PSYCHOLOGYPSYCHOLOGY

THEORIES OFTHEORIES OFPERSONALITYPERSONALITY

Personality can be defined as a Personality can be defined as a dynamic and organized set of dynamic and organized set of characteristics possessed by a person characteristics possessed by a person that uniquely influences his or her that uniquely influences his or her cognitions, motivations, and behaviors cognitions, motivations, and behaviors in various situations. The word in various situations. The word "personality" originates from the Latin "personality" originates from the Latin persona, which means mask. persona, which means mask.

Theories of PersonalityTheories of Personality

1. Psychoanalytic Theory

2. Trait Theories

3. Behavioral andSocial-Cognitive Theories

4. Humanistic Theories

Psychodynamic (Psychoanalytic) Theories:

Focus on the inner workings of personality, especially internal

conflicts and struggles

Trait Theories: Attempt to learn what traits make up personality

and how they relate to actual behavior

Behavioral and Social-Cognitive Theories:

Attribute differences in personality to behavior learned through

interaction with external physical and social environment

Humanistic Theories: Focus on private, subjective experience

and personal growth

Types of Personality Types of Personality TheoriesTheories

Part 1:Part 1:

Psychoanalytic PerspectivePsychoanalytic Perspectiveof Personalityof Personality

andand

SIGMUND FREUDSIGMUND FREUD

Sigmund Freud 

(May 6,1856 – September 23, 1939) Austrian neurologist, founding father of psychoanalysis

Role of ConsciousnessRole of Consciousness

• Unconscious: Unconscious: The unconscious is understood to be the large The unconscious is understood to be the large

part of the mind, which is hidden from view.part of the mind, which is hidden from view. • Pre-conscious:Pre-conscious: The pre-conscious is represented by the The pre-conscious is represented by the

waterline - but it is the zone in which there are waterline - but it is the zone in which there are fleeting glimpses of the unconscious, "flickering" fleeting glimpses of the unconscious, "flickering" across the screen of consciousness. across the screen of consciousness. 

• Conscious:Conscious: The relatively small part which sticks of the The relatively small part which sticks of the

water is seen as equivalent to the small amount water is seen as equivalent to the small amount of conscious awareness that the human of conscious awareness that the human experiences. experiences. 

Model Of PersonalityModel Of Personality

Elements Of Personality (according to Elements Of Personality (according to Freud):Freud):

• The IdThe Id

• The EgoThe Ego

• The SuperegoThe Superego

Freud’s Topographical Freud’s Topographical Model of PersonalityModel of Personality

IDID

• Primary component of personalityPrimary component of personality• Pleasure principlePleasure principle• Strives for immediate satisfaction of Strives for immediate satisfaction of

all desires, needs, wantsall desires, needs, wants• Example: if an infant feels hungry, Example: if an infant feels hungry,

he will cry till his want is satisfied.he will cry till his want is satisfied.• ID fails result in tension and anxietyID fails result in tension and anxiety

EGOEGO

• Responsible for dealing with realityResponsible for dealing with reality• Reality principle weighs the cost of Reality principle weighs the cost of

doing or abandoning somethingdoing or abandoning something• Discharges tension by finding the Discharges tension by finding the

object in the real world created by object in the real world created by Id.Id.

SUPER EGOSUPER EGO

• Holds of our internalized moral Holds of our internalized moral standards that we acquire from standards that we acquire from parents, society.parents, society.

• Has two parts:Has two parts: 1. The ego Ideal1. The ego Ideal Good BehaviorsGood Behaviors

2. The Conscience2. The Conscience Bad BehaviorsBad Behaviors

Defense MechanismsDefense Mechanisms

• A defense mechanism is a tactic A defense mechanism is a tactic developed by the ego to protect developed by the ego to protect against anxiety.against anxiety.

• Defense mechanisms are thought to Defense mechanisms are thought to safeguard the mind against feelings safeguard the mind against feelings and thoughts that are too difficult and thoughts that are too difficult for the conscious mind to cope with. for the conscious mind to cope with.

A list of defense mechanisms follows on the next slide

• Repression: Repression: The removal of threatening thoughts from awareness The removal of threatening thoughts from awareness • ProjectionProjection The attribution of unacceptable impulses to others The attribution of unacceptable impulses to others • DenialDenial The refusal to recognize a threatening situation or The refusal to recognize a threatening situation or

thoughtthought• RationalizationRationalization Giving a reasonable explanation for an eventGiving a reasonable explanation for an event• RegressionRegression The return to a less mature, anxiety reducing behaviorThe return to a less mature, anxiety reducing behavior• Reaction formationReaction formation The expression of the opposite of disturbing ideasThe expression of the opposite of disturbing ideas• DisplacementDisplacement Substituting a less threatening object for impulsesSubstituting a less threatening object for impulses• SublimationSublimation The channeling of impulses to socially acceptable outletsThe channeling of impulses to socially acceptable outlets

• Freud's theory of personality development Freud's theory of personality development centered on the effects of the sexual pleasure centered on the effects of the sexual pleasure drive on the individual psyche.drive on the individual psyche.

