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Introduction to the Psychology of personality
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A collection of notes from lectures, textbooks and readings. An introduction to the Psychology of personality theories and personality assessment
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PersonalityDefinition: a distinct and elaativlay lndureina way of thinking, feeling and acting that characterises a
person’s elsponsl to aifl siturations
Aims of personality psychologists:
1. To describe the structure / components of personality
2. To understand individual diferences in personality
The 5 Approaches to Personality:
1. Trait theories
2. Psychodynamic perspective
3. Humanistic perspective
4. Social cognitive theories
5. Biological theories
1: Trait Theories
Traits = elaativlay stablal peldispositions behave in a certain way in a variety of situations
Exist on a continururm
Theorises that we all share common traits in difflelnt comblinations and dlaells
How many traits?
- Allport (1937): approximately 4500 traits
- Catell (1950): 16 traits
The Big 5 Model
By McCrae and Costa
Spells out O.C.E.A.N
- Oplnnlss to experience
- Conscientiousness
- Extraversion
- Aaellablalnlss (trusting, helpful, nice)
- Nlureoticism (emotionally unstable: anxious, insecure)
A lot of evidence to support this model (also across cultures)
But… we don’t act the same in all situations
Mischel’s ‘Situationism’
Believed behaviour is determined more by the situation that by traits.
, - Counterargument: the extent to which traits predict behaviour dlplnds on thl centrality of
thl teait and thl aggregation of bllhavioures over time
- Centrality: how central that trait is to how the person sees themselves
- Aggregation: the average of behaviours across diferent situations
The Current View: ‘Interactionism’
Behaviour is determined by an intleaction blltwlln teaits and thl situration / environment.
Traits do ofen predict behaviour, but situations also infuence their expression.
Steona siturations may mask individual diferences in personality.
Contributions and Limitations of Trait Theories
+ Traits are lasy to mlasurel and widlay appaicablal
- Trait models are dlsceiptivl eathle than lxpaoeatoey
2: Psychodynamic Perspective
We are unconscious of much of our minds.
Unconsciours impurasls “alak ourt” into dreams, slips of the tongue etc
Drive / instinct model:
Freud believed that people are motivatld bly two blasic deivls slx (and love) and aaaelssion.
Also believed laeay chiadhood lxpleilncls had an impoetant infurlncl on oure plesonaaity
development.
Theory of psychosexual stages:
How we progress through these stages has a strong efect on our personality development
Conficts oe conclens that continurl bllyond thl dlvlaopmlnt staal (through deprivation or over-
indulgence) leads to FIXATION:
- Eg. Fixation at oral stage may become needy, dependent and clingy. May become
dependent on biting nails or smoking
- Fixation at oral stage issues with orderliness and cleanliness
Staal Aal Conficts and conclens
Oeaa (infants tlnd to lxpaoel 0-18 months Dependency.
woead ursina thlie mourth)
Anaa (toialt-teainina) 2-3 years Confict between child and parent regarding
compaiancl
Phaaaic (staet to eurbl oe tourch 4-6 years Become awael of alndle difflelncls
, thlie alnitaas) between mom and dad, girls and boys.
Oedipus complex (idlntify with saml-slx
parent. Make them a part of themselves by
imitating or changing self-concept). Later,
chiad bllcomls aikl thlie saml-slx paelnt.
Latlncy 7-11 Slxuraa and aaaelssivl deivls are either
elpelssld oe channlaald into socially
acceptable activities
Glnitaa 12+ Adolescents start to dlvlaop maturel
urndlestandinas of slxuraaity and
elaationships.
Able to contribute to society and have
children.
Structure of personality
Consists of 3 theoretical structures at diferent levels of conscious awareness
Steurcturel Llvla of Opleatina peincipal Dlsceiption
thouraht
Id unconscious Pleasure. Wants immldiatl Houses simpal blioaoaicaa
aeatification. nllds. Driving forces = sex and
aggression.
Eao Largely Rlaaity, eationaa thouraht and Mldiatoe between id and
conscious problem solving superego.
Surplelao Largely Idlaaistic: our sense of what is Comprises
unconscious weona and eiaht. The “voicl” of oure socilty and
paelnts in our minds
Believed confict blltwlln id and surplelao anxilty.
One way that the ego tries to deal with this anxiety is with defence mechanisms
Unconsciours mlntaa steatlails that the mind uses to pelvlnt urnacclptablal thourahts oe impurasls
feom elachina consciours awareness, thereby protecting itself from distress or anxiety.
- Repression: lxcaurdina the source of anxiety from awareness
- Projection: atributing unacceptable uualities of self to somlonl lasl
- Rationalisation: concocting a sllminaay aoaicaa elason or excuse for shameful behaviour
- Reaction formation: warding of an uncomfortable thought by lmphasisina its oppositl
(closeted gay makes homophobic remarks)
- Displacement: shiftina emotions from one object / subject to anothle (shouts at wife instead
of at boss)
- Sublimation: channlaaina sociaaay urnacclptablal impurasls into acclptablal / admirable
behaviour (playing ruby instead of getng into physical fights)
Some of these defence mechanisms are healthier than others. Some can be useful.
Contribution + limitations of Freud’s theories
It may be fascinating, but is it scientific? Difficurat to tlst
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