Personality

PersonalityChapter 101PersonalityPersonality consists of the psychological qualities that bring continuity to an individual in different situations and at different times.The theories of personality are big picture explanations that attempt to tie together all the important influences on an individuals thoughts and behaviors.What Forces Shape our Personalities?According to the psychodynamic, humanistic, and cognitive theories, personality is a continuously changing process, shaped by our internal needs and cognitions and by external pressures from the social environment.TheoriesThe theories we will study in this chapter are;Psychodynamic HumanisticCognitive

Psychodynamic TheoriesThis approach originated in the late 1800s with a medical puzzle called Hysterianow it is referred to as Conversion Disorder.What is Hysteria?

The psychological nature of Hysteria finally became apparent when the French Physician Jean Charcot demonstrated that he could make Hysterical symptoms disappear by suggestion. He did this while patients were in a hypnotic trance.Psychodynamic TheoriesFreud heard of Charcots work and traveled to Paris to watch his now renowned hypnotic demonstrations. Inspired, Freud returned to Vienna resolving to try the hypnotic cure on his own patients.Freud found that many of his patients could not be hypnotized deeply enough to affect their symptoms. Instead, Freud found that even the ones who lost their symptoms under hypnosis regained them after the trance was lifted.FrustratedFreud wanted to find a new way to solve Hysteria, the approach he created became known as Psychoanalytic or PsychoanalysisPsychoanalysis vs. PsychoanalyticTechnically, Psychoanalytic theory is the term for Freuds explanation of personality and mental disorder, while Psychoanalysis refers to his system of treatment for mental disorder.In practice, however, it has always been difficult to separate.So now, the term psychoanalysis is often used to refer to both.Freuds Psychoanalytic TheoryAt the center of personality, Freud placed the concept of the unconscious. He saw this hidden portion of the mind as the source of powerful impulse, instincts, motives, and conflicts, that energize the personality.Freud said we are normally unaware of this psychic domain, b/c its contents are too threatening and anxiety provoking. Only by using the special techniques of Psychoanalysis would we find the fears that a person was harboring.Child molestation Freuds Psychoanalytic TheoryThe Unconscious continuedThe harboring of fearful memories according to Freud could attempt to escape the unconscious mind and reemerge in a disguised formdream, phobia, disorder.Even in a healthy person, Freud believed behavior originates in unconscious drives that we dont want to acknowledge.Consequently, we go about our daily business without knowing the real motives behind our behavior.

Drives and InstinctsThe actions of the unconscious mind are powered by psychological energythat is, by motives, drives, and desires.Drives: Eros:Thanatos: Libido- the energy behind the drives. It drives individuals to experience sensational pleasuresPersonality Structure

Personality StructureThe ID is the primitive, unconscious, reservoir that houses the basic motives, drives, and instinctive desires that determine our personalities.Like a child, the ID always acts on impulse and pushes for immediate gratificationespecially sexual, physical, and emotional pleasuresto be experienced here and now without concern for consequences.Its the ONLY part of the personality present at birth.Personality StructureSuperegoThe Superego serves as the minds Police Force in charge of values and morals learned from parents and from society.The superego corresponds roughly to our common notion of conscience.It develops as the child forms an internal set of rules based on the external rules imposed by parents and other adults.Its the inner voice of shoulds and should nots

SuperegoThe superego also includes the ego ideal, an individuals view of the kind of person he or she should strive to become.The superego frequently conflicts with the IDs desires because the ID wants to do what feels good while the superego insists on doing what is right and moral. Personality Structure--EgoResolving the conflicts between ID and Superego is the job of the Egothe conscious, rational portion of the mind.The ego must choose actions that will gratify the IDs impulses but without violating ones moral principles.Example:

