What is Personality? Personality an individual s characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting four basic perspectives Psychoanalytic Trait Humanistic Social-cognitive
The Psychoanalytic Perspective From Freud s theory which proposes that childhood sexuality and unconscious motivations influence personality.
The Psychoanalytic Perspective Psychoanalysis Freud s theory of personality that attributes our thoughts and actions to unconscious motives and conflicts techniques used in treating psychological disorders by seeking to expose and interpret unconscious tensions
The Psychoanalytic Perspective *Free Association in psychoanalysis, a method of exploring the unconscious person relaxes and says whatever comes to mind, no matter how trivial or embarrassing
The Psychoanalytic Perspective Unconscious According to Freud, a reservoir of mostly unacceptable thoughts, wishes, feelings and memories Contemporary viewpoint- information processing of which we are unaware Preconscious Information that is not conscious, but is retrievable into conscious awareness
Personality Structure Id contains a reservoir of unconscious psychic energy strives to satisfy basic sexual and aggressive drives operates on the pleasure principle, demanding immediate gratification
Personality Structure Superego the part of personality that presents internalized ideals provides standards for judgement (the conscience) and for future aspirations
Personality Structure Ego the largely conscious, executive part of personality mediates among the demands of the id, superego, and reality operates on the reality principle, satisfying the id s desires in ways that will realistically bring pleasure rather than pain
*Personality Structure Ego Id Superego Conscious mind Unconscious mind Freud s idea of the mind s structure
Personality Development Psychosexual Stages the childhood stages of development during which the id s pleasure-seeking energies focus on distinct erogenous zones
Personality Development Identification the process by which children incorporate their parents values into their developing superegos Fixation a lingering focus of pleasure-seeking energies at an earlier psychosexual stage, where conflicts were unresolved
*Personality Development Oedipus Complex a boy s sexual desires toward his mother and feelings of jealousy and hatred for the rival father Electra Complex (not Freud) a girl s sexual desires toward her father and feelings of jealousy and hatred for the rival mother Penis Envy as part of the Electra complex, women have unconscious penis envy, the tragic desire to possess the same sexual organ as men.
Personality Development Freud s Psychosexual Stages Stage Focus Oral Pleasure centers on the mouth-- (0-18 months) sucking, biting, chewing Anal Pleasure focuses on bowel and bladder (18-36 months) elimination; coping with demands for control Phallic Pleasure zone is the genitals; coping with (3-6 years) incestuous sexual feelings Latency (6 to puberty) Genital (puberty on) Dormant sexual feelings Maturation of sexual interests
Later problems resulting from fixation in these stages are: ORAL STAGE smoking obesity nail-biting talkativeness chewing dependency gluttony gullibility ANAL STAGE messiness excessive cleanliness temper tantrums stinginess destructiveness coldness, distance, aloofness cruelty
Later problems resulting from fixation in these stages are: PHALLIC STAGE masturbation sexual conquests jealousy problems with parents egocentric sex LATENCY STAGE escessive modesty preference for company of same sex homosexuality GENITAL STAGE none
*Ego Defense Mechanisms the ego s protective methods of reducing anxiety by unconsciously distorting reality 1) Repression (Suppression) the basic defense mechanism that banishes anxietyarousing thoughts, feelings, and memories from consciousness the unconscious mechanism whereby unacceptable impulses or memories were kept hidden from awareness, as a basic defense which the ego uses to ward off anxiety. 2) Regression defense mechanism in which an individual retreats, when faced with anxiety, to a more infantile psychosexual stage where some psychic energy remains fixated
Defense Mechanisms 3) Reaction Formation defense mechanism by which the ego unconsciously switches unacceptable impulses into their opposites people may express feelings that are the opposite of their anxiety-arousing unconscious feelings 4) Projection defense mechanism by which people disguise their own threatening impulses by attributing them to others 5) Rationalization (Intellectualization) defense mechanism that offers self-justifying explanations in place of the real, more threatening, unconscious reasons for one s actions
Defense Mechanisms 6) Displacement defense mechanism that shifts sexual or aggressive impulses toward a more acceptable or less threatening object or person as when redirecting anger toward a safer outlet 7) Sublimation defense mechanism by which people rechannel their unacceptable impulses into socially approved activities Old Defense Mechanisms include: denial, suppression, and intellectualization.
