AP PSYCH - PERSONALITY THEORISTS

Here are digital flashcards for you!

Front: Sigmund Freud – Psychoanalytic Theory

Back: Personality is shaped by unconscious desires, childhood experiences, and conflicts between the id (instincts), ego (reality), and superego (morality).
🧠 Example: A strict upbringing may lead to excessive guilt due to a strong superego.

Front: Alfred Adler – Individual Psychology

Back: Personality is driven by overcoming inferiority and striving for superiority through personal growth and social connections.
💡 Example: A struggling student works hard to become a top researcher to prove their capability.

Front: Carl Rogers – Humanistic Theory

Back: Self-concept shapes personality, and unconditional positive regard (being loved for who you are) is key to growth.
💖 Example: A child loved for their effort, not just success, develops confidence.

Front: Henry Murray – Needs-Based Theory

Back: Personality is influenced by individual needs (achievement, power, affiliation) and how they are fulfilled.
🏆 Example: A person with a strong need for achievement works long hours to succeed.

Front: Hans Eysenck – Trait Theory (PEN Model)

Back: Personality is based on three biological traits:

  • Psychoticism (impulsiveness, aggression)

  • Extraversion (social, outgoing)

  • Neuroticism (emotionally unstable)
    🎭 Example: A highly extraverted person loves socializing, while a neurotic person gets stressed easily.

Front: Karen Horney – Social & Cultural Influence on Personality

Back: Personality develops from relationships and anxiety coping strategies:

  • Moving toward (seeking approval)

  • Moving against (being aggressive)

  • Moving away (withdrawing)
    🛑 Example: A child who feels insecure might act aggressively to protect themselves.

Front: Albert Bandura – Social-Cognitive Theory

Back: Personality is shaped by observing others, personal beliefs (self-efficacy), and environment (reciprocal determinism).
👀 Example: A child sees a sibling get rewarded for studying, so they study more.

These should help you memorize the theories faster! Let me know if you want to tweak anything. 😊