CHAMBERLAIN PSYCHOLOGY 2012-13 What is personality?
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Transcript of CHAMBERLAIN PSYCHOLOGY 2012-13 What is personality?
CHAMBERLAIN PSYCHOLOGY2012-13
What is personality?
Banana Personality Test
There is a very, very tall coconut tree and there are 4
animals: a Lion, a Chimpanzee, a Giraffe , and a Squirrel, who pass by. They decide to compete to see who is the fastest to get a banana off the tree.
Who do you guess will win? Your answer will reflect your personality so think
carefully . . .. Try to answer within 30 seconds Got your answer? DON’T REVEAL YOUR ANSWER
UNTIL I TELL YOU TO!!
DON’T SAY ANYTHING OUT LOUD!! KEEP YOUR THOUGHTS TO YOURSELF SO THAT YOU DO NOT INFLUENCE OTHERS’ DECISIONS
So what kind of animal are you?
Lion = you're dull. Chimpanzee = you're a moron.Giraffe = you're a complete idiot. Squirrel = you're just hopelessly stupid.A COCONUT TREE DOESN'T HAVE
BANANAS.
Personality
The combination of characteristics or qualities that form an individual's distinctive character.
The characteristic patterns of thoughts, feelings and behaviors that make a person unique and remain fairly consistent throughout life.
What shapes personality?
Many different theories have existed over the years evolving from the different perspectives. Old theories looked at body type, bodily fluids Behaviorists say traits emerge through reinforcement and
modeling Psychodynamic approach says traits are product of
repressed urges and memories Biopsychologists and evolutionary psychologists say
natural selection, physiological processes, and interaction of genes and environment cause the expression of certain traits in individuals
Trait theorists say there are certain traits that all people have and that individuals just express them in different amounts and combinations
Early theory 1: Hippocrates’ theory
Hippocrates thought personality was determined by an individual’s levels of certain bodily fluids
Personality type
According to Hippocrates’ theory, are you generally choleric, melancholic, sanguine, or phlegmatic? According to Hippocrates’ theory, are you generally choleric, melancholic, sanguine, or phlegmatic?
Early theory 2: Sheldon’s Somatotype Theory
Sheldon thought personality and body type were correlated
Does your personality match your body type according to his theory?
Where would you rate yourself on each scale?
Place an X on each scale to represent yourself
Rate a friend or family member with Y for each scale
How similar or different are you to the “Y” person?
Cattell’s 16 primary traits
How is personality measured?
SurveysInkblot (Rorschach) and “describe the
picture” tests
Big 5 personality test: the most widely accepted personality trait
measurement tool in use today
Go to website to take the Big 5 testThe Big 5 traits are:
openness: strong intellectual curiosity, creativity and a preference for novelty and variety
conscientiousness: disciplined and detail oriented extraversion: outgoing, social agreeableness: helpful, cooperative, and sympathetic
towards others neuroticism : emotional stability, impulse control,
aggressiveness and anxiety
Freudian theory of the unconscious mind
HOW YOUR UNCONSCIOUS AFFECTS YOUR PERSONALITY, BEHAVIORS, THOUGHTS, AND
DREAMS
The mind’s battleground: id, ego, and superego
ego & id
Superego is the mind’s moral compass or “conscience” that judges your actions, makes you feel guilty after you listen to id urges
•Develops over time as we learn society’s expectations and norms
•Emerges around age 5superego
Id is the “animal” and “instinct” part of the mind •Humans are born 100% id•Seeks pleasure and instant gratification regardless of the consequences•Drives selfish behaviors •Resides in the unconscious—influences behaviors and dreams
Id is the “animal” and “instinct” part of the mind •Humans are born 100% id•Seeks pleasure and instant gratification regardless of the consequences•Drives selfish behaviors •Resides in the unconscious—influences behaviors and dreams
Ego = conscious (thinking/aware) part of mind•The part of your mind that thinks through choices and looks for the rational decision•Mediator between id urges and superego judgments•Ego = self-identity•Ego develops as one ages and progresses through developmental stages•Your ego gets bigger when you “do the right thing”, get approval from society for your actions
Unhealthy behaviors are caused by memories repressed in mind’s unconscious
Repress: to lock away from one’s conscious, to hide thoughts from yourself so that you don’t have to deal with them
Unconscious: •NOT a literal structural part of the brain•The part of the mind that lies under the surface of conscious thoughts
Defense MechanismsDefense Mechanisms
• Ego’s way of protecting mind from judgment of superego and to relieve anxiety
• Created involuntarily by ego—not consciously!• Can be healthy in short run, but if underlying cause of defense
mechanism is not addressed, leads to unhealthy behaviors
1. Read your “defense mechanisms” handout.
2. Take notes on looseleaf about:• what defense mechs are & why they happen• a brief definition (in your own words) and example of each of
the 12 types mentioned in the reading
3. Use the readings to help yourself identify the types of defense mechanisms being described on the worksheet.
4. Identify and label each instance of defense mechanism in “A love story” (activity that I will hand out after notes)
Personality Disorders: Behaviors or mental processes that deviate significantly from the norm and impair the person’s life; disorder’s impact on person’s ability to lead healthy, stable life can vary from mild to extreme
3 categories: Odd, dramatic, anxious
3 categories: Odd, dramatic, anxious
Personality Disorders
Personality Disorder Category 1: Odd/eccentric
Personality Disorder Category 1: Odd/eccentric
Paranoid
Schizoid (do not confuse this with schizophrenia!)
Schizotypal
Fearful, suspicious of others
Loner, lack of emotions
Belief in magic, flying saucers, loner
•Odd personality disorders are GENETIC NOT environmental! •.5% - 2.5% of American population has 1 of these “odd” personality disorders
•Odd personality disorders are GENETIC NOT environmental! •.5% - 2.5% of American population has 1 of these “odd” personality disorders
Treatments: Many who suffer from these disorders do not seek treatment; Social skills therapy, anti-psychotics for schizotypalsTreatments: Many who suffer from these disorders do not seek treatment; Social skills therapy, anti-psychotics for schizotypals
Personality Disorder Category 2: Dramatic/emotional
Personality Disorder Category 2: Dramatic/emotional
Anti-social, conduct disorder (psychopath)
Borderline
Histrionic
Narcissist
Lack of regard for moral, legal standards; some but not all are serial killers, rapists—see reading
Lack of self-identity, rapid mood changes, impulsive, unstable relationshipsLack of self-identity, rapid mood changes, impulsive, unstable relationships
“Drama queen”, exaggerates all emotions
Someone who thinks he’s all that, unable to see other’s feelings or viewpoints, need for admiration
Someone who thinks he’s all that, unable to see other’s feelings or viewpoints, need for admiration
Personality disorder Category 3: Anxious/fearful
Avoidant
Dependent
OCD
Intensely shy, sensitive <1% population has this
Extreme dependence on others, unable to make decisions for self, fear of being alone approx 2% population has it
Extreme dependence on others, unable to make decisions for self, fear of being alone approx 2% population has it
Obsessive need for order, cleanliness, or unwanted repetitive thoughts of guilt or desire to to bad things mixed with compulsive, repetitive behaviors (hand washing, walking in a certain pattern, counting) *Note this is also classified under anxiety disorders