1. PSYC 2201 Personality Chapter 11 Outline for Weiten (2005)
Bill Hill
Kennesaw State University

2. Defining Personality
An individual’s unique combination of attitudes, beliefs and behaviors.
Personality is generally assumed to be
Consistent
Distinctive

3. Trait Approaches
Characteristic behavior patterns (and ways of thinking) that are relatively consistent across similar situational contexts
Traits are often described using common adjectives such as friendly, outgoing, moody, trustwothy, etc.

4. Trait Approaches
The Five-Factor Model of Personality Traits (McCrae & Costa)
Agreeableness
Conscientiousness
Openness to experience
Extraversion
Neuroticism
Agreeableness: sympathetic, trusting, cooperative, straightforward
Concientiousness: diligent, disciplined, well-organized, punctual, dependable
Openness: curiosity, flexibility, imaginative, artistic, unconventional
Extraversions: outgoing, sociable, friendly, assertive
Neuroticism: anxious, hostile, self-conscious, insecure, vulnerable

5. Trait Approaches Contemporary Research on Traits Sensation-Seeking
Self-Monitoring
Sensation-Seeking: degree of preference for high v. low levels of sensory stimulation;
4 dimensions of sensation-seeking: risk seeking, experience seeking (novelty), degree of inhibition, susceptibility to boredom
Effects related to sensation-seeking: importance of match to success of relationships; high more tolerant to stress, but more susceptible to problem behaviors (drinking, drug use, criminal behavior)
Self-Monitoring: degree to which one attends to his or her social behavior and its impact on the impressions formed of them by others
High self-monitoring: good actors, skilled self-presentation, skilled at reading others and spotting deception, more accurate judges of others’ personality, less readily make deep emotional commitment

6. Evaluating Trait Approaches
Primarily descriptive model that does not adequately either explain why a behavior occurs or predict behavior
Questions as to whether the Big Five Traits are too many or not enough
NOTE: genetic/biological theories to be discussed later do provide some explanatory context for traits

7. Theories of Personality
The major theories that we will discuss are primarily focused on identifying the origins of personality, not the relationship between personality and behavior.
Personality theories are also key to understanding both the origins of abnormal behavior and the approaches to the treatment of abnormal behavior.

8. Theories of Personality
The four basic theories of personality
Psychodynamic
Behavioral
Humanistic
Biological

9. Psychodynamic Theories
All of these approaches originate from Freud and emphasize unconscious processes that influence traits and behaviors
The basic element in common is conflict. The resolution of these conflicts between the individual and either unconscious or societal pressures, determines personality.

10. Psychodynamic Theories
The Big Four
Freud
Jung
Adler
Erikson

11. Freud Basic assumptions underlying Freud’s approach to personality:
Behavior (personality) is determined and controlled by unconscious factors
Foundations for adult personality laid during childhood
Primary role of sexual urges

12. Freud Structures of PersonalityId
Ego
Superego
It is the dynamic interaction between these three structures that results in observed behavior
Id: innate, instinctive, pleasure principle (immediate gratification)
Ego: decision-making mediator, reality principle (delaying gratification in the context of social realities)
Superego: moral principles and social standards or right and wrong

13. Freud Levels of Consciousness Conscious Preconscious Unconscious
Conscious: immediate awareness
Preconscious: unaware but potential for awareness
Unconscious: unaware, not going to be aware, but influential on behavior

14. Freud Stages of Personality Development Oral (mouth) Anal (anus)
Phallic
Oedipal Complex
Penis Envy
Latency
Genital
Each psychosexual stage has a is characterized by a sexual focus on a particular body zone.
Oedipal: Erotic feelings for opposite-sex parent, hostility to same-sex
Phallic: genital focus but involves parents
Latency: focus on socialization beyond family
Genital: sexual energy focus on opposite sex

15. Freud Defense Mechanisms Repression Projection Displacement
Reaction Formation
Regression
Rationalization
Identification
Defense Mechanisms, which are largely unconscious, protect us from unpleasant emotions
Repression: bury unpleasant thoughts in unconscious
Projection: attributing thoughts, feelings to others
Displacement: diverting emotional feelings from original source to substitute
Reaction Formation: behaving opposite to true feelings
Regression: reverting to child like behavior
Rationalization: false but possible explanations for unacceptable behavior
Identification: enhancing self-esteem through imagined or real connection with another
NOTE: Review examples of defense mechanisms in text!!

