CHAPTER 14 – PERSONALITY

Personality – the pattern of enduring psychological and behavioral characteristics by which each person can be compared and contrasted with other people

MAJOR APPROACHES TO PSYCHOLOGY

Psychodynamic Approach

* Classic theory – Sigmund Freud

* Basic tenets:
o constant struggle between desire to meet biological urges and realities of living
o unconscious processes influence behavior


* Personality Structure

o Id (pleasure principle) - 


o Ego (reality principle) -


o Superego (morality principle) - 


* Personality Development

o Resolve conflicts at each psyhosexual stage OR become fixated at that stage (i.e., unresolved and continued conflicts)

* Oral stage (birth – 2 yrs) –


* Anal stage (~2 – 4 yrs) –


* Phallic stage (~4 – 6 yrs) –


* Latent period (~6 – 12 yrs) –


* Genital stage (~12 yrs – death) –


* Ego Defense Mechanisms (see table 14.1 on p. 521)

o Repression – 


o Rationalization – 


o Denial – 


o Projection – 


o Sublimation – 


o Displacement – 


o Reaction formation – 


o Compensation – 


Dispositional Approach

* Basic tenets:
o Disposition = stable, long-lasting behavioral/mental tendencies
o Assumes that individuals have unique pattern of dispositions

* Type Theories - people fit into a few distinct categories

o Hippocrates’ theory – link between temperament and bodily fluids (humors); personality depends on how much of each humor you have
* Sanguine (blood) = optimistic
* Phlegmatic (phlegm) = slow, lethargic
* Melancholic (black bile) = sad, depressive
* Choleric (yellow bile) = angry, irritable

o Sheldon’s somatotypes
* Endomorphs (fleshy) = relaxed temperament
* Mesomorphs (muscular) = rigorous
* Ectomorphs (thin) = thoughtful, seclusive


o Not used by many psychologists today (one notable exception – Myers-Briggs personality test, used by some to “fit” personalities to specific job types)

* Trait Theories - people have the same “traits” but in different amounts

o Allport’s Trait Theory

* Central traits – 


* Secondary traits – 



o The Big 5 Trait Theory (see 14.2 on p. 528)

* Openness to Experience -


* Conscientiousness -


* Extraversion -


* Agreeableness -


* Neuroticism -



Social-Cognitive Approach

* Basic tenets:
o characteristics of individuals are acquired through learning
o emphasizes the influence of social situations on personality

* Rotter’s Expectancy Theory

o We learn what to expect in a variety of situations and this guides our behavior

o Locus of control – a general way of thinking about the world, especially about how life’s rewards and punishments are controlled

* Internals – 

* Externals – 

* Bandura’s Reciprocal Determinism

o Our thoughts, actions, and the environment can influence one another (see Figure 14.4 on p. 534)

o Self-efficacy –



* Mischel and Cognitive Processes

o BOTH personality traits AND situational variables are important in explaining behavior

o Conclusions:

* Personality traits influence behavior only in relevant situations

* Personality traits lead to behaviors that can alter situations

* People choose to be in situations that are in line with their personality

* Personality traits are more important in some situations that in others

* Constrained vs. ambiguous situations


Humanistic Approach

* Basic tenets: 
o Each person perceives a different reality
o Individuals have an “actualizing tendency” or an innate tendency toward growth and self-actualization



* Roger’s Self Theory

o Personality is shaped by BOTH our actualizing tendencies AND by others’ evaluations of us

o Positive regard –


o Congruence – 


o Conditions of worth – 


* Maslow’s Humanistic Psychology

o Self-actualization – most important need in hierarchy

o Two orientations:

* Deficiency orientation – 


* Growth orientation – 



PERSONALITY ASSESSMENT

* Observation – 


* Interviews – 


* Tests

o Objective tests (e.g., MMPI) -


o Projective tests (e.g., TAT, Rorschach) -



ADDITIONAL LEARNING OBJECTIVES

* Explain some of the neo-Freudian variations on Freud’s theory. Include Jung’s, Adler’s, and Horney’s ideas. (see Variations on Freud’s Personality Theory)

* Define object relations. Describe contemporary psychodynamic theory’s emphasis on object relations to help explain personality development. (see Contemporary Psychodynamic Theories)

* Describe some applications and criticisms of the psychodynamic approach to personality. (see Evaluation of the Psychodynamic Approach)

* Explain the controversy surrounding the role of heredity in personality development. Discuss the twin and adoptive children research. (see Thinking Critically:  Are Personality Traits Inherited)

* Describe some applications and criticisms of the social-cognitive approach to personality. (see Evaluation of the Social-Cognitive Approach)

* Describe some applications and criticisms of the humanistic approach. (see Evaluation of the Humanistic Approach)

* Discuss the longitudinal studies of personality and their conclusions about the continuity of personality across the lifespan. (see Focus on Research Methods:  Longitudinal Studies of Temperament and Personality)