Personality: Case Study Approach
This lesson is designed to allow students experience in applying personality theories through analysis
and application.
Directions:
Create a cooperative group of 4 to 5 students
Find Case Study:
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Each student finds a case study or a person they might want to analyze
Students should make sure they have enough information about their person to apply the
different personality approaches and theories.
Students can use any person they want, can be a famous person, can be a character from a
novel, and can be someone they know well… (confidentiality will be important)
If you choose a famous person it may be easier, it will be important that students be able to
determine if your analysis is accurate.
Each student submits their ideas (people) for a case study and the group decides on two.
The group then divides up the approaches and theories among the students
Each student must analyze two case studies and present in writing their analysis
Students discuss the findings of their group members and must determine if their analysis is
accurate
Requirements:
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Picture/Visualization of the 2 case studies
Biographical/behavioral description of each case study
Written analysis of each approach/theory (each student must submit written analysis for 2
case studies)
 Description of personality
 Explanation of causation of personality
Group collaboration and presentation
Students must evaluate each other’s analysis in writing
Approaches and Theories
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Psychodynamic- subconscious forces shape personality
Behavioral- conditioning
Trait- what traits makeup personality? (everyone in the group should do this one)
Humanistic - Focuses on private subjective experience and personal growth
Social Learning Theory- personality develops by socialization/expectations and mental
processes
Personality Defined:
“A person’s unique pattern of thinking, emotions, behavior.
Refers to consistency in who you are have been and will become.”
Personality is stable and predictable…
Things to consider
(Try taking one of the personality tests as if you were the person you are using in the Case Study)
NEO-PI-R Neuroticism Openness Personality Inventory (revised)
MMPI Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory
Developmental aspects
Genetic & Biological Aspects
Perceptual Processing
Information processing
Biases
Emotional expression
Social skills
Self-Concept
Emotionality
Subconscious
The Big 5 = 5 Factor Model (Costa and McRae)
Extroversion
Agreeableness
Conscientiousness
Neuroticism
Openness to experience
Self-Efficacy
Self-Reinforcement
Social-Reinforcement
Dollard and Miller
Erikson and Personality
Attachments