Personality assessment

Course objectives

General aims. The course aims at providing the students with theoretical and practical knowledge that will help them understand how the theoretical models for the study of personality characteristics as well as to practice the main tools for personality assessment. The expected learning outcomes will be: a competent and critical reading of theoretical models related to personality psychology; up-to-date knowledge of the scientific literature concerning the association between personality and adaptive/maladaptive outcomes; profile analysis of single cases. Students will learn how to master the main principles guiding the assessment process as well as the main personality tools used in organizational settings. During the course, students will also acquire the practical and technical abilities related to the assessment procedures (administration and interpretation of the results). A specific focus will be on identifying the personality characteristics and profiles associated with adaptive/maladaptive functioning. Specific aims. Knowledge and understanding: passing the exam ensures being able of understanding and using the most widely used tools for the assessment of personality characteristics. Applying knowledge and understanding: passing the exam ensures mastering the knowledge and use appropriate instruments for the research and the assessment of personality in organizational settings. Making judgment: passing the exam ensures being able to make informed judgments and evaluations of both theoretical models and assessment instruments, recognizing their strengths and limits. Moreover, passing the exam implies the capacity to plan a personality assessment across different organizational settings. These abilities will be attained through discussions on single cases and reports. Communication skills: passing the exam ensures that students master the communication abilities and tools needed for developing scientific reports both in the written and oral format. Learning skills: passing the exam ensures the acquisition of transversal skills that will help students deepen more advanced topics related to psychological assessment. Single cases of personality profiles of children, adolescents, and adults will be discussed in class to foster their learning skills.

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ANTONIO ZUFFIANO' Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
The course aims to offer an introduction to the theoretical bases and methodological principles underlying the assessment of personality and its potential. The following topics will be covered: The assessment of individual differences in relation to personality traits; The assessment of personality using a social-cognitive perspective (e.g., self-efficacy beliefs in several spheres of psychosocial functioning); The assessment of personality in relation to maladaptive functioning; The multi-method, multi-informant approach: Challenges and benefits; Recent perspectives and emerging themes in personality psychology and assessment. Students will learn how to use some of the main tools used in personality assessment during the course. Moreover, a special emphasis will be given to the interpretation of a personality report and how to write it.
Prerequisites
This course implies full knowledge of Italian, adequate knowledge of the theoretical basis of personality psychology, and an adequate knowledge of written English. For those students who did not have Personality Psychology in their background during Bachelor degree, it is useful to integrate their knowledge in such direction.
Books
The following books and materials are mandatory for the exam: [1] Sanavio E., Sica C. (1999). I test di valutazione della personalità, Inventari e questionari. Il Mulino, Bologna. [2] Caprara G.V. (a cura di), La valutazione dell’autoefficacia.(2001), Erickson, Trento. [3] Further mandatory materials (e.g., power points, articles) will be uploaded on the e-learning platform. Those students who did not attend a personality course are encouraged to read Text: Caprara, G.V., Cervone, D. (2003). Personalità. Determinanti, Dinamiche e Potenzialità, Milano Raffaello Cortina (from chapter 1 to 8).
Teaching mode
The topics of the course will be presented through frontal lessons and practical activities (group activities, flipped lessons, in-class assignments, single case). Non-mandatory activities will be also described during the course.
Frequency
Although attendance is not mandatory, it is strongly recommended.
Exam mode
The exam is written and consists of three parts: • 15 multiple-choice questions; • 1 open-ended question; • 1 personality report.
Lesson mode
Lectures
  • Lesson code10600084
  • Academic year2025/2026
  • CoursePersonnel, Work and Organizational Psychology
  • CurriculumSingle curriculum
  • Year1st year
  • Semester2nd semester
  • SSDM-PSI/01
  • CFU6
  • Subject areaPsicologia generale, fisiologica e psicometria