16. What is the Defense Mechanism?
John thought that almost everyone but himself was cheating on the psychology exam.
Repression
Projection
Displacement
Reaction Formation
Regression
Rationalization
Identification
Defense Mechanisms, which are largely unconscious, protect us from unpleasant emotions
Repression: bury unpleasant thoughts in unconscious
Projection: attributing thoughts, feelings to others
Displacement: diverting emotional feelings from original source to substitute
Reaction Formation: behaving opposite to true feelings
Regression: reverting to child like behavior
Rationalization: false but possible explanations for unacceptable behavior
Identification: enhancing self-esteem through imagined or real connection with another
NOTE: Review examples of defense mechanisms in text!!

17. What is the Defense Mechanism?
Lisa was embarrassed when she kept forgetting her appointment with the dentist.
Repression
Projection
Displacement
Reaction Formation
Regression
Rationalization
Identification
Defense Mechanisms, which are largely unconscious, protect us from unpleasant emotions
Repression: bury unpleasant thoughts in unconscious
Projection: attributing thoughts, feelings to others
Displacement: diverting emotional feelings from original source to substitute
Reaction Formation: behaving opposite to true feelings
Regression: reverting to child like behavior
Rationalization: false but possible explanations for unacceptable behavior
Identification: enhancing self-esteem through imagined or real connection with another
NOTE: Review examples of defense mechanisms in text!!

18. What is the Defense Mechanism?
Although Joan had not been close to her mother during her childhood she was now so oversolicitous of her mother’s health that her marriage was being threatened.
Repression
Projection
Displacement
Reaction Formation
Regression
Rationalization
Identification
Defense Mechanisms, which are largely unconscious, protect us from unpleasant emotions
Repression: bury unpleasant thoughts in unconscious
Projection: attributing thoughts, feelings to others
Displacement: diverting emotional feelings from original source to substitute
Reaction Formation: behaving opposite to true feelings
Regression: reverting to child like behavior
Rationalization: false but possible explanations for unacceptable behavior
Identification: enhancing self-esteem through imagined or real connection with another
NOTE: Review examples of defense mechanisms in text!!

19. What is the Defense Mechanism?
Curt began assuming many of the behaviors and characteristics of the professor he most feared.
Repression
Projection
Displacement
Reaction Formation
Regression
Rationalization
Identification
Defense Mechanisms, which are largely unconscious, protect us from unpleasant emotions
Repression: bury unpleasant thoughts in unconscious
Projection: attributing thoughts, feelings to others
Displacement: diverting emotional feelings from original source to substitute
Reaction Formation: behaving opposite to true feelings
Regression: reverting to child like behavior
Rationalization: false but possible explanations for unacceptable behavior
Identification: enhancing self-esteem through imagined or real connection with another
NOTE: Review examples of defense mechanisms in text!!

20. What is the Defense Mechanism?
After her new baby brother came home from the hospital the parents discovered Cheryl had dismembered her favorite doll.
Repression
Projection
Displacement
Reaction Formation
Regression
Rationalization
Identification
Defense Mechanisms, which are largely unconscious, protect us from unpleasant emotions
Repression: bury unpleasant thoughts in unconscious
Projection: attributing thoughts, feelings to others
Displacement: diverting emotional feelings from original source to substitute
Reaction Formation: behaving opposite to true feelings
Regression: reverting to child like behavior
Rationalization: false but possible explanations for unacceptable behavior
Identification: enhancing self-esteem through imagined or real connection with another
NOTE: Review examples of defense mechanisms in text!!

21. What is the Defense Mechanism?
A student attributed his flunking out of the university to the poor quality of teaching there.
Repression
Projection
Displacement
Reaction Formation
Regression
Rationalization
Identification
Defense Mechanisms, which are largely unconscious, protect us from unpleasant emotions
Repression: bury unpleasant thoughts in unconscious
Projection: attributing thoughts, feelings to others
Displacement: diverting emotional feelings from original source to substitute
Reaction Formation: behaving opposite to true feelings
Regression: reverting to child like behavior
Rationalization: false but possible explanations for unacceptable behavior
Identification: enhancing self-esteem through imagined or real connection with another
NOTE: Review examples of defense mechanisms in text!!

