Psychology Development

What we will learn:Personality

Learning Objectives

Name 3 prospectiv

es of personality

theory

Explain the 3 theory areas

and there limitations (naming at

least 1 theory)

Describe how we

personality profile

Understand the links between

personality theory and

sport

Define personality

1.What is personality? Write down your own definition.

2.How do you think our personalities are formed?

3.What affects how our personality develops?

Definitions•Personality is. . .

“The sum total of an individual’s psychological characteristics which make him or her unique.” (Hollander)

•‘Personality. . .

represents those characteristics of the person that account for consistent patterns of behaviour’ (Pervin, 1993)

•Personality is. . .

”The more or less stable and enduring organisation of a persons character, temperament, intellect and physique which determines the unique adjustment (the individual makes) to the environment” (Eysenck)

3 Perspectives on Personality Development

1. Trait Perspective

2. Social Learning Perspective

3. Interactionist ApproachExam Tip. . .Exam questions often ask for explanations of the 3 personality perspectives. You need to be aware of the drawbacks found in trait and social learning perspectives and the advantages of the interactionist approach. CRITICALLY EVALUATE!

Trait PerspectiveThe trait theory of personality suggests that personality is made up of secondary traits inherited from parental genes.

The trait view therefore maintains that all behaviour is innate and genetically programmed.

“Traits are innate characteristics and are thought to be relatively stable. They are highly consistent attributes that exert a widely generalised casual effect on behaviour.”“People are born with established personality

characteristics”•Inherited at birth. •Stable •Enduring •Consistent in all situations.

BEHAVIOUR = FUNCTION OF PERSONALITY (B=F(P)).`

•Outgoing, Aggressive, Tense, Shy, Relaxed, Sensitive etc.

• Traits can be arranged in hierarchical order.

• The stronger the trait, the more dominant the behaviour.

• Trait theory does not believe that the situation or environment has any bearing on a person’s behaviour.

• Behaviour is said to be consistent.

•Traits are thought to be stable, enduring and consistent in all situations.

Trait theory attempts to predict behaviour.+ve = Can be easily measured through questionnaires-ve = Does not take into account environmental influences.

It is not a true indicator of behavior.

The drawback with the trait approach is that in reality, behaviour is not always predictable. People adapt their behaviour in response to a particular environmental situation.

Trait theory does not account for this.

Also, the influence that the environment and other people have on shaping personality is not considered.

There are 3 specific theories that belong to the trait perspective of personality that we need to know:

• Personality Types (Eysenck and Cattell)

•Narrow Band Theory Type A & Type B (Girdano)

Personality Types. . .

Eysenck's Theory 1968 •Originally Personality types are arranged on 2 dimensions.

•Introvert/Extrovert•Stable/Neurotic Neuroti

c

Stable

Introvert

Extrovert

Extrovert• Said to achieve more in

higher arousal situations.

• Become aroused more slowly than introverts

• There is a low sensitivity of the reticular activating system (RAS)

• Prefer team oriented situations.

• Like activities which involve gross motor skills.

• Extrovert behaviour is loud, bright & outgoing.Can you think of a Sports person who is Extroverted?

Introvert High levels of excitation.

Tend not to need added stimulation & excitement.

Become aroused more quickly than extroverts

There is a high sensitivity of the reticular activating system (RAS)

Prefer to take part in activities requiring more precision eg. Archery.

Introvert behaviour is shy, quiet & reserved.

Can you think of a sports person who is Introverted?

•Displays predictable emotions in appropriate situations•Their moods are predictable•They tend not to experience intense stress•Their recovery from stress is rapid

Stable

Can you think of a sports person who is Stable?

Neurotic•. Displays extreme and unpredictable emotions in the form of mood swings•Their moods are unreliable•They experience high degrees of stress•Their recovery from stress is slow

Can you think of a sports person who is Neurotic?

Eysenck proposed the existence of 4 personality types:

•Extrovert & Stable•Extrovert and Neurotic•Introvert & Stable•Introvert & Neurotic

Later he added a third scale to his model which he termed Psychoticism - A measure of how Tough-Minded people are. Eysenck used this third scale in a test to determine an individual’s Personality Profile. This test was called the Eysenck’s Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) – Let’s have a go at the questionnaire………(QR codes)

Cattell 1965 16PFCattell was also a believer of trait theory. However, he questioned whether personality could be understood using only 3 dimensions.... Instead, he considered a much larger number of traits. Cattell examined 16 Personality Factors in a questionnaire called ‘Cattell’s 16PF test’.

Let’s have a go at

this test

1. With a partner, choose 1 sports person each and describe to them why you think their psychological make up makes them successful?

2. Make a note of each others responses to this question jotting down any key characteristics that are being identified!

3. Can you think of a sports person who has the opposite characteristics to those that you have mentioned but is equally as successful?

Task. . .

