Personality Psychology Unit 6. Personality A hotly debated topic! Back to Nature vs Nurture Debate...

Personality PsychologyPersonality Psychology

Unit 6Unit 6

PersonalityPersonalityA hotly debated topic!Back to Nature vs Nurture Debate again

Psychoanalytic Theories study development in terms of drives and urges. ◦At each stage in life we have different urges and are driven toward different goals.

◦These changing urges lead to development.

Psychoanalytic TheoriesPsychoanalytic Theories

Sigmund Freud: The founder/father of psychoanalytic therapy. ◦Believed development occurred as a

result of psychosexual changes. ◦Based his theory of personality on

inhibited sexual drives. ◦Humans are motivated by eros (the

instinct of life) and thanatos (the instinct of death).


Freud’s Theory of Consciousness: ◦Conscious: We are aware of these thoughts at any time.


Freud’s Theory of Consciousness: ◦Preconscious: Things that we can recall at will, but are not continually thought of.


Freud’s Theory of Consciousness: ◦Unconscious: Thoughts and feelings that cannot be intentionally remembered.


Freud’s Theory of Personality: ◦Id: Unconscious

portion of the mind that contains biological drives.


Freud’s Theory of Personality: ◦Superego: The

preconscious area of the mind that contributes to feelings of extreme guilt for fr wrong-doing. This is the area where MORALS are stored!


Freud’s Theory of Personality: ◦Ego: The conscious

area of the mind that is aware of reality and helps to express sexual and aggressive urges in socially acceptable ways. The Ego is the balance

between the Id and the Superego.


Freud’s Theory of Psychosexual Development: Personality develops based on changes in the libido (sexual energy) and fixation on erogenous zones. ◦5 stages of Psychosexual

Development◦Personality is determined by the first

3 stages and is fixed by the age of 5


Age Stage CharacteristicsBirth to 1 year Oral Stage •Infant receives pleasure from oral actions

•Biting•Sucking•chewing)

•Weaning is the single most important behavior associated with this stage.

1-3 years Anal Stage •Child receives pleasure from the anus and defecation. •The psychological goal of the child is independence and autonomy.•The most important behavior in this state is toilet training.

3-6 years Phallic Stage •Child receives pleasure from genitals and genital stimulation. •Freud also believes that boys are proud of their penis and girls are puzzled about why they don’t have one.

7-11 years Latency Stage •Child does not have significant psychosexual development. •Child focuses on friendships and social skills.

12 years- adulthood

Genital Stage •Genitals are the focus of pleasurable feelings. •Young person seeks sexual satisfaction in relationships.

Stages of Psychosexual Stages of Psychosexual DevelopmentDevelopment

Oedipal Complex: The belief that little boys resent the relationship that their fathers have with their mothers, and as a result, harbor a latent desire to murder their fathers and marry/engage in sexual relations with their mothers.

Electra Complex: The belief that little girls resent the relationship that their mothers have with their fathers, and as a result, harbor a latent desire to rebel against their mothers and marry their fathers (or someone eerily similar!)


Defense Mechanisms: Strategies the psyche uses to protect itself from situations or events that may be traumatic.


Anxiety and theAnxiety and theMechanisms of DefenseMechanisms of Defense

Repression Unconscious Motivated Forgetting

The process of preventing unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or urges from reaching conscious awareness


Denial Unconscious Motivated Not Perceiving

Perceptual Defense Research


Rationalization Unconscious Motivated Not Perceiving

Perceptual Defense Research


Other Defense Mechanisms

Reaction Formation

Act opposite of impulse

Projection

Make impulse external


Other Defense Mechanisms

Displacement

Channel impulse to non-threatening target

Sublimation

Channel impulse into socially desired activity


Defense Mechanisms in Everyday Life

Useful in coping with unexpected or disappointing events

Can also make circumstances worse

Freud is widely accepted as a noted theorist, even today. However…

Criticisms: ◦Lack of scientific research◦Subjects Freud observed were often

greatly disturbed◦First 2 stages of psychosexual

development theory still unsupported using studies of children with normal development


