Definition of Personality
-derived from the latin word
“Persona” which means a mask worn
by romans in Greek and latin drama.
-the concept is extended to Carl
Jung’s component, Personameaning “public image” or “social
mask
-Russel Green- defined as consistent
behavior patterns originating within
the individual.
-Erich Fromm- totality of individual
qualities which includes
temperament.
-Guilford- person’s unique pattern of
traits
-Allport- is what man really is.
Personality is “enduring or lasting
patterns or behavior and thought
(across time and situation)”
Personality types- a discrete
category into which person can be
sorted
Personality Traits- an enduring
personal characteristic that underlies
a person’s reactions to a variety of
situations.
Traits- consistency over times
-
Individual differences in
behavior
Stability across situations
Characteristics- unique qualities
-
Underlying description about
one’s persona
Innate Talents: Reality or Myth?
By: Howe, Davidson, and Sloboda
1. A talent has its own origin in
genetically transmitted
structures.
2. There are early indicators of
talent.
3. Talent provides a basis for
estimating the probability of
excelling.
4. Only a minority of Individuals
have special talents
5. The effects of a talent will be
relatively specific
Theory- is a set of related assumptions
that allows scientists to use logical
deductive reasoning to formulate
testable hypotheses.
Theory of personality- is a set of
interrelated concepts with some
evidences explaining the
development of occurrence of
individual uniqueness or
characteristics.
What makes a theory useful?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Generates research
Is falsifiable
Organizes data
Guides action (practical)
Is consistently consistent
Is parsimonious( direct to the
point)
Dimensions for a concept of
Humanity
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Determinism vs Free choice
(Are you acting because you
are free? Or because the past
is influencing you?)
Pessimism vs Optimism (Are we
good or evil)
Causality vs teleology (Are you
fixed because it happened
before?)
Conscious vs unconscious
Biological vs social influences
on personality
Uniqueness vs similarities
Approaches of Personality Theories
1. Psychodynamic/
psychoanalytic approachconsciousness and
unconsciousness is the big
influencers in a person’s
action.
- Childhood experiences shape
personality later in life
2. Behavioral/ social learning
approach- behaviors are
influenced by rewards,
punishments, and models by
means of imitation.
3. Humanistic approach- people
are assumed to have great
deal of responsibility for their
actions.
4. Trait approach- assumes that
all people fit one category is
distinct from that of people in
the other categories.
5. Cognitive Approach- describes
differences in personality as
differences in the way people
process information.
6. Object Relations Approach- is a
variation of psychoanalytic
theory. Refers to the dynamic
internalized relationships
between the self and
significant others.