• He believed human beings posses the instinctual He believed human beings posses the instinctual libido (sexual energy) that develops in 5 stages:libido (sexual energy) that develops in 5 stages:

1. Oral1. Oral 2. Anal 2. Anal 3. Phallic 3. Phallic 4. Latent 4. Latent 5. Genital 5. Genital

• At each stage of developmental process, he At each stage of developmental process, he claimed, a single body part is particularly claimed, a single body part is particularly sensitive to sexual, erotic stimulation. These he sensitive to sexual, erotic stimulation. These he called the called the erogenous zones.erogenous zones.

Psychosexual DevelopmentPsychosexual Development

• Describes how personality develops during childhood

• Personality is established by the age of five. • Early experiences play a large role in personality

development. Healthy personality - results when psychosexual

stages are completed successfully.

Fixation - persistent focus on an earlier psychosexual stage - occurs if certain issues are not resolved at the

appropriate age.

Background of Psychosexual Background of Psychosexual DevelopmentDevelopment

Oral Stage (Birth to 1 Year)Erogenous Zone: Mouth

- rooting and sucking reflex is important. - gratifying activities such as tasting and sucking.

Primary conflict: the weaning process-the child must become less dependent upon caretakers.

Oral fixation can result in problems with drinking,eating, smoking, or nail biting

• Too much gratification, the child DOES NOT learn that he or she DOES NOT control the environment, and thereby forming an immature personality.

• Too little gratification, the infant might become passive upon learning that gratification is not forthcoming.

The Anal Stage (1 to 3 years)Erogenous Zone: Bowel and Bladder Control

Primary focus of the libido was on controlling bladder and bowel movements.

Major conflict: toilet training - the child has to learn to control his or her bodily needs.

• Developing this control leads to a sense of accomplishment and independence.

• If parents are too lenient, anal-expulsive personality could develop: messy, wasteful or destructive personality.

• If parents are too strict or begin toilet training too early,  anal-retentive personality could develop: stringent, orderly, rigid and obsessive.

The Phallic Stage (3 to 6 Years)Erogenous Zone: Genitals

Primary focus of the libido is on the genitals.

Children begin to discover the differences between males and females.  Oedipus complex - Boys begin to view their fathers as a rival for their mother’s affections

Electra complex has been used to described a similar set of feelings experienced by young girls.

The Latent Period (6 to Puberty)Erogenous Zone: Sexual Feelings Are Inactive

• Libido interests are suppressed.

• Begins when children enter into school.

• Sexual energy is directed into other areas such as intellectual pursuits and social interactions.

• Important in the development of

social and communication skills and self-confidence.

The Genital Stage (Puberty to Death)Erogenous Zone: Maturing Sexual Interests

Evaluating Freud’s Psychosexual Stage Theory

• The theory is focused almost entirely on male development with little mention of female psychosexual development.

• His theories are difficult to test scientifically. Concepts such as the libido are impossible to measure, and therefore cannot be tested. The research that has been conducted tends to discredit Freud's theory.

• Future predictions are too vague. How can we know that a current behavior was caused specifically by a childhood experience?

• Freud's theory is based upon case studies and not empirical research. Also, Freud based his theory on the recollections of his adult patients, not on actual observation and study of children.

Part 2:Part 2:

Trait TheoriesTrait Theories

• Dialogue between the conscious and unconscious aspects of the psyche enriches a person

• Without this dialogue, theunconscious processes canweaken or even jeopardizethe personality

• Jung came up with the idea of Individuation.

Carl Jung (1875 – 1960): “father of Typology”

Swiss psychiatrist who was at first a Freudian disciple

Carl JungCarl Jung

• Jung also believed that there was a deeper and more significant layer of the unconscious, which he called the collective unconscious, with what he identified as archetypes

• Archetypes, he believed were innate, unconscious, and generally universal

• Jung's collective unconscious has been described as a "storehouse of latent memory traces inherited from man's ancestral past, a past that includes not only the racial history of man as a separate species but his pre-human or animal ancestry as well.“

Collective UnconsciousCollective Unconscious

• The term for personal development that involves establishing a connection between the ego and self

• Ego - centre of consciousness

• Self - centre of total psyche (includes conscious and unconscious)

• According to Jung, there is constant interaction between the two. They are not separate but part of the same system.