22. What is the Defense Mechanism?
Tommy began wetting his pants again after the birth of his baby brother.
Repression
Projection
Displacement
Reaction Formation
Regression
Rationalization
Identification
Defense Mechanisms, which are largely unconscious, protect us from unpleasant emotions
Repression: bury unpleasant thoughts in unconscious
Projection: attributing thoughts, feelings to others
Displacement: diverting emotional feelings from original source to substitute
Reaction Formation: behaving opposite to true feelings
Regression: reverting to child like behavior
Rationalization: false but possible explanations for unacceptable behavior
Identification: enhancing self-esteem through imagined or real connection with another
NOTE: Review examples of defense mechanisms in text!!

23. Jung Personal Unconscious Collective Unconscious
Although also emphasizing the unconscious like Freud, he proposed different layers:
Personal Unconscious
Collective Unconscious
Personal: same as Freud’s in that it is personalized and not available
Collective: innate aspects from ancestral past that include archetypes (emotionally charged images that are universal in their meaning)

24. Adler’s Individual Psychology
De-emphasizing the sexual focus of Freud, Adler believed the energy driving personality development is a striving for superiority
Compensation
Inferiority Complex
Emphasis on social context (e.g., birth order)
Striving for superiority = drive to adapt, improve, and master challenges
Children initially feeling inferior to adults are motivated to acquire skills through process of compensation
Inferiority Complex: exaggerated feelings of inadequacy caused by parental pampering or neglect
Birth order: first born gets excessive attention and has problems when ”dethroned” by subsequent siblings. Mixed perspective on reality of bith order effects>

25. Evaluating Psychodynamic Approaches
Vague and untestable
Lack of objective supporting evidence
Claims of sexism in Freud’s theory

26. Behavioral Approaches
Premise from behaviorism that behaviors that constitute one’s consistent traits and actions are learned through behavioral principles of conditioning (operant and classical) and observational learning

27. Radical Behaviorism & Personality (Skinner)
Internal processes omitted
Focus is solely on environmental factors that shape and determine observed behaviors
Personality (as defined by response tendencies) can easily change across one’s life

28. Social Learning Theory (Bandura)
Although out of the behavioral tradition, Bandura incorporates cognitive influences
Reciprocal Determinism
Perspective that behavior tendencies are the result of an interaction between cognition, environment and observed behavior

29. Social Learning Theory (Bandura)
Observational Learning
Ability to imitate
Role of the model
Consequences of model’s behavior (Vicarious conditioning)
Attention to model (higher when model liked or respected and seen as similar to observer)
Self-Efficacy
Self-efficacy: One’s belief about ability to actually perform behaviors that lead to desired/expected outcomes

30. Social Learning Theory (Mischel)
Emphasized role of situational factors, thus raising questions as to whether behavior is consistent (person emphasis) or varies with one’s perception of the situational context
Response choices are a function then of the person’s perception of the consequences associated with a response and consequence likelihood for the same behavior varies across situations

31. Evaluating Behavioral Approaches
Question of application of fundamental principles developed through animal research to humans
De-emphasis of role of cognitive factors and free will by radical behaviorists
Lack of unifying structure of personality—it is simply characterized as set of acquired behaviors

32. Humanistic Approaches
Key Elements:
Emphasis on human uniqueness and potential for personal growth.
As counterpoint to both Psychodynamic and Behavioral approaches, also includes strong emphasis on human free will
Adopts phenomenological approach to understanding human behavior
Phenomenological: focus on individual subjective experience as essential to understanding behavior

33. Person-Centered Theory (Rogers)
Key personality construct is the self or Self-Concept, which is one’s collection of beliefs about
who he or she is (often described using traits)
typical behavior patterns

34. Person-Centered Theory (Rogers)
Personality (self-concept) is largely developed as a function of childhood and adolescent experiences that are related to the interplay between an individual’s need for affection and acceptance and parenting practices.
Conditional love
Unconditional love

35. Person-Centered Theory (Rogers)
Subjectively we try to maintain a match between our self-concept and our behavioral experiences.
The degree of congruence (match) or incongruence (mismatch) between self-concept and experience that determines one’s mental health.
Incongruence results in anxiety. In order to defend themselves against anxiety, people may engage in behaviors such as denial, reinterpretation of experience. Many of these behaviors are similar to the defense mechanisms delineated by Freud and also like Freud argued act to reduce anxiety. Rogers and Freud simply differ on the source of the anxiety that we are trying to reduce.

