THEORIES OF PERSONALITY

We will discuss… Meaning of Type approach Type approach by Hippocrates Type approach by Charak Samhita Type approach by Sheldon Type approach by Carl Jung Meaning of Trait approach Trait approach by Gordan Allport Trait approach by Raymond Cattell Trait approach by H.J. Eysenck

Theories of Personality Type & Trait Behavioural Humanistic Psychoanalytic NEO-FREUDIAN Theories of Personality Theories of Personality A number of approaches and theories have been developed to understand and explain behavioural differences among individuals, and behavioural consistencies within an individual. These theories are based on different models of human behaviour. Each throws light on some, but not all, aspects of personality.

i. Type APPRAOCH (1) Hippocrate (3) Sheldon (2) Charak Samhita (Ayurveda) (4) Carl JUng Theories of Personality The type approaches attempts to comprehend human personality by examining certain broad patterns in the observed behavioural characteristics of individuals. Each behavioural pattern refers to one type in which individuals are placed in terms of the similarity of their behavioural characteristics with that pattern. These approaches classified human personalities depending upon the behavioural characteristics, somatic structure, blood types, fluids in the body. The type approaches attempts to comprehend human personality by examining certain broad patterns in the observed behavioural characteristics of individuals.

I. HIPPOCRATES Type Approach According to Hippocrates- human body consists of four types of humours or fluids – Blood, Yellow bile, Phlegm and black bile. The predominance of one of these four types of fluids which are all present in one’s body gives him unique temperamental characteristics leading to a particular type of personality. Types of Personality: Sanguine Choleric Phlegmatic Melancholic Sanguine – It has blood as a dominant fluid in the body and such a person is light hearted, optimistic, happy, hopeful, and accomodating. Choleric – It is dominated by yellow bile having temperamental characteristics of irritability, anger, and strong active imagination. Phlegmatic – It is dominated by Phlegm or mucus and are basically cold, calm, slow or sluggish and indifferent. Melancholic – It has the dominance of black bile. It is characterised by bad temper, dejection, sadness, depression, pessimism and are self involved.

ii. Charak Samhita (Ayurveda) Classifies people into the categories of Vata, Pitta Kapha on the basis of three humoural elements called tridosha. Each refers to a type of temperament, called prakriti (basic nature) of a person. A person with a predominantly Vata constitution will have physical and mental qualities that reflect the elemental qualities of Space and Air. That is why Vata types are commonly quick thinking, thin, and fast moving. A Pitta type, on the other hand, will have qualities reflective of Fire and Water, such as a fiery personality and oily skin. A Kapha type will typically have a solid bodily frame and calm temperament, reflecting the underlying elements of Earth and Water.

Apart from this, there is also a typology of personality based on the trigunas, i.e. sattva, rajas, and tamas. Sattva guna Rajas guna Tamas guna All the three gunas are present in each and every person in different degrees. The dominance of one or the other guna may lead to a particular type of behaviour. Sattva guna includes attributes like cleanliness, truthfulness, dutifulness, detachment, discipline, etc. Rajas guna includes intensive activity, desire for sense gratification, dissatisfaction, envy for others, and a materialistic mentality, etc. Tamas guna characterises anger, arrogance, depression, laziness, feeling of helplessness, etc.

Sattvic, Rajasic,or Tamasic Reflection Spot… What are you ? Sattvic, Rajasic,or Tamasic

III. Sheldon’s Body types Sheldon classified human beings into discrete types according to their physical structures (body types) and attached certain temperamental characteristics. Endomorphs Mesomorphs Ectomorphs These body typologies are simple, and have limited use in predicting behaviour of individuals. They are more like stereotypes which people hold. Endomorphs: The endomorphs are fat, soft and round. By temperament they are relaxed and sociable. These are easy going and affectionate personalities. Mesomorphs: The mesomorphs have strong musculature, are rectangular with a strong body build. They are energetic and courageous. They are self assertive. They like taking risk and are adventurous. Ectomorphs : The ectomorphs are thin, long and fragile in body build. They are brainy, artistic and introvert. They are pessimistic, unsociable and reserved.

Identify Endomorphs, Mesomorphs, Ectomorphs in your friend circle. Reflection Spot… Identify Endomorphs, Mesomorphs, Ectomorphs in your friend circle.

IV. Carl Jung’s typology Jung has proposed another important typology by grouping people into introverts and extraverts. This is widely recognised. INTROVERTS EXTRAVERTS INTROVERTS are people who prefer to be alone, tend to avoid others, withdraw themselves in the face of emotional conflicts, and are shy. EXTRAVERTS are sociable, outgoing, drawn to occupations that allow dealing directly with people, and react to stress by trying to lose themselves among people and social activity. AMBIVERTS are a combination of the above mentioned personalities.

Reflection Spot… Are you an Ambivert?

