Personality Theories

Schools of Thought Psychoanalysis Behaviorism Humanism

Psychoanalysis Freud --- the founder, we’ve already talked about him at length Carl Jung – originally Freud’s closest associate  stopped speaking because of differences – Jung had a more positive view of human nature – People do the best they can to reach their potential and control their instinctive urges

Jung’s Two Levels of Consciousness Personal – your own unique thoughts and feelings Collective – storehouse of instincts, urges and memories of the whole species – Archetypes – same themes that appear and reappear in folklore, myths, religions, etc.

Alfred Adler Believed that the driving force in anyone’s life is to try to overcome feelings of inferiority People who compensate for their weaknesses and avoid feeling inadequate have an inferiority complex

Criticisms of psychoanalysis Doesn’t help – no plan to help person once the causes/sources of their behavior is uncovered High cost – psychoanalysis takes years Interpretations by psychoanalysts can’t be proven or disproven – not based on scientific study but on observations of patients

Behaviorism Believe that psychology should concentrate on observable behavior only

BF Skinner Not really a personality theory Less desire to understand behavior but more desire to predict and control it How are aspects of personality learned? Skinner believed it was all about how behaviors were reinforced.

Albert Bandura Personality is achieved/created through reinforcement and through observational learning. Personality is formed by the interaction of three factors – Cognitive/personal (beliefs, expectations, values, motivations, roles, genetic and bio) – Behavior – actions – Environment – social political and cultural influences

Humanistic Life is a conscious experience of choices. Human beings strive for self-actualization – achievement of potential

Abraham Maslow Based on healthy creative, self-actualized people – looked for common traits – Perceive accurately – Accept themselves, others and environment as they are – Problem centered

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs First primary/biological – food, shelter, safety Then belonging, love, self-esteem At the top, self-actualization

Carl Rogers Full functioning = self-actualization Conflict between what they value in themselves and what they believe others value in them Everyone is striving to be more complete/perfect Self= who you are and what you value

Positive regard = what you want from others, positive feedback Conditions of worth – conditions a person must meet in order to regard himself/herself positively Unconditional positive regard