Personality Personality is a distinct set of consistent behavioral traits Distinctiveness - Uniqueness of set of personality traits Consistency - Tendency.

Personality Personality is a distinct set of consistent behavioral traits

Distinctiveness - Uniqueness of set of personality traits

Consistency - Tendency to behave in the same way in a variety of situations

A personality trait is a durable disposition to behave in a particular way in a variety of different situations

Gordon Allport Cardinal Traits

Dominant traits that characterize nearly all of a person’s behavior

Central Traits Prominent dispositions found in everyone

Secondary Traits Dispositions that occur in some situations but not

others

Reserved Outgoing Less Intelligent More Intelligent

Affected by Feelings Emotionally Stable Submissive Dominant

Serious Happy-go-lucky Expedient Conscientiousness

Timed Venturesome Tough-minded Sensitive

Trusting Suspicious Practical Imaginative

Forthright Shrewd Self-assured Apprehensive

Conservative Experimenting Group-dependent Self-sufficient

Uncontrolled Controlled Relaxed Tense

Cattell’s 16PF

Big 5 Personality TraitsMcrae & Costa

Agreeableness

Neuroticism Conscientiousness

Opennessto Experience

Extraversion

Approaches to Understanding Personality Psychodynamic – behavior is the result of unconscious forces

Freud Jung Adler

Behavioral – behavior is the result of reinforced responses Skinner Bandura Mischel

Humanistic – behavior is the result of striving for the ideal Rogers Maslow

Biological– behavior is the result of inborn genetic factors Eysenck Buss

Freud’s Psychodynamic Theory

Freudian Defense Mechanisms

Freud’s Stages of Psychosexual Development

Other Psychodynamic Theorists

Carl Jung: Analytical Psychology Introversion/Extroversion Personal and collective unconscious Archetypes

Figure 12.4 Jung’s vision of the collective unconscious

Alfred Adler: Individual Psychology Striving for superiority Compensation Inferiority complex/overcompensation Birth order

Evaluating Psychodynamic Perspectives Pros

The unconscious The role of internal conflict The importance of early childhood

experiences Cons

Poor testability Inadequate empirical base Sexist views

Behavioral Perspectives

Skinner’s views Conditioning and response tendencies Environmental determinism

Fig. 12-5, p. 482

Behavioral Perspectives Bandura’s views

Social leaning theory Cognitive processes and reciprocal determinism Observational learning Models Self-efficacy

Behavioral Perspectives Mischel’s views

The person-situation controversy

Evaluating Behavioral Perspectives

Pros Based on rigorous research Insights into effects of learning and

environmental factors Cons

Over-dependence on animal research Fragmented view of personality Dehumanizing views

Humanistic Perspectives

Carl Rogers Person Centered Theory

Self-concept Conditional/unconditional positive regard Incongruence and anxiety

Fig. 12-9, p. 488

Fig. 12-10, p. 488

Humanistic Perspectives Abraham Maslow

Self-actualization theory Hierarchy of needs

The healthy personality

Fig. 12-11, p. 489

Fig. 12-12, p. 490

Evaluating Humanistic Perspectives

Humanistic theories are credited with highlighting the importance of a person’s subjective view of reality. They are also applauded for focusing attention on the issue of what constitutes a healthy personality.

They are criticized for lacking a strong research base, poor testability, and what may be an overly optimistic view of human nature (Maslow had a hard time finding live people who had self-actualized).

Biological Perspectives

Eysenk’s theory 3 higher order traits Extraversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism

Determined by genes

Twin studies Novelty seeking and genetics

The evolutionary approach Traits conducive to reproductive fitness

Fig. 12-14, p. 493

Evaluating Biological Perspectives

Pros Convincing evidence for genetic influence

Cons Conceptual problems with heritability estimates Artificial carving apart of nature and nurture No comprehensive biological theory