Chapter 8

Personality
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Topics to Explore
1. Trait Theories
2. Psychoanalytic Theory
3. Social-Cognitive Theories
4. Humanistic Theories
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Personality: a persons internally based characteristic way of
acting and thinking
Character: Personal characteristics that have been judged or
evaluated
Temperament: Hereditary aspects of personality, including
sensitivity, moods, irritability, and distractibility
Personality Trait: Stable qualities that a person shows in most
situations
Personality Type: People who have several traits in common
Personality: Some Terms
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Example of Personality Type
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Personality Theory: System of concepts, assumptions, ideas,
and principles proposed to eplain personality!
Personality Theories
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Trait Theories: "ttempt to learn what traits make up personality
and how they relate to actual behavior
Psychodynamic Theories: #ocus on the inner workings of
personality, especially internal conflicts and struggles
Humanistic Theories: #ocus on private, subjective eperience
and personal growth
Social-Cognitive Theories: "ttribute difference in personality to
sociali$ation, epectations, and mental processes
Types of Personality Theories
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A Little Exercise
See in class!
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Scoring the PTQ
%n the score sheet, for each item, circle the term you
circled on the questionnaire for that item! &f you circled
'heredity( for item ), circle 'heredity( under both * and
+ on the answer sheet!
"dd up the number of items circled in each column!
,he column with the greatest number of items circled
represents the type of personality theory closest to your
own views!
Part 1
Trait Theories
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Carl Jung, Swiss psychiatrist who was a #reudian disciple,
believed that we are one of two personality types:
-
Introvert: Shy, self.centered person whose attention is
focused inward
- Extrovert: /old, outgoing person whose attention is directed
outward
Jng!s Theory of T"o Types
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Carl Jng
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Eysenc#!s Three $actor Theory
Hans Eysenck, 0nglish psychologist, believed that there are
three fundamental factors in personality:
- Introversion versus Extroversion
- Emotionally Stable versus nstable !neurotic"
- Impulse Control versus Psychotic
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%ans Eysenc#
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Eysenc#!s Theory& contine'
,he first two factors create 1 combinations, related to the four
basic temperaments recogni$ed by ancient 2reeks:
- #elancholic 3introverted 4 unstable5: sad, gloomy
- Choleric 3etroverted 4 unstable5: hot.tempered, irritable
- Phlegmatic 3introverted 4 stable5: sluggish, calm
- Sanguine 3etroverted 4 stable5: cheerful, hopeful
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$aymond Cattell: from 6evon, 0ngland, believed that there
were two basic categories of traits:

Sur%ace Traits: #eatures that make up the visible areas

of personality

Source Traits: 7nderlying characteristics of a

personality
8attell also constructed the 16PF, a personality test identifying
)9 personality factors 3source traits5!
Cattell: Sorce ( Srface Traits
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)aymon' Cattell
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The Sixteen Personality $actors
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Cattell: The *ig $i+e
8attell believed that five factors were
most important:
%penness
8onscientiousness
0traversion
"greeable
:euroticism
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,raphic: The *ig $i+e
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E+alation of Trait Theories
-
"re traits as pervasive as trait theories claim; &s someone
shy always or does it depend on the situation;
- "re traits as enduring and unchangeable as trait theories
claim; 8an we change our traits; &f so, how easily;
- "re traits affected by social and cultural upbringing; %r are
our personalities formed at birth and unchanging thereafter;
Part -
Psychoanalytic Theory
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Sigmund &reud, <!6!,a =iennese physician who thought his
patients problems were more emotional than physical!
#reud began his work by using hypnosis and eventually
switched to psychoanalysis!
#reud had many followers: >ung and "dler, to name a few!
<ore than )?? years later, his work is still influential and very
controversial
$re'!s Psychoanalytic Theory
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Sigmn' $re'
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Id' &nnate biological instincts and urges@ self.serving A
irrational
- ,otally unconscious
- Borks on Pleasure Principle: Bishes to have its desires
3pleasurable5 satisfied :%B, without waiting and regardless
of the consequences
The .'& Ego& an' Sperego
Ego' 0ecutive@ directs id energies
- Partially conscious and partially unconscious
- Borks on $eality Principle: 6elays action until it is practical
andCor appropriate
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Superego' Judge or censor for thoughts and actions of the
ego
- Superego comes from our parents or caregivers@ guilt
comes from the superego
- ,wo parts
. Conscience: Deflects actions for which a person has
been punished 3e!g!, what we shouldnt do or be5
. Ego Ideal: Second part of the superego@ reflects
behavior ones parents approved of or rewarded 3e!g!,
what we should do or be5
The .'& Ego& an' Sperego&
contine'
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Conscious: 0verything you are aware of at a given moment
Preconscious: <aterial that can easily be brought into
awareness
nconscious: Holds repressed memories and emotions and
the ids instinctual drives
Le+els of A"areness
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,raphic: Le+els of A"areness
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0go is always caught in the middle of battles between superegos
desires for moral behavior and the ids desires for immediate
gratification
(eurotic )nxiety: 8aused by id impulses that the ego can
barely control
#oral )nxiety: 8omes from threats of punishment from the
superego
*e%ense mechanism' a process used by the ego to distort
reality and protect a person from aniety
Case of Anxiety
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$egression' 0go seeks the security of an earlier developmental
period in the face of stress!
*isplacement' 0go shifts unacceptable feelings from one object to
another, more acceptable object!
Sublimation' 0go replaces an unacceptable impulse with a
socially acceptable one
$eaction &ormation: 0go transforms an unacceptable motive or
feeling into its opposite!
Pro+ection: 0go attributes personal shortcomings, problems, and
faults to others!
$ationali,ation: 0go justifies an unacceptable motive by giving a
false acceptable 3but false5 reason for behavior
Examples of /efense 0echanisms
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A Little Exercise
See in class!
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A Little Exercise& contine'
See in class!
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A Little Exercise& contine'
See in class!
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"ccording to #reud, personality develops in stages@ everyone
goes through same stages in same order! <ajority of
personality is formed before age 9
Erogenous -one: "rea on body capable of producing
pleasure
&ixation: 7nresolved conflict or emotional hang.up caused by
overindulgence or frustration
Personality /e+elopment
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.ral Stage: "ges ?.)! <ost of infants pleasure comes from stimulation
of the mouth! &f a child is overfed or frustrated, oral traits will develop!
- .ral *ependent Personality: 2ullible, passive, and need lots of
attention! #iations create oral.aggressive adults who like to argue
and eploit others!
- Erogenous ,one' mouth !oral"
)nal Stage' "ges ).E! "ttention turns to process of elimination! 8hild
can gain approval or epress aggression by letting go or holding on! 0go
develops! Harsh or lenient toilet training can make a child either:
- )nal $etentive: Stubborn, stingy, orderly, and compulsively clean
- )nal Expulsive: 6isorderly, messy, destructive, or cruel
- Erogenous ,one' anus
Stages of
Personality /e+elopment
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Phallic Stage: "ges E.9! 8hild now notices and is physically attracted
to opposite se parent! 8an lead to:
- .edipus Con%lict' #or boys only! /oy feels rivalry with his father for
his mothers affection! /oy may feel threatened by father 3castration
aniety5! ,o resolve, boy must identify with his father 3i!e!, become
more like him and adopt his heteroseual beliefs5!
- Electra Con%lict: 2irl loves her father and competes with her
mother! 2irl identifies with her mother more slowly because she
already feels castrated!
Erogenous ,one' phallus
Stages of Personality
/e+elopment& contine'
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/atency: "ges 9.Puberty! Psychoseual development is dormant!
Same se friendships and play occur here!
0enital Stage: Puberty.on! Deali$ation of full adult seuality occurs
here@ seual urges re.awaken!
Stages of Personality
/e+elopment& contine'
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E+alation of
Psychoanalytic Theory
- #reud overemphasi$ed seuality and placed little emphasis
on other aspects of the childs eperience!
- #reuds theory is largely untestable! Particularly, the
concept of the unconscious is unprovable!
- "ccording to #reud, the only way that people in
psychological distress can get relief is to undergo length
therapy, to identify unresolved conflicts from infancy and
childhood!
- #reuds view of people is overly negative and pessimistic!
Part 1
Social2Cogniti+e Theories
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Sel%-system' the set of cognitive processes by which a person
observes, evaluates, and regulates hisCher behavior! /andura
proposed that what we think of as personality is a product of this
self.system!
8hildren observe behavior of models 3such as parents5 in their
social environment! Particularly if they are reinforced, children
will imitate these behaviors, incorporating them into personality!
/andura also proposed that people observe their own behavior
and judge its effectiveness! Sel%-e%%icacy' a judgment of ones
effectiveness in dealing with particular situations!
*an'ra!s Theory
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Julian $otter' "merican psychologist, began as a #reudianF
His personality theory combines learning principles, modeling,
cognition, and the effects of social relationships
External locus o% control' perception that chance or
eternal forces beyond personal control determine ones fate
Internal locus o% control' perception that you control your
own fate!
/earned Helplessness' a sense of hopelessness in which a
person thinks that heCshe is unable to prevent aversive events
)otter!s Theory of
Locs of Control
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Jlian )otter
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E+alation of
Social2Cogniti+e Theories
- Social.cognitive theories tend to be overly.mechanical!
- %veremphasi$es environmental influences@ gives little or no
consideration to the possibility of innate personality
differences or the effects of genetics!
- 6oes not recogni$e internal human qualities such as hope,
aspiration, love, self.sacrifice
Part 3
%manistic Theories
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Humanism' "pproach that focuses on human eperience,
problems, potentials, and ideals
Human (ature: ,raits, qualities, potentials, and behavior
patterns most characteristic of humans
&ree Choice: "bility to choose that is :%, controlled by
genetics, learning, or unconscious forces
Sub+ective Experience: Private perceptions of reality
%manism
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0aslo"!s Theory
- "braham <aslow is considered father of the humanistic
movement! He observed the lives of 3purportedly5 healthy and
creative people to develop is theory!
- Hierarchy o% needs' the motivational component of <aslows
theory, in which our innate needs, which motivate our actions,
are hierarchically arranged!
- Sel%-actuali,ation' the fullest reali$ation of a persons
potential
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A4raham 0aslo"
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,raphic: %ierarchy of 5ee's
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0fficient perceptions of reality