Defense Mechanisms The primary functions of these mechanisms are to: 1) minimize anxiety 2) protect the ego 3) maintain repression Repression is useful to the individual since it: 1) prevents discomfort 2) leads to some economy of time and effort
LIBIDO: The psychic sexual energy that directs and motivates the personality is called libido. Interest, attention and drive are all expressions of libido. According to psychoanalytic theory, it is libidinal energy that fuels not only our sexual behavior but also our work and our leisure activities: drawing, dancing, reading, body building-- nearly everything we do. Eros = represents energy for preserving love for self and love of others. Thanatos = towards destructiveness and death aimed at returning living things to original lifeless state. Promotion of aggressiveness is most important function.
Personality Traits of U.S. Presidents Steven Rubenzer and his colleagues provided an interesting analysis of the personality traits of the U.S. Presidents. They asked 115 biographers, historians, and political scientists to rate the presidents on detailed personality trait scales in the five years before they took office. Rubenzer was particularly interested qualities linked to successful job performance. Highest correlation= openness to experience Also: Extravert Assertive Achievement-oriented Tendermindedness LOW correlation items: being agreeable being cooperative/easily led straightforwardness Great Presidents know it s all about feelings argued Rubenzer, theirs and the voters.
Other interesting findings: Less straightforward than typical citizens (those scoring lowest on being honest were Abe Lincoln and Franklin Rosevelt) Over time, Presidents have become more extraverted but less curious and creative. Washington was at the top of the class at being conscientious but ranked lower than today s average American in openness, extraversion, and agreeableness. Lincoln scored high on openness to learning and was moderatly extraverted, agreeable, and conscientious. Unlike other successful Presidents, he was neurotic, occasionally suffering bouts of deep despair. Being a bit disorganized, like Lincoln, was also an asset. Tidiness was not.
Assessing the Unconscious Projective Test a personality test, such as the Rorschach or TAT, that provides ambiguous stimuli designed to trigger projection of one s inner dynamics Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) a projective test in which people express their inner feelings and interests through the stories they make up about ambiguous scenes
Assessing the Unconscious--TAT
Assessing the Unconscious- TAT Thematic Apperception Test: People view ambiguous pictures and make up stories about them.
Assessing the Unconscious *Rorschach Inkblot Test the most widely used projective test a set of 10 inkblots designed by Hermann Rorschach seeks to identify people s inner feelings by analyzing their interpretations of the blots
Assessing the Unconscious--Rorschach
Neo-Freudians Alfred Adler importance of childhood social tension Karen Horney sought to balance Freud s masculine biases Carl Jung emphasized the collective unconscious concept of a shared, inherited reservoir of memory traces from our species history
Neo-Freudians Alfred Adler importance of childhood social tension Four Basic Lifestyles 1) well adjusted and does not strive for personal superiority but seeks to solve problems in ways that are useful to others as well as himself. 2) prove his personal superiority by ruling others. 3) strives to get everything through others without an effort or struggle on his part. 4) avoids every decision.
Neo-Freudians--Adler Significance of birth order: The first-born is given a great deal of attention until the second child is born and the first is dethroned. The dethroning experience may affect the child in a number of ways such as hatred for the second child, conservatism, insecurity, or it may cause a striving to protect the other and be a helper. The second child is in a different situation for he shares attention from the beginning, which may cause him to be more cooperative or competitive. He may strive to surpass the older child. All other children are dethroned but never the youngest, which is often spoiled. The youngest child may seek to be taken care of by others or strive to overcome all others.
