PersonalityPersonality

What are the perspectives What are the perspectives on personality?on personality?

PsychoanalyticPsychoanalytic HumanisticHumanistic TraitTrait Social cognitiveSocial cognitive The selfThe self

Psychoanalytic perspectivePsychoanalytic perspective Sigmund FreudSigmund Freud

The mind is like an The mind is like an icebergiceberg

ConsciousConscious (Above the water)(Above the water)

UnconsciousUnconscious LargerLarger (Below the water)(Below the water) ThoughtsThoughts FeelingsFeelings MemoriesMemories

Freud’s personality theoryFreud’s personality theory

Id = Pleasure principleId = Pleasure principle Sex & violenceSex & violence HedonisticHedonistic

Ego = Reality principleEgo = Reality principle Mediates between Id and SuperegoMediates between Id and Superego

Superego = consciousSuperego = conscious Pride and guiltPride and guilt

Freud’s personality icebergFreud’s personality iceberg

How do we evaluate the How do we evaluate the unconscious?unconscious?

Projective testsProjective tests Ambiguous stimuli that people “project” information ontoAmbiguous stimuli that people “project” information onto

E.g. describe or tell a storyE.g. describe or tell a story

Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) Patient makes up a story based on ambiguous picturesPatient makes up a story based on ambiguous pictures

Rorschach TestRorschach Test 10 inkblots - people discuss what they see in the inkblots10 inkblots - people discuss what they see in the inkblots Designed to identify people’s inner unconscious feelingsDesigned to identify people’s inner unconscious feelings Not successful in predicting behavior or diagnosisNot successful in predicting behavior or diagnosis

Ego defense mechanismsEgo defense mechanisms

RepressionRepression Underlies all other defense mechanismsUnderlies all other defense mechanisms Keeps repressed urges (e.g. incest) from becoming consciousKeeps repressed urges (e.g. incest) from becoming conscious

RegressionRegression Retreating to an earlier, more infantile stage of developmentRetreating to an earlier, more infantile stage of development

Reaction formationReaction formation Doing the opposite of what you actually feelDoing the opposite of what you actually feel Inadequate feelings become bravadoInadequate feelings become bravado ““I hate him” becomes ” I love him”I hate him” becomes ” I love him” Makes unacceptable impulses more acceptableMakes unacceptable impulses more acceptable

Ego defense mechanisms (Cont.)Ego defense mechanisms (Cont.)

ProjectionProjection Projecting your unacceptable impulses to othersProjecting your unacceptable impulses to others E.g. “He is lying like everyone else.”E.g. “He is lying like everyone else.”

RationalizationRationalization Thinking up socially acceptable reasons for your negative Thinking up socially acceptable reasons for your negative

behavior.behavior. E.g. “I only steal from rich people”E.g. “I only steal from rich people”

DisplacementDisplacement Diverts sexual or aggressive energies toward a more Diverts sexual or aggressive energies toward a more

acceptable target.acceptable target. E.g. Mad child kicks the pet.E.g. Mad child kicks the pet.

What is the Humanistic What is the Humanistic Perspective?Perspective?

The self concept - “Who am I”The self concept - “Who am I” A basic focus of the Humanistic perspectiveA basic focus of the Humanistic perspective

Maslow’s Self-actualizationMaslow’s Self-actualization People strive for self-actualizationPeople strive for self-actualization

To be the best you can beTo be the best you can be After other needs are met for physiological, safety, After other needs are met for physiological, safety,

love, and self-esteemlove, and self-esteem

Humanistic Perspective (cont.)Humanistic Perspective (cont.)

Carl Rogers - Person Centered PerspectiveCarl Rogers - Person Centered Perspective Unconditional positive regardUnconditional positive regard

If we feel accepted, we will be more open and If we feel accepted, we will be more open and expressive.expressive.

What is the Trait Perspective?What is the Trait Perspective?

Traits = Characteristic behaviors or dispositionTraits = Characteristic behaviors or disposition Myers-Briggs type indicatorMyers-Briggs type indicator

Describes personalities in complimentary termsDescribes personalities in complimentary terms Extroversion or introversionExtroversion or introversion Thinking or feelingThinking or feeling

Trait Perspective (cont.)Trait Perspective (cont.)

MMPI = Minnesota Multiphasic Personality MMPI = Minnesota Multiphasic Personality InventoryInventory Most widely used personality inventoryMost widely used personality inventory Used to identify emotional disordersUsed to identify emotional disorders

MMPI = Minnesota Multiphasic MMPI = Minnesota Multiphasic Personality InventoryPersonality Inventory

What is the Social Cognitive What is the Social Cognitive Perspective?Perspective?

How does learning & thinking & society How does learning & thinking & society influence each other?influence each other?

Reciprocal DeterminismReciprocal Determinism Albert BanduraAlbert Bandura Behavior, internal personal factors, and the Behavior, internal personal factors, and the

environment all operate to determine each other.environment all operate to determine each other.

Reciprocal DeterminismReciprocal Determinism

Locus of controlLocus of control

Internal locus of controlInternal locus of control ““I personally control my destiny.”I personally control my destiny.”

External locus of controlExternal locus of control ““Outside forces which I can not control determine Outside forces which I can not control determine

my destiny.”my destiny.”

What is Learned Helplessness?What is Learned Helplessness?

Repeatedly faced with traumatic events over Repeatedly faced with traumatic events over which people have no control, people feel which people have no control, people feel helpless, hopeless, and depressed.helpless, hopeless, and depressed.

Exploring your “self concept”Exploring your “self concept”

Benefits of positive self esteem:Benefits of positive self esteem: More persistent at tasksMore persistent at tasks Less likely to use drugs and conform to group pressureLess likely to use drugs and conform to group pressure Happier Happier

Self serving biasSelf serving bias We like to perceive ourselves favorablyWe like to perceive ourselves favorably We contribute successes to our own effort and failure to We contribute successes to our own effort and failure to

factors beyond our control.factors beyond our control.