Chapter 15: Defining Personality The word comes from the Latin persona, meaning “mask.” Personality An individual’s distinct and relatively enduring pattern of thoughts, feelings, motives, and behaviors

Four major approaches to Personality. Chapter 15: Personality Four major approaches to Personality. Psychoanalysis The Cognitive Social-Learning Approach The Humanistic Approach The Trait Approach

Psychoanalysis Freud’s Theory of Personality Freud’s theory of personality and method of psychotherapy, both of which assume that our motives are largely unconscious

Personality: Freud’s Psychodynamic Approach Id Definition: - Primitive part of personality - Supplies libido - Demands immediate pleasure Level of Unconscious Consciousness:

Personality: Freud’s Psychodynamic Approach SuperEgo Definition: - Judge or censor - “Internal parent” Level of Partly conscious, Consciousness: mostly unconscious

Personality: Freud’s Psychodynamic Approach Ego Definition: - Executive of personality - Directs rational behavior Level of Partly conscious, and partly Consciousness: unconscious

Psychoanalysis Psychosexual Development Psychosexual Stages Freud’s stages of personality development during which pleasure is derived from different parts of the body Oral (the first year of life) Anal (ages 2-3) Phallic (ages 4-6) When Oedipus complex and identification occur Latency period (ages 7-12) Genital (starting at puberty)

Psychoanalysis The Dynamics of Personality To minimize the anxiety due to the conflict between the id and the superego, the ego uses defense mechanisms. Unconscious methods of minimizing anxiety by denying and distorting reality Repression (forgetting) Denial (ignoring) Projection (attributing to others) Reaction Formation (converting to its opposite) Rationalization (making excuses) Sublimation (channeling into acceptable outlets

The Cognitive Social- Learning Approach Cognitive Social-Learning Theory An approach to personality that focuses on social learning (modeling), acquired cognitive factors (expectancies, values), and the person-situation interaction Section outline

The Cognitive Social-Learning Approach Social-Learning Theory Modeling The social-learning process by which behavior is observed and imitated Locus of Control The expectancy that one’s reinforcements are generally controlled by internal or external factors Self-Efficacy The belief that one is capable of performing the behaviors required to produce a desired outcome

The Humanistic Approach Humanistic Theory An approach to personality that focuses on the self, subjective experience, and the capacity for fulfillment Section outline

The Humanistic Approach The Personality Theory of Carl Rogers Figure 15-6 from: Kassin, S. (2001). Psychology, third edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

The Humanistic Approach Rogers’ Theory Unconditional Positive Regard The acceptance and love one receives from significant others is unqualified Conditional Positive Regard The acceptance and love one receives from significant others is contingent upon one’s behavior Figure 15-6 from: Kassin, S. (2001). Psychology, third edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

The Humanistic Approach Carl Rogers Self-Esteem A positive or negative evaluation of the self Self-Schemas Specific beliefs about the self that influence how people interpret self-relevant information

Personality: Trait approach Personality trait theorists: - look for general trends in personality - believe that personality is enduring and stable

Personality: Trait approach What are personality traits? - A personality trait is a stable, enduring quality that a person shows in most situations. - A personality trait is who you are MOST of the time.

Personality measures: trait approach NEO Personality Inventory - Also known as the Five Factor Model (FFM). - Condenses personality down to 5 “factors”.

Personality measures: trait approach NEO Personality Inventory - Five factors are: Extroversion Neuroticism Agreeableness Conscientiousness Openness to Experience

Personality measures: trait approach NEO Personality Inventory Extroversion is associated with: - Positive emotionality - Sociability - Risk taking - Likelihood to enter sales, mgt., or accounting

Personality measures: trait approach NEO Personality Inventory Neuroticism is associated with: - subjective discomfort - anxiety - emotional stability

Personality measures: trait approach NEO Personality Inventory Agreeableness is associated with: - desire for harmony and cooperation - pro-social and team-related behavior

Personality measures: trait approach NEO Personality Inventory Conscientiousness is associated with: - work related behavior (all kinds) - self-discipline - thoroughness

Personality measures: trait approach NEO Personality Inventory Openness to Experience is associated with: - imagination - sensitivity and openness to new ideas - hypnotic susceptibility

Applying personality trait theory Kurt Lewin’s Life Space Theory Behavior = (f) Person X Situation (Environment) Life space theory postulates that behavior is a function (result or outcome of) of the unique interaction of people and their immediate psychological environment (situation).

Consistency of traits: self-monitoring Self-monitoring: individual differences in people’s ability and motivation to engage in strategic self-presentation. High self-monitors: (1) first look to the environment (2) secondly determine if they’re “being themselves” Low self-monitors: (1) first determine if they’re “being themselves” (2) secondly look to the environment

Different types of situations “Normal” situations - People’s choices reflect their personalities. - People believe they have choices about how to behave. “Extreme” situations - People’s choices do not necessarily reflect their personalities. - People often act the same because there are strong expectations about how to behave.