Attitudes and the Spiritual Life-001 Introduction: Man’s Attempts at Understanding Mankind.

Attitudes and the Spiritual Life-001

Introduction: Man’s Attempts at Understanding Mankind

The Goal of the ASL Study

• Attitude: A relatively stable and enduring predisposition to behave or react in a characteristic way.

• The American Heritage ｨ Stedman's Medical Dictionary, 2nd Edition Copyright ｩ 2004 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

http://www.eref-trade.hmco.com/

The Goal of the Attitudes Study

• We have identified 12 Spiritual Life Factors and introduced them in our SLB Series.

• We have looked at the Appraisal Filtering Process that we go through in every circumstance in life.

• We have examined the 6 Human Happiness Attainment Motivations of the Inherited Sin Nature from Adam.

• We have viewed and reviewed the 10 Steps to Temptation.

• We have viewed and reviewed the Fruit of the Spirit.


• The goal of the Attitudes and Spiritual Living Series is to make each of these steps “practice-able” in our daily confrontation with the World, the Flesh and the Devil, in the form of situations and people who afford us the opportunity to demonstrate the Nature of God that He has given us in our Regeneration - the Reservoir of Righteousness.

• So, now we will look at the attitudes of the FOTS and the HAM’s in our Appraisal Process.


• Every HAM has a set of attitudes that affect our Appraisal Process.

• Many philosophers and psychologists have attempted to categorize and “group” people according to what is generally called a ‘personality’, or, if afraid to call it a personality, a non-descript ‘Type’.

• In order to grasp the concept of attitudes, we will look at some of the more popular methods attempting to classify people.

The Goal of the Attitudes Study• Today we will look at the Five Factor Model of

Personality; next week the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator; and the following week, the Humoral Temperaments based classification system of Hippocrates; then, the Enneagram and maybe 1 or 2 more.

• The error of each of them is the same, they fail to recognize that Humanity is Fallen, trapped in the Genetic Curse of Adam; so their approach is that Man is “normal” and that some personalities are different, but none are bad, that all are methods of “coping” with our world, but none are wrong.


• I have been unable to find any system of categorization of Attitudes that approach it from the understanding of Man’s fallen nature, and the happiness attainment motivation of the Flesh.

• While there are Christian books warning of the evils of psychology as a therapeutic system for Christians, and recognize the sinful aspects of man’s problems, none approach the subject from the categorical perspective.

• We will do so to allow us to Reckon and Resist.


• It is well recognized fact that every human being has a personality. It is not merely your physical body. It is not merely your consciousness. It is not merely your ego. It is not merely your behaviors. It is not merely your physical expression. It is not merely your style. It is not merely your temperament.

• But, they all, and many other characteristics, are expressions of your personality.

Personality• Personality can be defined as a dynamic and

organized set of characteristics possessed by a person that uniquely influences his or her cognitions, motivations, and behaviors in various situations (Ryckman, 2004).

• The word "personality" originates from the Greek persona, which means mask. Significantly, in the theatre of the ancient Latin-speaking world, the mask was not used as a plot device to disguise the identity of a character, but rather was a convention employed to represent or typify that character.

The Five Factor Model

• In psychology, the Big Five personality traits are five broad factors or dimensions of personality discovered through empirical research (Goldberg, 1993).

• This is the current “hot” system, that has only recently been criticized for its deficiencies.

• It is, however, a grand attempt at classifying and categorizing man’s ‘personality’.


• These factors are:

• 1. Neuroticism

• 2. Extraversion

• 3. Agreeableness

• 4. Conscientiousness

• 5. Openness to Experience


• Each factor consists of a number of more specific traits.

• For example, extraversion includes such related qualities as sociability, excitement seeking, and positive emotions.


• The Big Five are a descriptive model of personality, not a theory, although psychologists have developed theories to account for the Big Five.


• Extraversion (also "extroversion") is marked by pronounced engagement with the external world.

• Extraverts enjoy being with people, are full of energy, and often experience positive emotions.

• They tend to be enthusiastic, action-oriented individuals who are likely to say "Yes!" or "Let's go!" to opportunities for excitement.

• In groups they like to talk, assert themselves, and draw attention to themselves.


• Introverts lack the exuberance, energy, and activity levels of extraverts.

• They tend to be quiet, low-key, deliberate, and less dependent on the social world.

• Their lack of social involvement should not be interpreted as shyness or depression; the introvert simply needs less stimulation than an extravert and more time alone to re-charge their batteries.


• Extroversion:

• I am the life of the party.

• I don't mind being the center of attention.

• I feel comfortable around people.

• I start conversations.

• I talk to a lot of different people at parties.


• Introversion:

• I am quiet around strangers.

• I don't like to draw attention to myself.

• I don't talk a lot.

• I have little to say.

• I keep in the background.• [Allport, G. W. & Odbert, H. S. (1936). Trait names: A psycholexical study.

Psychological Monographs, 47, 211.]


• Agreeableness

• Agreeableness reflects individual differences in concern with cooperation and social harmony.

• Agreeable individuals value getting along with others.

• They are therefore considerate, friendly, generous, helpful, and willing to compromise their interests with others’.

The Five Factor Model• Agreeable people also have an optimistic view of

human nature. – They believe people are basically honest, decent, and

trustworthy.

