Psychology Chapter on Personality Theories

What is Personality?

• Personality refers to the unique ways individuals think, feel, and act.
• Personality varies from person to person, with examples such as expressive, introverted, aggressive, or uplifting.
• Psychologists have different ideas regarding how personality forms and develops.

Theories of Personality

• These theories explain how personality develops and influences behavior.
• They help understand differences in thoughts, emotions, and actions.
• They are used in therapy, education, and workplaces.
• Key theories include Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory, Jung's Analytical Psychology, Adler's Theory, Maslow's Theory, Rogers' Self Theory, Eysenck's Three Dimensions, Cattell's 16 Personality Factors, Big Five Theory, Skinner's Behavioral Theory, Bandura's Social Learning Theory, Kelly's Personal Construct Theory, Murray's Needs Theory, Rotter's Locus of Control Theory, Allport's Trait Theory, Holland's Career Choice Theory, and Sheldon's Somatotype Theory.

Sheldon's Somatotype Theory

• Proposed by William Sheldon, it suggests that body types influence personality traits.
• Categorizes people into three types: Endomorph, Mesomorph, and Ectomorph.
• Endomorph: Round, soft body; associated with sociability and relaxation.
• Mesomorph: Muscular, athletic body; linked to assertiveness and confidence.
• Ectomorph: Thin, fragile body; related to introversion and sensitivity.

Jung's Analytical Theory

• Presented by Carl Jung, emphasized the collective unconscious and archetypes.
• Concepts include archetypes (universal symbols like the Hero, Shadow, and the Wise Old Man).
• Introversion/Extraversion: Focus on inner thoughts vs. external social interactions.
• Examples: Archetypes are seen in movies like Harry Potter and the Hero. Introversion is being energized by reading, while extraversion is being energized by networking.

Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory

• Founded by Sigmund Freud; revolves around the unconscious mind and psychosexual development.
• Key concepts include Id, Ego, and Superego: Id is impulsive desires, Ego balances desires with reality, and Superego is moral guidance.
• Defense mechanisms are strategies to cope with anxiety (denial and repression).
• Psychosexual stages of development: oral, anal, phallic, latent, and genital stages.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

• Abraham Maslow organized human needs into five levels (starting with basic needs and ending with self-actualization):
• Physiological needs: Basic survival (food, water).
• Safety needs: Security (job, health).
• Belongingness: Relationships, friendships.
• Esteem needs: Respect and recognition.
• Self-actualization: Achieving potential and creativity.

Criticism of Personality Theories

• Lack of empirical evidence is a common critique of some theories, particularly those focusing on underlying concepts like archetypes or implicit processes.
• Limited practical application, especially in situations where more concrete models and metrics are needed.
• Theories may be overly subjective, lacking rigorous scientific method.
• Specific limitations in how theories may view the impact of adult experiences in shaping personality, focusing more on early life stages.

Psychoanalysis (Freud's Theory):

• Developed by Sigmund Freud in 1896; a treatment type focused on the idea that our present is shaped by our past.
• Key concepts include the unconscious mind and defense mechanisms (repression, denial, projection).
• These hidden parts affect our behavior.
• Defense mechanisms protect from uncomfortable emotions (denial, projection, repression)

Psychoanalytic Theory (Id, Ego and Superego)

• Id: The impulsive part of the personality that seeks immediate gratification.
• Ego: The part that tries to balance desires with what is socially acceptable.
• Superego: The moral part of personality that guides with values and rules.
• Psychosexual stages of development:
• Oral stage (0-1 years): Focus on the mouth (e.g., sucking, biting).
• Anal stage (1-3 years): Focus on control over elimination (e.g., potty training).
• Phallic stage (3-6 years): Focus on genitals; boys experience Oedipus complex, girls Electra complex.
• Latency stage (6-puberty): Focus on developing friendships and learning new skills.
• Genital stage (puberty onward): Focus on mature, adult relationships.

Criticism of Psychoanalytic Theory

• Overemphasis on the unconscious mind.
• Lack of scientific evidence for many claims.
• Potential biases in conclusions, such as using a limited sample of mainly upper-class women in his studies.
• Outdated ideas that may not apply to modern thought and practice

Jung's Analytical Theory (continued from before)

• Found by Carl Jung (a colleague of Freud); emphasized the collective unconscious and archetypes.
• Collective unconscious refers to experiences and memories shared across all humans.
• Archetypes represent universal symbolic representations prevalent in human stories and behaviors e.g. Heroes and villains.
• Introversion and extroversion refer to differing orientations toward external versus inner experiences, respectively.

Criticism of Jung's Analytical Theory

• Lacks empirical evidence and relies heavily on subjective interpretation rather than measurable data.
• Overemphasis on spirituality and individuality; considered too abstract for modern scientific applications.
• Its time-consuming nature makes the study of archetypes impractical for those requiring quick psychological solutions.

Adler's Theory of Personality

• Developed by Alfred Adler in 1912; critical of some of Freud's ideas, particularly how he focused on the social realm.
• Focused on individual psychology with a focus on inferiority complex, striving for superiority, and social interest.
• Adler believed feelings of inferiority motivate us to improve and strive for personal growth, which isn't necessarily about dominating.
• Social interest stresses the importance of relationships and community in shaping personality.

Criticism of Adler's Theory of Personality

• Overemphasis on social factors, downplaying biological and genetic factors.
• Lacks supporting empirical evidence; measuring "striving for superiority" is difficult to measure objectively.
• Too idealistic; not everyone has a natural inclination to community and social good.

Rogers' Self Theory

• Presented by Carl Rogers in 1961; emphasized 19 propositions, with the idea that all individuals exist within a constantly changing world of experience. Individuals are at the center of this experience.
• Two key concepts:
• Self-concept
• Unconditional positive regard
• Real vs. ideal self
• Self-concept describes how we view ourselves (strengths and weaknesses), and a positive self-concept is crucial for thriving.
• Unconditional positive regard is receiving love and acceptance without conditions which helps in emotional growth.
• Ideal self is the desired version of oneself, growth occurs when the real self aligns with the ideal self.

Criticism of Rogers' Self Theory

• Overly optimistic, assuming all people striving for personal growth and self-actualization.
• Too subjective, difficulty defining and measuring concepts like "real self" and "ideal self".
• Theory ignores external factors (poverty, trauma) which could hinder self-actualization.

Assessment of Personality

• Methods for assessing personality:
• MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator): Categorizes people into 16 personality types based on preferences (introversion vs. extraversion).
• Big Five Personality Test: A test assessing traits like openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.
• Projective Tests: Use ambiguous stimuli to reveal unconscious thoughts and desires.
• rorschach Inkblot Test: People are shown abstract inkblots and are asked to interpret.
• Thematic Apperception Test (TAT): Participants create stories based on ambiguous images which reflect their desires and conflicts.

Criticisms of Personality Assessment Tools

• Subjectivity in interpretation of results from tests such as projective tests.
• Limited validity (projective tests).
• Biases, such as cultural bias, in how tests may be interpreted, which can influence results.

Explore the diverse theories of personality that shape human behavior and thought. This quiz covers key concepts from various notable psychologists, including Freud, Jung, and Maslow. Discover how these theories are applied in real-life contexts like therapy and education.