personality development

Personality and its developmentprof .elham Aljammasoct .2015

Topics to Explore
Trait Theories Psychoanalytic Theory Social-Cognitive Theories Humanistic Theories

Personality: a person’s internally based characteristic way of acting and thinkingCharacter: Personal characteristics that have been judged or evaluatedTemperament: Hereditary aspects of personality, including sensitivity, moods, irritability, and distractibilityPersonality Trait: Stable qualities that a person shows in most situationsPersonality Type: People who have several traits in common Personality: Some Terms

Example of Personality Type

Personality Theory: System of concepts, assumptions, ideas, and principles proposed to explain personality.
Personality Theories


Trait Theories: Attempt to learn what traits make up personality and how they relate to actual behavior Psychodynamic Theories: Focus on the inner workings of personality, especially internal conflicts and struggles Humanistic Theories: Focus on private, subjective experience and personal growth Social-Cognitive Theories: Attribute difference in personality to socialization, expectations, and mental processes
Types of Personality Theories

Part 1Trait Theories

Carl Jung, Swiss psychiatrist who was a Freudian disciple, believed that we are one of two personality types: Introvert: Shy, self-centered person whose attention is focused inward Extrovert: Bold, outgoing person whose attention is directed outward
Jung’s Theory of Two Types

Eysenck’s Three Factor Theory Hans Eysenck, English psychologist, believed that there are three fundamental factors in personality: Introversion versus Extroversion Emotionally Stable versus Unstable (neurotic) Impulse Control versus Psychotic

Eysenck’s Theory, continued The first two factors create 4 combinations, related to the four basic temperaments recognized by ancient Greeks: Melancholic (introverted + unstable): sad, gloomy Choleric (extroverted + unstable): hot-tempered, irritable Phlegmatic (introverted + stable): sluggish, calm Sanguine (extroverted + stable): cheerful, hopeful

The Sixteen Personality Factors

Graphic: The Big Five

Part 2Psychoanalytic Theory

Sigmund Freud, M.D.,a Viennese physician who thought his patients’ problems were more emotional than physical.Freud began his work by using hypnosis and eventually switched to psychoanalysis.Freud had many followers: Jung and Adler, to name a few.More than 100 years later, his work is still influential and very controversial Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory

Sigmund Freud

Id: Innate biological instincts and urges; self-serving & irrational Totally unconscious Works on Pleasure Principle: Wishes to have its desires (pleasurable) satisfied NOW, without waiting and regardless of the consequences
The Id, Ego, and Superego
Ego: Executive; directs id energies Partially conscious and partially unconscious Works on Reality Principle: Delays action until it is practical and/or appropriate


Superego: Judge or censor for thoughts and actions of the ego Superego comes from our parents or caregivers; guilt comes from the superego Two parts Conscience: Reflects actions for which a person has been punished (e.g., what we shouldn’t do or be) Ego Ideal: Second part of the superego; reflects behavior one’s parents approved of or rewarded (e.g., what we should do or be) The Id, Ego, and Superego, continued


Conscious: Everything you are aware of at a given momentPreconscious: Material that can easily be brought into awarenessUnconscious: Holds repressed memories and emotions and the id’s instinctual drives Levels of Awareness

Graphic: Levels of Awareness

Ego is always caught in the middle of battles between superego’s desires for moral behavior and the id’s desires for immediate gratificationNeurotic Anxiety: Caused by id impulses that the ego can barely controlMoral Anxiety: Comes from threats of punishment from the superegoDefense mechanism: a process used by the ego to distort reality and protect a person from anxiety Cause of Anxiety


Regression: Ego seeks the security of an earlier developmental period in the face of stress. Displacement: Ego shifts unacceptable feelings from one object to another, more acceptable object. Sublimation: Ego replaces an unacceptable impulse with a socially acceptable one Reaction Formation: Ego transforms an unacceptable motive or feeling into its opposite. Projection: Ego attributes personal shortcomings, problems, and faults to others. Rationalization: Ego justifies an unacceptable motive by giving a false acceptable (but false) reason for behavior
Examples of Defense Mechanisms



According to Freud, personality develops in stages; everyone goes through same stages in same order. Majority of personality is formed before age 6 Erogenous Zone: Area on body capable of producing pleasure Fixation: Unresolved conflict or emotional hang-up caused by overindulgence or frustration
Personality Development


Oral Stage: Ages 0-1. Most of infant’s pleasure comes from stimulation of the mouth. If a child is overfed or frustrated, oral traits will develop. Oral Dependent Personality: Gullible, passive, and need lots of attention. Fixations create oral-aggressive adults who like to argue and exploit others. Erogenous zone: mouth (oral)Anal Stage: Ages 1-3. Attention turns to process of elimination. Child can gain approval or express aggression by letting go or holding on. Ego develops. Harsh or lenient toilet training can make a child either: Anal Retentive: Stubborn, stingy, orderly, and compulsively clean Anal Expulsive: Disorderly, messy, destructive, or cruel Erogenous zone: anus Stages of Personality Development


Phallic Stage: Ages 3-6. Child now notices and is physically attracted to opposite sex parent. Can lead to: Oedipus Conflict: For boys only. Boy feels rivalry with his father for his mother’s affection. Boy may feel threatened by father (castration anxiety). To resolve, boy must identify with his father (i.e., become more like him and adopt his heterosexual beliefs). Electra Conflict: Girl loves her father and competes with her mother. Girl identifies with her mother more slowly because she already feels castrated.Erogenous zone: phallus Stages of Personality Development, continued


Latency: Ages 6-Puberty. Psychosexual development is dormant. Same sex friendships and play occur here. Genital Stage: Puberty-on. Realization of full adult sexuality occurs here; sexual urges re-awaken.
Stages of Personality Development, continued

Part 3Social-Cognitive Theories

Evaluation of Social-Cognitive Theories
Social-cognitive theories tend to be overly-mechanical. Overemphasizes environmental influences; gives little or no consideration to the possibility of innate personality differences or the effects of genetics. Does not recognize internal human qualities such as hope, aspiration, love, self-sacrifice

Part 4Humanistic Theories

Humanism: Approach that focuses on human experience, problems, potentials, and ideals Human Nature: Traits, qualities, potentials, and behavior patterns most characteristic of humans Free Choice: Ability to choose that is NOT controlled by genetics, learning, or unconscious forces Subjective Experience: Private perceptions of reality
Humanism

Graphic: Hierarchy of Needs

Efficient perceptions of reality Comfortable acceptance of self, others, and nature Spontaneity Task Centering Autonomy Continued freshness of appreciation Fellowship with humanity Profound interpersonal relationships Comfort with solitude Non-hostile sense of humor Peak experiences
Characteristics of Self-Actualized People