Self and Personality Chapter 11

Principles of Personality Development Dan McAdams and Jennifer Pals 5 principles they believe define personality (309-310) Human Nature – has been shaped by evolution and has helped humans adapt to their environment Dispositional Traits – broad and relatively stable dimension of personality such as extraversion-introversion along with humans differing their thinking, feeling, and behavior. Characteristic adaptations – situational-specific and changeable ways in which people adapt to their roles and environmental, including motives, goals, plans, schemas, self-conceptions, stage-specific concerns, and coping mechanisms. Narrative identities – unique and integrative “life stories” that we construct about our pasts and futures to give ourselves an identity and our lives meaning. Cultural and Situational influence – shapes all of these aspects and personality.

The Infant The emerging self Self-recognition – the ability to recognize oneself in a mirror or photograph. Temperament – early, genetically based tendencies to respond in predictable ways to events that serve as the building blocks of personality. Easy – even tempered, typically content or happy, and open and adaptable to new experiences. They have regular feeding and sleeping habits, and they are tolerate frustrations and discomforts. Difficult – active, irritable, and irregular in their habits. They often react negatively and vigorously to changes in routine and are slow to adapt to new people or situations. They cry frequency and loudly and often have tantrums when they are frustrated by such events as being restrained or having to live with a dirty diaper. Slow-to-warm-up: - relatively inactive, somewhat mood, and only moderately regular in their daily schedules. Like difficult infants, they are slow to adapt to new people and situations, but they typically respond in mildly, rather than intensely negative ways. They eventually adjust, showing a quiet interest in new foods, people, or places.

Scholastic competence Overall Self-Worth Scholastic competence Social Acceptance Behavioral Conduct Athletic Competence Physical Appearance The Child The Multidimensional and hierarchical nature of self-esteem.

The Adolescent Self esteem Forging a Sense of Identity Big-fish-little pond effect: the phenomenon in which a student’s academic self-concept and performance are likely to be more positive in an academically unselective school than in a highly selective one with many high-achieving students. (exp. When a valictorium goes to college) Forging a Sense of Identity Moratorium period – a time during high school and college years when they are relatively free of responsibilities and can experiemetn with different roles to find themselves. Ethnic identity – a sense of personal identification with an thnic group and its value and cultural traditions. Influences on Identity formation 1. cognitive growth 2. personality 3. relationships with parents 4. opportunities to explore 5. cultural contexts

The Adult

The Adult

Levison’s Stages of Adult Development Early Adult Transition Entering the Adult World Age 30 Transition Settling Down Midlife Transition