Intro to Personality.pdf

Introduction to Personality Personality originated from the Latin “persona”, which referred to a theatrical mask worn by Roman actors in Greek dramas. It is a pattern of relatively permanent traits and unique characteristics that give both consistency and individuality to a person’s behavior...

Introduction to Personality Personality originated from the Latin “persona”, which referred to a theatrical mask worn by Roman actors in Greek dramas. It is a pattern of relatively permanent traits and unique characteristics that give both consistency and individuality to a person’s behavior. Traits – contribute to individual differences in behavior, consistency of behavior over time, and stability of behavior across situations. Characteristics – are unique qualities of an individual that include such attributes as temperament, physique, and intelligence. Theory – is a set of related assumptions that allows scientists to use logical deductive reasoning to formulate testable hypothesis. Theory and its Relatives 1. Philosophy It is related to philosophy, but it is much narrower term. 2. Speculation Theories rely on speculation but they are much more than mere armchair speculation. They are closely tied to empirically gathered data and to science. 3. Hypothesis Although theory is narrower concept than philosophy, it is a broader term than hypothesis. A good theory is capable of generating many hypotheses. 4. Taxonomy Taxonomy is a classification according to their natural relationships. It can evolve into theories when they begin to generate testable hypotheses and to explain research findings. Characteristics of Theory Generates research; Is falsifiable; Organizes data; Guides the action; Is internally consistent; and Is parsimonious. Concept of Humanity 1. Determinism VS. Free-choice 2. Pessimism VS. Optimism 3. Causality VS. Teleology 4. Conscious VS. Unconscious 5. Biological VS. Social Influences 6. Uniqueness VS. Similarities