Mind Matters Expected Learning be able to describe some ways that personality is measured and described. Identify my dominant personality traits

Individuals are unique The humanist movement in psychology has the idea that individuals are unique, moulded by the experiences that they have. As we all have different experiences, we are all unique Everyone has their own potential to fulfil their capabilities and this needs nurturing by ourselves and by others. As a result, no two individuals are the same

Neurons What is personality? A person’s preferred style of behaviour We are “creatures of habit” So, tend to be consistent over time and situations If behaviour or personality wasn’t reliable, there’d be no point in measuring it One measurement systems is the Myer Briggs Type Indicator – similar to the one just performed

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator What the MBTI is: • Measure off our domiinantt prefferences ffor ttakiing iin iinfformattiion and makiing deciisiions • May nott be pollariised cllearlly bettween scalles • So,, you can be “a lliittttlle off botth” • No profile is better or worse than another • Hellps expllaiin our workiing sttylle prefferences • Based on tthe ttheory off Carll Jung What the MBTI isn’t: • A measure off abiilliittiies – iitt’’s nott a ttestt • No riightt or wrong answers • Tooll iis an ‘‘iindiicattor’’ – you can agree or diisagree

The Scales Exttraversiion (E) IInttroversiion (II) Sensiing (S) IInttuiittiion (N) Thiinkiing (T) Feelliing (F) Judgiing (J) Perceiiviing (P)

EYSENCK’S TRAIT THEORY There are other theories of self that are more scientific and try to measure personality more reliably. Eysenck believed that personality .. has a genetic basis - we’re born that way has a biological explanation - personality shaped by a part of the mid brain called the reticular activating system. He said that our personality is shaped by the activity and arousal of parts of our nervous system network - we can’t help being disagreeable, shy, open e.t.c

Eysenck’s Trait Theory Personality seen as genetic therefore some of these traits are fixed Categorises people into different types of personality via three personality traits: Extraversion (E score) Neuroticism (N score) Psychoticism (P score)

Eysenck’s Trait Theory (cont.)

Limitations of Trait Theory Some psychologists believe that it appears quite restricting to have three dimensions that all personalities can be measured on

PERSONALITY TRAITS Trait - means a relatively stable and enduring tendency to behave in a particular way (e.g. being punctual, considerate, happy or helpful) Eysenck believed that a combination of personality traits was the self or identity of a person

Listen to each statement and follow the instructions • Eysenck believed that each person’s personality could be assessed by 2 main traits - Extraversion (how outgoing we are) and Neuroticism ( how emotionally stable we are). •These traits combine to tell us about our overall personality •Eysenck studied 700 soldiers who had been psychologically damaged in World War II and concluded that there were 4 basic dimensions to personality - what are they? (see p 142)