Personality

Definition of personality A. Organization of an individual’s distinguishing characteristics, traits, or habits A. Organization of an individual’s distinguishing characteristics, traits, or habits B. Includes the individual’s unique way of 1. Think 2. Feel 3. Behave 4. Experience the environment

Tasks 1. analyze groups 2. understand individuals 3. study the personality process 4. develop theories

A. Basic tools 1. Observation 2. interview 3. peer rating 4. self report personality tests

Make a hand Turkey What characteristics define you? What characteristics define you? How are you different from others How are you different from others What bonds you with others What bonds you with others What is most important to you What is most important to you

1. Objective - individual answers questions with response options - individual answers questions with response options Examples- Examples- 2. Projective - individual answers questions with no response restrictions - individual answers questions with no response restrictions Examples- Examples-

Validity VS Reliability Validity measures what it is supposed to measure measures what it is supposed to measureReliability a person’s score on a test at one point should be the similar to the score obtained by the same person on a similar test a person’s score on a test at one point should be the similar to the score obtained by the same person on a similar test

Are the SAT’s valid and reliable? Are the SAT’s valid and reliable?

Make your own test 3 projective questions 3 projective questions 3 objective questions 3 objective questions 10 people must answer them by Friday, December 3 10 people must answer them by Friday, December 3 ( get your relatives to do this!) ( get your relatives to do this!)

Overview of Theories Psychoanalytic Psychoanalytic - we are who we are because of our childhood - we are ruled by our unconscious

Humanism We have the freedom to grow and choose our own destiny We have the freedom to grow and choose our own destiny

Social Cognitive Theories Personality is shaped by the environment, cognitive personal factors, and behaviors. These things interact and influence how we evaluate, interpret, organize and apply information Personality is shaped by the environment, cognitive personal factors, and behaviors. These things interact and influence how we evaluate, interpret, organize and apply information

Learning/Behaviorists We are controlled by rewards and punishments We are controlled by rewards and punishments

Trait theories Personality is analyzed by measuring, identifying, and classifying similarities and differences in personality characteristics or traits Personality is analyzed by measuring, identifying, and classifying similarities and differences in personality characteristics or traits

Instinctual Energy Life Instinct Life Instinct self preservation Death Instinct Death Instinct –Leads us to aggression and destruction –Write 3 examples of each

Levels of consciousness Conscious thought Conscious thought –Thoughts that we are aware of Preconscious thought Preconscious thought –Thoughts that we are not immediately aware of but can retrieve at will Unconscious thought Unconscious thought –Thoughts wishes and desires that we cannot voluntarily access

Ways of understanding the mind Free Association Free Association –Free flowing uncensored talk to provide clues to unconscious thought

Dream interpretation- based on the assumption that dreams have meaning that provide clues to the unconscious mind Dream interpretation- based on the assumption that dreams have meaning that provide clues to the unconscious mind

Freudian Slips- Freudian Slips- –Mistakes we make when talking which reflect our unconscious thoughts

Personality structures Id- Id- –Demands immediate gratification –Operates on the pleasure principle –If it is not satisfied you feel like you are missing out on things in life

Ego Ego –Rational buffer between the id and the super ego –Operates on the reality principle

Super Ego- Super Ego- –Incorporates morals, values and standards –If it is not satisfied, you feel guilty

Defense Mechanisms Defending the ego from experiencing anxiety about failing in its task Defending the ego from experiencing anxiety about failing in its task

Displacement Taking your feelings out on someone or something less threatening Taking your feelings out on someone or something less threatening Examples… Examples…

Repression Blocking out unacceptable feelings or experiences and pushing them into the unconscious Blocking out unacceptable feelings or experiences and pushing them into the unconscious

Reaction Formation Substituting unacceptable behaviors, thoughts or feelings with acceptable ones Substituting unacceptable behaviors, thoughts or feelings with acceptable ones

Regression Going back to an earlier less mature state Going back to an earlier less mature state ex ex

Projection Inner personal feeling are placed onto someone else Inner personal feeling are placed onto someone else ex ex

Rationalizing Covering up the true reason for doing things with excuses and incorrect explanations Covering up the true reason for doing things with excuses and incorrect explanations

Intellectualizing Separating thought from feeling so feelings are not overwhelming Separating thought from feeling so feelings are not overwhelming

Psycho sexual stages of development Psycho sexual stages of development A. Biologically determined stages driven from birth by sexual instinct B. Different zones of the body become sources of pleasure during different stages

C. Mal adaptive behavior in adults results from unresolved conflicts that originate at any of the stages D. At any time in these stages, a conflict could cause fixation-

Oral Stage (birth – 18 months) - Sexual pleasure focuses on - Sexual pleasure focuses on sucking, biting and chewing sucking, biting and chewing fixation is linked to excessive drinking, gum chewing, biting nails, pencil chewing, excessive eating fixation is linked to excessive drinking, gum chewing, biting nails, pencil chewing, excessive eating

Anal stage 18 months- 3 years - sexual pleasure is derived during elimination of feces

If conflict is not resolved you become Anal expulsive Anal expulsive Messy disorganized adults Anal retentive highly controlled, excessively neat

Phallic stage children seek genital stimulation and develop unconscious...desires towards the parent of the opposite sex - children seek genital stimulation and develop unconscious...desires towards the parent of the opposite sex - children have feelings of...hatred and jealousy for the rival parent of the same sex - children have feelings of...hatred and jealousy for the rival parent of the same sex

Oedipus Complex - found in boys, due to feelings of guilt and fear of the rival parent - boys fear castration by their father

Electra Crisis - penis envy which symbolically translates into wanting to have a child with their father

How do kids deal with this? repression and trying to become like the rival parent This provides gender identity and strengthens the super ego

IV. Latency ( 6- puberty) IV. Latency ( 6- puberty) -the period of sexual repression in late childhood -the period of sexual repression in late childhood

Genital Stage ( puberty – adulthood) maturation of sexual interest most choose sexual intercourse for gratification