Allport Flashcards
emphasized the uniqueness of the individual
Allport theory
Allport used ___________ methods rather than _______________methods which was used by most other psychologists
morphogenic & nomothetic
gathering data on a single individual
morphogenic
gathering data on groups of people
nomothetic
he also advocated an ___________ ___________; deriving concepts from various theorists
eclectic approach
→ he believed that no single theorist is able to adequately explain the total growing and unique personality alone
• he prefers a broad, comprehensive theory than a narrow, specific theory
→ he was against particularism, or theories that focus on a single aspect of personality
Gordon Allport
the dynamic organization within the individual of those psychophysical systems that determine his characteristic behavior and thought
Personality
personality is both
physical and psychological
• Allport’s definition of personality suggests that human beings are both _________ & __________ → people have some organized structure, while at the same time, they possess the capability to change
product and process
healthy adults are generally aware of what they are doing and their reasons for doing it Allport was inclined to accept self-reports (of behavior) at face value
role of consciousness motivation
he still recognizes the fact that some motivation is driven by __________ __________
unconscious processes
what are the few general assumptions required to understand Allport’s conception of the mature personality:
1) psychologically mature people are characterized by proactive behavior
2) mature personalities are more likely than disturbed ones to be motivated by conscious processes
3) healthy people ordinarily have experienced a relatively trauma-free childhood
is not merely intended to reduce tensions but also at establishing new ones
proactive behavior
What are six (6) criteria for the mature personality?
1) extension of the sense of self
2) warm relating of self to others
3) emotional security or self-acceptance
4) realistic perception of the environment
5) insight and humor
6) unifying philosophy of life
individual characteristics that describe a person
Personal disposition
traits that are “peculiar to the individual”
Personal Disposition
general characteristics that are shared by many people
common traits
Level of personal dispositions:
- Cardinal dispositions
- Central dispositions
- Secondary dispositions
• characteristic that is very dominating it cannot be hidden
• examples: quixotic (only Don Quixote was truly quixotic), narcissistic (only Narcissus was completely narcissistic)
→ when these terms are used to describe others, they become common traits
Cardinal Dispositions
include the 5 to 10 most outstanding characteristics around which a person’s life focuses
• everyone has several of it
Central Dispositions
• less conspicuous but far greater in number than central dispositions
• not central to the personality yet occur with some regularity and are responsible for much of one’s specific behaviors
Secondary Dispositions
dispositions that are much more strongly felt than others
→ initiate action
→ similar to Maslow’s coping behavior
motivational dispositions
personal dispositions that are less intensely experienced
→ guide action
→ similar to Maslow’s expressive behavior
stylistic dispositions
• refers to behaviors and characteristics that people regard as warm, central, and important in their lives
Proprium
• dispositions that are at the center of personality and are experienced by the person as an important part of self
• characteristics that people see as peculiarly their own
• includes aspects of life that a person regards as important to a sense of self-identity and self-enhancement
Proprium
Allport believed that most people are motivated by_________ __________ rather than past events
present drives
motivation toward goals that are consistent with an established proprium and that are uniquely one’s own
→ seek to maintain tension and
disequilibrium
propriate strivings
are those that reduce a need
peripheral motives
• the tendency for some motives to become independent from the original motive responsible for the behavior
~represents Allport’s most distinctive and most controversial postulate
Functional autonomy
Levels of functional autonomy:
1) Perseverative Functional Autonomy
2) Propriate Functional Autonomy
• more elementary of the two levels
• functionally independent motives that are not part of the proprium
Perseverative Functional Autonomy
• borrowed from the term “perseveration” which is the tendency of an impression to leave an influence on subsequent experience
→ example: a rat that learned to run a maze in order to be fed but continues to run the maze even after it has become satisfied
• includes addictions, the tendency to finish uncompleted tasks, and other acquired motives
Perseverative Functional Autonomy
• master system of motivation that confers unity on personality
• refers to self-sustaining motives that are related to the proprium
• includes a person’s occupation, hobbies, and interests
Propriate Functional Autonomy
• a present motive is functionally autonomous to the extent that it seeks new goals
→ the behavior will continue even as the motivation for it changes
Criterion for functional autonomy
