Personality Personality is a distinct set of consistent behavioral traits Distinctiveness - Uniqueness of set of personality traits Consistency - Tendency to behave in the same way in a variety of situations A personality trait is a durable disposition to behave in a particular way in a variety of different situations

Gordon Allport Cardinal Traits Central Traits Secondary Traits Dominant traits that characterize nearly all of a person’s behavior Central Traits Prominent dispositions found in everyone Secondary Traits Dispositions that occur in some situations but not others

Cattell’s 16PF

Big 5 Personality Traits Mcrae & Costa Agreeableness Neuroticism Conscientiousness Extraversion Openness to Experience

Approaches to Understanding Personality Psychodynamic – behavior is the result of unconscious forces Freud Jung Adler Behavioral – behavior is the result of reinforced responses Skinner Bandura Mischel Humanistic – behavior is the result of striving for the ideal Rogers Maslow Biological– behavior is the result of inborn genetic factors Eysenck Buss

Freud’s Psychodynamic Theory

Freudian Defense Mechanisms

Freud’s Stages of Psychosexual Development

Other Psychodynamic Theorists Carl Jung: Analytical Psychology Introversion/Extroversion Personal and collective unconscious Archetypes

Figure 12.4 Jung’s vision of the collective unconscious

Alfred Adler: Individual Psychology Striving for superiority Compensation Inferiority complex/overcompensation Birth order

Evaluating Psychodynamic Perspectives Pros The unconscious The role of internal conflict The importance of early childhood experiences Cons Poor testability Inadequate empirical base Sexist views

Behavioral Perspectives Skinner’s views Conditioning and response tendencies Environmental determinism

Fig. 12-5, p. 482

Behavioral Perspectives Bandura’s views Social leaning theory Cognitive processes and reciprocal determinism Observational learning Models Self-efficacy

Behavioral Perspectives Mischel’s views The person-situation controversy

Evaluating Behavioral Perspectives Pros Based on rigorous research Insights into effects of learning and environmental factors Cons Over-dependence on animal research Fragmented view of personality Dehumanizing views

Humanistic Perspectives Carl Rogers Person Centered Theory Self-concept Conditional/unconditional positive regard Incongruence and anxiety

Fig. 12-9, p. 488

Fig. 12-10, p. 488

Humanistic Perspectives Abraham Maslow Self-actualization theory Hierarchy of needs The healthy personality

Fig. 12-11, p. 489

Fig. 12-12, p. 490

Evaluating Humanistic Perspectives Humanistic theories are credited with highlighting the importance of a person’s subjective view of reality. They are also applauded for focusing attention on the issue of what constitutes a healthy personality. They are criticized for lacking a strong research base, poor testability, and what may be an overly optimistic view of human nature (Maslow had a hard time finding live people who had self-actualized).

Biological Perspectives Eysenk’s theory 3 higher order traits Extraversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism Determined by genes Twin studies Novelty seeking and genetics The evolutionary approach Traits conducive to reproductive fitness

Fig. 12-14, p. 493

Evaluating Biological Perspectives Pros Convincing evidence for genetic influence Cons Conceptual problems with heritability estimates Artificial carving apart of nature and nurture No comprehensive biological theory