Personality

Personality:

• combination of characteristics or qualities that form an individual’s character

• Habitual behaviours, emotional responses, cognitive patient - arising from biological and environmental factors

• Genetic, biological (neurochemical, environmental, epigenetic)

Psychodynamic Approach

• Id - the pleasure principle, maximises the potential for rewards, ignores the detrimental effect on others, dominant in early childhood.

• Ego - governed by the reality principle, external limitations on behaviour, challenges the Id.

• Super Ego - responsible for the conscience, recognises the consequences of our actions, experiences guilt or shame

Trait Theory

• Extraversion - introversion

• Neuroticism - emotional instability

Biopsychological Model

• Gray (1970)

• Behaviour is influenced by 2 systems:

  • Behavioural activation system - obtaining pleasure/rewards

  • Behavioural inhibition system - avoid potential punishment

Five-Factor Model

• Openness to experience: willingness to try new experiences

• Conscientiousness: well organised, aware of consequences, goal-oriented

• Extraversion: lively, talkative and outgoing, enjoys meeting new people

• Agreeableness: cooperative, altruistic and helpful

• Neuroticism: high level tend to worry and experience anxiety, which can lead to anger and frustration

• Issues: change with age, fluidity and gender.

Type A and B

Type A - experience stress, impatient, anxious, susceptible to stress under pressure, more likely to suffer from CHD

Type B - less affected by stressful situations, able to let go of worries

Other mediators:

• Self-esteem and self-efficacy

• Self-esteem - confidence about ourselves and our abilities

• Self-efficacy - being able to act on the wand to gain a desired result

• Mood maintenance - being able to manage our emotions in the face of challenges