Unit 1 - Personality

Psychodynamic Theory

a psychological perspective that emphasizes the role of the unconscious mind, early childhood experiences, and interpersonal relationships in shaping personality and behavior

Projective Tests

• Thematic Apperception Test

• Rorschach inkblot test

Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)

a person views an ambiguous picture and then makes up a story about it. Express inner feelings and interests

Rorschach inkblot test

seeks to identify people’s inner feelings by analyzing their interpretations of the blots.

Ego Defense Mechanisms

serve to protect the ego unconsciously from threats

• Denial

• Displacement

• Projection

• Rationalization

• Reaction Formation

• Regression

• Repression

• Sublimation

Repression

pushing unwanted thoughts/desires into the subconscious

ie: loss of memory from a traumatic event; getting bitten by a dog and developing a phobia with no recollection

Regression

retreating to a more infantile stage, where some psychic energy remains fixated

ie: children and young orangutans will seek protection and comfort from their caregivers

Reaction Formation

switching unacceptable impulses into their opposites

ie: repressing angry feelings, a person displays exaggerated friendliness

Projection

disguising one’s own threatening impulses by attributing them to others

ie: the thief thinks everyone else is a thief

Rationalization

offering self-justifying explanation in place of the real, more threatening unconscious reasons for one’s actions

ie: a habitual drinker says she drinks with friends just to be sociable

Displacement

shifting sexual or aggressive impulses toward a more acceptable or less threatening object or person

ie: A little girl kicks the family dog after her mother send her to her room

Sublimation

Transferring of unacceptable impulses into socially valued motives

ie: A man with aggressive urges becomes a surgeon

Denial

refusing to believe or even perceive painful realities

ie: a partner denies evidence of his loved one’s affair

Humanistic Theory

emphasizes the inherent worth and potential of individuals, focusing on personal growth, self-actualization, and the subjective experience of being human

Unconditional positive regard

an attitude of total acceptance towards another; doesn’t mean a celebration of faults; conversation without evaluation

Self-actualizing

one of the ultimate psychological needs that arise after basic physical and psychological needs are met and self esteem is achieved; the motivation to fulfill one’s potential.

Social-Cognitive Theory

emphasizes the dynamic interaction between personal factors, behavior, and the environment

Reciprocal Determinism

1. Different jpoeple choose different environments

2. Our personalities shape how we interpret and react to one another

3. Our personalities help create ituations to which we react.

Self-Concept

all our thoughts and feelings in answer to “Who am I?”

Self-efficacy

one’s sense of competence and effectiveness

Self-esteem

one’s feelings of high or low self-worth

Trait theory

explains personality by focusing on identifiable and stable behavioral patterns, or traits

The Big Five Theory of Personality

these traits are measured b specialized personality inventories that use facto analysis to organize item responses.

• Conscientious

• Agreeableness

• Neuroticism

• Openness

• Extraversion