PersonalityPersonality

Chapter Eleven: Chapter Eleven:

Personality and Its AssessmentPersonality and Its Assessment

Module Twenty-Five:Module Twenty-Five:

Psychodynamic & Humanistic PerspectivesPsychodynamic & Humanistic Perspectives

What is Personality?What is Personality?

An individual’s characteristic pattern of An individual’s characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and actingthinking, feeling, and acting

The Psychodynamic Perspective:The Psychodynamic Perspective:Sigmund FreudSigmund Freud

Denial, regress, repress, etc.Denial, regress, repress, etc. Founder of psychoanalysisFounder of psychoanalysis Proposed the first complete Proposed the first complete

theory of personalitytheory of personality A person’s thoughts and A person’s thoughts and

behaviors (personality) behaviors (personality) emerge from tension emerge from tension generated by unconscious generated by unconscious motives and unresolved motives and unresolved childhood conflicts (many childhood conflicts (many sexual).sexual).

Psychoanalysis & Psychoanalysis & Psychodynamic Psychodynamic PerspectivePerspective

Freud’s theory of Freud’s theory of personalitypersonality

Also a therapeutic technique Also a therapeutic technique that attempts to provide that attempts to provide insight into one’s thoughts insight into one’s thoughts and actions by exposing and actions by exposing and interpreting the and interpreting the underlying unconscious underlying unconscious motives and conflictsmotives and conflicts

A more modern view of A more modern view of personality that retains personality that retains some aspects of some aspects of Freudian theory but Freudian theory but rejects other aspectsrejects other aspects

Retains the importance Retains the importance of the unconscious mindof the unconscious mind

Less emphasis on Less emphasis on unresolved childhood unresolved childhood conflictsconflicts

The Psychodynamic Perspective:The Psychodynamic Perspective:Freud’s View of the MindFreud’s View of the Mind

Free Association:Free Association:

Freudian technique of exploring the Freudian technique of exploring the unconscious mind by having the person unconscious mind by having the person relax and say whatever comes to mind no relax and say whatever comes to mind no matter how trivial or embarrassing.matter how trivial or embarrassing.

Freud’s alternative to hypnosis.Freud’s alternative to hypnosis.

Different consciousness’ of the mindDifferent consciousness’ of the mind

Conscious mind:Conscious mind: The thoughts and feelings one is currently aware The thoughts and feelings one is currently aware

ofof Preconscious mind:Preconscious mind:

Holds thoughts and memories not in one’s current Holds thoughts and memories not in one’s current awareness but can easily be retrievedawareness but can easily be retrieved

Unconscious mind:Unconscious mind: A region of the mind that includes unacceptable A region of the mind that includes unacceptable

thoughts, wishes, feelings, and memories.thoughts, wishes, feelings, and memories. Open patients to these unwanted memories, accept Open patients to these unwanted memories, accept

them, and become better!them, and become better!

Freud’s Concepts of the:Freud’s Concepts of the:Id, Ego, and SuperegoId, Ego, and Superego

The IdThe Id The part of personality that consists of The part of personality that consists of

unconscious energy from basic aggressive and unconscious energy from basic aggressive and sexual drivessexual drives

Operates on the “pleasure principle” - the id Operates on the “pleasure principle” - the id demands immediate gratificationdemands immediate gratification

Is present from Is present from birthbirth Ex: Ex: newborns crynewborns cry for whatever they need! for whatever they need!

SuperegoSuperego EgoEgo

The part of The part of personality that personality that consists of consists of internalized ideals internalized ideals and standardsand standards

One’s conscience; One’s conscience; focuses on what the focuses on what the person “should” doperson “should” do

Largely conscious Largely conscious part of personality.part of personality.

Mediates demands of Mediates demands of id, superego, and id, superego, and reality.reality.

Operates on the Operates on the reality principal.reality principal. Satisfies id’s desires in Satisfies id’s desires in

ways that will bring ways that will bring more pleasure that painmore pleasure that pain..

These classifications, Freud says, can help us These classifications, Freud says, can help us understand the mind.understand the mind.

Which is the child, parent, and adult?Which is the child, parent, and adult?

Id:Id:childchild

Superego:Superego:parentparent

Ego:Ego:adultadult

The Human Mind, as per FreudThe Human Mind, as per Freud

More Freud!!! More Freud!!!