Theories of Personality Ii. Trait APPRAOCH (1) Gordan Allport (3) H.J. Eysenck (2) Raymond Cattell Theories of Personality Trait approach focuses on the specific psychological attributes along which individuals tend to differ in consistent and stable ways. “A trait is considered as a relatively enduring attribute or quality on which one individual differs from another. They include a range of possible behaviours that are activated according to the demands of the situation”. The following are the main features of traits :(a) traits are relatively stable over time, (b) they are generally consistent across situations, and (c) their strengths and combinations vary across individuals leading to individual differences in personality. Trait approach focuses on the specific psychological attributes along which individuals tend to differ in consistent and stable ways. For example, one person may be less shy, whereas another may be more; or one person may be less friendly, whereas another may be more. Here “shyness” and “friendliness” represent traits along which individuals can be rated in terms of the degree of presence or absence of the concerned behavioural quality or a trait. “A trait is considered as a relatively enduring attribute or quality on which one individual differs from another. They include a range of possible behaviours that are activated according to the demands of the situation”. The following are the main features of traits :(a) traits are relatively stable over time, (b) they are generally consistent across situations, and (c) their strengths and combinations vary across individuals leading to individual differences in personality.

The figure illustrates the manner in which a trait operates… Lack of friends Avoidance of Social gathering Enjoyment of solitary activities Peers Reluctance to participate in discussions Parties Hobbies Seminars SHYNESS STIMULI TRAIT RESPONSE The figure explains how a trait of shyness works on the stimuli like peers, Parties, Hobbies and seminars. An individual who has a trait of shyness would have not so many friends. She/he would avoid attending social gatherings. The individual will be comfortable working alone rather than in groups and would also show reluctance in participating in discussions, seminars etc.

I. Allport’s trait approach Gordon Allport - pioneer of trait approach. He proposed that- individuals possess a number of traits, which are dynamic in nature. Traits determine behaviour in such a manner that an individual approaches different situations with similar plans. Traits integrate stimuli and responses which otherwise look dissimilar. There are three major categories of traits: Cardinal traits Central traits - Secondary traits Gordon Allport is considered the pioneer of trait approach. He proposed that individuals possess a number of traits, which are dynamic in nature. They determine behaviour in such a manner that an individual approaches different situations with similar plans. The traits integrate stimuli and responses which otherwise look dissimilar. Allport argued that the words people use to describe themselves and others provide a basis for understanding human personality. He analysed the words of English language to look for traits which describe a person. Cardinal traits are highly generalised dispositions. They indicate the goal around which a person’s entire life seems to revolve. Mahatma Gandhi’s non-violence and Hitler’s Nazism are examples of cardinal traits. Such traits often get associated with the name of the person so strongly that they derive such identities as the ‘Gandhian’ or ‘Hitlerian’ trait. Central traits are less general than cardinal traits and are more in number in a person. These traits are often used in writing a testimonial or job recommendation for a person. When we describe somebody’s behaviour, we are usually referring to central traits such as intelligent, sincere, kind, possessive , competitive, honest etc. Secondary traits The least generalised characteristics of a person are called secondary traits. Traits such as ‘likes mangoes’ or ‘prefers ethnic clothes’ are examples of secondary traits.

What is your Cardinal Trait? REFLECTION SPOT… What is your Cardinal Trait?

II. Raymond Cattell’s Factor theory Given by Raymond Cattell According to him there is a common structure on which people differ from each other. He applied a statistical technique, called factor analysis, to discover the common structures. He found 16 basic personality factors including emotional stability, outgoingness, assertiveness, self assurance self discipline etc. He distinguished between Source traits and surface traits. Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF), for the assessment of personality. believed that there is a common structure on which people differ from each other. He tried to identify the primary traits from a huge array of descriptive adjectives found in language. He applied a statistical technique, called factor analysis, to discover the common structures. He found 16 basic personality factors including emotional stability, outgoingness, assertiveness, self assurance self discipline etc. He distinguished between Source traits and surface traits. The source traits are stable, and are considered as the building blocks of personality. They are simply a collection of trait elements of greater or lesser amount which go together in many different individuals and circumstances. These can be seen easily in other individuals. Surface traits that result out of the interaction of source traits. For example, shyness, being quiet and disliking crowds might all be surface traits related to the more basic source trait of introversion, a tendency to withdraw from excessive stimulation. He developed a test, called Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF), for the assessment of personality.

Identify your surface traits? REFLECTION SPOT… Identify your surface traits?

III. H.J. Eysenck’s Dimensions of personality H.J. Eysenck proposed that personality could be reduced into two broad dimensions. These are biologically and genetically based. Each dimension subsumes a number of specific traits. These dimensions are: Neuroticism vs. emotional stability Extraversion vs. introversion In a later work a third dimension, called Psychoticism vs. Sociability, Eysenck Personality Questionnaire is the test which is used for studying these dimensions of personality. H.J. Eysenck proposed that personality could be reduced into two broad dimensions. These are biologically and genetically based. Each dimension subsumes a number of specific traits. These dimensions are: (1) Neuroticism vs. emotional stability : It refers to the degree to which people have control over their feelings. At one extreme of the dimension, we find people who are neurotic. They are anxious, moody, touchy, restless and quickly lose control. At the other extreme lie people who are calm, even-tempered, reliable and remain under control. (2) Extraversion vs. introversion : It refers to the degree to which people are socially outgoing or socially withdrawn. At one extreme are those who are active, gregarious, impulsive and thrill seeking. At the other extreme are people who are passive, quiet, cautious and reserved. In a later work Eysenck proposed a third dimension, called Psychoticism vs. Sociability, which is considered to interact with the other two dimensions mentioned above. A person who scores high on psychoticism dimension tends to be hostile, egocentric, and antisocial. Eysenck Personality Questionnaire is the test which is used for studying these dimensions of personality.

Are you at times Neurotic? REFLECTION SPOT… Are you at times Neurotic?

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