Personality PDF

Personality is the characteristic behavioral trend of an individual with the underlying thinking, affect, cognition and perception. Factors affecting personality: Biological: Genetic – perinatal – medical –geographic Psychosocial: humanistic & cognitive behavioral analytical ...

Personality is the characteristic behavioral trend of an individual with the underlying thinking, affect, cognition and perception. Factors affecting personality: Biological: Genetic – perinatal – medical –geographic Psychosocial: humanistic & cognitive behavioral analytical  A.Biological approach In ancient ages, there was an assumption that people were created of the 4 components of the environment: Air – Water – Fire - Dust Personal traits were affected by the dominant component in our nature. Some people had a “fiery” energetic temperament, others were changeable as the “wind”, others were persistent as the “water”, and some were gloomy with dark temperament as “dust”. Later, in middle ages, these 4 components were substituted by body fluids: Yellow bile -Bronchial secretions (phlegm) –Blood -Black bile Personal traits were affected by the dominant component in our body fluids. Some people had a “bloody” energetic temperament, others were changeable as the “yellow bile”, others were persistent as the “phlegm”, and some were gloomy with dark temperament as “black bile”.  Cloninger proposed to understand personality through “temperament- character” aspect. He described 4 temperaments genetically predisposed: Reward dependent –Persistent -Novelty seeker -Harm avoidant Character is the acquired environmental impact on our mind and how we mature as regard managing ourselves, our interaction with others and our existence. It involves being: Self-directed – Cooperative - Transcendent Methods of assessment 1. Minnesota Multiphasic personality inventory (MMPI) 2. Rating scales as standard assessment of personality (SAP)  TCI temperament character inventory (questions whose answers are analyzed by psychologist to measures temperament and character) Neurophysiologic studies of different temperaments Ancient Water Dust Air Fire description phlegm Black bile Yellow bile blood Temperament Persistent Harm- Reward Novelty avoidant dependent seeking Vulnerable glutamate GABA Norepi- dopami Neuro- nephrine ne transmitter Learning slow quick slow quick acquisition Learning slow slow quick quick extinction Neurophys- Strong long Strong Slow in Fast to iology & reverberating associations absence of new Reflex speed circuits with pain reward stimuli  B. Humanistic approach In contrast to the biological determinism, the humanistic approach is based on freedom of choice. Subjective experiences of individual push one toward individual growth and self- actualization in the future. Carl Rogers → Carl Rogers: postulates that: What determines a person’s behavior is 1. self-concept (how he sees himself), 2. ideal self (what he wishes to be) 3. social image (how others see him)  Cognitive consonance is when occurs when self- concept, ideal self and social image get to overlap. Self-actualization is development of full individuality with all aspects of personality in harmony. Peak experience is a temporary on striving, non-self- centered state of perfection and goal attainment. Therapist’s role is non-directive or client centered i.e. respects the subjective experience of individual and act as a sounding board to facilitate individuals’ progress as to what they want rather than what the therapist wants or sees. Method of assessment in this approach is studying people’s biographies.  C. Cognitive approach It is similar to the humanistic approach, but in a more scientific, clear and precise manner. It explains our individual pattern of behavior as to our individual way through which we see ourselves and see the world. Concept is a mental representation (meaning) of object, set of percepts. Schema is a set of concepts to form prototype (1st model of an object). Construct is a set of schemata that dominate our thinking that we tend to categorize new objects to earlier encountered prototypes. This is stereotyping. This helps to respond quickly but can be biased.  Kelly postulates that each individual has his own constructs through which he represents the world in his mind. A repertory grid interview is to write down or draw in a representation your own constructs of the world..This can be helpful clinically. Rotter postulates that some people see they are able to influence events (Internal locus of control), while others see events to be controlling them (external locus of control). Seligman claims that depressed people have a learned helplessness. Beck claims that depressed people have a triad of negative view of past, present and future  D. Behavioral approach As discussed earlier, learning is the change in the individual’s behavior due to a current present experience in the surrounding environment. So our individual pattern of behavior is influenced by the stimuli from the surrounding environment that evoke responses from us (according to Pavlov’s theory), or our behavior is modulated by the different environmental responses to our behaviors i.e. trial and error (according to Skinner’s theory). Bandura, an American psychologist, described observational learning  E. Psychodynamic approach As would be discussed later, individuality of behavior can be explained by the past experiences during development. Assess Personality by: 1. [associations (word association test WAT)- 2. completions- 3. choice/ order- 4. construct story (Thematic appreciation test TAT20) Rorschach inkblots10)- 5. draw a man] TAT Rorschach  Activity Sado- Paranoid masochist Schizoid antisocial Obsessive Narcissist compulsive Dependent Histrionic Avoidant Borderline Passive Depressive aggressive Thank you ☺