLM) will also receive no credit.

Estimated Weekly Study Time: 3 hours

Personality: Theory and Research, 15th Edition (2023); Daniel Cervone & Lawrence A. Pervin, John Wiley & Sons.