1. Personality-- What is it?
How can we study it?
11/22/2018
© 2003 by Lucie Johnson

2. Persona: the theatrical mask
A thought:
Masks reveal what they conceal. By donning some masks but not others, people disclose precisely what they would most shield. Indeed, a person does not hide behind a mask so much as struggle beneath the weight of it. (C. F. Monte)
What do you think?
11/22/2018
© 2003 by Lucie Johnson

3. Personality, literally means
The mask or mouthpiece through which we appear
To ourselves
To others
Is it ever possible to be even just with ourselves (never mind others) without a mask? Without a need to create an impression?
11/22/2018
© 2003 by Lucie Johnson

4. How is our personality built?
Is it mostly built as a protective structure to guard our more fragile points? To make up for painful experiences? (Epstein p. 19)
Think of a time you or someone else developed ways to behave, speak, even feel in order to cope with challenges or painful events.
11/22/2018
© 2003 by Lucie Johnson

5. Personality is…
A set of ENDURING strategies, qualities, characteristics, ways to be that we have developed in the course of life in order to cope with the circumstances of our life.
Thus, some of these strategies serve us well, and others are outdated, counter productive and stand in our way.
11/22/2018
© 2003 by Lucie Johnson

6. Personality is not… The heart of who you are.
Who a person is at heart is always somewhat of a mystery. This is why, for example, the Psalmist prays:” Search me, O God, and know my heart… see if there be any wicked way in me.”(Ps 139:23-24). Only God truly knows our heart.
11/22/2018
© 2003 by Lucie Johnson

7. Personality is enduring
Because of the stability of
Our biology
Our cultural environment
Our personal environment
We develop stable qualities, life strategies etc… and those constitute our personality.
11/22/2018
© 2003 by Lucie Johnson

8. Ethnicity, gender and personality
Personality manifests itself differently in different cultures --not surprising if personality reflects a way to adapt.
Similarly, gender makes a difference also
Yet personality studies historically have primarily worked with white male college students (also under-representing the old, the blue-collar etc)
11/22/2018
© 2003 by Lucie Johnson

9. Some interesting research
Go read excerpts of three cross-cultural and/or bilingual studies in the Blackboard course, course documents/week 1.
11/22/2018
© 2003 by Lucie Johnson

10. How would you describe your personality?
Do the exercise p. 4-5 in the text using the Gough Adjective Check list (ACL).
Note: you could do this exercise from the perspective of your ‘actual’ or ‘ideal’ self. The full ACL can be analyzed in 37 scales that measure variables ranging from affiliation, to the need for order, to creative personality.
A current use of a shorter ACL
11/22/2018
© 2003 by Lucie Johnson

11. Objective personality tests
The MMPI (now MMPI-2). Very well known and studied. Used primarily to screen for pathology. A LONG set of questions to answer “true” or “false”
The CPI oriented toward normal personality (Gough)
The 16 PF developed by Raymond Cattell
11/22/2018
© 2003 by Lucie Johnson

12. Other methods of study Clinical interview
Behavioral assessment: here is an example of the approach in education
Thought sampling (done by the subjects themselves)
11/22/2018
© 2003 by Lucie Johnson

13. Projective tests
Rorschach Inkblot technique developed by Hermann Rorschach
Holtzman Inkblot technique developed by Wayne Holtzman
Thematic Apperception test developed by Henry Murray and Christiana Morgan
11/22/2018
© 2003 by Lucie Johnson

14. Your personal theory of personality
Take a piece of paper and write a couple paragraphs about your own theory of personality
How do people become who they are?
How important is heredity? Nurture?
Are people’s choices free?
What do you consider core dimensions of personality
Etc.
11/22/2018
© 2003 by Lucie Johnson

15. Formal theories They go beyond the personal ones
But they have a personal basis.
Keep your write-up about your own personal theory. See how it changes as you study a number of approaches.
11/22/2018
© 2003 by Lucie Johnson

16. Be sure to read the text also.
The End
Be sure to read the text also.
11/22/2018
© 2003 by Lucie Johnson