• Individuation is the process of developing wholeness by integrating all the various parts of the psyche.

IndividuationIndividuation

• Introvert – more comfortable with the inner world of thoughts and feelings

• Extravert – feels more at home with the world of objects and other people

• There is no pure introvert or extrovertJung claimed they are two processes that alternate.

• Jung found that people can be characterized as either primarily inward-oriented or primarily outward-oriented.

• Thus each individual tends to favor one or the other attitude

Introversion and Introversion and ExtraversionExtraversion

• The are 4 fundamental psychological functions according to Jung: 1) Thinking2) Feeling3) Sensation4) Intuition

• Generally, one of the functions is more conscious, developed or dominant

The functions: ThinkingThe functions: ThinkingFeeling, Sensation, IntuitionFeeling, Sensation, Intuition

• Developed by Katherine Briggs (1875-1968) and her daughter Isabel Myers (1897-1980)in 1940s

• Uses 4 dimensions with 16 personality types• Common uses are for career assessment, by

military & sport clubs for team building• Approximately 1 to 3 million people are

administered by MBTI each year. Most widely used personality indicator in the world

• Behavior is individual and predictable• Preferences are inborn and well

established by adulthood• We use both poles at different times,

but not with equal confidence• All of the types are equally valuable

AssumptionsAssumptionsOf Type TheoriesOf Type Theories

Extravert : action oriented

Sensing : pragmatic

Thinking : logical

Judging : planful

• Extraversion -------------- Introversion• Sensing -------------- iNtuition• Thinking -------------- Feeling• Judging -------------- Perception

Preference ScalesPreference Scales

| Introvert : contemplative

| Intuititve : visionary

| Feeling : compassionate

| Perceiving : adaptable

Extraversion vs Introversion

Sensing vs Intuitive

Thinking vs Feeling

Judging vs Perceiving

ISTJ - The Duty FulfillersISFJ - The NurturersINFJ - The ProtectorsINTJ - The ScientistsISTP - The MechanicsISFP - The ArtistsINFP - The IdealistsINTP - The ThinkersESTP - The DoersESFP - The PerformersENFP - The InspirersENTP - The VisionariesESTJ - The GuardiansESFJ - The CaregiversENFJ - The GiversENTJ - The Executives

For more see: http://www.personalitypage.com/html/portraits.html

And online tests at: http://similarminds.com/personality_tests.html

MBTI TypesMBTI Types

Eysenck’sEysenck’sThree Factor TheoryThree Factor Theory

Hans Eysenck (1916-1997) was English psychologist who believed that there are three fundamental factors in personality:

• Introversion versus Extroversion

• Emotionally Stable versus Unstable (neurotic)

• Impulse Control versus Psychotic

Eysenck’s Theory and Eysenck’s Theory and Basic TemperamentsBasic Temperaments

Cattell: Source & Cattell: Source & Surface TraitsSurface Traits

Cattell: The Big FiveCattell: The Big Five

Cattell believed that five factors were most important:

Openness

Openness to experience measures the individual’s ability to be open to any kind of new experience

NeuroticismNeuroticism also known as Emotional Stability refers to the ability of an individual to control

his/her emotions at the time of crisis

Conscientiousness

Conscientiousness refers to the extent to which individuals show consistent & reliable behavior

Agreeableness

Agreebleness refers to an individual’s behavior towards others while interacting with them

The Big Five

Emotional Stability

Extraversion

Openness

Agreeableness

Conscientiousness

• Calm/Anxious• Secure/Insecure

• Sociable/Retiring• Fun Loving/Sober

• Imaginative/Practical• Independent/Conforming

• Soft-Hearted/Ruthless• Trusting/Suspicious

• Organized/Disorganized• Careful/Careless

Part 3:Part 3:

Behavioral and Behavioral and Social-Cognitive Social-Cognitive

Personality TheoriesPersonality Theories

Behavioral and Social-Behavioral and Social-Cognitive ApproachesCognitive Approaches

Behavioral theories suggest that personality is a Behavioral theories suggest that personality is a

result of interaction between the individual and result of interaction between the individual and the environmentthe environment

Behavioral theorists study observable and Behavioral theorists study observable and measurable behaviors, rejecting theories that measurable behaviors, rejecting theories that take internal thoughts and feelings into accounttake internal thoughts and feelings into account

Social-Cognitive approach considers one's social Social-Cognitive approach considers one's social environment as a main reason for behavior. They environment as a main reason for behavior. They focus on socialization, expectations and mental focus on socialization, expectations and mental processesprocesses

B. F. Skinner'sB. F. Skinner'sTheory of Behavior Theory of Behavior

• B.F. Skinner (1904-1990) was an American behaviorist and B.F. Skinner (1904-1990) was an American behaviorist and philosopher who invented operant conditioningphilosopher who invented operant conditioning

