1. Formal and Informal Approaches to Personality

2. Personality
Personality = a person’s collective thoughts, emotions, and behaviors
Personality patterns often develop
Assessing personality is complicated: different theories to explain why we are who we are

3. Formal Approaches to Personality (Not all Models/Theories Presented)

4. Behavioral Theory
A person behaves in a certain way based upon experiences/stimuli
Punishment/negative consequences will reduce behavior
Reward/positive consequences will increase behavior
Therefore, behavior is reinforced by the environment; it is learned

5. Famous Behaviorists Ivan Pavlov John Watson B.F. Skinner Al Bandura
Classical conditioning on The Office
John Watson
B.F. Skinner
Operant conditioning on Big Bang Theory
Al Bandura

6. Humanistic Theory
Behavior is motivated by desire for personal growth/achievement
Stages in such growth and achievement are not dependent upon age
Emphasizes the whole person and the importance of each subjective experience
People are basically good

7. Example of Humanistic Theory
Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs (SimplyPsychology.com, original hierarchy)

8. Developmental Theory Life contains specific developmental stages
Personality is developed based upon progression through these stages
Erikson’s eight lifespan stages
Jean Piaget’s cognitive development stages
Conservation

10. Theory Combination Developmental, humanistic, behavioral
Mamie Phipps Clark, Kenneth Clark doll experiments (YouTube)

11. Psychoanalytic Theory
Pioneered by Sigmund Freud, psychoanalysis = “analyzing the psyche”
Freud’s theory compared to an “iceberg”
Freud felt the sum of all mental activity was divided into three parts Id
Ego
Superego

12. The “id” An unconscious component of the psyche
Id unconcerned about reality
The id seeks immediate pleasure and satisfaction of instinctual drives based on biological needs
libido
aggression

13. The “superego” Serves as a person’s conscience
Serves as a person’s moral standards
Operates at various levels of consciousness within the psyche
Superego unconcerned about reality
Commands that sexual and aggressive impulses be stifled
Demands that moral goals be favored

14. The “ego”
Largely conscious part of the psyche, though also operates at other levels
Operates per the reality principle
Ego tries to:
satisfy the id
avoid guilt or remorse experienced through the superego
incorporate reality into its decision
Anxiety results when the ego loses its battle

15. Informal Approaches to Personality

16. Personality Types Type A, B, C personalities
Each personality type is represented by a group of behavioral characteristics
The same characteristics occur across many situations
An individual who demonstrates many “C” characteristics would be labeled a “Type C personality”

17. Type A Personality Anger Impatience Hostility Aggression
Need for control
Hurried
Unaware of environment and others’ needs

18. Type A Personality (continued)
Competitive
Increased risk for cardiovascular disease
Especially anger, hostility, aggression
Guilt with Relaxing Activities

19. Assess Your Type A Tendencies

20. Type B Personality Patience Much less time urgency
Relaxation without guilt
“Laid back”

21. Type C Personality
Over years, more than one “Type C” personality has been described
Most common Type C reference
Introverted, keeps to him- or herself
If wronged, may not stand up for him- or herself
Conforming
Cancer prone

22. Personality Traits Trait theories are quite sophisticated
Trait: characteristic of human behavior or attitude
Examples: friendliness, sensitivity, trust, delay of gratification/self-control (the Marshmallow Experiment)
Cattell, Eysenck, Allport

23. Personality Temperaments
Temperaments are similar to traits, though there are generally fewer of them
Example: 16 personality temperaments
Keirsey Temperament Sorter

24. Other Personality Measures
Optimism vs. Pessimism
Perception of a situation
An optimist will view the situation in a positive manner
A pessimist will view same situation negatively
Example?
Relationship between pessimism and mortality for those under 60 years of age

25. Other Personality Measures (continued)
External vs. Internal Locus of Control
External: Individual feels he/she has little control over events
Internal: Individual feels he/she has great control over events
Examples of each?
Which individual is considered “healthiest?”

26. Advantages and Limitations of Informal Approaches to Personality?