Personality and the Trait, Humanistic, and Social Cognitive Perspectives Pg. 513 picture

The Humanistic Perspective The two founders of the Humanistic Perspective are Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers. The two founders of the Humanistic Perspective are Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers. The Humanistic Perspective focuses on the growth potential of healthy people. They focus on the power of free will and how people view themselves as a whole in pursuit of growth (did not believe in determinism) The Humanistic Perspective focuses on the growth potential of healthy people. They focus on the power of free will and how people view themselves as a whole in pursuit of growth (did not believe in determinism) Criticized Freud for being too negative Criticized Freud for being too negative Maslow Rogers

Abraham Maslow’s Self Actualizing Person Hierarchy of Needs Hierarchy of Needs Ultimately seek self- actualization (the process of fulfilling our potential). Maslow developed his ideas by studying what he termed “healthy people”.

Self-Actualized People Problem centered rather than self- centered. Problem centered rather than self- centered. Focused their energies on a particular task. Few deep relationships, rather than many superficial ones.

Carl Rogers’s Person-Centered Perspective People are basically GOOD. People are basically GOOD. We are like Acorns Need Water, Sun and Nutrients to Grow into a big Oak Tree. We need genuineness, acceptance and empathy for us to grow.

Unconditional Positive Regard Unconditional Positive Regard: Unconditional Positive Regard: An attitude of acceptance regardless of circumstances. Accepting yourself or others completely.

Self-Concept All of thoughts and feelings about ourselves trying to answer the question…. All of thoughts and feelings about ourselves trying to answer the question…. WHO AM I?

Self-Esteem One’s feelings of high or low self-worth. One’s feelings of high or low self-worth.

Carl Roger’s Idea of Self Actualization (Self Acceptance) Rogers believed the key to self- actualization, a term he called becoming fully-functioning, was to learn to accept ourselves and unite our ideas of the real self and the ideal self. Rogers believed the key to self- actualization, a term he called becoming fully-functioning, was to learn to accept ourselves and unite our ideas of the real self and the ideal self. When we lack unconditional positive regard it leads to incongruence: perceived difference between real and ideal self. When we lack unconditional positive regard it leads to incongruence: perceived difference between real and ideal self.

Self-Serving Bias A readiness to perceive oneself favorable. A readiness to perceive oneself favorable. People accept more responsibility for successes than failures. Most people see themselves as better than average.

Rogers vs. Freud on Human Nature Rogers People are “positive, forward-moving, constructive, realistic, trustworthy” People are “positive, forward-moving, constructive, realistic, trustworthy” People are innately good People are innately good We gravitate towards behavior that furthers the human race (free will) We gravitate towards behavior that furthers the human race (free will) Freud Pessimistic Pessimistic Believed aggressive urges were innate Believed aggressive urges were innate Society would collapse were it not for superego and societal restraints Society would collapse were it not for superego and societal restraints Restraints cause neuroticism, make us unhappy (id vs. superego) Restraints cause neuroticism, make us unhappy (id vs. superego) What do you think?

Criticism of Humanist Perspective Maslow’s concepts are vague and might just be his own values. Maslow’s concepts are vague and might just be his own values. Too much focus on individual? Too much focus on individual? Ignores human capacity for evil. Ignores human capacity for evil. Not easily testable Not easily testable

The Trait Perspective The father of the trait perspective of personality is Gordon Allport. The father of the trait perspective of personality is Gordon Allport. Patterns of behavior or disposition to feel or act as assessed by self- reported inventories or peer reports. Patterns of behavior or disposition to feel or act as assessed by self- reported inventories or peer reports. It focuses on describing and measuring the numerous ways in which people differ from each other. It focuses on describing and measuring the numerous ways in which people differ from each other.

Method used For Measuring Personality for Trait Perspective Personality Inventory: a questionnaire that is usually true/false in which people respond to items designed to gauge a wide range of feelings and behaviors; used to assess selected personality traits. Personality Inventory: a questionnaire that is usually true/false in which people respond to items designed to gauge a wide range of feelings and behaviors; used to assess selected personality traits. Uses factor analysis Uses factor analysis Weakness of This Measuring Device? Weakness of This Measuring Device?

Example of Personality Inventory (Trait Perspective) Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI): most widely used personality test. Purpose was to identify emotional disorders but is also now used for screening purposes for employment. Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI): most widely used personality test. Purpose was to identify emotional disorders but is also now used for screening purposes for employment. Test is an example of being an empirically derived test: having pool of test questions that discriminate between groups. (Ex: Looking for differences in answers between a clinically depressed group and a normal group) Test is an example of being an empirically derived test: having pool of test questions that discriminate between groups. (Ex: Looking for differences in answers between a clinically depressed group and a normal group) Myers-Briggs Type Inventory (MBTI) : Neo-Freudian personality inventory based of Jung’s theories; attempts to measure how people perceive the world and make decisions Myers-Briggs Type Inventory (MBTI) : Neo-Freudian personality inventory based of Jung’s theories; attempts to measure how people perceive the world and make decisions

