1. Basic Questions in Personality Theory Is personality innate or learned? Is personality innate or learned? Is personality consistent over time? (when do we become who we are?) Is personality consistent over time? (when do we become who we are?) Is personality consistent across situations? Is personality consistent across situations? Is human nature essentially good or evil? Is human nature essentially good or evil? Do we have free will? Do we have free will?

2. THEORY 1. Describe 1. Describe 2. Explain 2. Explain 3. Predict 3. Predict

3. A Good Theory 1. Systematic & Coherent 1. Systematic & Coherent 2. Testable 2. Testable 3. Comprehensive (parsimonious but not too narrow) 3. Comprehensive (parsimonious but not too narrow) 4. Interesting (compelling & meaningful) 4. Interesting (compelling & meaningful)

4. What is Personality?

5. Allport’s definition of Personality “Personality is a dynamic organization inside a person of psychophysical systems that creates a person’s characteristic patterns of behavior, thought and feeling.” “Personality is a dynamic organization inside a person of psychophysical systems that creates a person’s characteristic patterns of behavior, thought and feeling.”

6. What does this mean? Suggests that Personality is: Suggests that Personality is: psychological psychological enduring enduring general general