Henry murray

Henry M. MurrayMay 13, 1893 - June 23, 1988

He earned his bachelor's degree in history in 1915,

a medical degree from Columbia in 1919

then completed a doctorate in biochemistry from Cambridge nine years later.

His start in psychology occurred after reading Jung and eventually arranging a meeting with him. During this meeting, Jung convinced Murray to study psychoanalysis, which he did at Harvard University.

After competing his training, Murray actually began teaching psychology and psychoanalytic theory at Harvard, and he remained there for the rest of his professional career.

Although considered a trait theorist, Murray's medical background, combined with his analytical training give a unique flair to his research and writing. This is probably most evident in his development of the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), a personality test designed to determine personality themes as well as unconscious motivation.

He was focused on basic needs in personality which he called psychogenic needs. He believed these needs were largely at the unconscious level. After researching this area, he narrowed these needs down to 27, although the list and names vary

Topic Outline1. The Structure of PersonalityDefinition of PersonalityProceedings and SerialsEstablishment of Personality

2. The Dynamics of PersonalityNeedPressTension ReductionThemaNeed IntegrateUnity –ThemaRegnant ProcessVector-Value Scheme

3. The Development of PersonalityInfantile complexesGenetic-Maturational DeterminantsLearningSocio Cultural DeterminantsUniquenessUnconscious ProcessThe Socialization Process

STRUCTURE OF PERSONALITY

Personality

1.An individuals personality is an abstraction formulated by the theorist and not merely a description of the individual’s behavior.

Personality

2. An individuals personality refers to a series of events that ideally span the person’s lifetime:” The history of the personality is the personality”

Personality

3. A definition of personality should reflect the enduring and recurring elements of behavior as well as the novel and unique.

Personality4. Personality is the organized or governing agent of the individual. Its functions are to integrate the conflicts and constraints to which the individual is exposed, to satisfy the individual’s needs, and to make plans for attainment of future goals.

Personality

5. Personality is located in the brain “No brain, No personality”

Proceedings are the things which we observe and try to represent with models, and to explain , the things which we attempt to predict, the facts against which we test the adequacy of our formulations (Murray, 1951)

A directional organized intermittent succession of proceedings may be called a Serial.

Establishments of Personality

Murray agreed with Freud in conceiving of the id as the repository of primitive and unacceptable impulses

The super Ego in Murray’s theory, as in Freud, is considered to be a cultural implant

It is important to note that Murray’s conception of the super ego and ego ideal provided more latitude for alteration and development in the years subsequent to childhood than does the orthodox psychoanalytic view.

Dynamics of Personality

Need•A need is a construct (a convenient or hypothetical concept) which stands free for a force…. In the brain region, a force which organizes perception, apperception, intellection, conation and action in such a way as to transform in a certain direction existing, unsatisfying situation.

Basis for Distinguishing between types of needs.

1.Primary and Secondary Need2.Overt and Covert Needs3.Focal and Diffuse Needs4.Proactive and Reactive Needs5.Process activity, modal needs and effect needs

Murray's Psychogenic Needs

To surrender and accept punishment

1. Abasement


To overcome obstacles and succeed

2. Achievement


To obtain possessions

3. Acquisition


To make associations and friendships

4. Affiliation


To injure others

5. Aggression


To resist others and stand strong

6. Autonomy


To avoid blame and obey the rules

7. Blameavoidance


To build or create

8. Construction


To be unique

9. Contrariance


To defend honor

10. Counteraction


To justify actions

11. Defendance


To follow a superior, to serve

12. Deference


To control and lead others

13. Dominance


To attract attention

14. Exhibition


To provide information, educate

15. Exposition


To avoid pain

16. Harmavoidance


To avoid failure, shame, or to conceal a weakness

17. Infavoidance


To protect the helpless

18. Nurturance


To arrange, organize, and be precise

19. Order


To relieve tension, have fun, or relax

20. Play


To gain approval and social status

20. Recognition


To exclude another

22. Rejection


To enjoy sensuous impressions

23. Sentience


To form and enjoy an erotic relationship

24. Sex


To empathize

25. Similance


To seek protection or sympathy

26. Succorance


To analyze and experience , to seek knowledge

27. Understanding

Theories of personality based upon needs and motives suggest that our personalities are a reflection of behaviors controlled by needs.

While some needs are temporary and changing, other needs are more deeply seated in our nature. According to Murray, these psychogenic needs function mostly on the unconscious level, but play a major role in our personality.

Interrelation of Needs

PrepotencyConflictFusion of needsConcept of Subsidation

Henry Murray and Psychological Needs

Murray from a Psychoanalytic PerspectiveMurray used the term personology to describe

his study of human lives and individual differences in personality

Murray described a habit system as automatic, unconscious behaviors shaped by the id, ego, and superego

Murray emphasized positive instincts related to motivation and needs

American psychologist developed a theory of personality that was organized in terms of motives, presses, and needs. Murray described a needs as a, "potentiality or readiness to respond in a certain way under certain given circumstances" (1938).

Technology

Henry murray