Chapter 2

Personality Development

How is Personality Formed?

1. Heredity: Some personality traits seem to be inborn. Passed down from parent to child.

2. Environment: Others seem to be shaped by a person’s physical and social environment.

Most traits are influenced by a combination of both hereditary and environment

Twins – Nature vs. Nurture

Heredity

Personality traits can be seen at an early age.

Psychologists are not sure which personality traits are influenced by heredity and which are not.

EX: Shyness and aggressiveness may be inherited.Talents may be partly inherited; it

is what you do with your ability that determines how they will develop during your life.

Environment

Personality traits are modified by a person’s environment.◦ Friends ◦ Family◦ School◦ Culture

Experiences during childhood influence our personality.◦ Modeling – Children copy behavior of others.

Learn about feelings, attitudes, and appropriate ways of behaving from people close to them.

Children learn desirable behavior be receiving rewards, and undesirable behavior through punishment.

Environment cont

◦Teenagers spend more than half their time with others, leading to a huge influence on personality development. These friends, who are about the same age and

share the interests, are known as a peer group. A peer group gives you a chance to learn about yourself

and to get along with others. Being part of a healthy peer group is likely to have a

positive influence on your personality.By young adulthood, your personality

traits are fairly well established. It is possible to change traits that you are dissatisfied with.

Theories of Personality Dev.People’s personalities change as they

grow and are exposed to new ideas, attitudes, and behaviors. Psychologists have several theories to explain how and why the human personality develops.

We will discuss the three most important and recognized theories.1. Sigmund Freud2. Erik Erickson3. Abraham Maslow

Sigmund FreudLate 1800’s Austrian Physician who

specialized in mental illness.He believes that an individual’s personality

is made up of three parts.1. Id - consists of biological urges. (Hunger

and thirst)2. Ego - Thoughtful, decision making part of

personality (The Id urged you to eat, the ego helps you find food)

3. Superego - Part of personality that judges right from wrong. Also known as conscience. (Superego would direct you not to steal the food that your Id urges you to eat)

Sigmund FreudFreud believes that our minds operate at 2

thought levels: 1. Conscious – Thoughts that we are aware of 2. Unconscious – Thought we are not aware of having

It is believed that a person pushes unpleasant or frightening thoughts into the unconscious.

These unconscious thoughts help influence our personality, even though we may not be aware of their effects

Freud believes that adult personalities are shaped mainly by early childhood experiences. These memories are stored in the unconscious.

He states inner conflicts can be resolved through psychoanalysis – treatment technique that brings memories into the conscious.

Freud Documentary

Erik EricksonFollower of Freud but believes an individual’s

personality continues to be influenced by experiences beyond childhood.◦Erickson believes people continue to

develop socially and psychologically until death.

◦Devised eight-stage theory of personality development.

Ericksons’ 8 Stages of Development

◦ 1st stage – Trust vs. Mistrust - A child that is cared for is likely to develop a secure personality

◦ 2nd stage – Autonomy vs. Shame/Doubt – Children who are encouraged to become independent tend to develop confident personalities.

◦ 3rd stage – Initiative vs. Guilt – Develop a sense of right and wrong through role-playing.

◦ 4th stage – Industry vs. Inferiority - Learn how to accomplish real tasks, develop a feeling of competence.

◦ 5th stage – Identity vs. Role Confusion – Search for identity. Questions everything: Religion, sex, family teachings

◦ 6th stage – Intimacy vs. Isolation – Development of lasting relationships

◦ 7th stage – Generativity vs. Stagnation – Passing along life learned lessons to younger people.

◦ 8th stage - Ego Integrity vs. Despair – Reflects and accepts life led.

Eric Erickson – 8 Stages

Abraham MaslowBelieves everyone has a basic drive to

achieve his/her fullest potential.◦Maslow used the term self-actualization to

describe the process by which each person strives to be all that he/she can be.

Maslow found that very few people ever reach their full potential. He developed a theory that suggests that before people could achieve self-actualization, their basic needs had to be met. He put these needs in ascending order called the hierarchy of needs.

Hierarchy of Needs

Maslow – Hierarchy of Needs

Coping StrategiesDefense Mechanisms

Recognizing Emotions

Recognizing your emotions is an important 1st step in dealing with them in healthful ways.

Next time you have a strong emotion, pause and put a name on the emotion. Then try to determine what event triggered the emotion.

Coping with Your Emotions When emotions become too much to handle, it is

important to have several coping strategies.◦ A Coping strategy is a way of dealing with an

uncomfortable or unbearable feeling or situation. ◦ One type of coping strategy is to use Defense

Mechanisms. Defense mechanisms are the ways people defend themselves against difficult feelings. Freud believes defense mechanisms occur on an

unconscious level, meaning we may not be aware of them.

These mechanisms, if used in moderation, can cause you to experience a feeling of temporary relief, allowing you to put off the dealing with the problem until you can handle it.

Harmful ways of coping

 Strong emotions can cloud a person’s sense of judgment. Causing us to choose faulty coping strategies, worsening the problems. ◦Examples are using drugs, alcohol, acting

out in violent ways, or withdrawing from family and friends.

◦If you find that you resort to harmful coping strategies, it may be time to ask for help. Family, friends, teacher, coaches, or counselors are people you can talk to.