Personality PDF
Document Details
Uploaded by ComelySodalite
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Tags
Summary
This document explores different aspects of personality, starting with its traits and how they are studied. It goes on to discuss the theories of psychoanalysis by Freud including the id, ego and superego, before contrasting this with the behaviourism approach which includes social learning theory. The final element explores nature v nurture.
Full Transcript
Personality What is personality? ○ Personality traits Stable behavioral trait across all situations Honest, moody, impulsive, etc. ○ Personality is all of these traits put together How have researchers narrowed down all the possible personali...
Personality What is personality? ○ Personality traits Stable behavioral trait across all situations Honest, moody, impulsive, etc. ○ Personality is all of these traits put together How have researchers narrowed down all the possible personality traits people have to just five? ○ Factor analysis: If highly correlated, merge them. ○ Example: “Outgoing” correlated with “sociable” and “friendly.” What are the "Big 5" personality traits and what sorts of personality characteristics are represented by each one? (OCEAN) ○ 1) Openness to experience: Curious, Imaginative, Artistic ○ 2) Consciencetiousness: Disciplined, Well organized, Puncual ○ 3) Extraversion: Outgoing, Social, Upbeat ○ 4) Agreeableness: Sympathetic, Trusting, Cooperative, Modest ○ 5) Neuroticism: Anxious, Hostile, Self-conscious, Emotionally unstable What is psychoanalysis? ○ Probing deeply into patient’s lives ○ A type of treatment based on the theory that our present is shaped by our past. What is the structure of personality according to Freud? ○ Id, Ego, Superego What is the Id, Ego, Superego? ○ Id = Primitive instincts (desires, wants, & needs) Eat, sleep, defecate, copulate Operates on pleasure principle ○ Ego = Considers social normals (Id but considering consequences) Operates on reality principle ○ Superego = Moral component (guilt or pride) Operates based on right and wrong What are the levels of Consciousness according to Freud? ○ Conscious, Preconscious, and Unconscious What is the Conscious, Preconscious, Unconscious? ○ Conscious: Material you’re aware of at a given time (ex: I’m hungry) ○ Preconscious: Material just below the surface that can be brought into consciousness (ex: What you’re planning on doing this weekend) ○ Unconscious: Thoughts, memories, desires below awareness. (ex: hidden traumas, Id’s desires) Still influences behaviors. How can we sneak a peek at the unconscious? ○ Sometimes able to detect (ex: dreams, free association, freudian slips) ○ Free association: Speaking freely to whatever comes to mind ○ Freudian slips: Making a mistake that reveals unconscious thoughts What causes anxiety according to Freud? ○ Conflicts cause anxiety ○ Ego afraid: Id will do something inappropriate Superego will cause guilt ○ Conflict resolved via defense mechanisms What do behaviorists say about personality? ○ Conditioning and response tendencies (skinner) Do what gets you rewards; avoid what doesn’t (or what results in punishments) ○ Social learning (bandura) Takes cognition into account Observational learning (modeling) How does the concept of social learning/modeling fit in to this? ○ Social learning theory suggests that people learn behaviors by watching others (role models) and imitating them. This can shape things like values, attitudes, and behaviors. ○ Social learning helps explain how environmental factors (like family, culture, and media) influence personality traits. What do twin studies say about the role of nature and nurture in personality? ○ Nature: Genetic factors. Nurture: Enviromental factors
