Approaches to personality How do psychologists explain why we are the way we are?

Summary Assumptions Psychologists MethodsCharacterized by

unconscious processes; childhood experiences

very important

Most important aspects of personality are

unconscious.

Sigmund FreudCarl Jung

Alfred Adler Karen Horneye

a case study; projective tests

Summary Assumptions Psychologists MethodsPersonality grows out of

desire to grow & self-actualize; Can be

undermined by social pressure

Human nature is basically good. If we

know who we are and what we want, we can be happy & healthy.

Carl RogersAbraham Maslow

a case study

Summary Assumptions Psychologists MethodsPersonality is

characterized by 5 general traits that people use to describe themselves &

others.

Traits are relatively stable over time

Gordon AllportMyers-BriggsHans Eysenck

survey; personality inventories

Summary Assumptions Psychologists Methods

Personality is the pattern that characterizes a person’s

interactions with the situations s/he encounters in

life.

Behavior changes across situations. To understand

personality, we must understand situations.

Albert Bandurasurvey; observation;

experimentation

Summary Assumptions Psychologists Methods

Personality characteristics reflect underlying biological

processes- brain, neurotransmitters, & genes

Biological differences among individuals can explain differences in

personality.

Hans Eysenckbrain imaging, twin studies; molecular

genetic studies

Perspectives SummaryAssumptio

nsPsychologi

stsMethods

Psychodynamic

Characterized by unconscious

processes; childhood experiences very

important

Most important aspects of

personality are unconscious.

Sigmund FreudCarl Jung

Alfred Adler Karen Horneye

a case study; projective tests

Humanistic

Personality grows out of desire to grow &

self-actualize; Can be undermined by social

pressure

Human nature is basically good. If we know who we are and what we want, we can be

happy & healthy.

Carl RogersAbraham Maslow

a case study

Trait

Personality is characterized by 5 general traits that

people use to describe themselves

& others.

Traits are relatively stable

over time

Gordon AllportMyers-BriggsHans Eysenck

survey; personality inventories

Social Cognitive

Personality is the pattern that

characterizes a person’s interactions with the situations s/he encounters in

life.

Behavior changes across situations.

To understand personality, we

must understand situations.

Albert Bandurasurvey;

observation; experimentation

Biological

Personality characteristics reflect underlying biological

processes- brain, neurotransmitters, &

genes

Biological differences among

individuals can explain differences

in personality.

brain imaging, twin studies;

molecular genetic studies