Ch. 10 Personality

Trait Approach Doesn’t explain where personality comes from

Personality Traits Reasonably stable elements of personality that are inferred from behavior Consistent behavior in different situations Fixed unchanging

Hippocrates Greeks believed traits embedded in bodily fluids (humors) Disorders and diseases were due to imbalance of the humors Removing blood/vomitting recommended to restore health

Gordon Allport (1930s) Traits can be inherited and fixed within the nervous system Traits are the building blocks of personality Behavior a product of their particular combination of traits

Hans Eysenck (1916-1917) Studied relationships between 2 personality dimensions Introvert v. Extrovert (which was first proposed by Carl Jung) Imaginative v. active Look inward for ideas and energy v. gain energy from interactions with others Stable v. Unstable

The Five Factor Model Extroversion Neuroticism (Emotional stability) Conscientiousness Agreeableness Openness to new experiences Personalities mature, not change by culture

Psychodynamic Approach

Freud’s take Personality is a conflict between two forces: 1. Drives like sex, aggression, need for superiority 2. Laws, social rules, moral codes 3 levels of awareness - conscious, preconscious, unconscious Psychoanalysis - therapy to explore unconscious

3 Structures of Personality ID - Concerned with basic drives; does not care about laws, customs, or needs of others EGO - Reality principle, keeps id in check SUPEREGO - Guilt and identification

IE.

Defense Mechanisms Methods the ego uses to avoid recognizing ideas or emotions that may cause personal anxiety Freudian theory More mechanisms you use, the healthier you are

Identification (with aggressor) Taking on characteristics of someone else Abused children can become abusive parents Kids idolize sports stars Stockholm Sydrome

Intellectualization/Isolation Something that should be a big deal, isn’t Emotions are overwhelming, therefore we try to eliminate them altogether Can be healthy for a short period of time Examples?

Repression Push anxiety - causing ideas to be put into unconscious Things build up Usually results in outbursts of anger and development of other problems Usually unhealthy Examples?

Rationalization Use self-deception to justify unacceptable behaviors or ideas Explain what we do in such a way to avoid responsibility for bad outcome Seems harmless, but can be dangerous Examples?

Displacement Transfer of an idea or impulse from a threatening or unsuitable object to a less thretening object “Kick the dog” A little bit is expected, but too much is bad Examples?

Regression When under stress, we return to behavior that is characteristic of an earlier stage of development Reaction to the extreme frustration of having to be an adult and take responsibility Examples?

Projection Project unacceptable impulses outward onto other people See own faults in other people Attributing our thoughts to someone else Shift responsibility onto someone else Normal occasionally, but can become self-destructive Examples?

Reaction Formation Act contrary to genuine feelings in order to keep true feelings hidden Acting “too nice” around someone you’re angry at Sometimes hard to see Examples?

Fantasy The process of imagining or longing for, a storybook ending to an unpleasant situation Examples?

Denial Refuse to accept the reality of anything that is bad or upsetting Similar to repression, except we do not allow the problem into consciousness

Avoidance Process of evading a potentially unpleasant or threatening situation Examples?

Sublimation Channel basic impulses into socially acceptable behavior (constructive/creative behavior) “good” defense mechanism – healthy and adaptive Examples?

Undoing Process of cancelling out unpleasant thoughts or feelings Examples?

Effects of Defense Mechanisms Normal and useful if used in moderation Can protect people from painful feelings (guilt, anxiety, shame) Person with healthy ego able to balance id and superego without mechanisms

HTP test and results A projective test to measure aspects of a person’s personality and also brain damage and general mental functioning Uses symbolism Designed by John Buck in 1948 Freudian roots

Neo-Freudians More optimistic Social psychoanalysts

Erik Erikson Expanded upon Freud’s work by that it continues into adulthood Social relationships are important for personality development Great emphasis on mother-infant relationship Early childhood traumas have great effect on us for a lifetime Psychosocial development Trust/mistrust, autonomy/shame, initiative/guilt, industry/inferiority, identity/role diffusion, intimacy/isolation, generativity/stagnation, integrity/despair (Review with your chart print-out)

Carl Jung Was a believer in Freud and then fell out Unconscious is a well of mystical and religious beliefs that control our behavior Certain themes in every culture Archetypes – anima/yin and animus/yang Personality is made up by inherited traits Collective Unconscious – ideas shared by entire human race Persona – fake personality we develop to hide real feelings and personality

Myers-Briggs Myers-Briggs test was created using Jung’s theories in 1940s for women entering the workforce MMPI – Minnesota Multiple Personality Inventory in 1930s http://dec.co.th/mbti_explanation.htm https://www.theguardian.com/science/brain-flapping/2013/mar/19/myers-briggs-test-unscientific https://www.verywell.com/what-is-the-minnesota-multiphasic-personality-inventory-2795582

Alfred Adler Follower of Freud, but questioned his emphasis on biological needs Believed one of the biggest problems people faced: trying to feel important and worthwhile around others Motivated by feelings

Karen Horney Freud is sexist Feel most helpless, anxious, and lost around kids Basic Anxiety – being helpless and isolated in a hostile world (not loved) Personality comes from childhood experiences Build personality around fighting rejection

Questions?