• Disagreeable individuals place self-interest above getting along with others.– They are generally unconcerned with others’ well-being,

and therefore are unlikely to extend themselves for other people.

– Sometimes their skepticism about others’ motives causes them to be suspicious, unfriendly, and uncooperative.

The Five Factor Model• Agreeableness is obviously advantageous

for attaining and maintaining popularity.

• Agreeable people are better liked than disagreeable people.

• On the other hand, agreeableness is not useful in situations that require tough or absolute objective decisions.

• Disagreeable people can make excellent scientists, critics, or soldiers.


• Agreeable Traits:

• I am interested in people.

• I feel others’ emotions.

• I have a soft heart.

• I make people feel at ease.

• I sympathize with others’ feelings.

• I take time out for others.


• Disagreeable Factors:

• I am not interested in other people’s problems.

• I am not really interested in others.

• I feel little concern for others.

• I insult people. • Barrick, M. R., & Mount M. K. (1991). The Big Five Personality Dimensions

and Job Performance: A Meta-Analysis. Personnel Psychology, 44, 1-26.


• Conscientiousness

• Conscientiousness concerns the way in which we control, regulate, and direct our impulses.

• Impulses are not inherently bad; occasionally time constraints require a snap decision, and acting on our first impulse can be an effective response.

• Also, in times of play rather than work, acting spontaneously and impulsively can be fun.


• Impulsive individuals can be seen by others as colorful, fun-to-be-with, and zany.

• Conscientiousness includes the factor known as Need for Achievement (NAch).

• The benefits of high conscientiousness are obvious.

• Conscientious individuals avoid trouble and achieve high levels of success through purposeful planning and persistence.


• They are also positively regarded by others as intelligent and reliable.

• On the negative side, they can be compulsive perfectionists and workaholics.

• Furthermore, extremely conscientious individuals might be regarded as stuffy and boring.


• Unconscientious people may be criticized for their unreliability, lack of ambition, and failure to stay within the lines, but they will experience many short-lived pleasures and they will never be called stuffy (i.e. dull, boring, unimaginative).


• Conscientiousness Traits:

• I am always prepared.

• I am exacting in my work.

• I follow a schedule.

• I get chores done right away.

• I like order.

• I pay attention to details.


• Unconscientious Traits:

• I leave my belongings around.

• I make a mess of things.

• I often forget to put things back in their proper place.

• I shirk my duties. [3]

http://ipip.ori.org/


• Neuroticism

• Neuroticism, also known inversely as Emotional Stability, refers to the tendency to experience negative emotions.

• Those who score high on Neuroticism may experience primarily one specific negative feeling such as anxiety, anger, or depression, but are likely to experience several of these emotions.


• People high in Neuroticism are emotionally reactive.

• They respond emotionally to events that would not affect most people, and their reactions tend to be more intense than normal.

• They are more likely to interpret ordinary situations as threatening, and minor frustrations as hopelessly difficult.


• Their negative emotional reactions tend to persist for unusually long periods of time, which means they are often in a bad mood.

• These problems in emotional regulation can diminish a neurotic's ability to think clearly, make decisions, and cope effectively with stress.


• At the other end of the scale, individuals who score low in Neuroticism are less easily upset and are less emotionally reactive.

• They tend to be calm, emotionally stable, and free from persistent negative feelings.

• Freedom from negative feelings does not mean that low scorers experience a lot of positive feelings; frequency of positive emotions is a component of the Extraversion domain.


• Neuroticism Traits:• I am easily disturbed.• I change my mood a lot.• I get irritated easily.• I get stressed out easily.• I get upset easily.• I have frequent mood swings.• I often feel blue.• I worry about things.


• Emotional Stability (Non-Neuroticism) Traits:

• I am relaxed most of the time.

• I seldom feel blue. • Cattell, R. B. (1957). Personality and motivation: Structure and measurement. New

York: Harcourt, Brace & World. Journal of Personality Disorders, 19(1):53-67.


• Openness to Experience

• Openness to Experience describes a dimension of personality that distinguishes imaginative, creative people from down-to-earth, conventional people.


• Open people are intellectually curious, appreciative of art, and sensitive to beauty.

• They tend to be, compared to closed people, more aware of their feelings.

• They therefore tend to hold unconventional and individualistic beliefs, although their actions may be conforming (see agreeableness).


• People with low scores on openness to experience tend to have narrow, common interests.

• They prefer the plain, straightforward, and obvious over the complex, ambiguous, and subtle.


• They may regard the arts and sciences with suspicion, regarding these endeavors as abstruse or of no practical use.

• Closed people prefer familiarity over novelty; they are conservative and resistant to change.


• Openness to Experience Traits:• I am full of ideas.• I am quick to understand things.• I have a rich vocabulary.• I have a vivid imagination.• I have excellent ideas.• I spend time reflecting on things.• I use difficult words.


• Closed Traits:

• I am not interested in abstract ideas.

• I do not have a good imagination.

• I have difficulty understanding abstract ideas.

• Cloninger, C. R., Svrakic, D. M., Przybeck, T. R. (1993). A psychobiological model of temperament and character. Archives of General Psychiatry, 50(12),

975-990.

Attitudes and the Spiritual Life-001 Introduction: Man’s Attempts at Understanding Mankind.

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