Personality Development and Early ExperiencesPersonality follows predictable patterns of development throughout childhood and adolescence. He concluded that forgotten experiences in infancy and early childhood have the strongest impact on personality formation and later behavior.These early experiences continue to influence the unconscious mind as the child progresses through a series of psychosexual stages.Psychosexual StagesPsychosexual stages Successive, instinctive patterns of associating pleasure with stimulations of specific bodily areas at different times of life.Stages:Gender in Freuds StagesOedipus Complex:

Identification:

Penis EnvyFixationEgo DefensesThe ego has an arsenal of ego defense mechanisms for dealing with conflict between the IDs impulses and the superegos demand to deny themAll operate at the preconscious level just beneath the surface of unconscious.Ego DefensesRepressionDenialRationalizationReaction FormationDisplacement RegressionSublimationProjectionDefense Mechanisms Repression: we do not allow ourselves to remain aware of painful material. We push it out of consciousness.Repression is unhealthy, pushing a feeling or emotion away an interfere with the ability to give and receive love.Denial: we refuse to admit that anything has happened.Similar to repression, but it denial, we dont let the problem enter consciousness in the first place.When something happens,& we respond Oh, no! That cant be true we are entering the first stage of denial. Tragedy often leads to denial.Displacement: The process of venting our feelings on something or someone other than the true original target.Ex- Hurting the ones you love the mostA girl who grew up without a father, might take out issues on her spouse.A little type of this behavior is expected, but if it occurs too often it causes trouble because it allows us to avoid facing a problem that could only get worse.

Reaction Formation: What we express is the opposite of of what we really feel.Example- a man feels extremely hostile towards his mother and doesnt like her. But, at the same time, he feels guilty for feeling that way because he believes people should love their parents. In order to keep these feelings secret and under control, he displays a higher degree of protectiveness and concern for her.

Intellectualization: When the emotions we feel are too overwhelming, we try to eliminate them all together. It is the process of removing our feelings about an event and talking about it coolly, unemotional way.Can be somewhat healthyPeople who have been widowed or attacked usually display this in the beginning stages bc it makes it easier to cope.It is only when this defense goes on too long that it becomes a problem.

Regression- we defend ourselves by moving backwards to safer time where we felt taken care of.Ex- a potty trained toddler may start to regress if they feel ignored when a new baby is born.Rationalization-We explain what we do in such a way that we avoid taking any responsibility for a bad outcome.Can be used in a positive wayhelps us to deal with something we cant do anything about anyways!

Projection- the process of attributing our thoughts to someone else. In other words, we shift the responsibility of an outcome onto someone else.Example- if you are fired from a job for a poor performance, you say the supervisor never instructed you on what to do.Sublimation- we channel our emotional energy into a constructive or creative activity. This is the only mechanism that is truly healthy and adaptive. Ex- when we loose someone we love, we write a poem or journal our feelings instead of acting out.

Projective TestsAmbiguous images are used to employ innermost feelings, motives, conflicts, and desires.The assumption is that people will project their hidden motives and conflicts onto the images.Projective TestsThe most famous projective test is the Rorschach inkblot technique.

How does this test work?

Is this test valid?Projective TestsWhat do you see?

Thematic Apperception TestDeveloped by Henry Murray, is a projective test that consists of ambiguous pictures, for which respondents are instructed to generate a story. What kind of story?Psychic DeterminationTo Freudians, everything a person does has meaning.

Freudian Slips:

Psychic determination:Evaluating Freuds Work3 CriticismsMargret SangerNeo-FreudiansNew FreudiansThey kept Freuds idea of personality as a process driven by motivational energybut they often disagreed about the specific motives that energize personality.Carl Jungextending the unconsciousThe Collective UnconsciousHe saw the collective unconscious as a reservoir for instinctive memories held by people everywhere.Archetypes:

Animus:Anima:Shadow: Archetype representing the destructive and aggressive tendencies we dont want to recognize in ourselves

Jungs Personality TypesIntroversion vs. ExtroversionIntroversion The Jungian dimension that focuses on inner experienceones own thoughts and feelings, making the introvert less outgoing and sociable than the extrovertExtraversion The Jungian personality dimension involving turningones attention outward, toward others.

