Gordon Allport Flashcards
Functional Equivalence
Similar behavior in different contexts
Broad determinative tendency
Responsible for a number of different behaviors/attitudes/feelings across different situations (PATTERNS) “internal patterning” -not just observable behavior
Personality (for Allport)
The dynamic organization within the individual of those psychophysical systems that determine… Characteristic behavior and thought
Traits (for Allport)
Distinguishing characteristics that guide behavior. Are measured on a continuum and are subject to social, environmental, and cultural influences.
Personal Dispositions
Traits that are peculiar to an individual, as opposed to traits shared by a number of people.
Cardinal Traits
The most pervasive and powerful human traits.
Central Traits
The handful of outstanding traits that describe a person’s behavior.
Secondary Traits
The least important traits, which a person may display inconspicuously and inconsistently.
Habits
Specific, inflexible responses to specific stimuli; several habits may combine to form a trait.
Attitudes
To Allport, these are similar to traits. However, they have specific objects of reference and involve either positive or negative evaluations.
Functional Autonomy of Motives
The idea that motives in the normal, mature adult are independent of the childhood experiences in which they originally appear.
Preservative Functional Autonomy
The level of functional autonomy that relates to low-level and routine behaviors.
Propriate Functional Autonomy
The level of functional autonomy that relates to our values, self-image, and lifestyle.
Proprium
Allport’s term for the ego or self.
The Development of the Proprium
Stage: 1. Bodily Self 2. Self-identity 3. Self-Esteem 4. Extension of self 5. Self-image 6. Self as a rational coper 7. Porpriate striving Adulthood
Bodily self
Stages 1-3 emerge during the first three years. In this stage, infants become aware of their own existence and distinguish their own bodies from objects in the environment.
Self-identity
Children realize that their identity remains intact despite the many changes that are taking place.
Self-esteem
Children learn to take pride in their accomplishments
Extension of self
Stages 4 & 5 emerge during the fourth through sixth year. In this stage, children come to recognize the objects and people that are part of their own world.
Self-image
Children develop actual and idealized images of themselves and their behavior and become aware of satisfying (or failing to satisfy) parental expectations.
Self as a rational coper
Stage 6 develops during ages 6-12. Children begin to apply reason and logic to the solution of everyday problems.
Propriate striving
Stage 7 develops during adolescence. Young people begin to formulate long-range goals and plans
Adulthood
Normal, mature adults are functionally autonomous, independent of childhood motives. They function rationally in the present and consciously create their own lifestyles.
Personal Document Technique
A method of personality assessment that involves the study of a person’s written or spoken records.
Expressive Behavior
Spontaneous and seemingly purposeless behavior, usually displayed without our conscious awareness.
Coping Behavior
Consciously planned behavior determined by the needs of a given situation and designed for a specific purpose, usually to bring about a change in one’s environment.
