13.3 Approaches to Personality Flashcards
Psychodynamic / psychoanalytical theories is an example of what?
Depth psychology
with a clinical approach
Psychodynamic / psychoanalytical approach to personality proposes that the structures and functioning of personality are determined by?
Unconscious forces
What do depth psychology assume about early child development?
It is formative and more important than development in adult life. Problems in childhood may have disruptive influences in adult life.
Although heavily influenced by Freud in his Psychoanalytical / Psychodynamic approach to personality - how did writers after Freud differ from him?
They had a more positive view and emphasised a stronger self-concept (people being more in control of themselves)
What is the Object Relations Theory and Relations Theories about under Psychodynamic / Psychoanalytical approach?
The development of more mature interpersonal relationships to solve possible problematic relationship behaviour in the 1st few years of life - may impair relationships in love and work
In psychodynamic/ psychoanalytical theories what do the Relational Theories say?
The need for relatedness is a central human need which will influence personality
in efforts to interact with other people
In the work context how is psychodynamics used?
In understanding and influencing the dynamics in groups and organisations
In psychodynamics what do people do to reduce the effects of negative emotions?
Utilise defense mechanisms
By whom was the Psychodynamic / Psychoanalytical theory - as part of PERSONALITY APPROACHES - founded?
Sigmund Freud
As an APPROACH TO PERSONALITY STUDY what is the main idea of the Behaviourist / Learning theories (Watson)?
People's environment and circumstances are dominant influences in what they become and might even override basic natural or genetic potentials
In the Behaviourist / Learning theory, how does personality develop?
Because certain behaviours occur and are rewarded more often than others.
How is personality seen in terms of stability in the Bahaviourist / Learning theories?
Personality is not stable across time
Due to people continuously learning
In Behaviourist / Learning theories the later social and cognitive learning theories emphisise that people can self-regulate. Explain.
Behaviour is not a simple connection between a stimilus and a response. People can rationally, or by thinking and making choices, influence the learning process
How is Behaviourist / Learning theory utilised in the work context?
Training and motivation of people
Give other names for the Humanistic approach as part of the PERSONALITY APPROACHES.
Phenomenological
Existential
What do the Humanistic / Phenomenological / Existential approach involve?
A more optimistic and person-orientated approach with emphasis on human behaviour .
Explain the Humanistic / Phenomelogical / Existential approach.
Human personality is best understood
by people’s unique qualities
such as their freedom
and potential for personal growth
According to the Humanistic / Phenomelogical / Existential approach (as part of the Personality Approaches) how do personality develop?
Over the lifespan
as result of universal and unique experiences
and especially positive relations with other people
In the Humanistic/ Phenomelogical/ Existential approach, what is the result of individual differences?
Every person’s uniqueness
The Humanistic/ Phenomelogical / Existential approach have many applications such as?
In positive psychology psychological research assessment management approaches counseling, therapy and facilitation techniques
According to the TRAIT and TYPE THEORY in personality approaches, what is human behaviour characterised by?
Distinguishable
enduring and consistent attributes
and patterns of behaviour.
In what concepts is human behaviour described as in the TRAIT and TYPE theories?
Disposition Dimensions Traits Factors Types
By what are traits influenced in the TRAIT and TYPE theories?
- Inherited biological factors
- Interaction between people and environment
Names given to TRAITS are considered to be either:
Internal causing attributes
Hypothetical descriptive constructs
From a genetic stance, how are Traits viewed?
1) as neuro-psychic structures (inside a person)
2) motivate behaviour
3) are distinguishable in and between people
4) but environmental influences may have less informative impact
How can Traits be measured according to the Trait and Type theories of personality?
With Psychometric Instruments (eg tests for abilities)
Trait theories classify personality into 3 integrated models. What are they?
3 factor
5 factor
16 factor
Explain extraversion.
The act, state or habit of being predominantly concerned with obtaining gratification from outside the self.
Explain introversion.
State or tendency to being predominantly concerned with and interested in one’s own mental life.
In what is the most important contribution the Trait and Type personality theory approaches ?
The classification of
and psychological measurement of individual differences
Through tools such as
Personality questionnaires
How is Trait and Type approaches applied in the workplace?
- assessment of work competencies for selection purposes
- to determine the work-relatedness of personality traits
Which is regarded as the most integrative trait approach on personality and possibly a metaperspective?
The 5 factor Model
Explain metaperspective.
A perspective that explains many areas of psychological functioning
For what is the Trait and Type theories in personality approached heavily criticised?
Research is based on self-report findings
as determined by the contents of questionaires
Traits are descriptive only. Elaborate.
They do not explain much about the
why, how or underlying dynamics
of personality and behaviour.
Describe personality as seen by the COGNITIVE an SOCIAL-COGNITIVE theories as part of the personality approaches.
Personality and behaviour is shaped by the consequences of learning
What is the emphasis on in the Cognitive and Social-Cognitive theories in Personality Approaches?
Self-regulation :
self-efficacy, expectation, prediction, perception, memory and cognitive process and schemas.
These are all way of controlling the world, other people and one’s own behaviours.
How will people act according to the Cognitive and Social-Cognitive theories in personality approaches?
According to their acquired thinking / knowledge of the world
and expectancies and predictions
that things will happen
or goals will be attained.
In Cognitive and Social-Cognitive theories Mark Baldwin uses the concept of “relational schemas”. Explain.
These are self-images
of relationships and interactions
with other people
What do behaviourists and cognitive theorists agree on?
Individual differences exist because people have different constructs (cognitive).
What are Social-Cognitive psychologists criticised for?
Over-emphisising the rational side of personality and people’s self-control
What is believed in Biological / Evolutionary perspectives as part of Personality Approaches?
Behaviour is strongly influenced by
genetic and neurological factors.
What studies illustrate behavioural genetics best?
Similarities and differences found in twins and adoptions.
What prominent finding was made in terms of twins through the Biological / Evolutionary perspectives as part of personality approaches?
Monozygotic (identical) twins are much more alike on various attributes than Dizygotic (not identical) twins - even if the former were raised separately.
In behaviour, testosterone are important for:
Sociability
Positive emotions
Aggression
Sexuality
In behaviour, neurotransmitters are important for:
Functioning in the regulation of emotions
Ego, social-orientated and interpersonal theories are also known as?
Psychosocial theories
What do Psychosocial theorists - as part of Personality Approaches - stress in terms of personality?
The SELF is a core dimension of personality
and personality development.
Personality is best expressed in interpersonal situations.
What do the Contextual approaches (systemic and cultural perspectives) as part of the Personality Approaches suggest?
People must be seen as a whole person
that human behaviour can be complex
there is often more that can be observed
What is said about behaviour according to the Social Constructionism (Contextual Approach)?
All human behaviour and the ideas thereof are part of social reality and people’s interpretation of social realities -
all as results from human interaction
How do African and Asian perspectives contrast from Western Psychology?
Asian and African psychology originates from a metaphysical and spiritual tradition
resulting in a more intuitive and integrated discipline.
……. of personality is recognised by most approaches and is said to have a profound effect on a person’s self-concept, personality formation and expression of related behaviours?
The cultural context
