1 | 1 Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 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

1 | 2 Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. What is Personality? Personality is not a readily defined concept There is little common agreement among personality theorists on the appropriate use of the term

1 | 3 Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Personality is the dynamic and organized set of characteristics possessed by a person that uniquely influences his or her cognitions, motivations, and behaviors in various situations

1 | 4 Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. What is Theory? A set of abstract concepts developed about a group of facts or events in order to explain them A theory of personality is an organized system of beliefs that helps us to understand human nature

1 | 5 Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. The Role of Personality Theory in Psychology The study of personality is heir to two different approaches: academic psychology and clinical practice Macro theories of personality seek to be global and emphasize comprehension of the whole person (Grand Theories i.e., Psychoanalysis) Micro theories of personality result from specific research focused on limited aspects of human behavior (Rotter, i.e., Locus of Control)

1 | 6 Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

1 | 7 Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Early Personality Study Approaches – : Theory by Theory approach (grand theories) Freud Jung Sullivan Cattell Rogers Maslow – , Theoretical Perspective by Perspective approach Psychodynamic Humanistic Trait Social-Cognitive –Problems with these approaches: Different theorists (or perspectives) conflicted An emphasis on theory often overlooked relevant research which didn’t fit neatly into a theory

1 | 8 Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Contemporary Personality Research Investigate domain specific personality constructs –What are its parts? –How is it organized? –How does it develop? Self-construct Attachment, emotional regulation, rejection-sensitivity Temperament & other biological traits, gender difference, homosexuality, etc Decision making style, emotional intelligence, cognitive style Influence of Parental attitude on child psychopathology etc.

1 | 9 Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Theoretical Perspectives I.Psychoanalytic & Neo- Psychoanalytic II.The Trait & Biological Approach III. The Cognitive Social-Learning Approach IV. The Humanistic Approach

1 | 10 Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. An Application of Personality Theories Assessment Psychometric tests Projective tests Research The clinical approach The psychometric approach The experimental approach Psychotherapy

1 | 11 Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Comparative biologists Researchers in artificial intelligence Educational psychologists studying learning styles Human resource personnel studying job performance Psycho- therapists interested in personality psychology Professors who teach personality psychology

1 | 12 Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Most Common Training Programs Central Training –Ph.D. programs in Personality –Ph.D. programs in Personality and Social Psychology Related Training –Ph.D. programs in Clinical and Counseling Psychology –M.B.A. & Ph.D. programs in Organizational Behavior –M.D. programs in Psychiatry –Ed.D. programs in Educational Psychology