Carl JungJungs principle of opposites portrays each personality as a balance between opposing pairs of unconscious tendencies, such as introversion and extroversion.

Evaluating Jungs WorkMargaret Sanger, According to JungKaren HorneyHorney disputed Freuds notion of the Oedipus Complex and that women suffer from penis envy. She said that women want the same opportunities and rights that men enjoy and that many personality differences btw men and women result from social roles, not unconscious urges.Karen HorneyShe also disputed Freuds contention that personality is determined mainly by early childhood experiences. For Horney, normal growth involves the full development of social relationships and of ones potential.Basic Anxiety: An emotion that gives a sense of uncertainty and loneliness on a hostile world and can lead to maladjustment

Neurotic NeedsEvaluating Horneys WorkAlfred AdlerProposed theories encompassing birth order, theories about lifestyle, and inferiority complex.Developing in childhood, this is a feeling of inferiority that is largely unconscious.According to Adler, the causes of this complex can be as simple as being told you are dumb or not being able to accomplish something.Out of this complex comes compensation where one attempts to make up for deficiencies (real or imagined)Humanistic TheoriesHealthy, normal approach to personality.Personality is not driven by unconscious conflicts and defenses, rather by needs to adapt, learn, grow, and excel.Motivation remained a central component of personality, but they accentuated the positive rather than negative motives.Mental disorders, when they do occur, are seen as stemming from unhealthy situations that cause low self esteem and unmet needs, rather than from unhealthy individuals.Humanistic TheoriesHumanistic Theories includeGordon Alports trait theoryAbraham Maslows self-actualizing personalityCarl Rogers fully functioning person

Gordon AllportDeveloped one of the first complete theoriesTrait/ Dispositional Theory.Traits: Stable personality characteristics that are presumed to exist within the individual and guide his or her thoughts and actions under various conditionsTrait theory assumes individuals possess three types of traits.Central: form the basis of personality.Secondary: include preferences and attitudesCardinal: define peoples lives

Abraham Maslow Self-actualizing personalities Healthy individuals who have met their basic needs and are free to be creative and fulfill their potentials

Carl Rogerss s Fully Functioning PersonCarl RogersBelieved that everyone has the capacity for growth in a supportive and nurturing environment.Rogers concluded that children from homes where parental love is conditional on good behavior may grow up with anxiety and a strong since of guilt that leads to low self esteem and mental disorder.He believed we need individuals who can give us unconditional love.Carl RogersFully functioning person Term for a healthy, self-actualizing individual, who has a self-concept that is both positive and congruent with reality.Phenomenal field Our psychological reality, composed of ones perceptions and feelingsUnconditional positive regard Love or caring without conditions attached

Margaret Sanger according to HumanistsEvaluating the Humanistic TheoriesPositive psychology Movement within psychology focusing on the desirable aspects of human functioning, as opposed to an emphasis on psychopathology.

Social-Cognitive TheoriesNeither the Psychoanalysis theory or the Humanistic theory relied on research, so a new theory arose.The Social Cognitive theory places a emphasis on research but is not as comprehensive as the other 2 theories.This approach zeroes in on specific influences on personality and behavior, without assuming to explain everything.56Observational Learning and Personality: Banduras TheoryWe are driven not by inner forces or environmental influences alone but also by our expectations of how our actions might affect other people, the environment, and ourselves.We have the ability to foresee the consequence of actions and we can learn vicariously to see what rewards and punishments behaviors bring. Our personalities are shaped by our interactions with others.Observational LearningReciprocal DeterminationReciprocal DeterminismProcess in which the person, situation and environment mutually influence each other

Copyright Allyn & Bacon 2007CognitionEnvironmentBehavior60Locus of ControlWho?