8omfortable acceptance of self, others, and nature

Spontaneity

,ask 8entering

"utonomy

8ontinued freshness of appreciation

#ellowship with humanity

Profound interpersonal relationships

8omfort with solitude

:on.hostile sense of humor

Peak eperiences
Characteristics of
Self2Actali6e' People
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Some Self2Actali6e' People
- "lbert 0instein
- Dalph Baldo 0merson
- Billiam >ames
- ,homas >efferson
- "braham Gincoln
- 0leanor Doosevelt
- "lbert Schweit$er
- <ahatma 2andhi
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Carl $ogers' "merican psychologist@ believed that personality
formed as a result of our strivings to reach our full human
potential!
&ully &unctioning Person: Gives in harmony with hisCher
deepest feelings and impulses
Sel%-Image: ,otal subjective perception of your body and
personality
Conditions o% 1orth: behaviors and attitudes for which other
people, starting with our parents, will give us positive regard!
nconditional Positive $egard: 7nshakable love and approval
Positive Sel%-$egard: ,hinking of oneself as a good, lovable,
worthwhile person
Carl )oger!s Self Theory
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Carl )ogers
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E+alation of %manistic Theories
- <any of the Humanists claims are untestable!
- Humanists may have an overly.positive, rosy view of
humankind! ,hey do not look at the 'dark side!(
- #or the Humanists, the cause of all our problems lies not in
ourselves, but in others!
-
<aslows characteri$ation of self.actuali$ed individuals is
very biased toward a certain philosophical position!
- <ost of the people <aslow identified as self.actuali$ed had
rather serious psychological problems!
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A Little Exercise
See in class!
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Scoring the *riggs20yers
See in class!
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.nterpreting the *riggs20yer
Extraversion' sociability, energi$ed
by people, lonely when alone
3HIJ5
Sensation' practical, trusts facts@
learns through e.perience@ wants
to deal with whats real
Thinking' prefers the objective,
logical, analytical
Judging' prefers closure, wants
deadlines, feels more comfortable
once a decision has been made!
Intraversion' territorial, enjoys being
alone, private, drained by people
3KIJ5
Intuition' innovative, fantasi$es@ future
more attractive than the present
&eeling' prefers the subjective,
personal, values
Perceiving' resists closure, wants
more A more data@ values the
open.ended@ pressure to decide
stressful