Personality Theories

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=140 BGCOLOR="#9966CC" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="04100a20ezthtv.gif"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Kings Psychology Network"><U><B>home</B></U></A><B>     |   </B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Papyrus" ><I><B>  </B></I></FONT><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Papyrus" ><I><B>King's Psychology Network</B></I></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lessons Handouts"><U>Lessons & Handouts</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id154.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Handouts"><U>Handouts</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Overview of Psychological Science"><U>Overview of Psychological Science</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="History of Psychology"><U>History of Psychology</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id46.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Psychohistory: St. Thomas Aquinas"><U>Psychohistory: St. Thomas Aquinas</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id36.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Enteric Nervous System: The Brain in"><U>The Enteric Nervous System: The Brain in the Gut</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id42.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Role of Evolutionary Theory in Descr"><U>The Role of Evolutionary Theory in Describing Sexual Behavior</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id177.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Work Motivation"><U>Work Motivation</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id178.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="EmotionExercise Physical Arousal"><U>Emotion-Exercise & Physical Arousal</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id210.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Animal Cognition"><U>Animal Cognition</U></A>   |   <B>Personality Theories</B>   |   <A HREF="id201.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Meditation"><U>Meditation</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id224.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="WaterBenefits Effects"><U>Water-Benefits & Effects</U></A></div> <div> <B>Personality Theories</B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#CCFF66" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B><IMG SRC="854aef00.jpg" border=0 width="174" height="240" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>The Enchanted Garden by R. King</B></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>A  KEY ASPECT </B></I></div> <div> <I><B>OF PERSONALITY  IS</B></I></div> <div> <I><B><U>CONSCIENTIOUSNESS</U></B></I><I><B>:</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>the </B></I><I><B>tendency to be responsible, ethical, careful, and dependable versus tendencies to be irresponsible, unethical, careless and undependable.</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>"Personality is patterns of thoughts, feelings and behaviors that persist over time and over situations, are characteristic or typical of the individual and usually distinguishes one person from another."</B></I></div> <div> -a composite definition-</div> <bR> <div> Back to:</div> <div> <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Course Syllabus PSY 200"><U><B>Course Syllabus-Psy 20</B></U></A><B>0</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id53.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Overview of Class SchedulePsy 200"><U><B>Class Schedule-Psy 20</B></U></A><B>0</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lessons Handouts"><U><B>Lessons & Handouts - Psy 2</B></U></A><B>00</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Related Learning Links"><U><B>Related Learning Links - Psy 20</B></U></A><B>0</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id234.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Related ReadingsPsy 200"><U><B>Related Readings-PSY 200</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id60.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Discussion Forum"><U><B>Discussion Forum - Psy 20</B></U></A><B>0</B></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=340 BGCOLOR="#CCFF66" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I><B> </B></I><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><I><B>PERSONALITY THEORIES:  AN OVERVIEW</B></I></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <I><B> </B></I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><I><B>Overview</B></I></FONT></div> <bR> <div> The field of personality was once called <I><B>"genetic psychology."</B></I> Personality deals with the many aspects of the complex behavior of human beings.  At the core of personality is the self.  Personality is the study of individual differences. It examines the uniqueness of individuals.</div> <bR> <div> The psychology of personality has 2 major thrusts: the search for the commonalities of human life and development; and that the processes by which events affect people are common across events and people.  A major question has been:  How are all humans, especially their personalities, affected by specific events or activities?</div> <bR> <div> Personality is the organization of enduring behavior patterns that often serve to distinguish one person from another.  It involves distinctiveness and uniqueness of character.</div> <bR> <div> It is the role of personality psychologists to study individual differences and construct tests to measure the differences. They have spent a considerable amount of time speculating about the nature of human behavior.</div> <bR> <div> Adequate theories of personality focus on both abnormal and normal development. An overriding concern of all personality psychologists is to help people overcome their problems.</div> <bR> <div> A major task of personality development is to trace the connections between the personality of the child and that of the adult--to understand how the adult organization of psychic processes and behaviors was derived from that of the child.</div> <bR> <div> A major question relative to personality development is whether personality has stability and consistency.  There are 2 opposing streams of thought on the question:  that people do not behave consistently; and that people do show consistency in personality over time and across situations; and, that people show traits.</div> <bR> <div> While this debate has not been entirely resolved, there is growing consensus that both traits and situations are important.  Behavior in a given situation is often a function of both internal dispositional factors and external situation factors. The internal dispositional factors include emotions, cognitions, expectancies, fantasies and physiological activation. Because individuals differ with respect to these factors, they may react differently to the same situation.</div> <bR> <div> Many  psychologists view one key aspect of personality to be important -- conscientiousness. <I>Conscientiousness can be defined as the tendency to be responsible, ethical, careful, and dependable versus tendencies to be irresponsible, unethical, careless, and undependable..