Theories of Personality - D564 Master Deck lol

What is personality?

Relatively enduring patterns of thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and experiences that make each person unique.

How is personality studied in psychology?

Through theories that explain description, dynamics, and development of behavior and individual differences.

What are the three Ds of personality?

Description, Dynamics, and Development.

Description (Personality)

Explains what personality is and how people differ from one another.

Dynamics (Personality)

Explains what motivates behavior and why people think, feel, and act the way they do.

Development (Personality)

Explains how personality forms and changes across the lifespan through biology and experience.

What is the nomothetic approach?

Studies many people to identify general patterns and compare individuals.

What is the idiographic approach?

Studies one individual in depth to understand their unique personality.

Difference between nomothetic and idiographic?

Nomothetic compares many people to find general laws; idiographic focuses on one person's unique characteristics.

What is quantitative research?

Research using numerical data, statistics, personality tests, and surveys.

What is qualitative research?

Research using interviews, observations, and case studies to gain detailed understanding.

What is self-report research?

A method where people answer questions about themselves.

What is observational research?

A method where researchers directly observe behavior.

What is a personality trait?

A relatively stable characteristic that influences thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

What is a personality type?

A category of people sharing similar characteristics, with each person fitting into one category.

Trait vs. Type

Traits exist on a continuum; types place people into categories.

What is a drive?

An internal need or desire that motivates behavior.

What are unconscious processes?

Thoughts, motives, and memories outside conscious awareness that influence behavior.

What is motivation?

The forces that energize and direct behavior.

What biological factors influence personality?

Genetics, brain structure, hormones, and temperament.

What environmental factors influence personality?

Family, culture, parenting, education, peers, and life experiences.

Nature vs. nurture

Personality develops through the interaction of inherited biology and environmental experiences.

How is the scientific method used in personality psychology?

Researchers create hypotheses, collect data, analyze results, and draw conclusions about personality.

Example of the scientific method in personality research

A researcher predicts conscientious students earn higher grades, collects personality and GPA data, then analyzes the relationship.

Why are the three Ds important?

Together they explain what personality is, why behavior occurs, and how personality develops.

What are the major perspectives in personality psychology?

Psychodynamic, Trait, Biological, Behavioral, Social-Cognitive, and Humanistic.

Who founded psychoanalysis?

Sigmund Freud.

Freud's mnemonic

"I.C.E. M.I.N.D."

According to Freud, what shapes personality?

Unconscious conflicts and childhood experiences.

What are Freud's three levels of consciousness?

Conscious, Preconscious, and Unconscious.

Conscious mind

Thoughts and feelings currently in awareness.

Preconscious mind

Thoughts and memories just below awareness that can easily be recalled.

Unconscious mind

Thoughts, memories, and desires outside awareness that strongly influence behavior.

What percentage of the mind did Freud compare to the iceberg below water?

About 90% (the unconscious).

What is the id?

The primitive, unconscious part of personality that follows the pleasure principle.

Pleasure principle

The desire for immediate gratification of needs and wants.

What is the ego?

The rational part of personality that follows the reality principle.

Reality principle

Delays gratification until it can be achieved realistically and safely.

What is the superego?

The moral component of personality representing internalized values and societal rules.

Which personality structure follows the pleasure principle?

Id.

Which personality structure follows the reality principle?

Ego.

Which personality structure represents morality?

Superego.

What happens when the id, ego, and superego conflict?

The ego uses defense mechanisms to reduce anxiety.

What are defense mechanisms?

Unconscious strategies used by the ego to reduce anxiety.

Repression

Pushing painful thoughts into the unconscious.

Denial

Refusing to accept reality.

Projection

Attributing your own unacceptable thoughts or feelings to someone else.

Displacement

Redirecting emotions from the true source to a safer target.

Regression

Returning to behaviors from an earlier developmental stage.

Reaction formation

Behaving opposite to one's true feelings.

Rationalization

Creating logical excuses for unacceptable behavior.

Sublimation

Redirecting unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable activities.

Which defense mechanism is considered the healthiest?

Sublimation.

What are Freud's five psychosexual stages?

Oral, Anal, Phallic, Latency, and Genital.

Oral stage

Birth to about 1 year; pleasure centers on the mouth.

Anal stage

About ages 1-3; pleasure centers on bowel and bladder control.

Phallic stage

About ages 3-6; children become aware of differences between sexes.

Latency stage

About ages 6-puberty; sexual impulses are largely inactive.

Genital stage

Puberty through adulthood; mature sexual interests develop.

What is fixation?

Being psychologically stuck at a psychosexual stage due to unresolved conflict.

Freud's main focus

Unconscious mind, childhood experiences, psychosexual development, and internal conflict.

Who developed Analytical Psychology?

Carl Jung.

Jung's mnemonic

A.R.C.H.E.

How did Jung differ from Freud?

Jung believed personality develops throughout life and includes the collective unconscious.

What is the collective unconscious?

A shared reservoir of inherited memories and experiences common to all humans.

What are archetypes?

Universal symbols and patterns shared across cultures.

Examples of archetypes

Hero, Mother, Persona, Shadow, Self, Anima, Animus.

Persona

The social mask people present to others.

Shadow

The hidden, darker aspects of personality.

Self (Jung)

The integrated whole personality.

Anima

The feminine qualities within males.

Animus

The masculine qualities within females.

What is an introvert according to Jung?

Someone who gains energy from solitude and focuses inward.

What is an extravert according to Jung?

Someone who gains energy from social interaction and focuses outward.

What are complexes according to Jung?

Emotionally charged ideas that influence behavior.

Jung's main contribution

The collective unconscious and archetypes.

Freud vs. Jung

Freud emphasized personal unconscious and sexuality; Jung emphasized collective unconscious and lifelong growth.

Who developed Individual Psychology?

Alfred Adler.

Adler's mnemonic

S.O.C.I.A.L.

According to Adler, what motivates people?

The desire to overcome feelings of inferiority and achieve success.

Inferiority complex

Persistent feelings of inadequacy.

Striving for superiority

The natural drive to improve oneself and reach personal goals.

Compensation

Working to overcome weaknesses by developing strengths.

Social interest

A concern for helping others and contributing to society.

According to Adler, behavior is primarily influenced by what?

Future goals rather than past conflicts.

Adler vs. Freud

Adler emphasized social relationships and goals instead of unconscious sexual drives.

Who developed Psychosocial Development Theory?

Erik Erikson.

Erikson's mnemonic

S.T.A.G.E.S.

How many stages are in Erikson's theory?

Eight psychosocial stages.

Trust vs. Mistrust

Infancy; learning whether the world is safe.

Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt

Toddlerhood; developing independence.

Initiative vs. Guilt

Preschool years; taking initiative and responsibility.

Industry vs. Inferiority

School age; developing competence.

Identity vs. Role Confusion

Adolescence; forming a personal identity.

Intimacy vs. Isolation

Young adulthood; forming close relationships.

Generativity vs. Stagnation

Middle adulthood; contributing to future generations.

Integrity vs. Despair

Late adulthood; reflecting on life with satisfaction or regret.

What is ego identity?

A clear and stable sense of self.

Erikson vs. Freud

Erikson believed personality develops throughout the lifespan instead of ending in childhood.

Who was Karen Horney?

A psychodynamic theorist who emphasized culture, relationships, and anxiety.