Neo-FreudiansNeo-Freudians

Consider parts of Freud's theory valid Modified other aspects Karen Horney: Postulated that Freud

exaggerated the role of sex drive in human behavior

Misunderstood sexual motivation of womenConflict between parents and child due to

parental hostility and intimidation instead of sexual desires manifested

Carl Jung Carl Jung

Swiss Physician More emphasis on search for life and spiritual

meaning continuity of past and present human experiences

Conscious Mind ◦ A Personal Unconscious- Freud's unconscious◦ Collective Unconscious - Present at birth

Represents cumulative experience of previous generations

Archetypes- Images inherited from the experience of ancestors is contained in collective unconscious

Alfred Adler Alfred Adler

Austrian Physician Founded school of thought known as individual

psychology Individual Psychology- Indivisible Psychology Psychology of the whole person- not id, ego,

super ego◦ Conscious goal-directed behavior I◦ Inferiority Complex- exaggerated feeling of failure and

helplessness ◦ Striving for Superiority- Personal Excellence and

fulfillment ◦ Social Concern and interest for others

Learning Approach Learning Approach

Personality is a result of learning in various situations

Specific Behaviors Specific Experiences Some Experiences are a person’s own

and some are imitated

Humanistic PsychologyHumanistic Psychology

1950’sProtest against Behaviorism and

Psychoanalysis Not based on determinism or reductionism

like behaviorism and Psychoanalysis Deals with consciousness, values, and

abstract beliefs that include spiritual experiences

Personality depends how individual perceive the world and on what they believe

Carl Rogers and Self-Carl Rogers and Self-Actualization Actualization

American Most influential PsychologistsHuman Nature –Basically Good Natural Drive toward self-actualization Self concept and image of what they areIdeal SelfUnconditional Positive Regard:

Unqualified acceptance for another person just as they are

Abraham Maslow Abraham Maslow

Hierarchy of needs must be met before proceeding top next level

Final Stage –Self Actualization Accurate perceptions of reality Showed independence Creativity and spontaneityAccepted themselves and othersEnjoyed Life Good sense of humor

Personality Traits and States Personality Traits and States

Individual Personalities differ in two ways1. Nomothetic: Researchers seek generalities

◦Personalities affect behavior◦Based on statistical comparisons of large groups

2. Idiographic: Focus on intensive studies of individuals ◦Life goals affect moods and their reactions to

various events ◦Conclusions that apply to more than one person ◦Not meant to generalize the whole population


Trait: Long lasting behavioral tendency◦Shyness is trait

State: Temporary expression of behavior◦Stage fright is a state

Traits and States are behavioral descriptions

They don’t provide explanations of behavior


The Trait Approach Consistent Personality CharacteristicsHonesty, Friendliness, and NervousnessStudied and measured Internal Locus of Control: Internal forces

credited for successExternal Locus of Control: External forces

blamed for failure


Gordon Alport: ”Trait Psychologist”◦ Said there are 4,500 trait-like words

3 Central Trait Components: 1.Cardinal Trait: Dominates and shapes a person’s

behavior 2.Central Trait: General Characteristic found in some

degree in every person Basic Building blocks that shape most of our

behavior –not as overwhelming as cardinal traits ex: honesty

3.Secondary Trait: Particular likes or dislikes that a very close friend may know

Personality Traits and States Personality Traits and States Raymond B Cattell35 personality traits The Big Five 1. Neuroticism: Tendency to experience

unpleasant emotions 2. Extraversion: Seeks simulation and enjoys

company of others people 3.Agreeableness: Compassionate toward others 4.Conscientiousness: Shows self discipline 5.Openess: Tendency to enjoy new intellectual

experiences: open to new ideas, people and exploring new ideas◦ Hardest to observe!

