Theories Theories of of

PersonalitPersonalityy

Chapter 14Chapter 14

PersonalityPersonality

The totality of behavioral The totality of behavioral characteristics that set people apart characteristics that set people apart from others. (feelings, motives, from others. (feelings, motives, behaviors)behaviors)

Various theories we will discuss: Trait,Various theories we will discuss: Trait,

Psychoanalytic, Learning, Humanistic,Psychoanalytic, Learning, Humanistic,

SocioculturalSociocultural

The Trait ApproachThe Trait Approach

A trait is an aspect of personality A trait is an aspect of personality that is considered to be reasonably that is considered to be reasonably stable – consistent behaviorsstable – consistent behaviors

Example: always shy or outgoingExample: always shy or outgoing

Gordon Allport - 1930sGordon Allport - 1930s

He found 18,000 words in the He found 18,000 words in the dictionary that could describe dictionary that could describe personality.personality.

He assumed that traits could be He assumed that traits could be inherited and are the building blocks inherited and are the building blocks of your personality.of your personality.

Raymond Cattell 1905-Raymond Cattell 1905-9898

Using statistics and patterns, he Using statistics and patterns, he believed we can predict people’s believed we can predict people’s behavior in various situations.behavior in various situations.

Surface traits – obvious traits Surface traits – obvious traits

(friendly, loud)(friendly, loud)

Source traits – traits in a group that Source traits – traits in a group that occuroccur

togethertogether

He created a list of 16 source traitsHe created a list of 16 source traits A questionnaire would be given and A questionnaire would be given and

based on responses, one could based on responses, one could predict how they would react in predict how they would react in various situations.various situations.

Cattell's 16 Personality Factors – Source traits

Abstractedness imaginative versus practical

Apprehension insecure versus complacent

Dominance aggressive versus passive

Emotional Stability calm and stable versus high-strung and

Liveliness enthusiastic versus serious

Openness to Change liberal versus traditional

Perfectionism compulsive and controlled versus indifferent

Privateness pretentious versus unpretentious

Reasoning abstract versus concrete

Rule Consciousness moralistic versus free-thinking

Self-Reliance leader versus follower

Sensitivity sensitive versus tough-minded

Social Boldness uninhibited versus timid

Tension driven and tense versus relaxed and easy going

Vigilance suspicious versus accepting

Warmth open and warmhearted versus aloof and critical

A hypothetical personality profile using Cattell’s 16 personality factors

Hans Eysenck 1916 - 97Hans Eysenck 1916 - 97

He focused on the relationships He focused on the relationships between two personality dimensionsbetween two personality dimensions

1. Introvert – Extrovert = inward vs. 1. Introvert – Extrovert = inward vs. active, self-expressiveactive, self-expressive

2. Emotional stability – instability = 2. Emotional stability – instability = reliable, unpredictablereliable, unpredictable

The Big 5 = 1970’sThe Big 5 = 1970’s Most human personality traits can be Most human personality traits can be

boiled down to five broad dimensions boiled down to five broad dimensions of personality.of personality.

Thousands of people were asked Thousands of people were asked hundreds of questions then analyzing hundreds of questions then analyzing the data with a statistical procedure the data with a statistical procedure known as factor analysis. known as factor analysis.

The Big Five is now the most widely The Big Five is now the most widely accepted and used model of accepted and used model of personalitypersonality

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EndpointsEndpoints

Evaluation of Trait ApproachEvaluation of Trait Approach

It does not explain where traits come It does not explain where traits come from.from.

It describes traits but does not It describes traits but does not suggest how one can changesuggest how one can change

It is useful in matching your It is useful in matching your personality with jobs, careers, personality with jobs, careers, educational fields, or possible educational fields, or possible marriage partners (ex. harmony or marriage partners (ex. harmony or match.com)match.com)

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Albert Bandura

Social-Cognitive PerspectiveSocial-Cognitive Perspective

Bandura believes Bandura believes that personality is that personality is

the result of an the result of an interaction that interaction that

takes place takes place between a person between a person

and his social and his social context.context.

14.2 Psychoanalytic14.2 Psychoanalytic

Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)

- He believed that conscious ideas fill - He believed that conscious ideas fill only a small part of the mind.only a small part of the mind.

- Many of people’s deepest thoughts, - Many of people’s deepest thoughts, fears, and urges remain in the fears, and urges remain in the unconscious mindunconscious mind..

-3 parts of the mind: Id Ego Superego-3 parts of the mind: Id Ego Superego

Defense MechanismsDefense Mechanisms

Freud said D. M. were methods the Freud said D. M. were methods the “ego” uses to reduce anxiety by “ego” uses to reduce anxiety by distorting our perceptions of reality.distorting our perceptions of reality.

- Using defense mechanisms can be - Using defense mechanisms can be healthy as long as it does not healthy as long as it does not become extreme.become extreme.

RepressionRepression

Removal of painful thoughts from Removal of painful thoughts from consciousness.consciousness.

Freud believed that repressing too Freud believed that repressing too much can explode at a later date.much can explode at a later date.

““Teakettle blowing it’s top”Teakettle blowing it’s top”

RationalizationRationalization

Use of self-deception to justify Use of self-deception to justify unacceptable behaviorunacceptable behavior

Giving excuses!Giving excuses!

