6: Allport - Propriate Functioning Flashcards
tendency to satisfy biological survival needs, an important motivator for human beings
opportunistic functioning
functioning in a manner expressive of the self (“being who we are”) - in Allport’s theory, much more significant to human behavior than opportunistic functioning
propriate functioning
Allport’s term for the self - composed of aspects of your experience that you view as the most essential (as opposed to incidental/accidental), warm (as opposed to emotionally cool), and central (as opposed to peripheral)
proprium
first function of proprium, developed in first 2 years of life - our understanding of our own physical being and its boundaries (pain, touch, movement)
sense of body
second function of proprium, developed in first 2 years of life - our recognition of ourselves as individual entities, with unique names, histories, differences
self-identity
third function of proprium, developed between ages 2 and 4 - our recognition of the value we possess to others and ourselves
self-esteem
fourth function of proprium, developed between ages 4 and 6 - our understanding of certain things, people, and events as central to our being (identification with family, hobbies, community)
self-extension
fifth function of proprium, developed between ages 4 and 6 - recognition of the way others perceive you (looking-glass self)
self-image
sixth function of proprium, mostly developed between ages 6 and 12 - ability to deal with life’s problems reasonably and effectively
rational coping
seventh function of proprium, usually developed after age 12 - having a sense of purpose, goals, plans, ideals, etc. (being the “proprietor of your life”)
propriate striving
concrete and easily recognized consistencies in our behaviors
dispositions
qualitative research methods that focus on studying one person at a time (interviews, observations etc.) - favored by Allport
idiographic methods
dispositions that are widespread and commonly understood among people of a specific culture
common traits
dispositions that are building blocks of the personality and closely tied to one’s proprium (smart/dumb, talkative/shy, etc.)
central traits
dispositions unique to individuals that aren’t so obvious, general, or consistent (preferences, attitudes, situational traits)
secondary traits
dispositions that are distinct and define an individual’s life - usually develop late in life
cardinal traits
Allport’s term for mental health and a state of emotional well-being
psychological maturity
Allport’s idea that one’s motives today are independent of their origins - rejects idea of looking into past to understand one’s present
functional autonomy
habits that no longer serve their original purpose but still remain (ex. smoking in adolescence as rebellion -> smoking in adulthood because of addiction)
perseverative functional autonomy
a self-directed value that has developed regardless of your past (ex. you were selfish once but now embrace generosity)
propriate functional autonomy
book written by Allport, Vernon and Lindzey that developed a categorization and test of values based on idea of propriate functional autonomy
A Study of Values
value that emphasizes importance of truth (ex. scientist)
the theoretical
value that emphasizes importance of usefulness, pragmatism (ex. businessperson)
the economic
value that emphasizes importance of beauty (ex. artist)
the aesthetic
value that emphasizes importance of supporting others (ex. nurse)
the social
value that emphasizes importance of power (ex. politician)
the political
value that emphasizes importance of unity (ex. monk)
the religious
attitude in which religion is seen as a means to a person’s other goals (status, security, etc.) - responsible for religious prejudice
extrinsic religious motivation
attitude in which religion is accepted for its own sake on the merit of its values - correlates with lower rates of depression
intrinsic religious motivation
