Ashoka University

Personality in Action: Science to Shape Your Life

5 days left! Grow your skills with Coursera Plus for $239/year (usually $399). Save now.

Ashoka University

Personality in Action: Science to Shape Your Life

Included with Coursera Plus

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Beginner level

Recommended experience

1 week to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Beginner level

Recommended experience

1 week to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

  • 1. Use the science of personality to explain with precision why you behave the way you do at work, in relationships, and in everyday decisions

  • 2. Apply a personalised behaviour change plan, grounded in evidence from psychology and neuroscience, to a real goal in your own life

  • 3. Track, reflect on, and demonstrate measurable shifts in your own behaviour across the course using structured self-observation tools

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

13 assignments¹

AI Graded see disclaimer
Taught in English

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

 logos of Petrobras, TATA, Danone, Capgemini, P&G and L'Oreal

There are 7 modules in this course

At the start of this course, you will set a personally meaningful learning goal that you will actively track and refine throughout the course. You will also understand what makes this course distinctive, its integration of live self-observation with behavioural science theory and will identify the habits of mind that will help you get the most out of this learning experience.

What's included

7 videos3 readings1 assignment

In module two, identify the cognitive biases and social conditioning patterns that have been quietly shaping your decisions. Recognise how your cultural environment has influenced your self-perception and behavioural patterns. Apply the evidence-based 'if-then' technique to rewrite your learning goals into actionable, adaptive strategies and begin using your Behaviour Log to collect real-time observations about your own patterns.

What's included

5 videos2 readings3 assignments1 discussion prompt

In module three, explore why some people thrive in chaos while others need structure to do their best work. Why does feedback roll off one colleague and devastate another? The answer often lies in personality, not as a label but as a science. This module introduces you to the Big Five personality traits (OCEAN), the most robust framework in psychological research. You'll do a self-assessment to see how your traits play out at work and in relationships, and take on a week-long behavioural challenge to experience change firsthand.

What's included

4 videos3 readings3 assignments1 discussion prompt

In module four, recognise that personality is not fixed and understand the conditions under which directed, intentional change is possible. You've set goals before. Some stuck. Most didn't. The problem usually isn't willpower; it's that we try to change too much, too fast, without understanding how personality actually shifts over time. This module introduces the concept of balanced volitional change: how to work with your personality rather than against it. You'll also learn how to reframe stress and manage the anxiety that so often derails even the most well-intentioned growth plans.

What's included

5 videos2 readings2 assignments1 discussion prompt

We're sold the idea of dramatic transformation, the 30-day glow-up, the overnight mindset shift. But real personality change is quieter, slower, and far more sustainable than that. In module five, you will capture an honest picture of how people actually change, and what the science says about what works. Using evidence-based goal-setting techniques, you'll learn to balance ambition with realism building momentum without burning out.

What's included

2 videos1 reading2 assignments1 discussion prompt

In module six, understand how introversion and extraversion shapes communication, collaboration, and leadership. Analyse the strategies people use to adjust their extraversion levels at work. This module will help you understand how extraversion shapes the way we show up professionally, and how both introverts and extraverts can adapt without losing themselves. You'll take on a behavioural challenge to experiment with adjusting your own levels and discover what feels authentic versus what's just expected of you.

What's included

3 videos1 reading2 assignments1 discussion prompt

The hardest part of any learning experience isn't the learning, it's making it stick once real life kicks back in. This final module is designed to bridge the gap between insight and action. In your final assignment, you'll revisit the core behavioural science principles from across the course that matter most, reflect on the changes you have observed in yourself over the weeks, and build a personal plan for continuing to apply what you've learned in your work, your relationships, and your sense of self.

What's included

2 videos1 peer review

Instructor

Dr. Sanna Balsari-Palsule
Ashoka University
1 Course373 learners

Offered by

Explore more from Personal Development

Why people choose Coursera for their career

Felipe M.

Learner since 2018
"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."

Jennifer J.

Learner since 2020
"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."

Larry W.

Learner since 2021
"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."

Chaitanya A.

"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."
Coursera Plus

Open new doors with Coursera Plus

Unlimited access to 10,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs - all included in your subscription

Advance your career with an online degree

Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online

Join over 3,400 global companies that choose Coursera for Business

Upskill your employees to excel in the digital economy

Frequently asked questions

¹ Some assignments in this course are AI-graded. For these assignments, your data will be used in accordance with Coursera's Privacy Notice.