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• An individual’s unique patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that persists over time and across situations.
•An individual’s characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting
© Prentice Hall, 1999
Personality Perspectives
• Trait theories (Biological)
• Psychodynamic theories
• Behaviorism
• Social-Learning Theories
• Humanistic theories
• Social-Cognitive theories
Biological PerspectiveBiological Perspective
• Major themes & assumptions • 1.personality characteristics genetically determined• 2.behavioral tendencies come from evolutionary history• 3.behavior is produced by complex biological
system (e.g. hormones, neurotransmitters)
strengths: twin/adoption studies pharmacological intervention
Sheldon’s Empirical Findings
• 500 boys in Residential Rehabilitation
• 8 Year Study
• 60% of Delinquents were Mesomorphs
• 30% were non Mesomorphs
Personality TypesPersonality TypesWilliam Sheldon (1954) Somatoform Typology (Physiognomy)
The Mesomorph Mesomorphic Body Type:hard, muscular body
overly mature appearance rectangular shaped
thick skin upright posture
Associated personality traits: adventurous
desire for power/dominance courageous
indifference to othersassertive, bold
zest for physical activity competitive
love of risk/chance
The EndomorphEndomorphic Body Type:
soft body underdeveloped muscles
round shaped over-developed digestive
system Associated personality traits:
love of food tolerant
evenness of emotions love of comfort
sociable good humored
relaxed need for affection
The EctomorphEctomorphic Body Type:
thin flat chest
delicate build young appearance
tall lightly muscled
stoop-shouldered large brain
Associated personality traits: self-conscious
preference for privacy introverted inhibited
socially anxious artistic
mentally intense emotionally restrained
Ernst Kretschmer “Biopsychological Constitutional Typology”
• Pyknic-heavy, soft body, lacks spontaneity/sophistication. Commit nonviolent property crimes
• Athletic-muscular body type aggressive,bully,loud Commit violent offenses• Leptosome- tall/thin highly emotional,
unable to control themselves, Commit sexual offenses/crimes of passion.
Trait PerspectiveTrait Perspective
•Gordon Allport Described personality as fundamental traits Wanted to describe individual traits, not explain
them
• Traits– People’s characteristic pattern of behavior or
feeling action; our conscious (rather than unconscious) motives
Trait PerspectiveHow do we describe & classify different
personalities?(Type A vs Type B or
Depressed vs Cheerful?)
Hans Eysenck's three factor model extraversion, neuroticism, psychoticism
The Big Five
Emotional Stability
Extraversion
Openness
Agreeableness
Conscientiousness
• Calm/Anxious• Secure/Insecure
• Sociable/Retiring• Fun Loving/Sober
• Imaginative/Practical• Independent/Conforming
• Soft-Hearted/Ruthless• Trusting/Suspicious
• Organized/Disorganized• Careful/Careless
Assessing Traits
How can we assess traits?(aim to simplify person’s behavior patterns)
MMPIMMPI• most widely used personality inventory• assess psychological disorders (not normal traits)• empirically derived - test items selected based upon how well they discriminate groups of traits
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator - classifies peoplebased upon responses to 126 questions
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