Personality theories

Different Personality Theories Each theory contributes insight into understanding personality -No one theory answers the question “What is personality?” completely -In this course, we will explore the following personality theories: Psychodynamic Humanistic Social Cognitive Trait Theories

Psychodynamic Theories We have already covered Freud’s personality structure in the other PP; Now, let’s turn our attention to psychanalyst Karen Horney.

Karen Horney (pronounced “horn-eye”) Each child develops “basic anxiety” and from this arises three personality types in an effort to deal with the basic anxiety: Moving Toward People Moving Away from People Moving Against People

Moving Toward People This person has a compliant personality Express needs of approval People-pleasing Complimentary And, affectionate

Moving Away From People This person expresses a detached personality Independent Perfectionistic Withdrawn

Moving Against People This person tends to have a more aggressive personality Tough Express needs of power, prestige and admiration Lack of trust in other people

Which pattern of behavior do you display in dealing with your “basic anxiety?” In what ways can you deal with your “basic anxiety” in a healthy way so that you have more choice in how you behave?

Social-Cognitive Theory Albert Bandura coined: “observational learning” Observational learning: Where we learn by observing and also learn by observing consequences others receive. Reciprocal determinism: Cognitive, behavioral, and environmental factors are all related. This includes conscious thought and behaviors and doesn’t address the unconscious ad emotional reasons underlying people’s behavior and choices.

Trait Theory A relatively stable, enduring predisposition to behave in certain ways; People have a unique combination of personality characteristics; Behavioral tendencies are generally consistent over time and across most situations; There are two types of traits: surface traits and source traits.

Surface Traits Surface traits lie on “the surface” and can be easily inferred from observable behaviors (ie. sensitive, outgoing and practical).

Source Traits Source traits are more fundamental than surface traits, and as a result, there are fewer of them. “One goal of trait theories has been to identify the most basic set of universal source traits that can be used to describe all individual differences.” (Discovering psychology)

There are three types of source traits: Ability trait: ability to reach intended marks one sets for oneself; Dynamic trait: motivation and putting something into action; Temperament trait: fundamental ground work of character; presumed to be biologically determined and existent early in life (includes emotional reactiveness, energy level, reaction tempo and motivation to explore).

Different Trait Theorists: Raymond Cattell Hans Eysenck The Five-Factor Model of Personality

Raymond Cattell (1905-1998): 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire (16 PF); Took 4,000 items from Allport’s list and reduced them down to 171 and then 16 to avoid redundancy and similar terms.

Hans Eysenck (a British psychologist): Similar to Cattell, but include only 2 dimensions; 1st dimension: Introversion vs. Extroversion; 2nd dimension: Neuroticism (a person’s predisposition to become emotionally upset; frequent and dramatic mood swings esp. toward negative emotions) vs. emotional stability (emotionally even; consistent moods); Combining these two dimensions leads to four basic types:

The Five-Factor Model of Personality: Many trait theorists felt that Cattell’s trait model too complex and 16 personality factors can be reduced to fewer traits and Eysencks’ theory too limited; “The Big Five”: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Neuroticism; Found in many cultures.