</I></div> <bR> <div> The psychology of personality attempt to answer questions like:  </div> <bR> <div> <I><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f099000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">What is precisely the nature of personality?  </B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f099000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">How do individual differences first arise?  </B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f099000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Out of the infinite number of dispositions and  traits that exist, which dispositions or traits are most important? </B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f099000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">How does the individual develop from the helplessness and dependency of the newborn to the competence and mastery of the adequate mature adult who manages to control him or herself and their environment?</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f099000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">How does the individual develop concepts about self and how does the individual become a regulator and assessor of his own behavior?</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f099000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">How are all humans, especially their personalities, affectec by specific events or activities?</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f099000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Is personality inherited or learned?</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f099000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">What is the self?  What are the models of the self?</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f099000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Is there a self and is the self knowable?</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f099000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">What are the models of the self? Of the world? And of the self in the world?</B></I></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Critical Periods in Development</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The first 3 years of life are regarded as a critical period for the establishment of personality and trusting relationships. </B>Some theorists argue that the young child's failure to develop a trust in his mother or a substitute caretaker during this critical period leads to the development of a withdrawn detached, or extremely aggressive personality. The critical period for language development is between 2 and 6 years of age.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Why Study the Development of Personality?</B></div> <bR> <div> It is important to study personality development because understanding how an individual or organism develops aids in understanding how the person functions in its mature form.  In addition, the organization of motives, beliefs, fears, skills and defenses is different at different ages. </div> <bR> <div> Another important reason to study personality development is the need to predict or understand adult personality and personality disturbance. Therefore, psychologist also attempt to understand deviant behavior and personality change. Personality psychologists also concentrate on conducting research for development of useful measures and techniques to ameliorate human problems therapeutically.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Two Approaches to Personality Study</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Nomothetic</U></B></div> <div> The nomothetic approach studies personality in an effort to develop laws, general principles and descriptions of behavior. Psychological study and research uses this approach.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Ideographic</U></B></div> <div> The ideographic approach seeks to understand personality through a rich and detailed study of an individual's life. This approach draws from the person's life history and factors that affect personality. Some theorists who also are in clinical practice have outlined their understanding of personality from clinical case studies. (Frager and Fadiman, 2005).</div> <bR> <div> __</div> <div> <I>References:</I></div> <div> Frager, Robert and James Fadiman. 2005.<I><B> Personality and personal growth (6th edition). </B></I>Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><U>____________</U></B></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Related Study Links</B></I></div> <div> <I> (See others in the Related Learning Links Section on Personality)</I></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.personalityresearch.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.personalityresearch.org"><U><B>Great Ideas in Personality</B></U></A></div> <div> College course on personality.</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.personalitydesk.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.personalitydesk.com"><U><B>Myers-Briggs Personality T</B></U></A><A HREF="http://www.personalitydesk.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.personalitydesk.com"><U><B>est Online</B></U></A></div> <div> Another popular personality test based on the work of Carl Jung about introverted and extroverted personalities. </div> <div> You can take this test online for a fee.</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.wynja.com/personality/theorists.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.wynja.com/personality/theoris"><U><B>Personality and Consciousness</B></U></A></div> <div> Articles and links on personality and consciousness theorists - Freud, Jung, Adler and others.</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.ship.edu/~cgboeree/perscontents.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.ship.edu/~cgboeree/persconten"><U><B>Personality Theorists</B></U></A></div> <div> Course site of Dr. C. George Boeree, Professor of Psychology at Shippensburg University (PA). Includes a detailed biographical and theoretical sketch of the following personality psychologists: Sigmund Freud, Anna Freud, Erik, Erikson, Carl Jung, Otto Rank, Alfred Adler, Karen Horney, Erich Fromm, B.F. Skinner, Hans Eysenck, Albert Bandura, Gordon Allport, George Kelley, Snygg & Combs, Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers, Ludwig Binswanger, Medard Boss, Viktor Frankl, Rollo May,and Jean Piaget, among others.</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.spsp.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.spsp.org"><U><B>Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP)</B></U></A></div> <div> An organization dealing with personality and social psychological issues.</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.eudaemonist.com/biblion/characters" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.eudaemonist.com/biblion/chara"><U><B>The Characters of Theophrastus</B></U></A></div> <div> The early psychology-philosopher's first treatise on personality.</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://personality-project.org/personality.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://personality-project.org/personali"><U><B>The Personality Project</B></U></A></div> <div> A thorough guide to resources in personality psychology.</div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>