Class notes
Chapter 1 notes for introduction to personality
- Institution
- McGill University (Mcgillu)
Lecture notes of 2 pages for the course at Mcgillu (Notes)
[Show more]
Seller
Follow
Content preview
Six approaches to personality:o psychoanalytic approach: people’s unconscious minds are largely responsible for
important differences in their behavior styles.
o trait approach: identify where a person might lie along a continuum of various
personality characteristics.
o biological approach: point to inherited predispositions and physiological processes to
explain individual differences in personality.
o humanistic approach: identify personal responsibility and feelings of self-acceptance as
the key causes of differences in personality.
o behavioral /social learning approach: explain consistent behavior patterns in terms of
conditioning and expectations.
o cognitive approach: look at differences in the way people process information.
Two Examples: Aggression and Depression
o Aggression:
- The classic psychoanalytic explanation of aggression points to an unconscious
death instinct (page 6). Other psychoanalysts argue that aggression results when
we are blocked from reaching our goals.
- Personality theorists who follow the trait approach focus on individual
differences and the stability of aggressive behavior (experiment on book, page
6).
- Personality psychologists from the biological perspective point to a genetic pre-
disposition to act aggressively.
the fact that men tend to be more aggressive than women might be
explained by the male’s inherited need to exercise control over rivals so
that he can survive and pass along his genes.
Other researchers from this approach look at the role hormones and
neurotransmitters play in aggressive behavior.
- Psychologists who take a humanistic approach to personality deny that some
individuals are born to be aggressive. They believe that problems develop when
something interferes with this natural growth process.
- According to the behavioral/social learning approach, people learn to be aggressive
the same way they learn other behaviors.
- Cognitive psychologists focus on the way aggressive people process information.
Certain cues in the environment, such as images of guns and fighting, often trigger a
network of aggressive thoughts and emotions.
o Depression:
- According to Sigmund Freud, the founder of the psychoanalytic approach,
depression is anger turned inward.
- Trait theorists are concerned with identifying depression-prone individuals.
- Biological personality psychologists point to evidence that some people may
inherit a genetic susceptibility to depression.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller lynnnnehme14. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for CA$11.82. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
76449 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy study notes for 14 years now
