Theories of personality formation Flashcards
The trait theory
Proposes that personality is:
Innate/ inherited
Stable and enduring
Consistent across situations
Positives of the trait theory
Some evidence personality is innate
If correct, behaviour can be predicted
Negatives of the trait theory
Unlikely to be just innate input that determines personality
Doesn’t take into account learnt behaviour
The social learning theory
WHERE from
WHO from
HOW permanent
Proposes that personality/ behaviour is learnt as a result of
The environment
Imitation of a significant other/ role model ( most likely if same gender, race or position of authority)
Social reinforcement creates a stimulus response bond
Positives of the social learning theory
Bobo doll experiment supports idea
Evidence that some aspects of personality are from imitation of significant others
Negatives of the social learning theory
Not everyone imitates role models
Doesn’t take into account innate traits
The interactionist theory
HOW do they interact
Proposes that personality formation is a combination of the trait and social learning approach
It proposes that innate traits are triggered by environmental change
Positives of the interactionist theory
Most credible approach as it’s more likely that we have a combination of traits and socially learnt behaviour
More likely traits are triggered occasionally by changes in situation/ environment
Negatives of the interactionist theory
Theory still proposes that innate traits must be present in order to be triggered by environment