People tend to approach different situations with assumptions about their ability to control their fate.

Evaluating the Social-Cognitive ApproachStrengths and WeaknessMargret SagnerCurrent TrendsPsychologists have brought elements of the psychodynamic, humanistic, and cognitive perspectives together with new knowledge about the impact of culture, gender, and family dynamics.Current trendsA 2nd trend comes from the increasing awareness of cultural differences.Since our society is becoming more ethically diverse, no longer can we assume that everyone shares the same cultural experiences or values.What has Harry Triandis taught us?Current TrendsA 3rd trend comes from the increasing appreciation of gender influences.We now know males and females perceive situations differently.

More ApproachesAnother approach describes personality in terms of stable patterns known as temperament, traits, and types.Copyright Allyn & Bacon 2007BloodPhlegmYellow BileBlack BileWhat Patterns are Found in Personality?Humors Four bodily fluids that, according to ancient theory, control personality by their relative abundance68Personality and TemperamentTemperament: the inherited personality dispositions that are apparent in early childhood and that establish the tempo and mood of the individuals behavior.Temperament usually refers to a single, dominant theme that characterizes a persons personality.Shy, moody, loudBiological PsychologistsWhat do they suspect?Personality as a Composite of TraitsTraits are stable personality characteristics that presumed to exist within the individual and to guide his or her thoughts and actions under various conditions.Traits work to channel the way our motives are expressed in behavior. The Big Five TraitsUsing the mathematical tool for factor analysis (helps investigators look for relationships or clusters among personality test items) many researchers have found 5 dominant personality factors. Copyright Allyn & Bacon 2007

What are the Big 5 Traits?The Big Five traitsOpenness to experienceConscientiousnessExtraversionAgreeablenessNeuroticismCattell identifies 16 personality factors73Why is the Five-Factor Theory Important?Raymond Cattell and the 16PFUtilizing statistics, Cattell identified 16 personality factors that he believed constituted the building blocks of each individuals personality.Instead, it was the degree to which each person possessed these factors that formed their complete personality.Cattell proposed that we all have the same basic personality traits, but each of has unique degrees of those traits.Assessing TraitsOne of the most widely used personality inventories is the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality InventoryMMPI-2.It doesnt measure enduring personality traits. Rather, its 10 clinical scales were developed to measure secure mental problems. Test Setup:ScientificallyThe MMPI-2 has reliability and validity.

Meaning it provides consistent and stable scores and it actually measures what it was designed to measure.Evaluating Temperament and Trait TheoriesNegatives and Positives:Traits and the Person-Situation DebateWalter Mischel suggested that we behave far less consistently from one situation to the next.He argued that knowledge of the situation is more important in predicting behavior than knowing a persons traits.People are more consistent when others are watching.Person-Situation ControversyPersonality variables have their greatest impact on behavior when cues in the situation are weak or ambiguous. When situations are strong and clear, there will be less individual variation.Examples:Meyers-Briggs Type IndicatorHow do we understand each other?Think of someone who has been a role model for youdescribe their characteristics.Think of someone who you cant stand to be around describe their characteristics.

Which characteristics do you share?Implicit Personality TheoriesYour personal explanation of how peoples qualities and experiences influence their response patterns. These theories often rely on nave assumptions about traits. People tend to assume that that certain clusters of traits go togetherfor example: creativity and emotional sensitivity.When they observe one of these traits they assume the person possess the other.Fundamental Attribution ErrorAssumption that another persons behavior (especially undesirable behavior) is the result of a flaw in the personality, rather than in the situation.

Examples?

Personality Across CulturesIndividualism vs. Collectivism

Cultural InfluenceAlso, many aspects of a peoples personalities and behavior are related to their cultures position on the individualism-vs.-collectivism dimension. 1. Competition vs. Cooperation2. The Need for Achievement5 other Cultural DifferencesDeveloping your own theory of Personality