Understanding Personality Chapter Focus: Factors that influence personality Overview of personality theories Criticism of those theories.

Personality The sum total of an individual’s consistent, organized, and unique thoughts and reactions to the environment.

The Development of Personality Many factors weigh into how a personality develops. Intelligence, Heredity, and social factors all play a role and influence in personality.

Influence of the Home Most of a child’s early life in spent in the home, so it is important. Parenting has a great deal of influence on a child’s personality. Some children are forced to begin making decisions at an early age, while some are very dependent. Affection influences personality/trust.

Influence of Birth Order Birth order does not have a biological impact on personality. However, there is a social effect, because children are brought up differently in many cases. Maternal treatment differs.

Maternal Changes Mothers spent less time taking care of second and third born. Less maternal treatment of second born girls if the first born was also a girl. Second born boys were mothered just as much as first born girls.

Two kid families First born is an only child for a while so they tend to be shy, serious, and oriented to adults. Younger child tends to be cheerful, out-going, and less studious than the older child.

First Born Famous people are more likely to be first born. A larger percentage go to college. Are more socially conforming than younger siblings. First born females desire the company of others when afraid.

Influence of Society Society – A large group of people who share common traits, customs, and ways of behaving. Personality is shaped by interactions with social contacts in and out of the home. We gradually learn what is expected of us by the society we live in.

Approach to Explain Personality Molecular approach - Behavior is explained in terms of tiny, very specific units, such as nerve impulses. Molar Approach – Concerned with larger, more general units and the influence of goals and expectations on one’s behavior.

Factors of explaining behavior Role of goals. Effects of reward and punishment. Role of learning. Influence of heredity. Importance of early childhood. How unique their behavior is. Role of the environment.

Psychoanalytic Theories Stem from the work of Freud. He was the first and most influential people to form a theory of personality. His ideas have had a lasting impact on psychology.

Freud’s Theory Conscious – those thoughts that we are aware of at any moment. Unconscious – contains the desires, wishes, needs, and impulses that we are not aware of Conscious thoughts are the tip of the iceberg while unconscious make up the largest part of the iceberg under the water.

The Id The original system of personality and the energy source for the rest of the personality. It is completely unconscious and has no direct contact. It acts according to the pleasure principle which seeks to lower tension by obtaining pleasure.

The Ego It is primarily conscious. Provides a middle role between the pleasures of the id and the reality of the outside world. The ego is based on the reality principle, which finds appropriate ways to satisfy needs. It limits pleasure and protects you from the id.

The Superego This refers to the moral aspects of the personality. Represents morals and ideals. Dictates right and wrong. It prevents id impulses from being expressed, and moralizes the ego

Studying the Unconscious Freud tried hypnosis first to study the id. Free Association – when people say whatever comes into the mind Also thought that dreams were expressions of the unconscious.

Carl Jung Originally a follower of Freud, Jung went on to his own theory. Believed human behavior was determined by goals and not just childhood experiences. Stressed ancestry and pulling parts of the personality together.

The Unconscious Jung divided it into two parts: Personal unconscious – consists of experiences that have been forgotten through the years. Collective unconscious – Contains all memories from our ancestors. It is stuff we all have. EX: Being afraid of the dark.

Introversion and Extroversion Introverted people respond mainly to their own inner thoughts – Ex: feeling hurt easily, daydreaming, blushing, stage fright, careful. Extroverted people respond mainly to social situations – Ex: making friend easily, life of party

Social Psychoanalytic Theories This theory has some of the same components as Freud/Jung, but they stress the social and cultural influences on personality.

Alfred Adler 1870-1937 People are social creatures and stressed conscious awareness instead of unconscious thoughts. Creative self – It makes people strive toward complete fulfillment.

Erich Fromm 1900-81 Five needs of the individual: Relatedness – need others. Transcendence – need to become creative. Belonging – being part of world Identity – need to be unique Frame of reference – view life.

Karen Horney 1885-1952 She emphasized the social relationship between child and parents. Parental mistakes impact child. Insecure children deal with it differently, some crave love and others act out in negative ways. These problems are created.

Harry Sullivan 1892-1949 Key to personality in interpersonal relationships. Dynamism – Habits that we repeat over and over. Personification – Our image of ourselves or another person. Cognitive processes – ways of thinking and communicating.

Erik Erikson 1902-1982 Eight stages of personality – all stages involve solving a major crisis. Establishing trust/mistrust. Achieving individuality. Channeling attraction to opposite sex parent.

8 stages of personality 4. Industry – Ability to work hard 5. Identity – Who am I? 6. Intimacy – Sharing with others. 7. Accomplishment – Doing something worthwhile. 8. Integrity or Despair – If life is full, they are happy. If not, sad.

Behavioristic Theories Behaviorists investigate the role of learned behaviors in the development of personality. They examine the conditions and situations that impact the learning of those behaviors.

BF Skinner 1904-90 Analyzed external event to examine behavior – what happens to you. Reinforcement – when a behavior is rewarded, there is a good chance that the behavior will be repeated. Punishment – Believed this was not the best way to change behavior.

Albert Bandurea 1925- Focused on social behavior. Believed new behaviors are learned through observation and imitation. Model – A person we use as an example of how to behave. A behavior is more likely if the child sees the model is rewarded.

Humanistic Theories Emphasize the positive aspects of human growth. Says the human personality has an active drive toward health, growth, and creativity. The environment causes negative behaviors.

Abraham Maslow Said people are motivated by certain needs. These seven needs are in a specific order, and the need on the bottom of the hierarchy must be met before the ones at the top. The hierarchy appears on page 123

Hierarchy of Needs - Mazlow 1. Physiological Needs Safety Needs. Love and Belongingness Needs Esteem Needs. Needs to Know and Understand. Aesthetic Needs Self-Actualization Needs

Mazlow’s Needs Self-actualization – When people try new things to grow better. The lower 4 “push” an individual in certain directions toward need fulfillment. The top 3 reflect growth motivation. They “pull” the individual toward them.

Carl Rogers 1902-87 All people have free will to determine their own personality. Self-concept – A system of attitudes that people have toward themselves People’s behavior support their own self-concept. When your behavior opposes one’s self-concept, often blame is placed.

Criticisms of Personality Theory Psycho-Analytic – Freud’s procedures were not repeatable. Social P-A – Too idealistic. Behavioristic – Not relating behaviors and putting too much on environment. Humanistic – Too subjective, and there is not evidence of a hierarchy of needs.