Defense MechanismsDefense Mechanisms Means by which Freud believed the ego Means by which Freud believed the ego

protects itself by reducing anxiety; protects itself by reducing anxiety; unconsciously distorts realityunconsciously distorts reality

Don’t forget about:Don’t forget about: Repression, regression, and denialRepression, regression, and denial

RepressionRepression Puts anxiety-arousing thoughts, feelings, Puts anxiety-arousing thoughts, feelings,

and memories into the unconscious mindand memories into the unconscious mind The basis for all other defense mechanismsThe basis for all other defense mechanisms

RegressionRegression Allows an anxious person to retreat to a Allows an anxious person to retreat to a

more comfortable, infantile stage of lifemore comfortable, infantile stage of life DenialDenial

Lets an anxious person refuse to admit that Lets an anxious person refuse to admit that something unpleasant is happeningsomething unpleasant is happening

Defense Mechanisms, cont.Defense Mechanisms, cont. Reaction formationReaction formation

Reverses an Reverses an unacceptable impulse, unacceptable impulse, causing the person to causing the person to express the opposite of express the opposite of the anxiety-provoking, the anxiety-provoking, unconscious feeling.unconscious feeling.

ProjectionProjection Disguises threatening Disguises threatening

feelings of guilty anxiety feelings of guilty anxiety by attributing the by attributing the problems to othersproblems to others

RationalizationRationalization Displaces real, anxiety-Displaces real, anxiety-

provoking explanations provoking explanations with more comforting with more comforting justifications for one’s justifications for one’s actionsactions

DisplacementDisplacement Shifts an unacceptable Shifts an unacceptable

impulse toward a more impulse toward a more acceptable or less acceptable or less threatening object or threatening object or personperson

Psychosexual StagesPsychosexual Stages

In Freudian theory, the childhood stages of In Freudian theory, the childhood stages of development during which the id’s pleasure development during which the id’s pleasure seeking energies are focused on different parts seeking energies are focused on different parts of the body of the body

Develops in the first five or six yearsDevelops in the first five or six years The stages include: oral, anal, phallic, latency, The stages include: oral, anal, phallic, latency,

and genitaland genital A person can become “fixated” or stuck at a A person can become “fixated” or stuck at a

stage, leading to problems as an adultstage, leading to problems as an adult

Freud’s Stages of DevelopmentFreud’s Stages of Development

1.) Oral Stage1.) Oral Stage Pleasure comes from chewing, biting, and Pleasure comes from chewing, biting, and

sucking.sucking. Weaning can be a conflict at this stage.Weaning can be a conflict at this stage.

2.) Anal Stage2.) Anal Stage Gratification comes from bowel and Gratification comes from bowel and

bladders functions.bladders functions. Potty training can be a conflict at this stage.Potty training can be a conflict at this stage.

Freud’s Stages of DevelopmentFreud’s Stages of Development 3.) Phallic Stage3.) Phallic Stage

The pleasure zone shifts to the genitals.The pleasure zone shifts to the genitals. Boys cope with incestuous feelings toward their Boys cope with incestuous feelings toward their

mother and rival feelings toward their dad (Oedipus mother and rival feelings toward their dad (Oedipus conflict).conflict).

4.) Latency Stage4.) Latency Stage Sexual feelings are dormant.Sexual feelings are dormant. Child identifies with and tries to mimic the same sex Child identifies with and tries to mimic the same sex

parent to learn gender identity.parent to learn gender identity.

5.) Genital Stage5.) Genital Stage Begins at puberty with the maturation of sexual Begins at puberty with the maturation of sexual

interestsinterests

Freud’s Stage of Development:Freud’s Stage of Development:Write this please!Write this please!

The Psychodynamic Perspective:The Psychodynamic Perspective:Neo-FreudiansNeo-Freudians

Followers of Freud’s theories but Followers of Freud’s theories but developed theories of their owndeveloped theories of their own in areas in areas where they disagreed with Freudwhere they disagreed with Freud

Include Include Adler, Jung, and HorneyAdler, Jung, and Horney

Alfred Adler Alfred Adler (1870-1937)(1870-1937)

Agreed with Freud on the Agreed with Freud on the importance of early childhood importance of early childhood but thought social tensions but thought social tensions were more important than were more important than sexual tensionssexual tensions

Believed psychological Believed psychological problems were the result of problems were the result of feelings of inferiorityfeelings of inferiority

Inferiority Complex:Inferiority Complex: A condition that comes from A condition that comes from

being unable to compensate for being unable to compensate for normal inferiority feelingsnormal inferiority feelings

Carl Jung Carl Jung (Yoong)(Yoong) (1875-1961) (1875-1961)

Believed that humans share a Believed that humans share a collective unconsciouscollective unconscious

Jung’s concept of a shared, Jung’s concept of a shared, inherited reservoir of memory inherited reservoir of memory traces from our ancestorstraces from our ancestors

Information everyone knows Information everyone knows from birthfrom birth

Archetypes – universal Archetypes – universal symbols found in stories, symbols found in stories, myths, and artmyths, and art

Karen Horney Karen Horney (HORN-eye)((HORN-eye)(1885-1952)1885-1952)

Found Found psychoanalysis psychoanalysis negatively biased negatively biased against womenagainst women

Believed Believed cultural/social cultural/social variables are the variables are the foundation of foundation of personality personality developmentdevelopment

The Psychodynamic The Psychodynamic Perspective: Perspective:

