Chapter 1: Personality Theories Flashcards
Personality
Someone’s public image
Theory
Set of abstract concepts developed about a group of facts or events in order to explain them
Theory of Personality
An organized system of beliefs that helps us to understand human nature
Wilhelm Wundt
Established first psychological laboratory at the University of Leipzig in Germany to explore the experience of consciousness; combined measurement with introspective observation
John Watson
Father of American behaviorism; suggested that the psychologist should act as if mental processes do not exist and should concentrate on overt behavior
Introspective Observation
Self-examination
Extrospective Observation
Looking outward
Study of Personality
Heir of two different approaches: academic psychology and clinical practice
Macro Theories of Personality
Seek to be global and which emphasize comprehension of the whole person
Micro Theories of Personality
Resulted from specific research focused on limited aspects of human behavior; can be narrowly focused
Philosophical Assumptions
Influence the way we perceive the world and theorize about it
Philosophy
Love or pursuit of wisdom
Basic Philosophical Assumptions of Personality Theories
Determinism Vs Free Choice
Pessimism Vs Optimism
Causality Vs Teleology
Conscious Vs Unconscious Determinants of Behavior
Biological Vs Social Influences on Personality
Uniqueness Vs Similarities
Determinism Vs Free Choice
Are people’s behaviors determined by forces over which they have no control? Or can people choose to be what they wish to be? Can people be partially free and partially determined at the same time?
Pessimism Vs Optimism
Are people doomed to live miserable, conflicted, and troubled lives, or can they change and grow into psychologically healthy, happy, fully functioning human beings? Determinism = Pessimistic
Free Choice = Optimistic
Causality Vs Teleology
Causality holds that behavior is a function of past experiences
Teleology is an explanation of behavior in therms of future goals or purposes
Conscious Vs Unconscious Determinants of Behavior
Are people ordinarily aware of what they are doing and why they are doing it? Or do unconscious forces impringe on them and drive them to act without awareness of these underlying forces?
Biological Vs Social Influences on Personality
Are people mostly creatures of biology? Or are their personalities shaped largely by their social relationships? Are personal characteristics more the result of heredity or are they environmentally determined?
Uniqueness Vs Similarities
Is the salient feature of epople their individuality or is it their common characteristics? Should the study of personality concentrate on those traits that make people alike, or should it look at those traits that make people different?
What makes theories useful?
Being falsifiable, organizes data, guides action, is internally consistent, is parsimonious
