Gordon Allport: Psychology of an Individual
Gordon Allport (November 11, 1897 –
October 9, 1967)
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Allport continues to recognize the
presence and significance of the
unconscious process.
General Assumptions of Mature personality
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He’s a big fan of Freud and a believer of
Psychoanalysis (they met in Vienna; kid,
train and dirt)
He gave an emphasis on the uniqueness
of an individual
Morphogenic Science (study of the
individual)
Focus: Every individual has different
traits
Allport advocated an eclectic approach
to the theory
Entered in Harvard (1915) and received
his degree in 1919 (Philosophy and
Economics)
In 1925, He married Ada Lufkin Gould,
a woman known to be valuable
contributor to some of his works.
Died due to Lung Cancer
Personality – is the behavior that is expressive
as well as adaptive. It is the individual itself
behind the facade and the person behind each
action.
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People don’t just adjust to their
environment; they also reflect and
interact with it in various ways that
causes their environment to adjust with
them.
Dynamic Organization –
interrelatedness of the various aspects of
our personality. Personality is organized
yet it is constantly changing.
Determine is active and Allport says that
our personalities are not just a mask that
we wear, not it is just behavior.
The Role of Conscious Motivation
It is inspired from his meeting with Sigmund
Freud in Vienna.
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Healthy adults understand what they are
doing and why they are doing it.
1. Mature people are characterized by
proactive (we are taking control and
making things happen rather just
adjusting and reacting to our
environment) behavior.
2. Mature personalities are motivated by
conscious processes (more flexible and
autonomous).
3. Healthy people experienced a traumafree childhood
4. Psychologically healthy persons have
idiosyncrasies that make them unique.
5. Age is not a requisite for maturity.
Healthy people seem to become mature
as they grow older.
Six Criteria for the Mature Personality
1. Extension of the sense of self – They
participate in events outside themselves
and the activities (outside) become a
part of one’s being (keeping out of their
comfort zone).
2. Warm relating of self to others –
mature people have the capacity to love
others in an intimate and compassionate
manner. They treat others also with
respect.
3. Emotionally Security and SelfAcceptance – Mature people accept
themselves for what they are (they
possess emotional poise) and they
realize inconveniences are a part of
living.
4. Realistic Perception of Behavior –
They do not live in a fantasy or
manipulate reality to their liking. They
are problem oriented.
5. Insight and Humor – They have a nonhostile sense of humor which gives them
capacity to laugh at themselves rather
than relying on sexual or aggressive
themes. (Like Ellis).
6. Unifying Philosophy of Life – they
have a clear purpose in life, without this
they can be empty and barren. The
person with a mature religious attitude
and a unifying philosophy of life has a
well-developed conscience and a strong
desire to serve others.
Personality Dispositions – Traits that are
peculiar to an individual. There are 2 traits:
1. Common traits - Are shared by a
number of people, such as the members
of a culture.
2. Personal Disposition - Traits that are
peculiar/unique to an individual.
Levels of Personal Dispositions:
1. Cardinal Dispositions - The most
pervasive and powerful human traits; the
ruling passion or powerful force that
dominates behavior
2. Central Dispositions - The handful of
outstanding traits that describe a
person's behavior; characteristics that
we would mention when discussing a
friend's personality
3. Secondary Dispositions - The least
important traits, which a person may
display inconspicuously and
inconsistently; something only a close
friend would know.
A. Motivational Dispositions –
Experienced dispositions intense
drive: basic needs
B. Stylistic Dispositions – Less
Intensely experienced
Proprium – “Peculiarly mine” or the Allport's
term for the ego or self.
The values of a person, as well as the part of
their conscience that is personal and aligned
with their beliefs.
Non-Propriate Behaviors:
1. Basic drives and needs: those that can be
satisfied with no difficulty.
2. Tribal Customs – ex. saying hello to
people
3. Habitual behaviors - Inflexible
responses to specific stimuli.
Ex. Smoking, brushing teeth, consuming
alcohol
Motivation – useful theory of personality, it
says that people do not only react to their
environment but also shape their environment
and cause it to react to them.
Perseverative Functional Autonomy - The
most basic level is involved with behaviors such
as addictions and repetitive bodily acts such as
repetitive ways of accomplishing specific daily
duties.
Propriate Functional Autonomy - The level
that relates to our values, self-image, and
lifestyle.
Study of the Individual
Morphogenic Science – The study of the
individual. 2 approaches:
1. Nomothetic – single to generalize
2. Idiographic - single case