1. CHAMBERLAIN PSYCHOLOGY 2012-13 What is personality?

2. Banana Personality Test There is a very, very tall coconut tree and there are 4 animals: a Lion, a Chimpanzee, a Giraffe, and a Squirrel, who pass by. They decide to compete to see who is the fastest to get a banana off the tree. Who do you guess will win? Your answer will reflect your personality so think carefully.... Try to answer within 30 seconds Got your answer? DON’T REVEAL YOUR ANSWER UNTIL I TELL YOU TO!! DON’T SAY ANYTHING OUT LOUD!! KEEP YOUR THOUGHTS TO YOURSELF SO THAT YOU DO NOT INFLUENCE OTHERS’ DECISIONS

3. So what kind of animal are you? Lion = you're dull. Chimpanzee = you're a moron. Giraffe = you're a complete idiot. Squirrel = you're just hopelessly stupid. A COCONUT TREE DOESN'T HAVE BANANAS.

4. Personality The combination of characteristics or qualities that form an individual's distinctive character. The characteristic patterns of thoughts, feelings and behaviors that make a person unique and remain fairly consistent throughout life.

5. What shapes personality? Many different theories have existed over the years evolving from the different perspectives.  Old theories looked at body type, bodily fluids  Behaviorists say traits emerge through reinforcement and modeling  Psychodynamic approach says traits are product of repressed urges and memories  Biopsychologists and evolutionary psychologists say natural selection, physiological processes, and interaction of genes and environment cause the expression of certain traits in individuals  Trait theorists say there are certain traits that all people have and that individuals just express them in different amounts and combinations

6. Early theory 1: Hippocrates’ theory Hippocrates thought personality was determined by an individual’s levels of certain bodily fluids Personality type According to Hippocrates’ theory, are you generally choleric, melancholic, sanguine, or phlegmatic?

7. Early theory 2: Sheldon’s Somatotype Theory Sheldon thought personality and body type were correlated Does your personality match your body type according to his theory?

8. Where would you rate yourself on each scale? Place an X on each scale to represent yourself Rate a friend or family member with Y for each scale How similar or different are you to the “Y” person? Cattell’s 16 primary traits

9. How is personality measured? Surveys Inkblot (Rorschach) and “describe the picture” tests

10. Big 5 personality test: the most widely accepted personality trait measurement tool in use today Go to website to take the Big 5 testwebsite The Big 5 traits are:  openness: strong intellectual curiosity, creativity and a preference for novelty and variety openness  conscientiousness: disciplined and detail orientedconscientiousness  extraversion: outgoing, social extraversion  agreeableness: helpful, cooperative, and sympathetic towards others agreeableness  neuroticism : emotional stability, impulse control, aggressiveness and anxiety neuroticism

11. Freudian theory of the unconscious mind HOW YOUR UNCONSCIOUS AFFECTS YOUR PERSONALITY, BEHAVIORS, THOUGHTS, AND DREAMS

12. The mind’s battleground: id, ego, and superego ego & id Superego is the mind’s moral compass or “conscience” that judges your actions, makes you feel guilty after you listen to id urges Develops over time as we learn society’s expectations and norms Emerges around age 5 superego Id is the “animal” and “instinct” part of the mind Humans are born 100% id Seeks pleasure and instant gratification regardless of the consequences Drives selfish behaviors Resides in the unconscious—influences behaviors and dreams Id is the “animal” and “instinct” part of the mind Humans are born 100% id Seeks pleasure and instant gratification regardless of the consequences Drives selfish behaviors Resides in the unconscious—influences behaviors and dreams Ego = conscious (thinking/aware) part of mind The part of your mind that thinks through choices and looks for the rational decision Mediator between id urges and superego judgments Ego = self-identity Ego develops as one ages and progresses through developmental stages Your ego gets bigger when you “do the right thing”, get approval from society for your actions

13. Application of Theory: Id, ego, superego Written response on loose leaf. Make sure you use and underline or highlight the words id, ego, and superego in both parts! A. Write a story about a time your id led you to do something others may have called impulsive, selfish, or not well thought out regarding negative consequences. – Did you suffer any guilt or punishment for following your id urge? B. Write a story about a time your id was tempting you BUT you listened to your superego’s voice and did “the right thing”. Examples of id urges/behaviors: StealingDrinking/doing drugsBreaking curfew Lying to parents, boy/girl friend Cheating on a boy/girl friend Breaking a dietSpeeding in a car Continuing a bad habit after you try to quit Cheating on a test Unprotected sexual activity Examples of id urges/behaviors: StealingDrinking/doing drugsBreaking curfew Lying to parents, boy/girl friend Cheating on a boy/girl friend Breaking a dietSpeeding in a car Continuing a bad habit after you try to quit Cheating on a test Unprotected sexual activity

14. Unhealthy behaviors are caused by memories repressed in mind’s unconscious Repress: to lock away from one’s conscious, to hide thoughts from yourself so that you don’t have to deal with them Unconscious: NOT a literal structural part of the brain The part of the mind that lies under the surface of conscious thoughts

15. Defense Mechanisms Ego’s way of protecting mind from judgment of superego and to relieve anxiety Created involuntarily by ego—not consciously! Can be healthy in short run, but if underlying cause of defense mechanism is not addressed, leads to unhealthy behaviors  Read your “defense mechanisms” handout. 2. Take notes on looseleaf about: what defense mechs are & why they happen a brief definition (in your own words) and example of each of the 12 types mentioned in the reading 3. Use the readings to help yourself identify the types of defense mechanisms being described on the worksheet. 4. Identify and label each instance of defense mechanism in “A love story” (activity that I will hand out after notes)

16. Personality Disorders: Behaviors or mental processes that deviate significantly from the norm and impair the person’s life; disorder’s impact on person’s ability to lead healthy, stable life can vary from mild to extreme 3 categories: Odd, dramatic, anxious Personality Disorders

17. Personality Disorder Category 1: Odd/eccentric Paranoid Schizoid (do not confuse this with schizophrenia!) Schizotypal Fearful, suspicious of others Loner, lack of emotions Belief in magic, flying saucers, loner Odd personality disorders are GENETIC NOT environmental!.5% - 2.5% of American population has 1 of these “odd” personality disorders Odd personality disorders are GENETIC NOT environmental!.5% - 2.5% of American population has 1 of these “odd” personality disorders Treatments: Many who suffer from these disorders do not seek treatment; Social skills therapy, anti-psychotics for schizotypals

18. Personality Disorder Category 2: Dramatic/emotional Anti-social, conduct disorder (psychopath) Borderline Histrionic Narcissist Lack of regard for moral, legal standards; some but not all are serial killers, rapists—see reading Lack of self-identity, rapid mood changes, impulsive, unstable relationships “Drama queen”, exaggerates all emotions Someone who thinks he’s all that, unable to see other’s feelings or viewpoints, need for admiration

19. Personality disorder Category 3: Anxious/fearful Avoidant Dependent OCD Intensely shy, sensitive <1% population has this Extreme dependence on others, unable to make decisions for self, fear of being alone approx 2% population has it Obsessive need for order, cleanliness, or unwanted repetitive thoughts of guilt or desire to to bad things mixed with compulsive, repetitive behaviors (hand washing, walking in a certain pattern, counting) *Note this is also classified under anxiety disorders