Unit 4 ch 14 Theories

Question 1

psychodynamic theory

Answer 1

views an indiviudal’s personality based upon their childhood experiences as well as their unconscious

Question 2

Freud’s psychoanalytic theory:

Answer 2

-patients had no physical means for illness and therefore sought the unconcsious to explain their disorders (hidden beneath the surface of who they were extrinsically, yet it made up who they were intrinsically)

• minds’s 3 systems: id, ego, superego
• 5 psychosexual stages:
  1. oral ( 0-18mos) pleasure @ mouth
  2. Anal (18-36 mos) demand for control (of bowels)
  3. phallic (3-6yrs) oedipus complex; genital and feelings for incest
  4. latency (6-puberty) nothing
  5. genital (puberty- ) maturation of sexual interests

6 defense mechanisms of the ego: projection

1. regression
2. reaction formation
3. projection
4. rationalization
5. displacment
6. denial

credited today for:
•Drawing attention to the vast unconscious
•Strugglingto cope with sexuality
•Addressing conflict between biological impulses and social restraints
•Identifying forms of defense mechanisms and unconscious terror-management defenses

• supports reaction formation and projection

Question 3

Neo-Freudian/ Modern Psychodynamics

Answer 3

• Development is lifelong, not fixed in childhood
• Parental influence is overestimated and peer influence is underestimated
• Oedipus complex questioned
• Gender identity develops earlier than Freud theorized and is possible without influence of same-sex parent in home
• Belief that dreams disguise and fulfill wishes is disputed, as is idea that suppressed sexuality causes psychological disorders
• Freud’s scientific methodology is criticized
• After-the-fact explanations of characteristics fail to predict behaviors and traits
• repression: stress is okay for us without severe neural damage, so we don’t just repress things to stay “healthy”
• unconscious mind doesnt mean dirty mind

Question 4

humanistic approach

Answer 4

view personality with potential for healthy personal growth
-maslow: self actualization
-roger: person centered perspective
>unconditional positive regard
>genuineness(own feelings), acceptance(let guard down), empathy(feelings)

Criticisms:

• Presents vague and subjective concepts
• Advances individualism and self-centered values
• Offers naively optimistic assumptions

Question 5

Trait Theory

Answer 5

sees personality as genetic predisposition; stable throughout life; patterns based on genetics

biology:

• Brain-activity scans of extraverts indicate they seek stimulation because normal brain arousal is relatively low.
• dopamnine levels

Question 6

Big Five Theory (CANOE)

Answer 6

Contientiousciousness (careful, or vigilant)
Agreeableness
Neuroticism (emotional state)
Openness
Extraversion

stabalize in adulthood
some genetic influence
altered brain structures
culture (env) can change population over time
good predictor of behavior

Question 7

person-situation controversary

Answer 7

traits are stable but behavior changes with the situation

Question 8

cognitive social persepctive

Answer 8

-Applies principles of learning, cognition, and social behavior to personality

learn through observation of behavior

unconscious and bio not as important