Podcast
Questions and Answers
Which feature best characterizes the id according to Freud's theory?
Which feature best characterizes the id according to Freud's theory?
What aspect of personality did Freud argue is primarily shaped by childhood experiences?
What aspect of personality did Freud argue is primarily shaped by childhood experiences?
Which of the following traits is not associated with the personality dimension of agreeableness?
Which of the following traits is not associated with the personality dimension of agreeableness?
What is one major reason Freud's theories were controversial during his time?
What is one major reason Freud's theories were controversial during his time?
Signup and view all the answers
What does conscientiousness primarily involve?
What does conscientiousness primarily involve?
Signup and view all the answers
In Freud's model, which component serves as the moral compass that internalizes societal rules?
In Freud's model, which component serves as the moral compass that internalizes societal rules?
Signup and view all the answers
Which perspective may focus on observable behaviors rather than the unconscious mind?
Which perspective may focus on observable behaviors rather than the unconscious mind?
Signup and view all the answers
What is one criticism of the behavioural approach mentioned in the content?
What is one criticism of the behavioural approach mentioned in the content?
Signup and view all the answers
Which aspect is emphasized by humanistic psychologists that contrasts with psychodynamic and behavioral theories?
Which aspect is emphasized by humanistic psychologists that contrasts with psychodynamic and behavioral theories?
Signup and view all the answers
What common ground did critics of psychodynamic and behavioral theories find in their approach?
What common ground did critics of psychodynamic and behavioral theories find in their approach?
Signup and view all the answers
How do humanistic psychologists view the role of individuals in shaping their actions?
How do humanistic psychologists view the role of individuals in shaping their actions?
Signup and view all the answers
What was one change in perspective that arose in response to criticisms of the behavioral approach?
What was one change in perspective that arose in response to criticisms of the behavioral approach?
Signup and view all the answers
What does the ego primarily operate according to?
What does the ego primarily operate according to?
Signup and view all the answers
At what age does the superego typically begin to emerge?
At what age does the superego typically begin to emerge?
Signup and view all the answers
Which aspect of personality is best described as the moral component that internalizes social standards?
Which aspect of personality is best described as the moral component that internalizes social standards?
Signup and view all the answers
What does the term 'secondary process thinking' refer to in Freudian theory related to the ego?
What does the term 'secondary process thinking' refer to in Freudian theory related to the ego?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a primary function of the ego in relation to the id?
What is a primary function of the ego in relation to the id?
Signup and view all the answers
Which level of awareness holds material just beneath the surface that can be easily brought to consciousness?
Which level of awareness holds material just beneath the surface that can be easily brought to consciousness?
Signup and view all the answers
What can happen if the superego becomes excessively demanding?
What can happen if the superego becomes excessively demanding?
Signup and view all the answers
In Freud's model, which analogy is used to describe the relationship between the ego and the id?
In Freud's model, which analogy is used to describe the relationship between the ego and the id?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the ego?
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the ego?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the main difference between punishment and negative reinforcement?
What is the main difference between punishment and negative reinforcement?
Signup and view all the answers
In Skinner's theory, which of the following exemplifies punishment?
In Skinner's theory, which of the following exemplifies punishment?
Signup and view all the answers
What aspect of human behavior does Bandura argue Skinner neglects?
What aspect of human behavior does Bandura argue Skinner neglects?
Signup and view all the answers
How does Bandura's social learning theory differ from Skinner's behaviorism?
How does Bandura's social learning theory differ from Skinner's behaviorism?
Signup and view all the answers
Which scenario best illustrates the principle of negative reinforcement?
Which scenario best illustrates the principle of negative reinforcement?
Signup and view all the answers
According to Skinner, how do response tendencies form in individuals?
According to Skinner, how do response tendencies form in individuals?
Signup and view all the answers
What does Skinner's concept of operant response extinction depend on?
What does Skinner's concept of operant response extinction depend on?
Signup and view all the answers
What example might illustrate that punishment can occur outside disciplinary procedures?
What example might illustrate that punishment can occur outside disciplinary procedures?
Signup and view all the answers
How do Skinner and Bandura fundamentally differ in their views on conditioning?
How do Skinner and Bandura fundamentally differ in their views on conditioning?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is a disadvantage of psychodynamic perspectives?
