Dimensions of ToP

Personality in History

The Study of Consciousness

  • Wilhelm Wundt, the founding father of psychology:

    • Focused on the analysis of conscious experience into its elemental parts.

    • Modeled psychology after natural sciences.

    • Influenced by natural science approach to study the mind.

The Study of Behavior

  • Behaviorism by John Watson:

    • Opposed Wundt’s focus on conscious experience.

    • Argued that psychology should study tangible aspects of human nature (observable behavior).

    • Only overt behavior is legitimate for psychology.

The Study of Unconscious

  • Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalysis:

    • Investigated the unconscious mind without the experimental method.

    • Developed theories based on clinical observations of patients.

      *studied patients' behaviors, dreams, slips of the tongue, and free associations during therapy sessions. Instead of using controlled experiments, he interpreted these observations to infer the workings of the unconscious mind

The Scientific Study of Personality

  • In the late 1930s, through Gordon Allport's work, personality became systematized in American psychology.

    • Allport’s book "Personality: A Psychological Interpretation" marked the formal study of personality.

Dimension of Humanity

  • Personality theories reflect their authors' assumptions about humanity.

Key Debates in Personality Theories

1. Determinism vs. Free Choice

  • Are behaviors determined by forces beyond control, or can individuals choose their paths?

2. Pessimism vs. Optimism

  • Are people destined for troubled lives, or can they grow into psychologically healthy beings?

3. Causality vs. Teleology

  • Do past events dictate actions, or do future expectations drive behavior?

4. Conscious vs. Unconscious Determinants

  • Are individuals aware of their actions and motivations, or influenced by unconscious forces?

5. Biological vs. Social Influences

  • Is personality shaped more by biology or social relationships (heredity vs. environment)?

6. Uniqueness vs. Similarities

  • Is individuality or shared characteristics more noticeable in humans?

Components of a Complete Theory of Personality

  1. Structure

    • Stable aspects forming personality (response patterns, habits, traits, and types).

  2. Process

    • Motivational concepts explaining behavioral dynamics (pleasure, tension reduction, self-actualization).

  3. Growth and Development

    • Changes from infancy to maturity (genetic vs. environmental determinants).

  4. Psychopathology

    • Analysis of personality and behavior disorders, understanding stress management differences.

  5. Behavior Modification

    • Understanding behavior change methods.

Perspectives on Personality

  1. Psychodynamic Theories

    • Behavior as a result of internal conflicts, unconscious motivations (Freud, Adler, Jung).

  2. Humanistic Theories

    • Focus on individual potential and the present experience (Maslow, Rogers).

  3. Theories of Trait/Factor

    • Emphasized stable personality traits, using factor analysis (Allport, Eysenk, Cattell).

  4. Behaviorism

    • Assumption that almost all behaviors are learned; focuses on behavior modification (Skinner, Bandura).

  5. Social Cognitive Theory

    • Combines cognitive-behavioral perspectives, emphasizing interaction between mind and social environment (Rotter).

  6. Biological Theory

    • Focus on nervous system functions and genetic factors influencing personality.