PSY 432: Personality Chapter 1: What is Personality?

What is Personality? When we say that he or she “has a great personality” – what do we mean? When we say that he or she “has a great personality” – what do we mean?

A generic definition Personality may be defined as consistent behavior patterns displayed by the individual and intrapersonal processes originating within the individual Personality may be defined as consistent behavior patterns displayed by the individual and intrapersonal processes originating within the individual However, not much agreement among personality theorists on how to appropriately define the term However, not much agreement among personality theorists on how to appropriately define the term

Gordon Allport “The father of personality psychology” “The father of personality psychology” Allport (1961) Allport (1961) Personality is defined as "the dynamic organization within the individual of those psychophysical systems that determine his characteristic behavior and thought“ Personality is defined as "the dynamic organization within the individual of those psychophysical systems that determine his characteristic behavior and thought“ Emphasized the importance of long-term characteristics in personality Emphasized the importance of long-term characteristics in personality ( )

Personality Psychology: Fundamental issues Individual Differences Individual Differences Intrapersonal Functioning Intrapersonal Functioning

Fundamental Issues Individual differences – no two people are the same Individual differences – no two people are the same “Why are some children more afraid of strangers than others” “Why are some children more afraid of strangers than others” “Why do some people attribute success to their abilities and failure to bad luck, and others attribute successes to luck and failures to their lack of abilities?” “Why do some people attribute success to their abilities and failure to bad luck, and others attribute successes to luck and failures to their lack of abilities?”

Fundamental Issues Intrapersonal functioning Intrapersonal functioning What Allport called “dynamic organization” – same processes are being engaged but different inner motives are constantly at work depending on the situation – the reason why sometimes we go out and party and sometimes we stay in to read What Allport called “dynamic organization” – same processes are being engaged but different inner motives are constantly at work depending on the situation – the reason why sometimes we go out and party and sometimes we stay in to read

What is a Theory? Theory Theory A set of abstract concepts developed about a group of facts or events in order to explain them A set of abstract concepts developed about a group of facts or events in order to explain them Theory of Personality Theory of Personality An organized system of beliefs that helps us to understand human nature An organized system of beliefs that helps us to understand human nature

The Role of Personality Theory Macro Theories Macro Theories Global and emphasize comprehension of the whole person Global and emphasize comprehension of the whole person Micro Theories Micro Theories Have resulted from specific research focused on limited aspects of human behavior Have resulted from specific research focused on limited aspects of human behavior

Evaluation of Personality Theory CAN WE HAVE A SCIENCE OF PERSONALITY AND WHAT KIND OF A SCIENCE CAN IT BE? One can reasonably question whether paradigms from the physical sciences can be applied in an effort to understanding human beings One can reasonably question whether paradigms from the physical sciences can be applied in an effort to understanding human beings In the hard sciences, a system is understood by reducing its complex whole in to simpler parts and showing how these parts give rise to the functioning of the whole In the hard sciences, a system is understood by reducing its complex whole in to simpler parts and showing how these parts give rise to the functioning of the whole However, not all personality theorists agree that a rigorous scientific method is the best way to understand personality However, not all personality theorists agree that a rigorous scientific method is the best way to understand personality

Evaluation of Personality Theory Personality is not merely a physical system Personality is not merely a physical system People construct and respond to meaning People construct and respond to meaning There is no guarantee that the traditional scientific procedures of reducing a system into its component parts enable researchers to understand how meaning is constructed and responded to There is no guarantee that the traditional scientific procedures of reducing a system into its component parts enable researchers to understand how meaning is constructed and responded to The whole may be greater than the sum of its parts: three complementary orientations - philosophy, science, and art The whole may be greater than the sum of its parts: three complementary orientations - philosophy, science, and art

WHAT IS A PERSONALITY THEORY SUPPOSED TO DO? Like all scientific theories, theories of personality serve three key functions: Like all scientific theories, theories of personality serve three key functions: 1. Organize existing information 2. Generate new knowledge 3. Identify issues that deserve to be studied

Basic Philosophical Assumptions Issues along which personality theories differ: Free will vs. Determinism Free will vs. Determinism Heredity vs. Environmental influences Heredity vs. Environmental influences Uniqueness vs. Universality Uniqueness vs. Universality Proactivity vs. Reactivity Proactivity vs. Reactivity Optimism vs. Pessimism Optimism vs. Pessimism

Experimentation: The Scientific Method Observations Observations “You can observe a lot by watching” “You can observe a lot by watching” Theories Theories Explains, organizes, and predicts observable behavior Explains, organizes, and predicts observable behavior Speculation Speculation Parsimonious is better Parsimonious is better Hypotheses Hypotheses Best guesses Best guesses Testable predictions Testable predictions

It’s a Continuous Cycle theories observations hypotheses

Psychologists must be skeptical and think critically What is the evidence? How was it collected? Empirical Studies Knowledge acquired through observation

Empirical Studies Conclusions are based on research (objective data) NOT on tradition or common sense (subjective data)

Variables: Dependent and Independent DV DV Variable (behavior) you are measuring Variable (behavior) you are measuring What the researcher is trying to find out What the researcher is trying to find out IV IV Variable or variables being manipulated Variable or variables being manipulated Factors that the researcher is attempting to isolate Factors that the researcher is attempting to isolate

Operational Definitions Clearly defining our variables Clearly defining our variables Eliminates confusion Eliminates confusion Allows others to be able to successfully replicate our experiment Allows others to be able to successfully replicate our experiment

Personality Assessment Reliability Reliability Validity Validity

Making sure things are consistent… Reliability Reliability Degree of consistency or repeatability Degree of consistency or repeatability Interrater Reliability Interrater Reliability When different observers witness a behavior - is there agreement? When different observers witness a behavior - is there agreement? Test-Retest Reliability Test-Retest Reliability Experimenters will often retest people using either the same test or another form of it Experimenters will often retest people using either the same test or another form of it

Making sure things are meaningful… Validity: Are we measuring what we intend to measure? Validity: Are we measuring what we intend to measure? Internal Validity Internal Validity Are we sure the test is measuring what it is intended to measure? Are we sure the test is measuring what it is intended to measure? Face Validity Face Validity Congruent Validity Congruent Validity Discriminant Validity Discriminant Validity

Making sure things are meaningful… Validity: Do our results transfer? Validity: Do our results transfer? External Validity External Validity Is the extent to which the results of a study can be applied to circumstances outside the specific research setting in which a particular study was carried out Is the extent to which the results of a study can be applied to circumstances outside the specific research setting in which a particular study was carried out

Personality Assessment Psychometric Tests Psychometric Tests Any standardized procedure for measuring sensitivity or memory or intelligence or aptitude or personality These are carefully designed questionnaires developed with theoretical and statistical techniques Projective Tests Projective Tests Used primarily in clinical settings these tests attempt to assess personal values, needs, feelings, etc. Used primarily in clinical settings these tests attempt to assess personal values, needs, feelings, etc.

Research Clinical Approach Clinical Approach Intensive interviews and observations; use of projective tests Intensive interviews and observations; use of projective tests Experimental Approach Experimental Approach The use of DV and IV The use of DV and IV Psychometric Approach Psychometric Approach Use of questionnaires, screening tools, etc. based on powerful statistical techniques such as correlations Use of questionnaires, screening tools, etc. based on powerful statistical techniques such as correlations See next slide 

Please, don’t eat ice cream!

Correlation Coefficients Range from to Range from to -1.00

Credits Some slides of this presentation prepared with the help of the following website: Some slides of this presentation prepared with the help of the following website: psychology.illinoisstate.edu/mjsteven/psy233/ch01.ppt sof sof