Neo-Freudians--Horney Karen Horney sought to balance Freud s masculine biases Electra Complex: A psychoanalytic term used to describe a girls romantic feelings toward her father and anger towards her mother. It is comparable to the Oedipus Complex.
Horney s Neurotic Trends (10) Moving Toward People 1. Need for affection and approval 2. The neurotic need for a partner Moving Against People 3. The neurotic need to restrict life 4. The neurotic need for power 5. The neurotic need to exploit others 6. The neurotic need for social recognition 7. The neurotic need for personal admiration 8. The neurotic need for ambition Moving Away from People 9. The neurotic need for self-sufficiency 10. The neurotic need for perfection
Carl Gustav Jung (1875-1961)
Neo-Freudians--Jung Carl Jung personal unconscious: portion of the unconsious corresponding to Freud s Id. emphasized the collective unconscious concept of a shared, inherited reservoir of memory traces from our species history Note: Isabel Briggs Myers created the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator instrument based on the theories of Carl Gustav Jung.
Neo-Freudians-Carl Jung* There are two attitude types: 1) *EXTRAVERT innate tendency to flow outwards connection with the external world. 2) *INTROVERT tendency to flow inwards connecting him or her with the subjective, inner world of thought, fantasies and feelings Both introvert and extravert have the defects of their strengths and each tends to undervalue the other. To the extravert, the introvert appears self-centered and withholding of himself. To the introvert, the extravert appears shallow, opportunistic and hypocritical
Neo-Freudians--Jung ARCHETYPES: ancient memories in the collective unconscious; appear and reappear in art, literature, and folktales Animus: unconscious masculine component in women Anima: unconscious feminine component of men Shadow: constructive and destructive tendencies we don t want to acknowledge in our personalities. Gandalf embodies the archtype trickster or magician.
Neo-Freudians--Jung In addition to attitude types, we also distinguish opposing tendencies in personality. Most people tend to favor one or the other in each pair. Conscious - Unconscious Extravert - Introvert Rational - Irrational Thinking - Feeling Intuition - Sensation Good - Bad Masculine - Feminine
Humanistic Perspective Abraham Maslow (1908-1970) studied selfactualization processes of productive and healthy people (e.g., Lincoln)
Humanistic Perspective Self-Actualization the ultimate psychological need that arises after basic physical and psychological needs are met and selfesteem is achieved the motivation to fulfill one s potential
SELF-ACTUALIZATION SELF WORK - OCCUPATION
Humanistic Perspective *Carl Rogers (1902-1987) focused on growth and fulfillment of individuals requires three conditions: genuineness acceptance - unconditional positive regard empathy Unconditional Positive Regard an attitude of total acceptance toward another person
Humanistic Perspective Unconditional Positive Regard an attitude of total acceptance toward another person Self-Concept all our thoughts and feelings about ourselves, in an answer to the question, Who am I?
