University of Essex

PA218-5-SP-CO:
Personality Development

The details

Year: 2024/25

Department: Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies

Campus: Colchester Campus

Term: Spring

Level: Undergraduate: Level 5

Status: Current

Start date: Monday 13 January 2025

End date: Friday 21 March 2025

Credits: 15

Last updated: 13 June 2024

Requisites for this module

Pre-requisites: (none)

Co-requisites: (PA210 or PA208) and PA211

Pre and / or co-requisites: (none)

Prohibited modules: (none)

Key module (requisite for): PA257

Key module for

DIPLC89A09 Psychodynamic Approaches,
DIPLC89A24 Psychodynamic Approaches,
MA C89D36 Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy (3 year),
MA C89D48 Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy (4 year),
MA C89DFD Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy (3 year)

Module description

This module gives you an outline of child, adolescent and adult development through the lifecycle. There is an emphasis on how individuals acquire the emotional capacities for good relationships, effective learning and emotional well-being, and what can interfere with these. Each phase of life will be studied to bring out the psychological challenges faced, the emotional and developmental tasks which present themselves and typical defensive manoeuvres, using psychodynamic understanding to explore the developmental issues and possibilities as we move through our lives. The theoretical texts are drawn from psychodynamic and attachment literature.

Module aims

The aims of the the module are:

To understand the foundations of emotional development as they are laid down in early life

To understand the effect of these early experiences on later social, relational and learning capacities

To understand the importance of attachment to emotional development

To understand the implications for later clinical work with clients of an understanding of their developmental stage

To understand the implications for clinical work of an understanding of the early roots of their difficulties

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module you should be able to:

Be familiar with the key stages of personality development

Have a familiarity with attachment theory

Have familiarity with the psychodynamic understanding of emotional and relational development

Show awareness of the implications of pre-birth factors and early environment for later work with clients

Have the capacity to apply a developmental perspective to clients' difficulties.

Module information

No additional information available.

Learning and teaching methods

This module will be delivered via:

10 week of seminars of 2hrs' duration
Students will read texts on the psychodynamics of human development before the seminar and come ready to discuss them with the tutor and each other. Experience from personal and workplace interactions will enrich the learning In some seminars students will take turns to present key elements from the week's texts and/or the tutor will take the lead in introducing and organising the learning
Seminars may include workshops and other exercises