36. Self-Actualization Theory (Maslow)
Hierarchy of Needs (Human Motivations)
Physiological
Safety & Security
Belongingness & Love
Esteem
Cognitive
Aesthetic
Self-Actualization
Physiological: hunger, thirst
Safety & Security: long-term survival, shelter, income
Belongingness & Love: friends, family, spouse
Esteem: achievement, recognition by others
Cognitive: knowledge, education
Aesthetic: beauty, order
Self-Actualization: ultimate achievement of personal potential
For Maslow, the healthy personality is one that is self-actualized. Characteristics of the self-actualized person include: sensitivity to others, openness, spontaneity, feel good about self, objective (in tune with reality), not dependent on others, experience emotional highs.

37. Evaluating Humanistic Approaches
Vague and untestable
Lacks strong research base to support claims
Idealized view of human nature that may be overly optimistic (e.g., Maslow’s self-actualized person)

38. Biological Approaches
Basic premise is that personality tendencies (traits) may be genetically influenced

39. Biological Approaches (Eysenck)
Eysenck’s theory combines elements from trait and behavioral approaches to personality
Although basically a trait approach, his premise is that trait tendencies are genetically determined. Actual observed traits are then shaped through conditioning.

40. Biological Approaches (Eysenck)
Eysenck’s Fundamental Traits
Extraversion-Introversion
Neuroticism
Psychoticism
Extraversion: sociable, active, assertive; Introversion the opposite, but also possible they have higher levels of arousal, making them more easily conditioned resulting in higher likelihood of acquiring conditioned inhibitions
Neuroticism: anxious, moody, tense, low self-esteem
Psychoticism: egocentric, cold, impulsive, antisocial

41. Behavioral Genetics
Evidence that suggests personality traits are inherited:
Twin studies
Variability in personality traits despite shared family environment
Possibility of detecting specific genes related to traits
Correlations on the Big Five Traits higher between identical than fraternal twins, with heritability estimates between 40% and 58%
Preliminary findings from gene mapping have suggested a possible gene related to “novelty-seeking”; a tendency toward impulsivity, excitability, exploration)

42. Evolutionary Perspectives
Traits, such as the Big Five, have emerged through natural selection. Supporting evidence includes:
Cross-cultural consistency in the Big Five
Adaptive viability of the Big Five for survival

43. Evaluating Biological Approaches
Limitations on accuracy of heritability ratios
Fails to adequately address the interaction between nature and nurture
No unifying theory

44. Culture & Personality
Cultural and sociohistorical factors have influenced many of the major theories discussed, particularly the Psychodynamic and Humanistic approaches.
What may be characterized as a personality ideal in one culture is not necessarily to same in another.
NOTE: Although research shows cross-cultural support for the Big Five, it does not mean that all cultures value the same position on each of the Big Five Dimensions

45. Culture & Personality Variations in Self-Concept
Western Ideal: independent self
Asian Ideal: interdependent self
Western: strong boundary between self and others, which results in descriptions of self that emphasize unique traits and abilities that differentiate them from others (e.g., possessions, abilities, accomplishments)
Asian: emphasis on interconnectedness, personality traits characterized by group membership, relationships

46. Imagine that several psychologists are having lunch together, and that you are eavesdropping on their conversation. Which type of psychologist is MOST likely to have made each of these comments?
Aggression is a human instinct. Although society may control it somewhat, we can never eliminate it.
Humanistic
Biological/evolutionary
Psychoanalytic
Behavioral

47. Imagine that several psychologists are having lunch together, and that you are eavesdropping on their conversation. Which type of psychologist is MOST likely to have made each of these comments?
Your student may be under a lot of pressure, but that is no excuse for cheating. We are personally responsible for what we do.
Humanistic
Biological/evolutionary
Psychoanalytic
Behavioral

48. Imagine that several psychologists are having lunch together, and that you are eavesdropping on their conversation. Which type of psychologist is MOST likely to have made each of these comments?
There are not any values inherent in human nature. Values are acquired in the same way we learn to say “please” and “thank you.”
Humanistic
Biological/evolutionary
Psychoanalytic
Behavioral

49. Imagine that several psychologists are having lunch together, and that you are eavesdropping on their conversation. Which type of psychologist is MOST likely to have made each of these comments?
People just don’t want to believe that infants get sexual pleasure from sucking and exploring anything they get in their hands with their mouth.
Humanistic
Biological/evolutionary
Psychoanalytic
Behavioral