1. An individual’s unique patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that persists over time and across situations.
An individual’s characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting 2

2. Personality Perspectives
Trait theories (Biological)
Psychodynamic theories
Behaviorism
Social-Learning Theories
Humanistic theories
Social-Cognitive theories
© Prentice Hall, 1999 3

3. Biological Perspective
Major themes & assumptions
1.personality characteristics
genetically determined
2.behavioral tendencies come
from evolutionary history
3.behavior is produced by complex biological system (e.g. hormones, neurotransmitters)
strengths: twin/adoption studies
pharmacological intervention

4. Four Humors

6. Sheldon’s Empirical Findings
500 boys in Residential Rehabilitation
8 Year Study
60% of Delinquents were Mesomorphs
30% were non Mesomorphs
Somatotypes have found a particularly durable employment in the field of delinquency and criminology. Perhaps the best known aspect of the Varieties of Delinquent Youth is that the young men on the whole are more mesomorphic and less ectomorphic than both the general population and their collegiate counterparts. This assertion caused a certain stir at the time of its publication, but subsequent studies have reaffirmed it time and again. For example, Sheldon Glueck and Eleanor Glueck in Physique and Delinquency (1956) compared almost 500 delinquents with 500 non-delinquents, and they found that roughly 60% of the delinquents were mesomorphic compared with 30% of the non-delinquents.

7. Personality Types
William Sheldon (1954) Somatoform Typology (Physiognomy)
Sheldon’s body types only modestly link to personality traits. The stereotypes are just that, stereotypes

8. Mesomorphic Body Type:
The Mesomorph
Mesomorphic Body Type:
hard, muscular body
overly mature appearance
rectangular shaped
thick skin
upright posture
Associated personality traits:
adventurous
desire for power/dominance
courageous
indifference to others
assertive, bold
zest for physical activity
competitive
love of risk/chance
Well defined muscles, large bones. Tapered torso. Large broad cubicle face. Heavy textured hair. Sometimes tans well.

9. Endomorphic Body Type:
The Endomorph
Endomorphic Body Type:
soft body
underdeveloped muscles
round shaped
over-developed digestive system
Associated personality traits:
love of food
tolerant
evenness of emotions
love of comfort
sociable
good humored
relaxed
need for affection
Round and soft. Mass concentrated in abdomen. Short tapered limbs. Hands and feet comparatively small. Upper arms and thighs developed. Large broad face. Fine hair. Smooth skin. Spherical head.

10. Ectomorphic Body Type:
The Ectomorph
Ectomorphic Body Type:
thin
flat chest
delicate build
young appearance
tall
lightly muscled
stoop-shouldered
large brain
Associated personality traits:
self-conscious
preference for privacy
introverted
inhibited
socially anxious
artistic
mentally intense
emotionally restrained
These body types have been used to predict an athletes innate ability
Ecto has Latin Roots meaning outside.
Delicate, Does not gain weight easily. Flat chest. Fragile. Lean. Lightly muscled. Small shouldered. Ling fingers toes necks, sharp features, receding lower jaw. Low Body fat, suffers from graet cold..

11. “Biopsychological Constitutional Typology”
Ernst Kretschmer
“Biopsychological Constitutional Typology”
Pyknic-heavy, soft body, lacks spontaneity/sophistication Commit nonviolent property crimes
Athletic-muscular body type
aggressive,bully,loud
Commit violent offenses
Leptosome- tall/thin
highly emotional, unable to control themselves, Commit sexual offenses/crimes of passion.
(1) leptosome or asthenic [tall and thin], (2) athletic [well developed muscles], and (3) pyknic [short and fat].

12. Trait Perspective Gordon Allport
Described personality as fundamental traits
Wanted to describe individual traits, not explain them
Traits
People’s characteristic pattern of behavior or feeling action; our conscious (rather than unconscious) motives

13. Trait Perspective
How do we describe & classify different personalities?
(Type A vs Type B or Depressed vs Cheerful?)
Hans Eysenck's three factor model
extraversion, neuroticism, psychoticism

14. The Big Five Cardinal Traits Emotional Stability Extraversion Openness
Calm/Anxious
Secure/Insecure
Emotional Stability
Sociable/Retiring
Fun Loving/Sober
Extraversion
Imaginative/Practical
Independent/Conforming
Openness
Soft-Hearted/Ruthless
Trusting/Suspicious
Agreeableness
Organized/Disorganized
Careful/Careless
Conscientiousness

15. Assessing Traits How can we assess traits?
(aim to simplify person’s behavior patterns)
MMPI
most widely used personality inventory
assess psychological disorders (not normal traits)
empirically derived -
test items selected based upon how well they
discriminate groups of traits
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator - classifies people
based upon responses to 126 questions