1. Personality
characteristics that define a person’s behavior, cognition, and emotion
Psychoanalytic Theory
Psychodynamic Theory
Birth Order Theory
Humanistic Theory
Trait Theory
Social-Cognitive Theory

2. Self-Concept Questionnaire
I often feel inferior to others.
I just avoid my problems rather than confronting them.
Others frequently hold me back in my achievements.
I have confidence I can overcome future obstacles.
I too often live by other people’s standards.
Indicate your agreement with each statement on a 1 to 5 scale.
1 = Very true of me
2 = Mostly true of me
3 = Somewhat true of me
4 = Slightly true of me
5 = Very unlike me

3. Self-Concept Questionnaire
I feel different from most people and wish I was more like them.
I act in a certain manner to impress people and am aware I’m not the person I pretend to be.
I have trouble taking criticism from others.
I only partially believe in myself.
I feel I am a person of worth.
Indicate your agreement with each statement on a 1 to 5 scale.
1 = Very true of me
2 = Mostly true of me
3 = Somewhat true of me
4 = Slightly true of me
5 = Very unlike me

4. Self-Concept Questionnaire
I’m excessively anxious or stressed.
I wish someone could tell me how to solve my personal problems.
Bad luck keeps holding me back from accomplishments.
I don’t worry about it if someone else judges me.
I have difficulty speaking to groups of people.
Indicate your agreement with each statement on a 1 to 5 scale.
1 = Very true of me
2 = Mostly true of me
3 = Somewhat true of me
4 = Slightly true of me
5 = Very unlike me

5. Self-Concept Questionnaire
I’m worried about saying the wrong thing at social affairs.
I’m not afraid to meet new people and expect them to like me because I’m a worthwhile person.
People seem to react to me differently than other people.
I’m very sensitive.
I don’t believe people when they say nice things to me.
Indicate your agreement with each statement on a 1 to 5 scale.
1 = Very true of me
2 = Mostly true of me
3 = Somewhat true of me
4 = Slightly true of me
5 = Very unlike me

6. Self-Concept Questionnaire
I’m never satisfied with the work that I accomplish.
I’m quiet in groups because I’m afraid of saying the wrong thing.
I feel abnormal and wish I felt more like other people.
I’m afraid for other people to find out what I’m really like because they might be disappointed.
I’m confident in my worth as a person.
Indicate your agreement with each statement on a 1 to 5 scale.
1 = Very true of me
2 = Mostly true of me
3 = Somewhat true of me
4 = Slightly true of me
5 = Very unlike me

7. Self-Concept Questionnaire
I feel comparable to my peers.
I’m very self-conscious in social situations.
Sometimes I don’t even try being friendly because I think people won’t like me.
I feel guilty over how I feel toward certain people in my life.
I could be more productive but I don’t have the energy to make it happen.
Indicate your agreement with each statement on a 1 to 5 scale.
1 = Very true of me
2 = Mostly true of me
3 = Somewhat true of me
4 = Slightly true of me
5 = Very unlike me

8. Self-Concept Questionnaire
I tend to act in certain ways to be liked by others.
I’m self-conscious when around people who are my superiors.
I’m very sure of myself due to my solid foundational values.
People say I’m talented but I wonder if I should doubt their judgment.
If people knew the real me, they wouldn’t like me.
Indicate your agreement with each statement on a 1 to 5 scale.
1 = Very true of me
2 = Mostly true of me
3 = Somewhat true of me
4 = Slightly true of me
5 = Very unlike me

9. Self-Concept Questionnaire
Most of my feelings are positive and natural.
I’m typically pessimistic by nature.
I’ve had more bad things than good things happen to me in the past and expect the same in the future.
I regret a lot of the choices I’ve made.
I’m not confident when placed in new situations.
Indicate your agreement with each statement on a 1 to 5 scale.
1 = Very true of me
2 = Mostly true of me
3 = Somewhat true of me
4 = Slightly true of me
5 = Very unlike me

10. Humanistic Theory
In the 1960s, some psychologists who were unhappy with the “negative outlook” of psychodynamic theory and behaviorism created Humanistic theory which focused on potential for positive personal growth
Although parts of this theory have roots going as far back as Socrates (and a special emphasis during the Renaissance), the two key “typical” founders are Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers
Basic belief is that people are inherently good
Central focus was on an individual’s self-concept: collection of beliefs and attitudes about oneself
Humanistic theorists usually test a person’s self-concept numerically through the use of surveys or questionnaires

11. Self-Concept SCORING
First, you need to reverse score all the BOLDED questions on your answer sheet. (#s 4, 10, 14, 17, 25, 26, 33, 36)
Change “1” to “5”
Change “2” to “4”
“3”s stay as they are
Change “4” to “2”
Change “5” to “1”
Then, add up all of your scores. You can use your calculator or phone if need be.
79 or lower: NEGATIVE self-concept (lower more negative)
80-119: NEUTRAL self-concept
120 or higher: POSITIVE self-concept (higher more positive)

12. Person-Centered Perspective
Carl Rogers believed in a “person-centered” perspective of differentiating between actual self and ideal self
Actual self: who we are based on our self-concept score
Ideal self: who you wish you were as a person
The closer these are, the most positive your self-concept
Rogers compared growth in people to growth in acorns. Whereas acorns need sun, water, and nutrients in their environment to grow, people need to be treated with the following in their environment to grow into their actual selves:
Genuineness: are others open, honest, and self- disclosing to us?
Acceptance: do others offer us unconditional positive regard (total acceptance without judgment)?
Can you think of any negatives to unconditional positive regard? Would it ever be “bad”?
Empathy: do others share and mirror our feelings?

13. Hierarchy of Needs
Abraham Maslow believed our personality/motivation is shaped by a hierarchy of needs
Self-transcendence: achieving a higher goal outside oneself
Self-actualization: become the ideal version of oneself
Esteem: need to feel respected
Love and belongingness: desire for attachment and acceptance
Safety: protective security needs
Physiological: physical requirements for human survival
Maslow believed you work up the hierarchy… any exceptions?

14. Humanistic Theory Research
Most people tend to have positive self-concepts, partially because of the self-serving bias
90% of people rate themselves superior to their average peer; only 1% rate themselves below average
Over time the theory has influenced the idea of human nature being basically good
People believe this by a 4-1 margin
Good Deeds Video 1 | Good Deeds Video 2
Some criticism since Maslow’s Hierarchy tends to reinforce western values (they score higher on the self-concept scales than others)
There’s very little research that supports Maslow’s Hierarchy in general
Other criticism that the theory in general fails to appreciate the reality of the human capacity for evil