Summary of the major personality theories :

Theory

Primary figures
Allport, Cattell, Eysenck

Primary emphasis
An individuals traits determine personality

Primary strengths
Focuses on stability of behavior over long periods; attempts to measure traits objectively

Primary limitations
Largely descriptive; ignores situational variables that may affect behavior eliance on correlational methods in determining the role of !" in personality 'gnores biological influences on personality development; often more descriptive than e(planatory

Trait

ologi cal hobi

Psyc &avlov, "kinner

#he roll of Emphasis on the genetics and the interaction of biology brain and and environment in nervous determining personality system$!"% in rigorous empirical personality approach development &ersonality is determined by both the conse)uences of behavior and our perception of them -nconscious psychic conflict; repression of an(iety. provoking ideas and desires "tresses the positive aspects of human nature and ho, to become a better person

Soci ning lear al *andura, +ischel, otter

Focuses on direct study of behavior and stresses rigorous e(perimentation

Psyc

,Freud /ung, Adler, 0orney, Erikson

#he idea that behaviour may be influenced by forces outside conscious a,areness

nami hody

*asic concepts are not empirically testable

Hum +aslo,, rogers

ic

-seful in therapeutic settings

Contains vague and un testable concepts; primarily descriptive

anist

 Freudian defense mechanism :

Defense mechanism
Repression

Description
#he minds active attempt to prevent memories of traumatic e(periences from reacting conscious a,areness eplacing an an(iety. provoking idea ,ith its opposite 1enial of ones unacceptable feeling and desire and finding them in others Channeling psychic energy from an unacceptable drive into a more acceptable Creating an acceptable reason for a behavior that is actually performed for a less acceptable reason #he manifestation of a psychic conflict in terms of physical symptoms

Example
Failure to remember the death of loved one or other highly upsetting events that occurred earlier in your life 0aving intense feelings of dislike for a person, but acting in a friendly manner to,ards him or her 1enying that you have negative feelings to,ards someone, but asserting that person to have negative feelings to,ards you 1iverting energy from the se( drive to produce a ,ork of art Asserting that you donate money to charities because you truly are a generous person A psychic conflict, perhaps aroused by a particular person, causes you to develop symptoms of deafness or blindness to avoid contact ,ith him or her

Reaction formation Projection

Sublimation

Rationalization

Conversion