Bibliography

Stokoe, P. (2021) The curiosity drive: our need for inquisitive thinking. Oxfordshire, England: Phoenix Publishing House Ltd. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=6458912.
Brazelton, T.B. and Cramer, B.G. (1990) The earliest relationship: parents, infants, and the drama of early attachment. Reading, Mass: Addison-Wesley. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=690100.
Bowlby, J. (1988) ‘The Role of Attachment in Personality Development’, in A secure base: clinical applications of attachment theory. London: Routledge, pp. 134–154. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=1075270.
Waddell, M. (2002a) ‘Beginnings’, in Inside lives: psychoanalysis and the growth of the personality. Rev. ed. London: Karnac Books, pp. 15–28. Available at: http://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/beginnings-margot-waddell/10.4324/9780429475979-3?context=ubx&refId=be499bf8-ae3d-41c4-b0dd-ec621b396af6.
Stern, Daniel, 1934- (1998) ‘Exploring the Infant’s Subjective Experience: A Central Role for the Sense of Self’, in The interpersonal world of the infant: a view from psychoanalysis and developmental psychology. London: Karnac Books, pp. 3–12. Available at: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=392617&site=ehost-live&ebv=EB&ppid=pp_3.
Waddell, M. (2002c) ‘Infancy: Containment and Reverie’, in Inside lives: psychoanalysis and the growth of the personality. Rev. ed. London: Karnac Books, pp. 29–43. Available at: http://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/infancy-containment-reverie-margot-waddell/10.4324/9780429475979-4?context=ubx&refId=3196f321-38a0-40be-a66a-e5cb67790308.
Barnett, L. (1995) ‘What is good day care?’, in The emotional needs of young children and their families: using psychoanalytic ideas in the community. London: Routledge, pp. 221–234. Available at: https://www-taylorfrancis-com.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/chapters/edit/10.4324/9780203135129-26/good-day-care-lynn-barnett?context=ubx&refId=e6e730c2-1023-45d7-8b50-5b20c3523202.
Waddell, M. (2002b) ‘Early Childhood: Weaning and Separation’, in Inside lives: psychoanalysis and the growth of the personality. Rev. ed. London: Karnac Books, pp. 61–80. Available at: https://www-taylorfrancis-com.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/chapters/mono/10.4324/9780429475979-6/early-childhood-weaning-separation-margot-waddell?context=ubx&refId=6a20368c-29d3-4f01-8ea9-91766de09803.
Feldman, M. (2005) ‘The Oedipus Complex I’, in Introducing psychoanalysis: essential themes and topics. Hove: Routledge, pp. 153–165. Available at: https://doi-org.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/10.4324/9780203001301.
Selma Fraiberg (2008) The magic years: understanding and handling the problems of early childhood. New York: Scribner. Available at: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=1968340.
Waddell, M. (2002d) ‘Latency’, in Inside lives: psychoanalysis and the growth of the personality. Rev. ed. London: Karnac Books, pp. 81–104. Available at: http://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/latency-margot-waddell/10.4324/9780429475979-7?context=ubx&refId=65fbb894-3975-4b02-abf7-05e5664c115f.
Wilson, P. (1989) ‘Latency and Certainty’, Journal of Child Psychotherapy, 15(2), pp. 59–70. Available at: https://pep-web-org.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/search/document/jcptx.015b.0059a.
Brafman, A. (2004) ‘Working with Adolescents: a Pragmatic View’, in Adolescence. London: Karnac, pp. 41–65. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=690283.
Youell, B. and Canham, H. (2006) ‘Adolescence’, in The learning relationship: psychoanalytic thinking in education. London: Karnac, pp. 59–68. Available at: https://doi-org.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/10.4324/9780429482281.
Noonan, E. (2000) ‘Adolescence to Adult’, in Counselling young people. London: Routledge, pp. 1–27. Available at: https://www-taylorfrancis-com.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/books/mono/10.4324/9780203408513/counselling-young-people-ms-ellen-noonan-ellen-noonan.
Scharff, D.E. (1998) The sexual relationship: an object relations view of sex and the family. Lanham, MD: J. Aronson.
Ruszczynski, S. (1993) ‘Thinking about and working with couples’, in Psychotherapy with couples: theory and practice at the Tavistock Institute of Marital Studies. London: Karnac Books, pp. 197–217. Available at: http://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/e/9780429479298/chapters/10.4324/9780429479298-18.
Waddell, M. (2002e) ‘The adult world’, in Inside lives: psychoanalysis and the growth of the personality. Rev. ed. London: Karnac Books, pp. 195–217. Available at: http://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/adult-world-margot-waddell/10.4324/9780429475979-13?context=ubx&refId=4476bdf2-e228-4bec-93ee-74277aff1cf4.
Erikson, E.H. and Erikson, J.M. (1998) ‘The ninth stage’, in The life cycle completed. Extended version. New York: W.W. Norton, pp. 105–114.
Jacques, E. (1965) ‘Death and the Mid-Life Crisis’, International Journal of Psycho-Analysis, 46, pp. 502–514. Available at: https://pep-web-org.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/search/document/ijp.046.0502a.
Rayner, E. (2005b) ‘Old Age’, in Human development: an introduction to the psychodynamics of growth, maturity and ageing. 4th ed. London: Routledge, pp. 194–201. Available at: https://www-taylorfrancis-com.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/books/mono/10.4324/9780203087954/human-development-christopher-clulow-angela-joyce-eric-rayner-james-rose-mary-twyman.
Montero, G.J., Ciancio de Montero, A.M. and Singman de Vogelfanger, L. (eds) (2018) Updating Midlife. London: Taylor & Francis Ltd. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/1000873.
Rayner, E. (2005a) ‘Dying, Grief and Mourning’, in Human development: an introduction to the psychodynamics of growth, maturity and ageing. 4th ed. London: Routledge, pp. 202–211. Available at: https://www-taylorfrancis-com.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/books/mono/10.4324/9780203087954/human-development-christopher-clulow-angela-joyce-eric-rayner-james-rose-mary-twyman.
Marris, P. (2015) ‘Bereavement’, in Loss and change. Rev. [2nd] ed. Hove [England]: Routledge, pp. 23–42. Available at: http://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/bereavement-peter-marris/10.4324/9781315755397-11?context=ubx&refId=fd5ad6e4-01a6-4cb1-b1c4-18032ae94703.

The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam	Description	Deadline	Coursework weighting
Coursework	Essay	19/03/2025	100%

Exam format definitions

Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework	Exam
100%	0%

Reassessment

Coursework	Exam
100%	0%

Module supervisor and teaching staff

Supervisor: Ms Joanne Emmens, email: je23897@essex.ac.uk.

Teaching staff:

Contact details: Student Administrator 5A.202; Telephone: 01206 873745; email ppspgt@essex.ac.uk

Availability

Available to incoming Essex Abroad / Exchange students: No

Available to Outside Option: No

Available to Audit: Yes

External examiner

Name: Mr Mike Keating

Institution: Wessex Counselling and Psychotherapy

Academic role: Head of Training

Name: Dr Nini Kerr

Institution:

Academic role:

Resources

Teaching materials: Available via Moodle

Lecture recording: Of 20 hours, 20 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.

Further information

Department website: Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies

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The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.

Module Directory

PA218-5-SP-CO:Personality Development