Assessing PersonalityAssessing Personality

Projective Tests Projective Tests

Personality tests that provide ambiguous Personality tests that provide ambiguous stimuli to trigger projection of one’s inner stimuli to trigger projection of one’s inner thoughts and feelingsthoughts and feelings

Include:Include: Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) Rorschach Inkblot TestRorschach Inkblot Test

ThematicThematic Rorschach RorschachApperceptionApperception Inkblot InkblotTestTest TestTest

A projective test in which A projective test in which people express their inner people express their inner feelings and interests feelings and interests through the stories they through the stories they make up about ambiguous make up about ambiguous scenesscenes

The person makes up a story The person makes up a story of a picture they are shownof a picture they are shown

Most widely used Most widely used projection testprojection test

Personality test that Personality test that seeks to identify seeks to identify people’s inner feelings people’s inner feelings by analyzing their by analyzing their interpretations of 10 interpretations of 10 inkblotsinkblots

Updating Freud’s TheoryUpdating Freud’s Theory

Most psychodynamic psychologists agree:Most psychodynamic psychologists agree: Sex is not the basis of personality.Sex is not the basis of personality.

People People do notdo not “fixate” at various stages of “fixate” at various stages of development.development.

Much of a person’s mental life is unconscious.Much of a person’s mental life is unconscious.

People struggle with inner conflicts, and People struggle with inner conflicts, and childhood experiences shape us.childhood experiences shape us.

Looking at Personality Through:Looking at Personality Through:The Humanist PerspectiveThe Humanist Perspective

A perspective that focuses on the study of A perspective that focuses on the study of conscious experience and the individual’s conscious experience and the individual’s freedom to choose and capacity for freedom to choose and capacity for personal growthpersonal growth

Studies fulfilled and healthy individuals Studies fulfilled and healthy individuals rather than troubled peoplerather than troubled people

Abraham Maslow (1908-1970)Abraham Maslow (1908-1970)

Humanistic Humanistic psychologist who psychologist who developed the hierarchy developed the hierarchy of needsof needs

Believed that Believed that self-self-actualization is the actualization is the ultimate psychological ultimate psychological needneed

Hierarchy Hierarchy Self-Actualization Self-Actualizationof needs of needs

Maslow’s pyramid of human Maslow’s pyramid of human needs, beginning at the base needs, beginning at the base with physiological needs, with physiological needs, proceeding through safety proceeding through safety needs and then to needs and then to psychological needspsychological needs

Higher-level needs won’t Higher-level needs won’t become active until lower-become active until lower-level needs have been level needs have been satisfied.satisfied.

According to Maslow, the According to Maslow, the need to live up to one’s fullest need to live up to one’s fullest and unique potentialand unique potential

Characteristics include:Characteristics include: Self aware and self Self aware and self

acceptingaccepting Open, spontaneous, loving, Open, spontaneous, loving,

and caringand caring Not paralyzed by other’s Not paralyzed by other’s

opinionsopinions Focused on a particular Focused on a particular

tasktask

Maslow’s Maslow’s Hierarchy Hierarchy of Needsof Needs

Maslow’s Maslow’s Hierarchy Hierarchy of Needsof Needs

Maslow’s Maslow’s Hierarchy Hierarchy of Needsof Needs

Maslow’s Maslow’s Hierarchy Hierarchy of Needsof Needs

Maslow’s Maslow’s Hierarchy Hierarchy of Needsof Needs

Carl Rogers (1902-1987)Carl Rogers (1902-1987)

Humanist psychologist Humanist psychologist who who stressed the stressed the importance of importance of acceptance, acceptance, genuineness, and genuineness, and empathy in fostering empathy in fostering human growthhuman growth

Roger’s Person-Centered ApproachRoger’s Person-Centered Approach

Unconditional Positive RegardUnconditional Positive Regard An attitude of total acceptance toward another An attitude of total acceptance toward another

person despite their faults and failingsperson despite their faults and failings GenuinenessGenuineness

Freely expressing one’s feelings and not being Freely expressing one’s feelings and not being afraid to disclose details about oneselfafraid to disclose details about oneself

EmpathyEmpathy Sharing thoughts and understandingSharing thoughts and understanding Listening and reflecting the other person’s feelings Listening and reflecting the other person’s feelings

Assessing Personality Assessing Personality

and the Self:and the Self:Humanistic MeasuresHumanistic Measures Humanistic measures of Humanistic measures of

personality center on personality center on evaluating a person’s evaluating a person’s self concept--all of our self concept--all of our thought and feelings thought and feelings about ourselvesabout ourselves

Answer the question Answer the question “Who Am I?”“Who Am I?”

Evaluating the Evaluating the Perspective:Perspective:

Humanism has Humanism has influenced therapy, influenced therapy, child-rearing, and the child-rearing, and the workplaceworkplace

Laid the foundation for Laid the foundation for positive psychologypositive psychology