2 - Allport's Psychology of the Individual

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Psychology

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53 Terms

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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
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Allport emphasized the remarkable ______ between people
differences
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Allport thought that descriptions in terms of general traits robbed people of their _______
individuality
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we are _____ of personal dispositions
multiplicities
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morphogenic science
the study of the single individual
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Allport used an ------ -----, drawing from many aspects of personality theories together
eclectic approach
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Allport rejected _______, theories that advocated for the single aspect of person to be emphasized
particularism
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Allport preferred a _____, comprehensive theory rather than narrow, specific
broad
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personality
the dynamic organization within the individual of those psychophysical system that determine their characteristic behaviour and thought
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importance of ------- ----- in this theory, we know what we are doing and why we are doing it as healthy adults
conscious motivation
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\------ ------- are compulsive, negative, and childlike
unconscious motivators
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self-report
Allport preferred this style of gathering data, linked to the idea of conscious motivation
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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
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characteristics of a mature person
* proactive behaviour
* motivated by conscious processes
* trauma-free childhood
* age doesn’t matter
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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
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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)
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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)
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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
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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)
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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)
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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)
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personal dispositions
description of person in terms of individual characteristics

* generalized neuropsychic structure
* peculiar to the individual
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common traits
general characteristics held in common by many people
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____ describe relatively stable characteristics
traits
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______ describe temporary characteristics
states
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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)
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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)
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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)
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you _____ compare people’s personal dispositions
cannot
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motivational dispositions
personal dispositions that have an intensely felt motivational force

* initiate action
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stylistic dispositions
personal dispositions that are less intensely experienced but still possess motivational force

* guide action
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all personal dispositions are _____ with motivational power
dynamic
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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
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nonpropriate beahviours
* basic drives and needs
* tribal customs (saying hello, wearing clothes, etc.)
* habitual behaviours (brushing teeth, smoking)
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peripheral motives
those motives that aim to reduce a need

* ex., eat to reduce hunger
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propriate strivings
those motives that seek to maintain tension and disequilibrium

* from proprium
* ex., constant hockey drill training
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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
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Allport thought theory needed to allow ______ behaviour, must view people as consciously acting on their environment
proactive
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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
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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
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preseverative functional autonomy
functionally independent motives that are not part of proprium

* includes addictions, tendency to finish uncompleted tasks, and other acquired motives
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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
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study of values
measures values based on self reported:

* truth
* usefulness
* beauty
* other people
* power
* unity

\
has been adapted into career testing
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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
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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
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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
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semimorphogenic procedures
approaches including self-rating scales, standardized tests, etc.
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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
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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
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people are more motivated by ______ favouritism rather than desire to punish or disfavour an outgroup
ingroup
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4 criteria for contact hypothesis

1. equal status in interaction
2. share common goals
3. cooperation
4. mutual support of authority figure or law
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extrinsic religious orientation
\
* utilitarian
* means to an end
* self-serving
* prayer for protection
* church for a place in the community

\
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intrinsic religious orientation
\
* motivated through faith
* functional autonomy
* religion forms whole life
* more likely accept forgiveness in therapy
* greater mental health
* \