Influences on Personality Copyright © 2007 Allyn & Bacon Mayer’s Personality: A Systems Approach Part 1: Exploring PersonalityChapter 3: Theories of Personality.

Part 1: Exploring Personality Chapter 3: Theories of Personality

Influences on Personality

Copyright © 2007 Allyn & Bacon Mayer’s Personality: A Systems Approach


Theme and Variation on

Topic 3. Theories of Personality

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Comparing the Lecture and the Book…

• Chapter 3: Theories of Personality 1. What are Perspectives on

Personality?*2. What is the…Biological

Perspective?3. …the Intrapsychic Perspective?4. …the Sociocultural Perspective?5. …the Temporal-Developmental

Perspective? 6. How Does One Cope with Multiple

Theories?

• Lecture 3: Influences on Personality1. Levels of concepts2. Biological influences3. Psychodynamic influences4. Classic traits (biological)5. Conditional traits

(situational)6. Developmental influences 7. (If time) Integration




Why Study Theoretical Perspectives?

• They collect together theoretical issues concerning personality that have emerged throughout history

• Understanding them provides a context for what you will encounter.

• Personality psychologists are informed by them




Three Levels of Psychological Theory• Personality Perspectives – Reflect broad areas of interest

such as:– biological underpinnings– psychological processes

• Personality Theories – Sets of related assumptions about personality such as: – Psychodynamic theory– Humanistic theory

• Micro-Theories – Specific sets of testable hypotheses– People forget threatening information quickly – People’s traits influence their behavior

• All Theoretical Levels are Informed by Empirical Findings




Major Perspectives

Concepts ofPersonality

BiologicalIntra-

PsychicSocial

Develop-mental




Major Perspectives and Theories

Concepts ofPersonality

BiologicalIntra-

PsychicSocial

Develop-mental

Psycho-Evolutionary

Bio-Social

Psycho-Dynamic

TraitSocial-

CognitiveCross-

CulturalPsycho-Social

Humanistic-Positive




The Biological Perspective





Overview of Biopsychology

• Concerns biological explanations and substrates for psychological phenomena

• Major Theories:– Psychoevolutionary– Biopsychological




Central Ideas of Evolutionary Theory • Organisms with certain features

better adapt to hostile forces of nature

• Behaviorally, we all face certain questions: Who is my ally? My foe? Who should I marry?

• Individuals who answer those questions best are better adapted.

• Better adaptation more likely survival and reproduction

• Genes controlling better adaptation increase in the gene pool.




An Example• Giraffes once had shorter

necks• Giraffes with taller necks

better found food (high-growing leaves)

• They are therefore more likely to reproduce




Second Example

• Early human’s larger brains led to– Better thinking, communication– greater capacity to acquire

resources

• Larger brains led to greater reproductive success; then – Develop of language– Further selection

• Brains nearly tripled in size




Central Ideas of Biopsychology

• Genetics Influence the Brain• The Brain Influences Behavior

Through:– Brain Structure– Neurotransmitters– Hormones– Immune Function




Genetic Influences as Viewed through Twin Studies

Relation-ship

Mono-zygotic twins

Dizygotic twins,

siblings

Cousins, aunts, uncles

Strangers

Genetic Material in Common

100% 50% 25% 0%




Correlations Between Pairs of Individuals for Four Personality Traits

Trait Mono. Twins reared together

Mono. Twins reared apart

Sibs. Reared together

Sibs. Reared apart

Intell. .86 .72 .47 .24

Extrav. .54 .30 .06 .04

Neurot. .41 .25 .24 .28

Open. .51 .43 .14 .23




Intrapsychic Perspectives: Psychodynamic and Trait Theory





Psychodynamic Theory

• Views the person as caught between – Biological needs– Requirements of society

• Individual must compromise between the two




UnconsciousConscious

Threatening ideasare avoided and become unconscious

Central Psychodynamic Ideas

• Central idea(s):– Parts of personality

• Basic motives• These drive thoughts

and action

– Status of thoughts • Some conscious;• Some unconscious

– Parts dynamically struggle with one another




Psychodynamic Perspective: Example

• A key insight: People can become self-aware and change

• …The person free associates until unconscious motives are uncovered…

• The person will be mentally healthier by making the unconscious conscious– Irrational behavior (symptoms) will be reduced– Repeated unhelpful patterns will be identified




Central Ideas of the Trait Approach

• There are consistencies in personal behavior

• These consistencies are important parts of personality – referred to as traits

• Personality is the search for and understanding of traits

• Key figure: Gordon Allport




Example: The Big Five Traits

NeuroticismExtraversion

Agreeableness

Openness

Conscientiousness




Traits Can Be Identified Through Factor Analysis

Test items (Are you…?) I II III IV V

Anxious .50 .20 .02 .14 .10

Distressed .60 .10 .02 .10 -.13

Calm -.45 .02 -.04 -.10 -.05

Open-minded .02 .70 .10 -.10 -.07

Strait and narrow .10 -.60 .10 -.10 -.10

Warm-hearted -.10 .04 .80 -.12 .00

Stand-offish .20 .00 -.70 .15 .12

Orderly .12 -.14 .03 .87 .00

Spontaneous .13 -12 .21 -.60 .60

Outgoing -.12 .10 .30 .12 .80

Enjoy solitude .12 .20 -.35 -.05 -.70

Hostile .35 .07 -.50 .15 .05




Central Social-Cognitive Ideas

• Personality is made up of cognitive structures

• Those cognitive structures are learned and influence how a person thinks




Social Cognitive Approach

• Conditional Traits• Given X, I am

aggressive • Given Y, I am

cooperative

Conditional Aggression in Children

05

101520253035

Adult Peers

Presence of Adult

Lev

el o

f A

ggre

ssio

n

Child 1Child 2




Conclusions

• Trait theory focuses on consistent qualities of the individual (traits)

• Social cognitive theory explains how consistency is modulated by context (if-then)

• Many of those consistencies are in an individual’s comfort zone; some are not.

• Psychodynamic theory explains how certain repeated, problematic (uncomfortable) styles, can finally be observed and changed.




The Temperal-Development Perspective




Psycho-Social Stage Theories

• Children and adults’ personality develop according to patterns such as life stages.

• Each stage or pattern involves the achievement of certain goals

• Erik Erikson, for example, described eight stages of growth.




Humanistic Theory: Central Ideas

• The person is motivated to grow in a healthy fashion

• The person develops toward self-actualization

• Key figures: Carl Rogers, Abraham Maslow

Self-Actualization

Esteem Needs

Belonging Needs

Safety Needs

Physiological Needs




Humanistic Perspective

• Example:

…A person given a warm, unconditionally accepting environment, will learn about their real needs and achieve mental health




Integrating Perspectives




Problem: Can the Perspectives be Integrated?

• Is one theory correct?– Comparative analyses are challenging– No one theory or perspective seems to stand

out

• Should you commit to one?– The language of a theory can put up artificial

barriers– Commitment to one is limiting




The Systems Approach Here

• The different perspectives can be translated into a common language.– Freud’s (conscious portion of the) ego

(psychdynamic)– Allport’s proprium (trait theory)– James’ self as knower (general psychology)– (Multiple authors) self control (social-cognitive)

• All describe a conscious control center of personality.




The Systems Approach Here

• The different perspectives share concerns that can be described by some basic topics:– What is personality?– What are its parts?– What is its organization?– How does it develop?

• Theories are then drawn upon to answer questions about these topics, as needed.




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Influences on Personality Copyright © 2007 Allyn & Bacon Mayer’s Personality: A Systems Approach Part 1: Exploring PersonalityChapter 3: Theories of Personality.

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