Personality Traits and States Personality Traits and States Raymond B Cattell’s The Big 5 Personality Traits

Criticism of the Big Five Criticism of the Big Five The Big Five cite 9 overlooked personality

traits that don’t emerge as clusters 1.Religiousness2. Manipulativeness 3. Honesty 4. Sexiness5. Thriftiness6. Conservatives7. Masculinity and Femininity8. snobbishness9. Sense of Humor

Criticism of the Big Five Criticism of the Big Five Hans Eysenck:

◦German Behaviorist◦Personality differences grow out of our genetic inheritance

◦Primarily interested in “temperament” Suggested three biologically based categories of temperament 1. Neuroticism or it’s opposite, stability 2. Extraversion or introversion 3. Agreeableness, or opposite—hostility

Origins of Personality Origins of Personality Studies of twins and adopted children

Heredity does contribute to some observable differences in personality

Family environment contributes a little

Special Experiences could contribute to a variation in personalities from one person to another even in a family

Assessing Traits: An Assessing Traits: An ExampleExample

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)◦The most widely researched and

clinically used of all personality tests◦Developed to identify emotional

disorders

MMPI: ExamplesMMPI: Examples“Nothing in the newspaper interests me except the comics.”

“I get angry sometimes.”

Personaility Assesment Personaility Assesment MMPI-1940’s

◦ Series of true and false questions ◦ Measure personality dimensions

Depression Paranoia and Schizophrenia

MMPI-550 items MMPI-2 567 items Both exams contain certain test questions identify

dishonest answers Both tests are widely used to measure personality

don’t provide as much accuracy as one might expect

Very useful in correlating personality traits with others traits, in testing theories of personality development, and in assessing a client before beginning therapy

Personaility Assesment Personaility Assesment 16PF-Test

Standardized test Personality Factors: Schizophrenia,, Depression, Alcoholism

Measured 16 factors or personality traits various aspects of normal personality Ego Strength Dominance Trust Intelligence Self-sufficency

Printed out as a personality profile Should be cautiously used with people from

different ethnic and cultural backgrounds

Personaility Assesment Personaility Assesment MMPI and 16-PF◦Easy to score◦Calculate ◦Objective nature limits the test takers responses◦Projective techniques ◦Helps people reveal themselves more fully than they would to a stranger or even to themselves

Personaility Assesment Personaility Assesment Rorschach Inkblot Test◦Projective test ◦Herman Rorschach: Swiss Psychiatrists◦Interpretations of Ambiguous Inkblot◦Everything revealed in a poorly defined situation gives clues to your personality ◦Valuable personal information

Personaility Assesment Personaility Assesment Rorschach Inkblot Test

Personaility Assesment Personaility Assesment Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)

◦Test Taker makes up a story for each picture, describe what is occurring, what events led up to the scene, what will occur in the future

◦TAT-Clinical setting, induce clients to discuss their problems and for research purposes◦More accurate in assessing what a person has done rather than what he or she will do in the future

Personaility Assesment Personaility Assesment Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)

Uses and Misuses of Personality Tests Uses and Misuses of Personality Tests

Aid in assessing personality Results interpreted cautiously Job selection Results valid for employment screening

Personality Tests Review Personality Tests Review

Test MMPIPurpose: T or F questions intended to measure different personality dimensions: depression, paranoia, and schizophrenia

Usefulness: Helps correlate personality traits with other traits. Helps to test theories of personality development. Helps to assess a client before beginning therapy

Weaknesses: Not very accurate


Test 16-PF Test Purpose: Measures various aspects of normal personality. Test measures 16 factors or personality traits

Usefulness: Helps clinicians ID abnormalities such as schizophrenia, alcoholism and depression

Weaknesses: Has to be used with caution on people of different cultural backgrounds


Test Rorschach Inkblot TestPurpose: Projective test based on an individuals interpretations of ten ambiguous ink blots

Usefulness: Gives clues into someone’s personality by showing how they deal with a poorly defined situation

Weaknesses: Information may be misinterpreted, too subjective


Test TATPurpose: Through storytelling clients are forced to discuss their problems. Also helps in research

Usefulness: Results are more accurate in assessing what a person has done recently rather than what they will do in the future

Weaknesses: Information may be misinterpreted, too subjective

Personality Psychology Unit 6. Personality A hotly debated topic! Back to Nature vs Nurture Debate...

Documents

Transcript of Personality Psychology Unit 6. Personality A hotly debated topic! Back to Nature vs Nurture Debate...