Contemporary Research-- The Trait Perspective Trait a characteristic pattern of behavior a disposition to feel and act, as assessed by self-report inventories and peer reports Personality Inventory a questionnaire (often with true-false or agree-disagree items) on which people respond to items designed to gauge a wide range of feelings and behaviors used to assess selected personality traits
The Trait Perspective Moody Anxious Rigid Sober Pessimistic Reserved Unsociable Quiet INTROVERTED Passive Careful Thoughtful Peaceful melancholic UNSTABLE STABLE choleric phlegmatic sanguine Controlled Reliable Even-tempered Calm Touchy Restless Aggressive Excitable Changeable Impulsive Optimistic Active EXTRAVERTED Sociable Outgoing Talkative Responsive Easygoing Lively Carefree Leadership Hans and Sybil Eysenck use two primary personality factors as axes for describing personality variation
The Trait Perspective *Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) the most widely researched and clinically used of all personality tests originally developed to identify emotional disorders (still considered its most appropriate use) now used for many other screening purposes
The Trait Perspective Empirically Derived Test a test developed by testing a pool of items and then selecting those that discriminate between groups such as the MMPI
The Trait Perspective Hypochondriasis (concern with body symptoms) Depression (pessimism, hopelessness) Hysteria (uses symptoms to solve problems) Psychopathic deviancy (disregard for social standards) Masculinity/femininity (interests like those of other sex) Paranoia (delusions, suspiciousness) Psychasthenia (anxious, guilt feelings) Schizophrenia (withdrawn, bizarre thoughts) Hypomania (overactive, excited, impulsive) Social introversion (shy, inhibited) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 After treatment (no scores in the clinically significant range) 10 0 30 40 50 60 70 80 T-score Clinically significant range Before treatment (anxious, depressed, and displaying deviant behaviors) Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) test profile
The Trait Perspective The Big Five Personality Factors Trait Dimension Description Extraversion: This trait includes characteristics such as excitability, sociability, talkativeness, assertiveness and high amounts of emotional expressiveness. Agreeableness: This personality dimension includes attributes such as trust, altruism, kindness, affection, and other prosocial behaviors. Conscientiousness: Common features of this dimension include high levels of thoughtfulness, with good impulse control and goaldirected behaviors. Those high in conscientiousness tend to be organized and mindful of details. Neuroticism: Individuals high in this trait tend to experience emotional instability, anxiety, moodiness, irritability, and sadness. Openness: This trait features characteristics such as imagination and insight, and those high in this trait also tend to have a broad range of interests.
The Trait Perspective
Evaluating the Trait Perspective Situational influences on behavior are important to consider People can fake desirable responses Averaging behavior across situations seems to indicate that people do have distinct personality traits
Social-Cognitive Perspective Social-Cognitive Perspective views behavior as influenced by the interaction between persons and their social context Reciprocal Determinism the interacting influences between personality and environmental factors
Social-Cognitive Perspective
Social-Cognitive Perspective Personal Control our sense of controlling our environments rather than feeling helpless External Locus of Control the perception that chance or outside forces beyond one s personal control determine one s fate
Social-Cognitive Perspective *Internal Locus of Control the perception that one controls one s own fate Learned Helplessness the hopelessness and passive resignation an animal or human learns when unable to avoid repeated aversive events
Social-Cognitive Perspective Learned Helplessness Uncontrollable bad events Perceived lack of control Generalized helpless behavior
Social-Cognitive Perspective Positive Psychology the scientific study of optimal human functioning aims to discover and promote conditions that enable individuals and communities to thrive
*Exploring the Self Spotlight Effect overestimating others noticing and evaluating our appearance, performance, and blunders Self-Concept all our thoughts and feelings about ourselves, in an answer to the question, Who am I? Self Esteem one s feelings of high or low self-worth Self-Serving Bias readiness to perceive oneself favorably
Exploring the Self Individualism giving priority to one s own goals over group goals and defining one s identity in terms of personal attributes rather than group identifications Collectivism giving priority to the goals of one s group (often one s extended family or work group) and defining one s identity accordingly
Exploring the Self Value Contrasts Between Individualism and Collectivism Concept Individualism Collectivism Self Independent Interdependent (identity from individual traits) identity from belonging) Life task Discover and express one s Maintain connections, fit in uniqueness What matters Me--personal achievement and We-group goals and solidarity; fullfillment; rights and liberties social responsibilities and relationships Coping method Change reality Accommodate to reality Morality Defined by individuals Defined by social networks (self-based) (duty-based) Relationships Many, often temporary or casual; Few, close and enduring; confrontation acceptable harmony valued Attributing Behavior reflects one s personality Behavior reflects social behaviors and attitudes and roles
Evaluating the Humanistic Perspective Concepts like self-actualization are vague Emphasis on self may promote selfindulgence and lack of concern for others Theory does not address reality of human capacity for evil Theory has impacted popular ideas on childrearing, education, management, etc.
The Modern Unconscious Mind *Terror-Management Theory Faith in one s worldview and the pursuit of self-esteem provide protection against a deeply rooted fear of death