Exploring Theories of Personality

humanistic psychology

emphasizes the study of the whole person and the uniqueness of each individual, particularly focusing on self growth and unconditional positive regard as essential for achieving personal potential

unconditional regard

an individual is accepted and loved as they are, without conditions or judgments, fostering personal growth and self acceptance

self actualizing tendency

refers to the innate drive in every individual to grow, develop, and realize their fullest potential

social cognitive theory

theory that emphasizes the influence of cognitive processes, behaviors, and context in understanding personality and human activities

reciprocal determinism

concept in social cognitive theory proposing that an individual's behaviors, personal factors, and environment influence each other interactively

self concept

an individual's perception of themselves, encompassing self awareness and the evaluation of their role in relation to others

self efficacy

the belief in one's own ability to succeed in specific situations or accomplish a task, which plays a crucial role in how goals, tasks, and challenges are approached

self esteem

a person's overall subjective emotional evaluation of their own worth; it's a judgment of oneself as well as an attitude toward that self

trait theories

suggests that personality is made up of stable characteristics, called traits, that consistently influence how a person thinks or behaves

big five theory

identifies five broad dimensions of personality that describe the main traits of human personality

personality inventories

standardized tools used to assess and measure individual personality traits and characteristics through self report questionnaires

factor analysis

a statistical method used to identify clusters of related items in a set of data

openness to experience

a personality trait that encompasses a person's imagination, curiosity, and willingness to engage with new ideas, experiences, and creative pursuits

conscientiousness

a personality trait marked by organization, dependability, discipline, and a goal driven approach to life

extraversion

a personality trait characterized by high levels of sociability, energy, assertiveness, and a strong preference for social interaction and stimulation

agreeableness

a personality trait characterized by warmth, kindness, empathy, and a cooperative and trusting nature

Neuroticism

refers to the trait of having consistent emotional reactions, resilience, and the ability to remain calm and composed under stress