2 - Allport's Psychology of the Individual

critique of theory

critique of theory

• can motives ever be truly functionally autonomous?

• how do we study personal dispositions?

• are other approaches as static as Allport suggests?

• how does Allport’s theory offer utility for clinical practioners

Allport emphasized the remarkable ______ between people

differences

Allport thought that descriptions in terms of general traits robbed people of their _______

individuality

we are _____ of personal dispositions

multiplicities

morphogenic science

the study of the single individual

Allport used an ------ -----, drawing from many aspects of personality theories together

eclectic approach

Allport rejected _______, theories that advocated for the single aspect of person to be emphasized

particularism

Allport preferred a _____, comprehensive theory rather than narrow, specific

broad

personality

the dynamic organization within the individual of those psychophysical system that determine their characteristic behaviour and thought

importance of ------- ----- in this theory, we know what we are doing and why we are doing it as healthy adults

conscious motivation

------ ------- are compulsive, negative, and childlike

unconscious motivators

self-report

Allport preferred this style of gathering data, linked to the idea of conscious motivation

proactive behaviour

people are capable of consciously acting upon their environment in new and innovative ways, which then feed new elements into the system and stimulate psychological growth

• creates productive tensions

• possibility for creativity

characteristics of a mature person

• proactive behaviour

• motivated by conscious processes

• trauma-free childhood

• age doesn’t matter

six requirements for psychological health

• extension of the sense of self

• warm relations to others

• emotional security/self acceptance

• realistic perception

• insight and humour

• unifying philosophy of life

extension of the sense of self

seek to identify with and participate in events outside themselves

• how I understand self includes family, community, family, hobbies, etc.

• not self-centered

• the more you engage, the more it becomes a part of your life

(six requirements for psychological health)

warm relations to thers

capacity to love others in an intimate and compassionate manner

• open to others

• mature sexuality

• romantic: no neurotic attachment to partner, rather trying to help them become who they are

• don’t exploit others for personal gratification

(six requirements for psychological health)

emotional security / self-acceptance

accept themselves for who they are

• emotional poise

• irritations of everyday life aren’t overwhelming, they are normal

(six requirements for psychological health)r

realistic perception

don’t live in a fantasy world

• more problem oriented than self-centred

• our problems are seen by others too

(six requirements for psychological health)

insight and humour

know themselves, no need to attribute own mistakes and weaknesses to others

• non-hostile humour

• self-objectification

• proactive humour

  • capacity to laugh at self

(six requirements for psychological health)

unifying philosophy of life

clear view of purpose of life

• may or may not be religious

• strong desire to serve others

(six requirements for psychological health)

personal dispositions

description of person in terms of individual characteristics

• generalized neuropsychic structure

• peculiar to the individual

common traits

general characteristics held in common by many people

____ describe relatively stable characteristics

traits

______ describe temporary characteristics

states

cardinal disposition

eminent characteristic or ruling passion so outstanding that it dominates their lives

• every action around it

• cannot be hidden

• most people do not have

(level of personal disposition)

central disposition

5-10 individual traits around which a person’s life focuses

• have to be contextualized in their life, lived circumstances

(level of personal disposition)

secondary dispositions

least characteristic and reliable personal dispositions that appear with some regularity in a person’s life

• often reflect specific circumstance

• guide behaviour to a lesser degree

(level of personal disposition)

you _____ compare people’s personal dispositions

cannot

motivational dispositions

personal dispositions that have an intensely felt motivational force

• initiate action

stylistic dispositions

personal dispositions that are less intensely experienced but still possess motivational force

• guide action

all personal dispositions are _____ with motivational power

dynamic

proprium

all characteristics that people see as peculiarly their own and are regarded as warm, central, and important

• centre of personality, not whole personality

• aspects important to sense of self

nonpropriate beahviours

• basic drives and needs

• tribal customs (saying hello, wearing clothes, etc.)

  • habitual behaviours (brushing teeth, smoking)

peripheral motives

those motives that aim to reduce a need

• ex., eat to reduce hunger

propriate strivings

those motives that seek to maintain tension and disequilibrium

• from proprium

• ex., constant hockey drill training

psychoanalysis and learning theories are ______, as they see people as being motivated primarily by needs to reduce tension and return to a state of equilibrium

reactive

Allport thought theory needed to allow ______ behaviour, must view people as consciously acting on their environment

proactive

functional autonomy

tendency for some motives to become independent from the original motive responsible for the behaviour

• can be understood in its own right

• changing motivation but behaviour is the same

• human behaviour is based on present interests

four requirements for adequate theory

1. will acknowledge present circumstances

2. plurality, allowing for motives of many types

3. acknowledge dynamic force

   1. lives of healthy adults are future oriented

4. allow concrete uniqueness of motives

preseverative functional autonomy

functionally independent motives that are not part of proprium

• includes addictions, tendency to finish uncompleted tasks, and other acquired motives

propriate functional autonomy

Allport’s concept of a master system of motivation that confers unity on personality by relating self-sustaining motives to the proprium

• reflect our underlying values

study of values

measures values based on self reported:

• truth

• usefulness

• beauty

• other people

• power

• unity

has been adapted into career testing

a present motive is functionally autonomous to the extent that it ____ new goals, meaning that the behaviour will continue even as the motivation for it changes

seeks

processes not functionally autonomous

1. biological drives

2. motives directly linked to the reduction of basic drives

3. reflex actions

4. constitutional equipment

5. habits in the process of being formed

6. patterns of behaviour that require primary reinforcement

7. sublimations

8. some neurotic or pathological symptoms

morphogenic procedures

research approaches that pertain to the individual and aim to uncover patterns of one’s personal dispositions

• patterned properties of the whole organism and allows for intraperson comparisons

• underlying structure of personal dispositions of each individual

• accept self-disclosures unless they are young or psychotic

semimorphogenic procedures

approaches including self-rating scales, standardized tests, etc.

jenny’s letter analysis

• personal structure analysis: frequency and contingency of phrases in letter

• factor analysis: found aggression, possessiveness, affiliation, autonomy, familial acceptance, sexuality, sentience, and martyrdom

• common sense technique: asking judges what her characteristics are

  • found quarrelsome-suspicious, self-centred, independent-autonomous, dramatic-intense, aesthetic-artist, aggressive, cynical-morbid, sentimental

contact hypothesis

Allport’s famous hypothesis that one of the most important ways of reducing prejudice is contact between majority and minority groups

• micro approach

• increases liking, but doesn’t help with stereotyping

people are more motivated by ______ favouritism rather than desire to punish or disfavour an outgroup

ingroup

4 criteria for contact hypothesis

1. equal status in interaction

2. share common goals

3. cooperation

4. mutual support of authority figure or law

extrinsic religious orientation

• utilitarian

• means to an end

• self-serving

• prayer for protection

• church for a place in the community

intrinsic religious orientation

• motivated through faith

• functional autonomy

• religion forms whole life

• more likely accept forgiveness in therapy

• greater mental health