Ex. Cheating = “Everybody does it…”Ex. Cheating = “Everybody does it…”

DisplacementDisplacement Transfer of an idea or impulse from a Transfer of an idea or impulse from a

threatening object to a less threatening object to a less threatening object.threatening object.

Ex. Criticized by boss…yell at Ex. Criticized by boss…yell at coworkercoworker

Fight with bf/gf…yell at mom…Fight with bf/gf…yell at mom…punch the wallpunch the wall

RegressionRegression Response to a threatening situation in Response to a threatening situation in

a way appropriate to a younger agea way appropriate to a younger age

Ex. Temper tantrumEx. Temper tantrum

ProjectionProjection

Unacceptable motives are transferred Unacceptable motives are transferred onto othersonto others

Like a projector shooting an image Like a projector shooting an image onto a screenonto a screen

Ex. Homophobes? Or aggressive Ex. Homophobes? Or aggressive people claiming others are people claiming others are aggressive.aggressive.

Reaction FormationReaction Formation Acting opposite of true feelings in order to Acting opposite of true feelings in order to

hide true feelingshide true feelings

Ex. Being mean to someone you likeEx. Being mean to someone you like

or sickening sweet to someone you or sickening sweet to someone you hatehate

DenialDenial

Refusing to accept realityRefusing to accept reality

Ex. Smoking won’t make me sick.Ex. Smoking won’t make me sick.

Charlie Sheen…Charlie Sheen…

SublimationSublimation

You redirect feelings that could be You redirect feelings that could be damaging to you to a socially damaging to you to a socially productive activity.productive activity.

Ex. Writing a poem about anger or Ex. Writing a poem about anger or aggressive…play football or boxingaggressive…play football or boxing

Psychosexual StagesFreud divided development of

personality through five psychosexual stages.

Neo-FreudiansNeo-Freudians Jung believed in the Jung believed in the

collective unconsciouscollective unconscious which contained a which contained a common reservoir of common reservoir of images derived from images derived from our species’ past. That our species’ past. That is why many cultures is why many cultures share certain myths share certain myths and images such as and images such as the mother as a the mother as a symbol of nurturance.symbol of nurturance.

Neo-FreudiansNeo-Freudians Like Freud, Alfred Like Freud, Alfred

Adler believed in Adler believed in childhood tensions, childhood tensions, however these however these tensions were social in tensions were social in nature and not sexual. nature and not sexual. A child struggles with A child struggles with the the inferiority inferiority complexcomplex during during growth and strives for growth and strives for superiority and power.superiority and power.

**Birth order!

Neo-FreudiansNeo-Freudians Like Adler, Horney Like Adler, Horney

believed in the believed in the social aspects of social aspects of childhood growth childhood growth and development. and development. She countered She countered Freud’s assumption Freud’s assumption that women have that women have weak superegos and weak superegos and suffer “penis envy.”suffer “penis envy.”

Assessing Unconscious Assessing Unconscious ProcessesProcesses

Evaluating personality from an Evaluating personality from an unconscious mind perspective would unconscious mind perspective would require a psychological instrumentrequire a psychological instrument (projective tests) (projective tests) that would reveal that would reveal the hidden unconscious mind.the hidden unconscious mind.

Describe what is happening Describe what is happening in the picture.in the picture.

Thematic Apperception TestThematic Apperception Test(TAT)(TAT)

Developed by Henry Murray, TAT is a Developed by Henry Murray, TAT is a projective test in which people projective test in which people express their inner feelings and express their inner feelings and interests through the stories they interests through the stories they make up about ambiguous scenes.make up about ambiguous scenes.

Rorschach Inkblot TestRorschach Inkblot Test The most widely used projective test with The most widely used projective test with

a set of 10 inkblots was designed by a set of 10 inkblots was designed by Hermann Rorschach. It seeks to identify Hermann Rorschach. It seeks to identify people’s inner feelings by analyzing their people’s inner feelings by analyzing their interpretations of the blots.interpretations of the blots.

14.3 Learning Approach14.3 Learning ApproachPeoples behaviors are learned responsesPeoples behaviors are learned responses

2 Branches:2 Branches:

A. A. Behaviorism Behaviorism – John Watson & BF – John Watson & BF Skinner believed outside influences mold us Skinner believed outside influences mold us (society, parents, etc.) rewards, punishments(society, parents, etc.) rewards, punishments

B. B. Social Learning Theory Social Learning Theory – (more – (more contemporary view) focuses on the importance contemporary view) focuses on the importance of learning by observation but people can act of learning by observation but people can act intentionally to influence the environment.intentionally to influence the environment.

14.5 Sociocultural Approach14.5 Sociocultural Approach

1. Ethnicity, gender, culture help form 1. Ethnicity, gender, culture help form personality.personality.

individualism vs. collectivismindividualism vs. collectivism

2. Sociocultural factors can affect sense of 2. Sociocultural factors can affect sense of self.self.

ex. People subjected to discrimination & ex. People subjected to discrimination & poverty may have poorer self-concepts, poverty may have poorer self-concepts, low self esteemlow self esteem

3. Bicultural people have higher self 3. Bicultural people have higher self esteem.esteem.