Narrow Band Approach

Girdano was another trait theorist. He proposed that there are two distinct personality types – Type A & Type B

TYPE A CHARACTERISTICS:

•HIGHLY COMPETITIVE•STRONG DESIRE TO SUCCEED•WORKS FAST•LIKES TO CONTROL•PRONE TO SUFFER STRESS

TYPE B CHARACTERISTICS:

•NON-COMPETITIVE•UNAMBITIOUS•WORKS MORE SLOWLY•APPEARS TO LACK DESIRE TO SUCCEED•DOES NOT ENJOY CONTROL•LESS PRONE TO STRESS

•Which of the characteristics are most common with the sports person you identified?

• Which of the characteristics do you demonstrate predominantly?

T. ORFORD

1. There are 3 sports people below who display significantly different characteristics to the rest, who are they and why do you think this?!

Monty Panesar Sven Goran Eriksson Paula Radcliffe Amir Kahn Tiger Woods

Martin Johnson Ronnie O’Sullivan Steve Redgrave Stephen Hendry Kevin Pietersen

Anna Kournikova Tanni-Grey Thomson John Terry Kelly Holmes Jose Mourinho

T. ORFORD

• If you identified the 3 below as sports people who all display more type ‘B’ characteristics than type ‘A’ then well done!

• Sven is more of a strategist, taking his time to work through things. As a result he works more slowly and is less prone to stress.

• Kournikova appears to be less competitive as she concentrates on commercial modelling rather than tennis.

• Like Sven, Stephen is a thinker and is reserved in his approach in comparison with Ronnie O’Sullivan.

Sven Goran Eriksson

Anna Kournikova Stephen Hendry

T. ORFORD

• Why do you think there were only 3 out of 15 successful sports people with type ‘B’ characteristics?

• So……..how can we develop these characteristics or are they pre -defined, already existing, non – changeable features of our personality?

1. Discuss with your partner whether you think you can change the way you are born!?

Social Learning PerspectiveSocial Learning Theory in direct contrast to trait

theory proposes that all behavior is learned.

Learning occurs by way of environmental experiences and through the influence of other people e.g. Parents, Coaches, Role Models, Friends and other significant others.

Personality is NOT therefore genetically programmed.

“All behaviour is learned through interaction with the environment”

BEHAVIOUR = FUNCTION OF ENVIRONMENT (B = F(E))

-ve = Does not consider inherited behavior (traits) 

NATURE V’s NURTURE debate

The Social Learning approach was presented by psychologist Bandura. He believed learning was stimulated by environmental experiences and this involved two processes:

•The behaviour of others being imitated through observation•New behaviour being acquired after observation, but only when it is endorsed through social reinforcement

• Demonstration Important to observe performance.

• Attention look carefully for detail of movement.

• Retention remember the demo AND the teaching points / error correction.

• Motor Reproduction demo is only of use if observers can attempt a successful performance.

• Motivation the performer must be motivated to perform the action.

• Matching Performance the performer attempts to match the demo and to improve it.

ExampleAn inexperienced sports performer may be inspired by the positive attitude and commitment displayed in training by an experienced player. The novice copies the desirable approach of the role model and receives positive reinforcement from both coach and peers. The process of reinforcement has facilitated learning.

CONDITIONS THAT SUPPORT SOCIAL LEARNING

A drawback of social learning perspective is that it doesn’t take into account genetically inherited factors. This perspective does provide explanation as to why there are individual differences in ‘attitude’ ‘aggression’, and ‘motivation’ of sports performers.

Can also explain why young people elect to take part in sport or follow a lifestyle that is healthy, active and balanced.

1. Can you think of any environmental factors that have effected your behaviour?a.)

b.)

c.)

d.)

e.)

f.)

g.)

h.)

i.)

j.)

•Combines trait theory & social learning theory.

•This recognises that the trait theory and social learning theory both have a role in determining behaviour and personality.• More realistic explanation of personality?!• Different behaviours produced for different situations.•Suggests that we base behaviour on inherent traits that we then adapt to the situation we are in.

Interactionist Approach

• EQUATION = B = f (PxE)

•where behaviour is a function of personality & environment.

Example:• A games player might be loud, extrovert & dominant manner in the game because that is the best way to succeed, but would be more quiet & focused when in a training session designed to improve individual technique.

The Interactionist approach is based on the work of Hollander (1967). Hollander proposed that personality has three levels that interact to form personality.

PERSONALITY - StructureHollander’s Structure of

Personality Social Environment

1 – PSYCHOLGICAL CORE– THE REAL YOU.

1 2 3

2 – TYPICAL RESPONSE– THE WAY YOU RESPOND TO ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS.

3 - ROLE-RELATED BEHAVIOUR– VERY CHANGEABLE DEPENDING

ON THE ROLE.

HOLLANDER’S STRUCTURE (1967) 1 = The Psychological Core:

The ‘real you’ Private, not revealed in questioning

2 = Typical Responses: Usual way we respond to the environment. Learned & stored experience. LH Responses may indicate the nature of the core.

3 = Role-related behaviour: Determined by our perception of env. at any given time. Can be changed at any time Action may not be a typical response but uncharacteristic

action. AGG

Dynamic

External

Internal

Consistent

Marten’s Structure of Personality

PERSONALITY - Measuring1. Interviews - are they reliable and valid in each case?

- are they of value in assessing a persons sporting ability?

2. