Textbook Chapter 1 Flashcards
two parts of the definition of personality
- consistent patterns of behaviour
- individual differences - intrapersonal processes
- emotional, motivational, cognitive processes
- affect how we act and feel
basic question asked by personality researchers
“what are the sources of consistent behaviour patterns and intrapersonal processes?”
6 approaches to personality
- psychoanalytic
- trait
- biological
- behavioural/social learning
- humanistic
- cognitive
psychoanalytic approach
argue people’s unconscious minds are largely responsible for important differences in their behaviour
trait approach
identify where a person lies along a continuum of various personality characteristics
biological approach
point to inherited predispositions and physiological processes to explain diffs in personality
humanistic approach
identify personal responsibility and feelings of self-acceptance as key causes for diffs in personality
behavioural/social learning approach
explain consistent behaviour patterns as result of conditioning and expectations
cognitive approach
look at differences in the way that people process information to explain diffs in behaviour
aggression: psychoanalytic perspective
aggression points to UNCONSCIOUS DEATH INSTINCT
we all possess unconscious desire to self destruct
but people with healthy personalities don’t want to hurt themselves
self-destructive impulses may be turned outward and expressed against others in form of aggression
OR aggression emerges when we’re blocked from reaching goals
aggression: trait perspective
focus on individual differences and stability of aggressive behaviour
ie. longitudinal study of kids and adults on their levels of aggression found that kids who were aggressive at 8 were also likely to be aggressive adults
aggression: biological perspective
interested in stable patterns of aggressive behaviour
point to genetic predisposition to act aggressively as a reason for stability
some evidence that some inherit more proclivity towards aggression than others
some born with aggressive dispositions that (depending on upbringing) lead to them becoming aggressive adults
hormones and neurotransmitter roles in aggression
aggression: humanistic perspective
deny that some individuals are BORN aggressive
argues people are basically good
believe all people can become happy, nonviolent adults if allowed to grow in an enriching and encouraging environment
problems occur when something interferes with this natural growth process
ie. basic needs aren’t adequately met
aggression: behavioural/social learning perspective
contrasts in many ways with humanistic view
contend that people learn to be aggressive the same way they learn other behaviours
ie. playground bullies find aggressive behaviour rewarding, so they repeat it
people also learn from watching role models
ie. aggressive TV, parents
aggression: cognitive perspective
main focus is on the way aggressive people process information
certain environmental cues (images of guns/fighting) trigger networks of aggressive thoughts and emotions
when aggressive thoughts are highly accessible, people are more likely to interpret situations as threatening and respond to those perceived threats with violence
individuals with highly accessible aggressive thoughts are likely to respond with threats of violence and angry shoves
aggression: evolutionary theory
this falls under the biological perspective
males tend to be more aggressive than females because of their inherited need to exercise control over rivals
depression: psychoanalytic perspective
depression is anger turned inward
hold unconscious feelings of anger and hostility
may want to strike out at family members, but a healthy personality doesn’t express such feelings overtly because they’ve internalized the standards/values of society
so angry feelings are turned inwards, people take it out on themselves
depression: trait perspective
concerned with identifying depression-prone individuals
one’s general emotional level today is a good indicator of one’s emotions in the future
impressive correlations found between middle aged men depression scores and their scores 30 years later
depression: biological perspective
evidence that some may inherit genetic susceptibility to depression
those born vulnerable face greater likelihood than average person of reacting to stressful life events with depression
inherited tendency = bouts of depression across lifespan
depression: behavioural/social learning perspective
examine type of learning history that leads to depression
argue depression results from LACK OF PERSONAL REINFORCERS in person’s life
ie. feel down and unmotivated because you SEE FEW activities in life WORTH doing
ie. exposure to UNCONTROLLABLE events creates PERCEPTION OF HELPLESSNESS that manifests eventually as depression
depression: humanistic perspective
explains depression in terms of SELF-ESTEEM
people who frequently suffer depression have failed to develop a good sense of self worth
ability to accept oneself, even faults and weaknesses = important goal for humanistic therapists when dealing with clients suffering from depression
depression: cognitive perspective
argue that whether people become depressed depends on how they INTERPRET THEIR INABILITY TO CONTROL EVENTS
ie. people who attribute their inability to get promoted to a temporary economic recession won’t become as depressed as those who believe it’s the result of personal inadequacies
DEPRESSIVE FILTER used to interpret and process info - meaning depressed people are prepared to see world in most depressing terms possible
because of this, they EASILY RECALL depressing experiences
personality and culture: many assumptions that people in Western developed countries make…
when describing and studying personality
may not apply to diff cultures
people and their personalities exist within a cultural context
individualistic versus collectivist cultures
individualistic:
- greater emphasis on individual needs and accomplishments
- think of themselves as independent and unique
collectivist:
- more concerned about belonging to a larger group (family, tribe, nation)
- more interested in cooperation than competition
- obtain satisfaction when group does well
kinds of behaviour examined in personality may have diff meanings depending on…
culture
ie. thinking about achievement behaviour as a tenet of personality psych
but achievement and success is defined differently in individualistic versus collectivist cultures
4 parts of personality study
- theory
- comprehensive model for how human personality is structured/operates - applications
- psychotherapy, education, behaviour in workplace - assessment
- personality assessment/measures - research
personality perspectives: on continuum of GENETIC to ENVIRONMENTAL
genetic:
- biological
- trait
- psychoanalytic
- humanistic & cognitive & behavioural/social learning
environmental:
personality perspectives: on continuum of UNAWARE OF DETERMINANTS to CONSCIOUS OF DETERMINANTS
unaware of determinants:
- psychoanalytic
- biological & behavioural/social learning
- humanistic & trait & cognitive
conscious of determinants:
personality perspectives: on continuum of DETERMINISM to FREE WILL
determinism:
- behavioural/social learning
- psychoanalytic
- trait & cognitive & biological
- humanistic
free will:
BF Skinner and free will
Skinner argued that free will is a myth
behaviour isn’t freely chosen but rather is result of environmental forces and accumulated history of experiences
applications
most obvious = psychotherapy
each of the 6 approaches uses different methods
personality assessments
lots of self report inventories
but psychoanalysts = more interested in what you can’t describe
ie. get people to respond to ambiguous stimuli which a trained psychologists then interprets
behavioural psychologists focus instead on observing behaviours
assessment: psychoanalysts versus behavioural psychologists
psychoanalysts:
- interested in showing people ambiguous stimuli and then interpreting their responses
behavioural psychologists:
- observe behaviour
psychotherapy application: psychoanalysis
attend to unconscious causes of human behaviour
psychotherapy application: humanistic
more likely to work in a non-directive manner to provide the proper atmosphere in which clients can explore their own feelings
psychotherapy application: cognitive
try to change the way their clients process information
ie. CBT - cognitive behavioural therapy
psychotherapy application: behaviourists
might structure the environment so that desired behaviours increase in frequency and undesired behaviours decrease
