Download Theories of Personality - Saugerties Central School

“If a man does not keep peace with his
companions,
Perhaps it is because he hears a different
drummer.
Let him step to the music which he hears,
however measured and far away.”
-Henry David Thoreau
Theories of Personality
Mrs. Hart
Psychology II
What is Personality
Personality is the consistent, enduring, and
unique characteristics of a person. They are
general trends, not absolutes.
Theories of Personality
• Ultimately, personality
theories attempt to
explain, understand and
predict behavior by
understanding general
trends in the cognitive
processes of individuals.
• Also, to identify trait
correlations, identify the
differences among
individuals, and improve
life of individuals.
Major Schools of Personality
Theory
• Psychoanalytical
• Behaviorists
• Social Learning
• Humanistic
• Trait
Psychoanalytical Theory: Freud
Unconscious/Subconscious
• The part of the mind that
contains material of which
we are unaware but that
strongly influences
conscious processes and
behaviors.
• According to Freud,
there are three parts to
one’s personality; the id,
ego, and superego.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUELAi
HbCxc
(2:09)
The Id
The id is the part of
the unconscious
personality that
contains our needs,
drives, instincts and
repressed materials.
It is selfish, makes
demands, and wants
instant gratification.
The Ego
The part of the personality that is in touch with
reality and strives to meet the demands of the id and
the superego in socially acceptable ways.
The Superego
The part of the personality that is the source of
conscience and counteracts the socially undesirable
impulses of the id.
Defense Mechanisms
Defense Mechanisms – certain specific means by which
the ego unconsciously protects itself against
unpleasant impulses or circumstances.
• Rationalization
• Repression
• Denial
• Projection
• Reaction Formation
• Regression
• Displacement
•Sublimation
Rationalization
• “Excuse making”
• To attribute (one’s actions) to rational and creditable
motives without analysis of true and especially
unconscious motives
• Using incorrect but self-serving explanations to justify
unacceptable behavior, thoughts, or feelings
• Example – I cheated on the test because the teacher
makes the tests way too hard.
Repression
Repression is a mental process by which distressing
thoughts, memories, or impulses that may give rise
to anxiety are excluded from consciousness and left
to operate in the unconscious”.
Denial
During denial
confrontation with
a personal problem
or with reality is
avoided by denying
the existence of the
problem or reality.
Projection
• The attribution of one’s
own ideas, feelings, or
attitudes to other people
or to objects.
• Externalizing blame, guilt,
or responsibility.
• “Blaming”.
• Example – I’m not a jerk he
is…
• …I’m not trying to hook up
with her, she is trying to
hook up with me…
Reaction Formation
• One form of behavior substitutes for or conceals
the opposite behavior in order to protect against
it.
• Example – a guy that is gay is acting like a player
trying to deny it.
Regression
Regression is reversion to
an earlier mental or
behavioral level or to an
earlier stage of
development in response
to stress.
• Example – your girlfriend
makes you mad, so you
stick your tongue out at
her and go “pfhew”.
Displacement
Displacement is
transferring feelings
about a person or
event onto
someone or
something else.
• Example – being
best friends with
your dog.
Sublimation
Sublimation is the channeling of unacceptable
thoughts and feelings into socially acceptable
behavior.
• Example – getting good grades, working out,
holding the door…
Psychoanalytical Theory Carl Jung
• Jung agreed with Freud that a person’s
past and childhood experiences
determined future behavior, but he also
believed that we are shaped by our
future (aspirations) too.
• He also distinguished between the
personal unconscious, and the
collective unconscious, which is a
storehouse of instincts, urges, and
memories of the entire human
species throughout history.
• Jung called these inherited universal
ideas archetypes. Archetypes are
images or thoughts that have the same
meaning for all human beings.
Archetypes
• Persona (our social mask); this is
the public face or role a person
presents to others as someone
different to who we really are
(like an actor).
• Shadow is a common archetype
which is similar to Freud’s id and
comprises our animal urges of
survival and reproduction.
• Anima/animus (our male or
female sides); each gender
manifests attitudes and behavior
of the other by virtue of
centuries of living together.
Psychoanalytical Theory: Alfred Adler
• Believed that the driving force
in people’s lives is a desire to
overcome their feelings of
inferiority.
• He describes a person who
continually tries to compensate
for his weaknesses and avoid
feelings of inadequacy as
having an inferiority complex.
