Theories of Personality Cognitive Theories of Personality The Early Gestalt Connection Lewin’s Field Theory Asch and Witkin’s Field Dependence Theory More Recent Cognitive Theories Social-Cognitive Theory Locus of Control Theory

Kurt Lewin

Early Gestalt Theories Lewin’s Field Theory The “life space” (or environmental forces) that affect one’s personality Asch and Witkin’s Field Dependence Theory High Field Dependence – sensitive to context High Field Independence – problem focused

Field Dependence The degree to which a person’s perception of information is affected by the surrounding perceptual contextual field.

Rod and Frame Task Field Independent

Rod and Frame Task Field Dependant

Characteristics Associated with Field Dependence Domain Characteristics Children's play preferences Field‑independent children are more likely to favor solitary play over social play. Socialization patterns Field‑independent people are more likely to have been socialized with an emphasis on autonomy over conformity. Career choices Field‑independent people are more likely to be in technological rather than humanitarian occupations Preferred interpersonal Field‑independent people are more likely to distance for conversation sit farther away from a conversational partner Level of eye contact Field‑independent people make less frequent and less prolonged eye contact with a conversational partner.

More Recent Cognitive Theories of Personality Social-Cognitive Theories Theories that look at how we think and feel and why we behave the way we do Julian Rotter’s Locus of Control Theory as an example

Julian Rotter

Cognitive Factors of Locus of Control Theory Internal and External Locus of Control Learned Helplessness Cognitive Styles and Explanatory Styles

Behavioural Factors of Locus of Control Theory Outcome Expectancy – general and specific Will I be rewarded for my behaviour ? Reinforcement Value How big will the reward be? Behaviour Potential What behaviour is required in this situation? The Psychological Situation A combination of the above three