Eynsenck’s 2 Dimensions of Personality (Trait Perspective) Through factor analysis, Hans Eynsencks reduced the dimensions of personality down to two. They were introverted (keep to yourself) / extroverted (outgoing) and stable/unstable. Through factor analysis, Hans Eynsencks reduced the dimensions of personality down to two. They were introverted (keep to yourself) / extroverted (outgoing) and stable/unstable. UNSTABLE STABLE INTROVERTED EXTRAVERTED Moody Anxious Rigid Sober Pessimistic Reserved Unsociable Quiet Sociable Outgoing Talkative Responsive Easygoing Lively Carefree Leadership Passive Careful Thoughtful Peaceful Controlled Reliable Even-tempered Calm Touchy Restless Aggressive Excitable Changeable Impulsive Optimistic Active

The Big Five Personality Traits Are Measured in A Inventory Called the NEO PI-R (Trait Perspective) 1. O penness (to experience): imaginative/practical, variety/routine, independent/conforming 2. C onscientiousness: organized/disorganized, careful/careless, disciplined/impusive 3. E xtraversion: sociable/retiring, fun-loving/sober, affectionate/reserved 4. A greeableness: soft-hearted/ruthless, trusting/suspicious, helpful/uncooperative 5. N euroticism: calm/anxious, secure/insecure, self- satisfied/self-pitying These traits will be stable over time, and one can predict another.

Major Weakness of the Trait Perspective? Doesn’t take into account the “person- situation controversy” (traits change based on the situation Doesn’t take into account the “person- situation controversy” (traits change based on the situation Doesn’t explain human personality – simply labels predispositions (genetic) Doesn’t explain human personality – simply labels predispositions (genetic)

Individualism vs. Collectivism Individualism Individualism –giving priority to one’s own goals over group goals and defining one’s identity in terms of personal attributes rather than group identifications Collectivism Collectivism –giving priority to the goals of one’s group (often one’s extended family or work group) and defining one’s identity accordingly

Value Differences

Social Cognitive Perspective Father of Social Cognitive Perspective is Albert Bandura. Father of Social Cognitive Perspective is Albert Bandura. Social Cognitive Perspective: emphasizes the importance of external events (society) and how we interpret them (cognition). Social Cognitive Perspective: emphasizes the importance of external events (society) and how we interpret them (cognition).

Personality is Made Up of Interlocking Forces Reciprocal Determinism: personality and environment interact Reciprocal Determinism: personality and environment interact The same environment can have completely different effects on different people because of how they interpret and react to external events. The same environment can have completely different effects on different people because of how they interpret and react to external events.

Reciprocal Determinism Different People choose different environments. The TV you watch, friends you hang with, music you listen to were all chosen by you (your disposition) But after you choose the environment, it also shapes you.

Reciprocal Determinism Our personalities help create situations to which we react. Our personalities help create situations to which we react. If I expect someone to be angry with me, I may give that person the cold shoulder, creating the very behavior I expect.

Reciprocal Determism Example: My parents are liberal. I identify with my parents. I therefore choose a more liberal college to attend. This makes me even more liberal. In attending this college however, I make the students (my friends) there more liberal. I leave school and I take a job working for liberal causes. Can you see how my environment affects me and how I have an affect on my environment?

Reciprocal Determism Example: A thrill seeker would probably be friends with fellow thrill seekers, and therefore, would be more likely to take bungee jumping lessons. Of course, this person would also be pushing his friends to thrill seek.

Self –Efficacy (NOT IN YOUR BOOK!) A person’s belief in his/her ability to succeed in a specific situation. These beliefs influence how people feel, think and behave.

Self –Efficacy (NOT IN YOUR BOOK!) People with a strong sense of self-efficacy: View challenging problems as tasks to be mastered. View challenging problems as tasks to be mastered. Develop deeper interest in the activities in which they participate. Develop deeper interest in the activities in which they participate. Form a stronger sense of commitment to their interests and activities. Form a stronger sense of commitment to their interests and activities. Recover quickly from setbacks and disappointments. Recover quickly from setbacks and disappointments. People with a weak sense of self-efficacy: Avoid challenging tasks. Avoid challenging tasks. Believe that difficult tasks and situations are beyond their capabilities. Believe that difficult tasks and situations are beyond their capabilities. Focus on personal failings and negative outcomes. Focus on personal failings and negative outcomes. Quickly lose confidence in personal abilities (Bandura, 1994). Quickly lose confidence in personal abilities (Bandura, 1994).

Julius Rotter’s Theory of Personal Control and Locus of Control Internal Locus of Control: idea that one control’s their own destiny. Achievement is highest under this level. Ex: Hard work gets rewarded. External Locus of Control: idea that one’s fate is outside of their personal control and determined by luck. Ex: People get promotions b/c they know right people.

External Locus of Control Can Lead to Learned Helplessness Learned Helplessness: hopelessness and passive resignation an animal or human learns when unable to avoid repeated aversive events. Learned Helplessness: hopelessness and passive resignation an animal or human learns when unable to avoid repeated aversive events. Ex: Dog being uncontrollably shocked for period; will not later escape when time arrives. Ex: Dog being uncontrollably shocked for period; will not later escape when time arrives.

Evaluating the Social Cognitive Perspective Most widely accepted approach by current psychologists since it takes aspects from learning and cognition. Most widely accepted approach by current psychologists since it takes aspects from learning and cognition. Criticized by some because it fails to consider possible unconscious motives and focuses too much on environment not enough on inner traits. Criticized by some because it fails to consider possible unconscious motives and focuses too much on environment not enough on inner traits.

Know Summary of Perspectives: