Approaches to personality How do psychologists explain why we are the way we are?

SummaryAssumptionsPsychologistsMethods Characterized by unconscious processes; childhood experiences very important Most important aspects of personality are unconscious. Sigmund Freud Carl Jung Alfred Adler Karen Horneye a case study; projective tests

SummaryAssumptionsPsychologistsMethods Personality grows out of desire to grow & self-actualize; Can be undermined by social pressure Human nature is basically good. If we know who we are and what we want, we can be happy & healthy. Carl Rogers Abraham Maslow a case study

SummaryAssumptionsPsychologistsMethods Personality is characterized by 5 general traits that people use to describe themselves & others. Traits are relatively stable over time Gordon Allport Myers-Briggs Hans Eysenck survey; personality inventories

SummaryAssumptionsPsychologistsMethods Personality is the pattern that characterizes a person’s interactions with the situations s/he encounters in life. Behavior changes across situations. To understand personality, we must understand situations. Albert Bandura survey; observation; experimentation

SummaryAssumptionsPsychologistsMethods Personality characteristics reflect underlying biological processes- brain, neurotransmitters, & genes Biological differences among individuals can explain differences in personality. Hans Eysenck brain imaging, twin studies; molecular genetic studies

Perspectives SummaryAssumptions Psychologis ts Methods Psychodynamic Characterized by unconscious processes; childhood experiences very important Most important aspects of personality are unconscious. Sigmund Freud Carl Jung Alfred Adler Karen Horneye a case study; projective tests Humanistic Personality grows out of desire to grow & self- actualize; Can be undermined by social pressure Human nature is basically good. If we know who we are and what we want, we can be happy & healthy. Carl Rogers Abraham Maslow a case study Trait Personality is characterized by 5 general traits that people use to describe themselves & others. Traits are relatively stable over time Gordon Allport Myers-Briggs Hans Eysenck survey; personality inventories Social Cognitive Personality is the pattern that characterizes a person’s interactions with the situations s/he encounters in life. Behavior changes across situations. To understand personality, we must understand situations. Albert Bandura survey; observation; experimentation Biological Personality characteristics reflect underlying biological processes- brain, neurotransmitters, & genes Biological differences among individuals can explain differences in personality. brain imaging, twin studies; molecular genetic studies