• Also believed that the way
parents treat their kids
influences the style of life they
choose.
Learning Theories of Personality:
Skinner - Behaviorism
• Proposed that our differences in our learning
experiences are the main reason behind our individual
differences in our behavior.
• People learn these patterns of behavior either directly
(reward as positive reinforcement of good behavior or
punishment as a negative reinforcement of bad
behavior) or indirectly (through observational learning
or modeling).
Learning Theories of Personality:
Albert Bandura
• Personality is acquired through a combination of
reinforcement/punishment and observational
learning/imitation .
Humanistic Theories of Personality:
Abraham Maslow
• Maslow based his theory of personality on studies
of healthy, creative, self-actualizing people who
fully utilized their talents and potential, rather
than on studies of disturbed individuals.
Traits of a Self-Actualized Person
• Self-actualized individuals
perceive reality accurately.
They accept themselves, other
people and their
environments.
• They are able to focus on tasks
and are more likely to base
decisions on ethical principles.
They have a strong sense of
identity with other human
beings, and they a have strong
sense of humor, but laugh
with people, not at them.
Traits of a Self-Actualized Person
• Self-actualized people are
exceptionally spontaneous and
independent. They value
privacy and seek out solitude.
• These individuals appreciate
even the simplest things,
approach their lives with a
sense of discovery, rarely feel
bored, and enjoy life itself.
They are creative and original.
Carl Roger: Self Theory
For a person to "grow", they need
• An environment that provides them with
genuineness (openness and self-disclosure).
• Acceptance (being seen with unconditional
positive regard).
• Empathy (being listened to and understood).
Self-Concept
The self-concept includes
three components:
• Self-worth (self esteem) –
what a person thinks about
himself
• Self-image – how a person
sees himself, which is
important to good
psychological health.
• Ideal self – This is the
person who one would like
to be.
Congruence
Congruence: means that self-actualization occurs
when a person’s “ideal self” (i.e. who they would
like to be) is congruent with their actual behavior
(self-image).
“Full-Functioning Person”
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Rogers describes an individual who is actualizing as a
fully functioning person, who exhibits five traits:
Open to experience
Existential living (in touch with different experiences
as they occur in life)
Trustful feelings
Creativity
Fulfilled life
Trait Theories of Personality
The trait theory suggests that individual personalities are
composed of characteristics that cause individuals to
behave in certain ways.
The combination and interaction of various traits forms a
personality that is unique to each individual. Trait theory
is focused on identifying and measuring these individual
personality characteristics.
Trait
Theory: Allport
Categorized these traits into three levels:
• Cardinal Traits: traits that dominate an individual’s
whole life, often to the point that the person becomes
known specifically for these traits.
• Central Traits: the major characteristics you might use
to describe another person. Terms such as intelligent,
honest, shy and anxious are considered central traits.
• Secondary Traits: traits that are sometimes related to
attitudes or preferences and often appear only in
certain situations or under specific circumstances.
Some examples would be getting anxious when
speaking to a group or impatient while waiting in line.
Raymond Cattell: Sixteen Trait Theory
Each person contains sixteen traits
to a certain degree.
• Abstractedness: Imaginative v.
practical
• Apprehension: Worried v. confident
• Dominance: Forceful v. submissive
• Emotional Stability: Calm v. high
strung
• Liveliness: Spontaneous v. restrained
• Openness to Change: Flexible v.
attached to the familiar
• Perfectionism: Controlled v.
undisciplined
• Privacy: Discreet v. open
Raymond Cattell: Sixteen
Trait Theory
• Reasoning: Abstract v. concrete
• Rule Consciousness: Conforming
v. non- conforming
• Sensitivity: Tender-hearted v.
tough-minded.
• Social Boldness: Uninhibited v. shy
• Tension: Impatient v. relaxed
• Vigilance: Suspicious v. trusting
• Warmth: Outgoing v. reserved
• Self-Reliance: Self-sufficient v.
dependent
"Big Five" Theory
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This five-factor model of personality represents five
core traits that interact to form human personality.
While researchers often disagree about the exact
labels for each dimension, the following are described
most commonly:
Extraversion
Agreeableness
Conscientiousness
Neuroticism
Openness
Big Bang Personalities
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BuR4VU1OOc
Best of Sheldon
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eD8RhPDU5Y
Penny Moments
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcnFDtFbng