Approaches to personality How do psychologists explain why we are the way we are?

Approaches to personality How do psychologists explain why we are the way we are?

Summary Assumptions Psychologists MethodsCharacterized by

unconscious processes; childhood experiences

very important

Most important aspects of personality are

unconscious.

Sigmund FreudCarl Jung

Alfred Adler Karen Horneye

a case study; projective tests

Summary Assumptions Psychologists MethodsPersonality grows out of

desire to grow & self-actualize; Can be

undermined by social pressure

Human nature is basically good. If we

know who we are and what we want, we can be happy & healthy.

Carl RogersAbraham Maslow

a case study

Summary Assumptions Psychologists MethodsPersonality is

characterized by 5 general traits that people use to describe themselves &

others.

Traits are relatively stable over time

Gordon AllportMyers-BriggsHans Eysenck

survey; personality inventories

Summary Assumptions Psychologists Methods

Personality is the pattern that characterizes a person’s

interactions with the situations s/he encounters in

life.

Behavior changes across situations. To understand

personality, we must understand situations.

Albert Bandurasurvey; observation;

experimentation

Summary Assumptions Psychologists Methods

Personality characteristics reflect underlying biological

processes- brain, neurotransmitters, & genes

Biological differences among individuals can explain differences in

personality.

Hans Eysenckbrain imaging, twin studies; molecular

genetic studies

Perspectives SummaryAssumptio

nsPsychologi

stsMethods

Psychodynamic

Characterized by unconscious

processes; childhood experiences very

important

Most important aspects of

personality are unconscious.

Sigmund FreudCarl Jung

Alfred Adler Karen Horneye

a case study; projective tests

Humanistic

Personality grows out of desire to grow &

self-actualize; Can be undermined by social

pressure

Human nature is basically good. If we know who we are and what we want, we can be

happy & healthy.

Carl RogersAbraham Maslow

a case study

Trait

Personality is characterized by 5 general traits that

people use to describe themselves

& others.

Traits are relatively stable

over time

Gordon AllportMyers-BriggsHans Eysenck

survey; personality inventories

Social Cognitive

Personality is the pattern that

characterizes a person’s interactions with the situations s/he encounters in

life.

Behavior changes across situations.

To understand personality, we

must understand situations.

Albert Bandurasurvey;

observation; experimentation

Biological

Personality characteristics reflect underlying biological

processes- brain, neurotransmitters, &

genes

Biological differences among

individuals can explain differences

in personality.

brain imaging, twin studies;

molecular genetic studies