What is Personality?
What is Personality? Personality - an individual s characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting Historical Perspectives Psychoanalytic and Humanistic Modern Perspectives Trait, Social-Cognitive, Introspective, Behaviorist
Personality: Sigmund Freud
Personality: Sigmund Freud To recognize the influence of Sigmund Freud, we need to understand his ideas concerning the unconscious, psychosexual stages, and mechanisms for defending against anxiety.
The Psychoanalytic Perspective
The Psychoanalytic Perspective Psychoanalysis emerged from Freud s theory which proposes that unconscious motives (fear, impulses and desires often rooted in childhood sexuality) influence personality development and are the root cause of many anxieties;
Psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis A psychoanalyst therefore assists patients in recognizing those unconscious impulses, fears, and desires that are causing those anxieties; to achieve INSIGHT (the understanding of their unconscious motives)
Psychoanalysis A psychoanalyst therefore assists patients in recognizing those unconscious impulses, fears, and desires that are causing those anxieties; to achieve INSIGHT (the understanding of their unconscious motives) unconscious - a reservoir of mostly unacceptable thoughts, wishes, feelings and memories (contemporary viewpoint- the information processing of which we are unaware)
Methods of Psychoanalysis
Methods of Psychoanalysis psychoanalysis was used to explore the unconscious to analyze and dissolve defense mechanisms, phobias, undesirable character traits, etc.
Methods of Psychoanalysis psychoanalysis was used to explore the unconscious to analyze and dissolve defense mechanisms, phobias, undesirable character traits, etc. couch-talk
Methods of Psychoanalysis psychoanalysis was used to explore the unconscious to analyze and dissolve defense mechanisms, phobias, undesirable character traits, etc. couch-talk free association - person relaxes and says whatever comes to mind, no matter how trivial or embarrassing
Methods of Psychoanalysis psychoanalysis was used to explore the unconscious to analyze and dissolve defense mechanisms, phobias, undesirable character traits, etc. couch-talk free association - person relaxes and says whatever comes to mind, no matter how trivial or embarrassing dream analysis (The Interpretation of Dreams, 1900)
Freudian Personality Structure
Freudian Personality Structure
Personality Development
Personality Development Identification - the process by which children incorporate their parents values into their developing superegos
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
Defense Mechanisms
Defense Mechanisms Defense Mechanisms tool to control our sexual and aggressive impulses; the ego s protective methods of reducing anxiety by unconsciously distorting reality
Defense Mechanisms Defense Mechanisms tool to control our sexual and aggressive impulses; the ego s protective methods of reducing anxiety by unconsciously distorting reality Repression - the basic defense mechanism that banishes anxiety-arousing thoughts, feelings, and memories from consciousness
Defense Mechanisms Defense Mechanisms tool to control our sexual and aggressive impulses; the ego s protective methods of reducing anxiety by unconsciously distorting reality Repression - the basic defense mechanism that banishes anxiety-arousing thoughts, feelings, and memories from consciousness Regression - defense mechanism in which an individual faced with anxiety retreats to a more infantile psychosexual stage, where some psychic energy remains fixated
Defense Mechanisms
Defense Mechanisms 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
Defense Mechanisms 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
Defense Mechanisms 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 Projection - defense mechanism by which people disguise their own threatening impulses by attributing them to others
Defense Mechanisms 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 Projection - defense mechanism by which people disguise their own threatening impulses by attributing them to others
Defense Mechanisms Rationalization - defense mechanism that offers self-justifying explanations in place of the real, more threatening, unconscious reasons for one s actions 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
What is Personality Neo-Freudians Psychodynamic Approach
Neo-Freudians
Neo-Freudians Alfred Adler highlighted the importance of childhood social tension rather than sexual tension; inferiority complex
Neo-Freudians Alfred Adler highlighted the importance of childhood social tension rather than sexual tension; inferiority complex Karen Horney - sought to balance Freud s masculine biases; counter to Freud s penis envy
Neo-Freudians Alfred Adler highlighted the importance of childhood social tension rather than sexual tension; inferiority complex Karen Horney - sought to balance Freud s masculine biases; counter to Freud s penis envy Carl Jung - emphasized the collective unconscious - concept of a shared, inherited reservoir of memory traces from our species history
Assessing the Unconscious
Assessing the Unconscious Projective Tests - are designed to uncover thoughts, emotions, and desires (unconscious impulses that may be driving current behaviors) that may not be known to the test taker (Rorschach Inkblot Test, The Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), the Incomplete Sentences Blank)
Assessing Personality
Assessing Personality Objective Tests utilize research to determine results; the results are given in the form of statistics and probabilities (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, Second Edition (MMPI-2), the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, and any of the major tests of intelligence)
What is Personality?