Which of the following is a disadvantage of psychodynamic perspectives?
Signup and view all the answers
What best exemplifies Skinner's assumption about human behavior and conditioning?
What best exemplifies Skinner's assumption about human behavior and conditioning?
Signup and view all the answers
What is one criticism regarding the psychodynamic approach's validity?
What is one criticism regarding the psychodynamic approach's validity?
Signup and view all the answers
Which statement best represents Freud's beliefs about female psychology?
Which statement best represents Freud's beliefs about female psychology?
Signup and view all the answers
What concept is associated with the influence of unconscious forces on behavior?
What concept is associated with the influence of unconscious forces on behavior?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following aspects is emphasized by behaviorism?
Which of the following aspects is emphasized by behaviorism?
Signup and view all the answers
What did Freud's distortion of case histories imply about his methodology?
What did Freud's distortion of case histories imply about his methodology?
Signup and view all the answers
What overarching theme do psychodynamic theories often reflect?
What overarching theme do psychodynamic theories often reflect?
Signup and view all the answers
Why might the empirical evidence supporting psychodynamic theories be considered inadequate?
Why might the empirical evidence supporting psychodynamic theories be considered inadequate?
Signup and view all the answers
Which term refers to defense mechanisms used to cope with unpleasant emotions?
Which term refers to defense mechanisms used to cope with unpleasant emotions?
Signup and view all the answers
What did B. Watson advocate regarding the study of psychology?
What did B. Watson advocate regarding the study of psychology?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Theories of Personality
- Personality theories attempt to explain how people think, feel, and behave.
- Various perspectives exist, each with unique strengths and limitations.
Lesson Outline
- The nature of personality
- Psychodynamic perspectives
- Behavioural perspectives
- Humanistic perspectives
- Biological perspectives
The Nature of Personality: Defining Personality
- Optimistic personality suggests consistent cheerful behaviour.
- Distinctiveness is key, as each person exhibits unique personality traits.
- Consistency across situations is central to personality.
The Nature of Personality (continued)
- Personality is defined as an individual's unique pattern of consistent behavioural traits.
- These traits explain both consistency in behaviour over time and differences in behaviour among people in the same situation.
Personality Traits
- Personality traits are durable dispositions to behave consistently in various situations.
- Adjectives like honest, dependable, moody, describe personality traits.
- Some traits are more fundamental than others. For example, impulsiveness, restlessness, irritability could stem from excitability.
Personality Traits (continued)
- The Big Five traits are key dimensions of personality. These are extraversion, neuroticism, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness.
Psychodynamic Perspectives
- Sigmund Freud's theories focus on unconscious mental forces.
- Freud used psychoanalysis, a lengthy treatment procedure.
- Freud believed that unconscious drives and conflicts influence mental health.
Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory
- Freud's theory was criticised in his time for several reasons.
- It suggested that unconscious forces govern behaviour.
- It claimed that childhood experiences shape adult personality.
- It suggested that sexual urges shape personalities.
Freud's Structure of Personality
- Freud divided personality into three components: id, ego, and superego.
- The id operates on the pleasure principle, seeking immediate gratification.
- The ego operates on the reality principle, mediating the demands of the id and the external world.
- The superego represents societal standards of right and wrong.
Freud's Structure of Personality (continued)
- The id is the primitive, instinctive component of personality operating on the pleasure principle.
- The ego is the decision-making component of personality operating on the reality principle.
- The superego is the moral component of personality representing societal standards.
Freud's Structure of Personality (continued)
- The superego represents societal standards about what constitutes right and wrong.
Freud's Three Levels of Mind
- Freud's theory describes three levels of awareness: conscious, preconscious, and unconscious.
- The conscious is the current awareness.
- The preconscious is below the surface of awareness, but accessible.
- The unconscious contains thoughts, feelings, memories that are difficult to access directly.
Freud's Conflict and Defence Mechanisms
- Freud believed behaviour comes from conflicting drives (id, ego, and superego).
- Defence mechanisms are unconscious reactions that protect from anxiety or guilt.
- Common defence mechanisms include rationalisation, repression, projection, displacement, reaction formation, regression, and identification.
Freud's Conflict and Defence Mechanisms (continued)
- Rationalisation is justifying unacceptable behaviour.
