Postgraduate Course: Individual Differences in Mental Health (CLPS11055)
Course Outline
| School | School of Health in Social Science |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | This course provides a critical overview of theories and research on individual differences and differential psychology. The course is composed of a combination of face-to-face lectures and group seminars introducing students to a range of theories of individual differences that have direct application to understanding mental health issues and illness. |
| Course description |
This course explores the relationship between individual differences, mental health, and practice.
The course will critically examine:
1. Historical perspectives in differential psychology and their current-day implications.
2. Methods for measuring individual differences and their relevance to mental health assessment.
3. The relationship between individual differences (e.g., emotion regulation, coping, cognitive distortions) and mental health.
4. Contemporary perspectives in differential psychology, such as the relationship between human diversity (e.g., gender, ethnic, neurodiversity) and mental health.
5. Applications of differential psychology to improving mental health.
This course is available only to students on the MSc Psychology of Mental Health (Conversion) programme and will run in the first teaching block of Semester 2.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2025/26, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
|
Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
| Course Start Date |
12/01/2026 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Lecture Hours 12.5,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
85 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
50% - Recorded self-reflection oral presentation using assessment tools and reporting the findings ( presentation should be 10 minutes max in duration and will be presented in the form of a case study).
50% - Theoretical piece that will focus on the strength and limitations of the assessment tools used in the self-reflection presentation (up to 1,250 words). |
| Feedback |
Formative assessment will consist of a collecting and interpreting data from a standardised psychological assessment in groups.
Summative feedback will be given on the coursework assignments. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Describe, explain, and critically evaluate historical perspectives on individual differences and their implications for mental health practice.
- Describe, explain, and critically evaluate methods for measuring individual differences and their relevance to mental health assessment.
- Describe, explain, and critically evaluate contemporary perspectives on individual differences and their application to mental health practice.
- Demonstrate the ability to propose evidence-based strategies for improving mental health from a differential psychology perspective.
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Reading List
| To be confirmed |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Develop your knowledge in the area of individual differences.
Develop your knowledge on how individual differences are assessed.
Develop your critical reflection and writing skills. |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Daniel McKay
Tel:
Email: dmckay4@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Yuke Duan
Tel:
Email: yduan@ed.ac.uk |
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