What is Personality? Humanistic Perspective
What is Personality? Humanistic Perspective Abraham Maslow
What is Personality? Humanistic Perspective Abraham Maslow Carl Rogers
Abraham Maslow (1908-1970)
Abraham Maslow (1908-1970) Self-Actualization - the ultimate psychological need that arises after basic physical and psychological needs are met and self-esteem is achieved (see adjustments); the motivation to fulfill one s potential
Abraham Maslow (1908-1970) Self-Actualization - the ultimate psychological need that arises after basic physical and psychological needs are met and self-esteem is achieved (see adjustments); the motivation to fulfill one s potential
Abraham Maslow
Abraham Maslow Obstacles to Self-Actualization
Abraham Maslow Obstacles to Self-Actualization 1. weakest and most easily impeded
Abraham Maslow Obstacles to Self-Actualization 1. weakest and most easily impeded 2. Jonah Complex self-doubt and fear of ability and potential
Abraham Maslow Obstacles to Self-Actualization 1. weakest and most easily impeded 2. Jonah Complex self-doubt and fear of ability and potential 3. cultural norms and environment
Abraham Maslow Obstacles to Self-Actualization 1. weakest and most easily impeded 2. Jonah Complex self-doubt and fear of ability and potential 3. cultural norms and environment 4. childhood experiences (excessive control and autonomy)
Carl Rogers (1902-1987) - focus on growth and fulfillment of individuals
Carl Rogers (1902-1987) - focus on growth and fulfillment of individuals
Carl Rogers (1902-1987) - focus on growth and fulfillment of individuals Genuineness being open to feelings, dropping facades, transparency and selfdisclosure
Carl Rogers (1902-1987) - focus on growth and fulfillment of individuals Genuineness being open to feelings, dropping facades, transparency and selfdisclosure Acceptance unconditional positive regard (an attitude of total acceptance toward another person)
Carl Rogers (1902-1987) - focus on growth and fulfillment of individuals Genuineness being open to feelings, dropping facades, transparency and selfdisclosure Acceptance unconditional positive regard (an attitude of total acceptance toward another person) Empathy sharing and mirroring feelings and reflecting meaning
Perceived Self v. Ideal Self
Perceived Self v. Ideal Self Self-Concept - all our thoughts and feelings about ourselves, in an answer to the question, Who am I? Perceived Self who we think we are - how would you describe yourself? Ideal Self who we really want to be - who do you want to be?
What is Personality? The Trait Perspective Gordon Allport Carl Jung Eysenck and Eysenck The Big Five Factors
Trait Perspective Trait - a characteristic pattern of behavior; a disposition to feel and act, as assessed by self-report inventories and peer reports - Allport & Odbert (1936), identified 18,000 words representing traits
Factor Analysis: Eysenck & Eysenck Hans and Sybil Eysenck use two primary personality factors as axes for describing personality variation (extraversionintroversion and emotional stability and instability)
Personality Inventories personality inventories - questionnaires (often with true-false or agree-disagree items) designed to gauge a wide range of feelings and behaviors assessing several traits at once Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory - the most widely researched and clinically used of all personality tests; originally developed to identify emotional disorders - empirically derived test a test (MMPI) developed by testing a pool of items and then selecting those that discriminate/differentiate between groups
The Big Five
What is Personality? The Social-Cognitive Perspective Albert Bandura Locus of Control
Albert Bandura Social-Cognitive Perspective - views behavior as influenced by the interaction between persons and their social context - behaviors learned through conditioning and/or modeling - cognition/mental processes, what we think affects our behavior - interaction between person and environment
Reciprocal Determinism Reciprocal Determinism - the interacting influences between personality and environmental factors 1. Environmental Factor (different people choose different environments) 2. Personal Factor (our personalities shape how we interpret and react to events) 3. Past Behavior (our personalities help create situations to which we react)
Personal Control 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 Internal Locus of Control - the perception that one controls one s own fate
Learned Helplessness Learned Helplessness - the hopelessness and passive resignation an animal or human learns when unable to avoid repeated aversive events
Positive Psychology Positive Psychology - the scientific study of optimal human functioning; aims to discover and promote conditions that enable individuals and communities to thrive The main purpose of a positive psychology is to measure, understand and then build the human strengths and the civic virtues - Martin Seligman
George Kelly s Personal Construct Theory - we are strongly motivated to make sense of our worlds - we are always attempting to make better predictions about what will happen to us - thus we generate and test hypotheses
What is Personality? Exploring the Self Self-Esteem Culture and Self
Our Possible Selves Possible Selves visions of the self that an individual dreams of becoming and visions of the self the individual fears becoming - Dreams - Fears
The Spotlight Effect Spotlight Effect - overestimating others noticing and evaluating our appearance, performance, and blunders
Self-Esteem Self Esteem - one s feelings of high or low self-worth high self esteem - fewer sleepless nights, succumb less easily to pressure, less likely to use drugs, persistent, less shy and lonely low self-esteem - unhappiness and despair, depression (falling short of hopes) and anxiety (falling short of what they ought to do), highly critical of others as well as themselves
Self-Esteem Self-Serving Bias - readiness to perceive oneself favorably If the self-serving bias exists why do people disparage themselves so readily? - subtly strategic - preparation for possible failure - expressions of our old selves
Culture and 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