id = the part of the mind connected to desire ego = the part of the mind connected to logic superego = the part of the mind connected to morality

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1 Sigmund Freud s theory of personality id = the part of the mind connected to desire ego = the part of the mind connected to logic superego = the part of the mind connected to morality Summary of Freud s theory: Most of personality is unconscious: we hide many unpleasant truths about ourselves from ourselves by using defense mechanisms, and we are driven by wishes, beliefs, fears, conflicts, and memories of which we are totally unaware. Human nature is entirely malignant, our only instincts are sexual and aggressive, and these inborn impulses include powerful desires for the parent of the opposite sex and intense jealousy toward the parent of the same sex (the Oedipus complex). Personality is often a house divided against itself, torn by conflicting wishes and goals, and this is best explained by using the concepts of id, ego, and superego. Personality develops through a series of psychosexual stages and is firmly established by about age 5 to 6 years. Dreams are a royal road to understanding the unconscious. Psychopathology occurs when we can t find ways to channel (sublimate) our malignant instincts into behavior that society will accept.

2 Carl Gustav Jung s theory of personality Summary of Jung s theory: [Jung] believed that the unconscious is extremely important but disagreed with Freud in many respects: Human nature is both good and bad. There are important instincts in addition to sexuality and aggressiveness (including individuation, the forerunner of the humanistic concept of self-actualization).there is a collective unconscious that contains archetypes, or inherited predispositions to perceive the world in certain ways. Introversion extraversion is a major aspect of personality. Psychopathology occurs when personality becomes too one-sided, as when we fail to develop important aspects of personality or overemphasize aspects that are contrary to our true (inborn) nature.

3 Raymond Cattell s theory of personality Summary of Cattell s theory: Used the statistical technique of factor analysis to determine which of the thousands of traits are most important. There are sixteen major personality traits, some of which support Freudian constructs and the unconscious. Cattell s theory is based on a vast amount of research; but because of his unusual and difficult terminology, the impact of his theory has been limited.

4 Key terms in Alfred Adler s theory of personality Summary of Adler s theory: Adler s inclusion among the psychodynamic theorists is controversial because he did not believe that the unconscious is important. Personality is shaped by the child s relationship with his/her parents and by our consciously chosen life goals, rather than by instincts. The most important motive is striving for self-perfection (superiority). Cooperation with others is essential for our survival, and we have an inborn tendency to do so. Psychopathology occurs when pathogenic parenting causes the child to develop an inferiority complex and refuse to cooperate with others.

5 Harry Stack Sullivan s theory stages of personality development Summary of Sullivan s theory: [Sullivan] defined personality in terms of our relationships with other people. Stages beyond early childhood, including adolescence, are important for personality development. Psychopathology is caused by pathogenic parenting that leads to intense anxiety and damaged interpersonal relationships. Made significant contributions to our understanding of the causes and treatment of schizophrenia.