PSYC 333: Advanced Personality Theory (Module 6)

Gordon Allport

Opportunistic functioning (Allport)

The tendency to satisfy biological survival needs

Propriate functioning

Functioning in a manner expressive of the self

Proprium

Allport's name for the concept of the self

Seven functions of the self

1. Sense of body (0-2): recognition of the bodily self

2. Self-identity (0-2): recognition of ourselves as separate from others and as having a past, present, and future

3. Self-esteem (2-4)

4. Self-extension (4-6): including other people and external things/events in our sense of self

5. Self-image (4-6): the "looking glass self" or our views of ourselves as others see us

6. Rational coping (6-12): developing one's abilities to deal with problems rationally and effectively

7. Propriate striving (12+): having plans and goals, a sense of purpose, knowing what you want to do in life

Personality (Allport)

The dynamic organization within the individual of those psychophysical systems that determine … characteristic behaviour and thought

Personality trait (Allport)

A neuropsychic structure having the capacity to render many stimuli functionally equivalent and to initiate and guide meaningfully consistent forms of adaptive and expressive behaviour

Common traits

General characteristics held in common by many people in a culture

Central traits

The building blocks of personality that we typically use to describe people, of which people have around 5-10

Cardinal traits

The most pervasive traits that dominate all aspects of a person's life

Secondary traits

Traits that are displayed inconsistently or are situationally dependent (e.g. preferences, attitudes)

Personal traits/dispositions

Traits that are unique to the individual

Motivational dispositions

Motivational power that is experienced intensely and pushes us to fulfill basic needs

Stylistic dispositions

Guide actions by creating the way people go about fulfilling basic needs; experienced less intensely

Psychological maturity (Allport)

Involves a well-developed proprium and an adaptive set of dispositions

Seven characteristics of psychological maturity

1. Specific, enduring self-extensions
2. Techniques for relating to others (e.g. trust/empathy)
3. Emotional security and self-acceptance
4. Realistic perception
5. Problem-centredness and problem-solving skills
6. Self-objectification (ability to laugh at oneself)
7. Unifying philosophy of life

Functional autonomy

One's current motives are independent of their origins

Perseverative functional autonomy

Persistence of a behaviour after it no longer serves its original purpose

Propriate functional autonomy

Self-directed behaviour that is related to our personal goals and values

Personal-document technique

Method of studying personality that assesses a person's written or spoken records (e.g. diaries, letters, social media)

Lexical hypothesis

Theory that the most socially relevant and salient aspects of personality have become encoded in language

Allport's four categories (lexical hypothesis)

1. Traits

2. Temporary states

3. Evaluative judgments

4. Physical capabilities

Allport's Value Categories

1. The theoretical (values truth)

2. The economic (values usefulness)

3. The aesthetic (values beauty)

4. The social (values people)

5. The political (values power)

6. The religious (values unity)

The self (Allport)

Defined phenomenologically according to the parts of oneself one considers most essential, warm, and central, as well as functionally according to the seven functions