1. General Phsycology SEM -II
PERSONALITY TYPES OR THEORIES
K.Aparna Devi
Dept. of Home Science.

2. PERSONALITY TYPES OR THEORIES
THEORIES ADOPTING TYPE APPROACH
Hippocrates
Kretschmer
Sheldon
Jung
THEORIES ADOPTING TRAIT APPROACH
Allport
Cattell’s
c. THEORIES ADOPTING TYPE CUM TRAIT APPROACH
Eysenck’s theory

3. D. THEORIES ADOPTING DEVELOPMENT APPROACH
1. Freud’s psycho-analytic approach
2. Adler’s individual psychology theory
3. Carl Roger’s self theory
TYPE APPROACH:
Hippocrates classification:
The human body consists of four types of humours of fluids.
The predominance of one of these 4 types of fluids in one’s body gives him unique temperamental characteristic leading to a particular type of personality summarized as below:

4. Dominance of fluid
Personality type
Temperamental characteristics
Blood
Sanguine
Light hearted, optimistic, happy, hopeful and accomodating
Yellow bile
Choleric
Irritable, angry but passionate and strong with active imagination
Phlegm
Phlegmatic
Cold, calm, slow or sluggish, indifferent
Black bile
Melancholic
Bad tempered, dejected, sad, depressed, pessimistic, deplorable and self-involved.

5. Kretschmer’s classification:
Personality types
Personality characteristics
Pyknic (fat bodies)
Sociable, jolly, easy going and good natured
Athletic (balanced bodies)
Energetic, optimistic and adjustable
Leptosomatic (lean and thin)
Unsociable, reserved, shy, sensitive and pessimistic

6. Sheldon’s classification:
Personality types
Body structure
Personality characteristics
Endomorphic
Highly developed viscera but weak somatic structure
Easy going, sociable and affectionate
Mesomorphic
Balanced development of viscera and somatic structure
Craving for muscular activity, self-assertive, loves risk and adventure
Ectomorphic
Weak viscera and somatic structure
Pessimistic, unsociable and reserved

7. Jung’s classification: Concept Introvert Extrovert
Thinking
More theoretical
Afraid of external realities
Absorbing in his own intellectual pursuits
Realistic and practical
Support theory and facts
Sensation
Cool and alloof
Better in writing than speaking
Interested in books, magazines etc
Good taste and enjoyment seeker
Demand constant emotional sensation
Fluent in speech
Interested in athletics
Intuition
concerned with probabilities then actual
Not interested in external facts
Moody and temperamental
Optimistic
Risk taker and change seeker
Feeling
Day dreamer
Strong feelings, likes, dislikes
Go on suffering but do not express their feelings to others
Helpful nature
Feel for others and admire others
More social

8. TRAIT APPROACH:
Traits are defined as relatively permanent and relatively consistent general behaviour patterns that an individual exhibits in many situations.
eg., honest, lazy, aggressive, shy, dull, dependent etc.
G.B. Allport was the first personality theorist who adopted trait approach.
According to him an individual develops an unique set of organized tendencies or traits.
These traits are organised around a few cardinal traits.
Cattell’s theory of Personality:
Raymond Cattell (1950) provided the key to understand and predict person’s behaviour. He identified two types: 1. surface traits
2. source traits
Surface traits: observable qualities of personality. Eg., honest, kind, helpful etc
source traits: traits which underlie surface traits and make up the most basic personality structure. Eg., intelligence.
Eg., cattell’s 16 personality factor questionnaire.

9. 16 personality factors by cattell
1. Reserved vs outgoing
2. less intelligent vs more intelligent
3. affected by feelings vs emotionally stable
4. submissive vs dominant
5. serious vs happy-go-lucky
6. expedient vs conscientious
7. timid vs venturesome
8. tough-minded vs sensitive
9. trusting vs suspicious
10. practical vs imaginative
11. forthright vs shrewd
12. self-assured vs apprehensive
13. conservative vs experimenting
14. Group-dependent vs self-sufficient
15. Uncontrolled vs controlled
16. Relaxed vs tense

10. Type cum trait approach
Eysenck’s theory of personality:
British psychologist Hans Eysenck (1990) believed that personality is largely determined by the genes and the environment.
1. to capture the essence of personality he puts emphasis on two dimensions.
1. extraversion vs introversion
2. neuroticism vs emotional stability