- Repression is keeping distressing thoughts/feelings out of conscious awareness.
- Projection is attributing one's own thoughts/feelings or motives to others.
Freud's Defence Mechanisms (continued)
- Displacement is diverting strong emotions from their source to a 'safer' target.
- Regression is returning to childlike behaviour under stress.
- Identification is coping with difficult feelings or situations by adopting the traits of someone else.
Freud's Theory of Development: Psychosexual Stages
- Freud's theory identifies stages of personality development.
- Psychosexual stages are developmental periods with a characteristic sexual focus.
- Fixation occurs if a particular stage is not resolved, leading to later problems with behaviour.
Freud's Psychosexual Stages (continued)
- Freud proposed oral, anal, phallic, latency, and genital stages. Each stage involves unique challenges related to pleasure-seeking behaviours.
Evaluating Psychodynamic Perspectives
- Psychodynamic theories have made significant contributions to understanding abnormal behaviour.
- However, some critics argue their focus is too vague to be scientifically tested.
Behavioural Perspectives
- Behaviourism focuses on observable behaviour, not internal mental states.
- It emphasizes the role of learning in shaping personality.
Pavlov's Classical Conditioning
- Pavlov demonstrated that a neutral stimulus can be associated with an unconditioned stimulus to evoke a conditioned response.
- This learning involves forming associations between stimuli and responses.
- This learning applies to phobias and anxiety.
Pavlov's Classical Conditioning (continued)
- A neutral stimulus is paired repeatedly with an unconditioned stimulus for an unconditioned response.
- Through this, the neutral stimulus now becomes a conditioned stimulus triggering a conditioned response.
Skinner's Operant Conditioning
- Operant conditioning studies how consequences of behaviour shape future behaviour.
- Responses followed by reinforcement are more likely to be repeated; punishment is less so.
Skinner's Operant Conditioning (continued)
- Positive reinforcement involves presenting something desirable after a behaviour.
- Negative reinforcement involves removing something unpleasant after a behaviour.
- Punishment involves presenting something unpleasant after a behaviour.
Evaluating Behavioural Perspectives
- Behavioural theories provide a powerful explanation of how learning shapes behaviour.
- However, critics argue that behaviourism neglects cognitive and emotional processes.
Humanistic Perspectives
- Humanistic theories emphasise human potential for personal growth and self-actualisation.
- Key figures in humanistic theory are Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow.
Rogers' Person-Centred Theory
- Rogers developed a person-centred therapy approach, emphasizing the individual's subjective experience.
- Rogers' theory focuses on the self-concept, which includes self-perceptions, qualities, and behaviours.
- Ideal self and real self may not be congruent generating incongruence and anxiety.
Maslow's Theory of Self-Actualisation
- Maslow proposed a hierarchy of needs.
- Self-actualisation is at the top of the hierarchy – the fulfillment of one's potential.
Maslow's Theory of Self-Actualisation (continued)
- Maslow's hierarchy of needs comprises physiological, safety, belongingness and love, esteem, and self-actualisation needs.
Evaluating Humanistic Perspectives
- Humanistic theories highlight the importance of free will and personal growth.
- However, criticisms exist about the lack of empirical evidence.
Biological Perspectives
- Biological theorists explore the role of genetics and the brain in shaping personality.
Eysenck's Theory
- Eysenck proposed a biological basis for personality traits.
- Extraversion–introversion and neuroticism – emotional stability are fundamental traits.
Eysenck's Theory (continued)
- He argued that these traits are rooted in physiological differences.
Recent Research in Behavioural Genetics
- Twin studies support the hereditary component of personality traits.
- Identical twins share more similarities than fraternal twins.
The Evolutionary Approach to Personality
- Evolutionary psychology views behaviour in terms of its reproductive value.
- Some characteristics are adaptive over time.
Evaluating Biological Perspectives
- Evidence for biological influences exists, but a complete biological theory is still lacking.
Theoretical Diversity
- Different theories of personality focus on various aspects of human behaviour.
- This diversity contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of personality.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Related Documents
Description
This quiz explores key concepts and critiques of major personality theories, including those proposed by Freud, humanistic psychologists, and behaviorists. Test your knowledge on the influences of childhood experiences, the components of personality, and the characteristics of different psychological perspectives.
