1. Ch. 14 Theories of Personality

2. Personality The consistent, enduring, and uniquecharacteristics of a person General trends, not absolutes 3. Purposes of Theories Ultimately, personality theories attempt toexplain, understand and predict behavior byunderstanding general trends in the cognitiveprocesses of individuals Also, to identify trait correlations, identify thedifferences among individuals, and improvelife of individuals 4. Major Schools of Personality Theory Psychoanalytical Behaviorists Social Learning Cognitive Humanistic Trait 5. Section 2 Psychoanalytic Theories Sigmund Freud and the Unconscious, HistoricalBackground 3min 6. Unconscious/Subconscious The part of the mind that contains material ofwhich we are unaware but that stronglyinfluences conscious processes and behaviors 7. ID, EGO, SUPEREGO 8. ID The part of the unconscious personality thatcontains our needs, drives, instincts andrepressed materials Selfish, demands instant gratification 9. EGO The part of thepersonality that is intouch with reality andstrives to meet thedemands of the idand the superego insocially acceptableways. 10. SUPEREGO The part of the personality that is the sourceof conscience and counteracts the sociallyundesirable impulses of the id. 11. Defense Mechanisms certain specific meansby which the ego unconsciously protects itselfagainst unpleasant impulses or circumstances Rationalization Repression Denial Projection Reaction Formation Regression Displacement Sublimation 12. Rationalization Excuse making To attribute (ones actions) to rational andcreditable motives without analysis of trueand especially unconscious motives Using incorrect but self-serving explanationsto justify unacceptable behavior, thoughts, orfeelings Example I cheated on the test because theteacher makes the tests way too hard 13. Repression a mental process by which distressingthoughts, memories, or impulses that maygive rise to anxiety are excluded fromconsciousness and left to operate in theunconscious 14. Freudian Slip saying something youconsciously wouldnt want to say, but that really reveals repressed desires 15. Freudian Slip 16. Freudian Slip 17. Freudian Slip 18. Denial Confrontation with a personal problem orwith reality is avoided by denying theexistence of the problem or reality 19. Projection the attribution of ones ownideas, feelings, or attitudes to other people orto objects Externalizing blame, guilt, or responsibility. Blaming Example Im not a jerk he is Im not trying to hook up with her, she istrying to hook up with me 20. Reaction Formation One form of behavior substitutes for orconceals the opposite behavior in order toprotect against it Example a guy that is gay acting like a playertrying to deny it (Rajj on Big Bang Theory?) 21. Regression Reversion to an earlier mental or behaviorallevel or to an earlier stage of development inresponse to stress Example your girlfriend makes you mad, soyou stick your tongue out at her and gopfhew 22. Displacement Transferring feelings about a person or eventonto someone or something else Example being best friends with your dog 23. Sublimation Channeling unacceptable thoughts andfeelings into socially acceptable behavior Example getting good grades, workingout, holding the door 24. Defense Mechanism Songs 25. Carl Jung Collective Unconscious/Archetype Personal unconscious similar to Freudsideas of unconscious Collective unconscious universal memoriesof the common human past Archetypes images or thoughts that havethe same meaning for all human beings 26. Alfred Adler Inferiority Complex A pattern of avoiding feelings of inadequacyrather than trying to overcome their source To Adler, these feelings of inadequacy are themain motivating factor of behavior 27. Learning Theories - Personality 28. B.F. Skinner - Behaviorism Belief that the proper subject matter ofpsychology is objectively observable behaviorand nothing else Concerned with what causes a behavior, howhe/she is behaving, not personality Contingences of reinforcement occurrenceof rewards or punishments followingparticular behaviors 29. Albert Bandura Personalityacquired through acombination ofreinforcement/punishment andobservationallearning/imitation 30. Humanistic and Cognitive Theories 31. Humanistic Psychology a school of psychology that emphasizesperson growth and the achievement ofmaximum potential by each unique individual. 32. Self Actualization humanist term for realizing ones unique potential 33. Abraham Maslow Growth and Self Actualization 34. Carl Rogers Self Theory Self - ones experiences or image ofoneself, developed through interaction withothers. 35. Carl Rogers - Concepts Positive Regard- viewing oneself in a positive light dueto positive feedback received from interaction withothers. Condition of worth- the conditions a person must meetin order to regard himself or herself positively. Unconditional positive regard- the perception thatindividuals significant others value them for what theyare, which leads the individuals to grant themselvesthe same regard. Fully functioning- an individual whose person and selfcoincide. 36. Carl Rogers 37. Cognitive Theory Personal Construct theory our ideas ofourselves, others, and of our world shape ourbehavior and personalities Constructs = schemas (mental representationsof people, events, concepts) 38. Section 5 Trait Theories 39. Trait a tendency to react to a situation in a way that remains stable over time 40. Gordon Allport: Identifying Traits Cardinal Trait- a characteristic or feature thatis so pervasive the person is almost identifiedwith it. 41. Raymond Cattell 16 Trait Theory Factor Analysis - a complex statisticaltechnique used to identify the underlyingreasons variables are correlated. Surface Traits - a stable characteristic that canbe observed in certain situations Source Traits - a stable characteristic that canbe considered to be at the core of personality. 42. Hans Eysenck Dimensions of PersonalityExtroverts- an outgoing, active person whodirects his or her energies and interests towardother people and things.Introverts- a reserved, with drawn person who ispreoccupied with his or her inner thoughts andfeelings.