• Skinner's theory of personality is based on Skinner's theory of personality is based on operant operant conditioningconditioning, which is a type of learning where behavior is , which is a type of learning where behavior is controlled by consequences that involve controlled by consequences that involve reinforcementreinforcement and and punishmentpunishment

• Reinforcement increases certain behaviors and punishment Reinforcement increases certain behaviors and punishment decrease or ends themdecrease or ends them

• Skinner thought personality develops as a result of learning Skinner thought personality develops as a result of learning through these and other experiencesthrough these and other experiences

Part 4:Part 4:

Humanistic TheoriesHumanistic Theories

Humanism: Approach that focuses on human

experience, problems, potentials, and ideals

Human Nature: Traits, qualities, potentials, and

behavior patterns most characteristic of humans

Free Choice: Ability to choose that is NOT controlled

by genetics, learning, or unconscious forces

Subjective Experience: Private perceptions of reality

HumanismHumanism

Hierarchy of NeedsHierarchy of Needs

• Efficient perceptions of reality• Comfortable acceptance of self, others, and nature• Spontaneity• Task Centering• Autonomy• Continued freshness of appreciation• Fellowship with humanity• Profound interpersonal relationships• Comfort with solitude• Non-hostile sense of humor• Peak experiences

Characteristics of Characteristics of Self-Actualized PeopleSelf-Actualized People

LinksLinksFor more information see:For more information see:● William Revelle's site with overview of several theories and William Revelle's site with overview of several theories and

approaches, scholarly arcticles, big5 traits:approaches, scholarly arcticles, big5 traits:http://www.personality-project.org/readings-theory.htmlhttp://www.personality-project.org/readings-theory.html

● G. Scott Action's site on personality theories, focus on behavioral G. Scott Action's site on personality theories, focus on behavioral and social-cognitive approaches: and social-cognitive approaches: http://www.personalityresearch.orghttp://www.personalityresearch.org

● Psychodynamic (Psychoanalytic) perspective:Psychodynamic (Psychoanalytic) perspective:http://nobaproject.com/modules/the-psychodynamic-perspectivehttp://nobaproject.com/modules/the-psychodynamic-perspective

● Free Big-5, Jung tests similar to MBTI and other typologies:Free Big-5, Jung tests similar to MBTI and other typologies:http://similarminds.com/personality_tests.htmlhttp://similarminds.com/personality_tests.html and andhttp://www.celebritytypes.com/personality-tests.phphttp://www.celebritytypes.com/personality-tests.php

A good site to learn more about MBTI types:A good site to learn more about MBTI types:http://www.personalitypage.comhttp://www.personalitypage.com

● Humanistic approach to personality:Humanistic approach to personality:http://www.simplypsychology.org/humanistic.htmlhttp://www.simplypsychology.org/humanistic.html

CreditsCredits• This version and putting it all together, text changes and photos: This version and putting it all together, text changes and photos:

William Leibzon <william@leibzon.org>William Leibzon <william@leibzon.org>

• Original base, about 50% of the slides: Shahaz ali Sukhera. University of Lahore, Original base, about 50% of the slides: Shahaz ali Sukhera. University of Lahore, Pakistan – http://www.slideshare.net/zainsukhera9/persopnality-theories-29044082Pakistan – http://www.slideshare.net/zainsukhera9/persopnality-theories-29044082

• Freud's Psychosexual Development slides: Joy Marie Blasco - Freud's Psychosexual Development slides: Joy Marie Blasco - http://www.slideshare.net/1enchantress/sigmund-freuds-psychosexual-theory-of-http://www.slideshare.net/1enchantress/sigmund-freuds-psychosexual-theory-of-developmentdevelopment

• Carl Jung's slides: Seemi Jamil - http://www.slideshare.net/SeemiJamil/carl-jung-Carl Jung's slides: Seemi Jamil - http://www.slideshare.net/SeemiJamil/carl-jung-79848787984878

• Meyer-Briggs Typology slides: Payel Ghosh - Meyer-Briggs Typology slides: Payel Ghosh - http://www.slideshare.net/payelghosh399/myers-briggs-type-indicator-21456552http://www.slideshare.net/payelghosh399/myers-briggs-type-indicator-21456552

and Paul Krikau – http://slideshare.net/paulkrikau/myersbriggs-basic-presentationand Paul Krikau – http://slideshare.net/paulkrikau/myersbriggs-basic-presentation

• Big-5 slides: SankuD - http://www.slideshare.net/SankuD/big-5-model-pptBig-5 slides: SankuD - http://www.slideshare.net/SankuD/big-5-model-ppt