CHAP 1 Theoretical Perspectives & Theories

Theoretical Perspectives & Theories

Historical Development Highlights

• Early 20th century: Mental tests (immigration, job selection).

• Formalization in 1930s:

  • Allport (1937)

  • Murray (1938)

  • Stagner (1937)

Psychoanalytic Perspective

• Freud (Classical): Unconscious drives, id/ego/superego.

• Jung (Analytical): Collective unconscious, archetypes.

Humanistic Perspective

• Rogers (Person-Centered): Self-concept, unconditional positive regard.

• Maslow (Hierarchy): Self-actualization at top of needs pyramid.

Trait Perspective

• Allport: Cardinal, central, secondary traits.

• Factor Analytic Theories:

  • Cattell: 16 Personality Factors.

  • Eysenck: PEN model (Psychoticism, Extraversion, Neuroticism).

  • Costa & McCrae: Big Five (OCEAN: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Neuroticism).

Cognitive-Social Learning Perspective

• Mischel: Behavior influenced by situations → delayed gratification (Marshmallow test).

• Bandura: Reciprocal determinism, self-efficacy.

• Kelly: Personal construct theory (individual differences in how people interpret the world).

Biological approach (Early studies)

1. Constitutional Typologies

   • Hippocrates

   • Galen

   • Kretschmer's somatic theory

   • Sheldon's typology

2. Hormonal

   • Cashew and Sulman

3. Phenomenology

   • Gall

Biological Perspective

• Focus: Genetics, brain structure, hormones, evolution, epigenetics.

• Critiques: Reductionist, ethical concerns.

Reductionism

Biological approach sometimes oversimplifies personality by attributing it mainly to biology without considering the complex interplay of social and environmental factors.

Ethical Implications

Discussions about genetics and personality can raise ethical concerns, especially when linked to behaviors or potential predispositions.

Sum up of agreements related to personality