SEMI - GORDON ALLPORT

Allport’s Psychology of the Individual

Gordon Allport

• He believed that attempts todescribe people in terms of general traits rob them of their unique individuality

morphogenic science

• the study of the individual

• gather data in single individual

nomothetic

• in contrast with morphogenic science, most use by psychologist

PERSONALITY

• the dynamic organization within the individual of those psychophysical systems that determine his characteristic behavior and thought

characteristics

• it wished to imply “individual” or “unique.”

• originally meant a marking or engraving, terms that give flavor to what Allport meant

behaviour and thoughts

The words—- and —— simply refers to anything the person does

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A HEALTHY PERSON

1. First, psychologically mature people are characterized by proactive

behavior; that is, they not only react to external stimuli, but they are

capable of consciously acting on their environment in new and innovative

ways and causing their environment to react to them.

2. Mature personalities are more likely than disturbed ones to be motivated

by conscious processes, which allow them to be more flexible and

autonomous than unhealthy people, who remain dominated by

unconscious motives that spring from childhood experiences.

Healthy people ordinarily have experienced a relatively trauma-free

childhood, even though their later years may be tempered by conflict and

suffering

psychologically mature people

are characterized by proactive behavior; that is, they not only react to external stimuli, but they are capable of consciously acting on their environment in new and innovative

ways and causing their environment to react to them.

• extension of the sense of self

• “warm relating of self to others

• emotional security or self-acceptance

• realistic perception of their environment

• insight and humor

• unifying philosophy of life

six criteria for the mature personality

Structure of Personality

refers to its basic units or building blocks

common traits

are general characteristics held in common by many people

personal disposition

as “a ‘‘ generalized neuropsychic structure (peculiar to the individual), with the capacity to render many stimuli functionally equivalent, and to initiate and guide consistent (equivalent) forms of adaptive and stylistic

behavior”

distinction between a personal disposition and a common trait

Personal dispositions are individual; common traits are shared by several people

Levels of Personal Dispositions

• Cardinal Dispositions

• Central Dispositions

• Secondary Dispositions

Cardinal Dispositions

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

• obvios cannot be hidden , nearly every action in persons life revolve around —- ——

Central Dispositions

• which include the 5–10 most outstanding characteristics around which a person’s life focuses

• Dispositions that their friends and close acquaintances would agree are descriptive of that person

Secondary Dispositions

• Less conspicuous but fargreater in number than central dispositions

Motivational Dispositions

• Intensely experienced and receive motivation from basic needs and drives; initiate action

Stylistic Dispositions

less intensely experienced; guide action

PROPIUM

• refer to those behaviors and characteristics that people regard as warm, central, and important in their lives

• “That is me” or “This is mine.” All characteristics that are “peculiarly mine

PERIPHERAL MOTIVES

are those that reduce a need

PROPRIATE STRIVINGS

seek to maintain tension and Disequilibrium

REACTIVE BEHAVIOR

Psychodynamic perspective

assumes that people just want to maintain homeostasis and

no room for growth.

PROACTIVE BEHAVIOR

It must view people as consciously

acting on their environment in a manner that permits growth

toward psychological health

FUNCTIONAL AUTONOMY

Represents a theory of changing rather than unchanging motives and is the capstone of Allport’s ideas on motivation

REACTIVE BEHAVIOR

Psychodynamic perspective assumes that people just want to maintain homeostasis and

no room for growth.

PROACTIVE BEHAVIOR

It must view people as consciously acting on their environment in a manner that permits growth toward psychological health

Levels of Functional Autonomy

• Perseverative Functional Autonomy

• Propriate Functional Autonomy

Perseverative Functional Autonomy

We do things that previously have a psychological effect on us but eventually we

just do it just for fun

Propriate Functional Autonomy

Propriate Functional Autonomy Refers to those self-sustaining motives that are related to the proprium