Theories of Personality Course Overview

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Questions and Answers

What is a major disadvantage of using One Big Theory (OBT) in psychology?

It emphasizes only social influences.

It addresses individual differences effectively.

It may lead to overly focused research.

It struggles to explain everything well. (correct)

What advantage do basic approaches in psychology have?

They excel in addressing specific topics. (correct)

They are equally effective across various domains.

They ignore the individual differences among people.

They can comprehensively cover all psychological phenomena.

In the context of personality psychology, what does pigeonholing refer to?

Acknowledging the complexity of individual characteristics.

Treating everyone as having the same personality traits. (correct)

Ignoring the influence of biological factors.

Focusing solely on transient states of personality.

Which statement is true regarding individual differences in psychology?

Individual differences are mostly influenced by biology or environment. Signup and view all the answers

One major concern with the basic approaches in psychology is their tendency to:

Neglect the psychological basis of individual differences. Signup and view all the answers

What does the idiographic approach in personality theories emphasize?

Individual differences and unique elements Signup and view all the answers

What is a key question addressed in the module regarding personality?

Does personality change over time and if so, why? Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a factor to consider when assessing theories of personality?

The presence of psychotropic medication Signup and view all the answers

Which methodology contrasts with the idiographic approach by looking at commonalities among groups?

Nomothetic approach Signup and view all the answers

What expectation is placed on students for success in this module?

Participate in discussions and utilize learning technologies Signup and view all the answers

Why is understanding personality important, according to the module?

It aids in making sense of the world around us. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of personality theories, what does the term 'normative' best relate to?

Assessing typical patterns in groups Signup and view all the answers

What should students prioritize to perform well in this module?

Regular short periods of research, study, and writing Signup and view all the answers

What does the psychological triad consist of?

How we think, feel, and behave Signup and view all the answers

What is the main challenge of personality psychology as described?

To explain the whole person in their daily environment Signup and view all the answers

Which approach to personality emphasizes unconscious motivations and internal mental conflict?

Psychoanalytic approach Signup and view all the answers

What does the biological approach to personality aim to understand?

How the mind relates to bodily functions Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following theories focuses on how behavior changes due to rewards and punishments?

Learning theory Signup and view all the answers

What is the focus of the phenomenological approach in personality psychology?

To understand people's conscious experience of the world Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following approaches is most concerned with personality traits and individual differences?

Trait approach Signup and view all the answers

Gordon W. Allport suggested that personality is too complex to be restricted to what?

A simplistic definition Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Course Details

Course Title: Theories of Personality
Course Code: PS338
Academic Year: 2024-25
Semester: 1
Lecturer: Dr Jenny Groarke
Email: [email protected]

Managing Expectations

Be patient
Be kind
Extend kindness to others, including staff

Assessment

1 multiple-choice question (MCQ) exam
Exam scheduled by the exams office
Attendance at lectures is expected
Reading course chapters is crucial
Participation in discussions is required
Use of learning technologies is expected
Weekly research and revision is recommended

Course Workload

5 ECTS credits
Estimated workload: approximately 100 hours
24 hours estimated lecture attendance time
76 hours estimated independent study, reading and preparing for class, revising for the exam

Succeeding in the Course

Regular, shorter study sessions
Following instructions carefully

Core Text

The Personality Puzzle
Seventh Edition (2016)
Eighth Edition (2019) (International Student Edition)
Author: David C. Funder
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company

Weekly Reading

Syllabus/module outline on Canvas
Chapter 1 of the core text, "The study of the person" (basic introduction to personality concepts and ideas)

Module Questions

What is personality?
Does personality change over time? (and if so, why? If not, why?)
Why is personality important to understand?

Module Themes

Personality theories as problem-solving tools
Overlap between personality theory and abnormal psychology (a significant part of clinical psychology)

Assessing Personality Theories

Testability: considering the complexity of human beings
Active vs passive role in creating one's reality: considering the theoretical perspectives
Idiographic vs nomothetic approaches: idiographic focuses on individual elements of people and allows comparison; nomothetic approach focuses on groups of people, looking at commonalities

Important Considerations

Applicability to different groups/generalizability
Importance of factors like gender and culture
Does the theory explain normal and abnormal behavior?
Developmental focus of the theory
Practical usefulness and applicability of the theory

Understanding Personality

Why do we use the term 'personality?
We all have personality (most of us)

Focus of Personality Psychology

Psychological triad: combination of how people think, feel, and behave
Overlap with clinical psychology
Normal vs extreme patterns of personality
Personality disorders
Whole-person understanding
Connection with other areas of psychology

Gordon Allport Quote

"Personality is too complex a thing to be tied up in a conceptual straight jacket."

Working Definition of Personality

"An individual's characteristic patterns of thought, emotion, and behaviour, together with the psychological mechanisms – hidden or not – behind those patterns." (adapted from Allport, 1961).

Origins of the Term "Personality"

Persona (Latin): mask
Evolved (Allport): what's underneath the mask

Personality Psychology Goals

Mission: Impossible – explain the whole person within their daily environment
Think about a recent important behaviour and the reasons behind it

Course Topics

Measurement of personality and research methods
Trait theory
Evolutionary/biological theory
Social cognitive theory
Learning theory
Psychoanalytic theory
Object relations and other Neo-Freudian theories
Humanistic theory
Personality disorders (DSM-V)
Cultural issues

Basic Approaches to Personality

Trait approach: how people differ psychologically
Biological approach: understanding the mind in terms of the body
Psychoanalytic approach: focusing on the unconscious mind and internal mental conflict

Learning and Cognitive Processes Approach

Learning: how behaviour changes due to rewards, punishments, and life experiences
Classic behaviourism: focusing on observable behaviour
Social learning: how observation and self-evaluation influence behaviour

Phenomenological Approach and Humanistic Approach

Phenomenological approach: focusing on people's conscious experience of the world
Humanistic theory: understanding how conscious awareness creates unique human attributes and the basis for happiness
Cross-cultural approach: considering how the experience of reality might differ across cultures

Competitor or Complement?

Major advocates for basic approaches claim their approach explains everything.
Approaches are not mutually exclusive: address different key questions.
Each approach ignores many key concerns.
One Big Theory (OBT): To explain everything (But is difficult).

Advantages and Disadvantages

Accounting for the whole person and real-life concerns: inclusive, interesting and important, but sometimes over-inclusive.
Basic approaches: good for certain topics but doesn't address others well.

Pigeonholing vs Appreciation

Personality psychologists emphasize individual differences (negative = pigeonholing, positive = sensitivity and respect).
Other areas of psychology tend to treat people as if they are the same.

Personality Definition

Personality is individual differences that are:
- Psychological in nature
- Outside the intellectual domain.
- Enduring dispositions (not transient states).
- Relatively broad and generalized patterns.

Psychology's Model of Individual Differences

Temperament, character, creativity, emotional intelligence, intelligence, abilities, are all linked to personality, via habits, attitudes, beliefs, tastes, emotions, skills, aptitudes and competencies.

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Description

This quiz covers the essential details of the Theories of Personality course (PS338) for the academic year 2024-25. It includes information on assessment methods, core texts, and recommended study strategies to help students succeed in the course. Understanding these elements is crucial for effective participation and preparation.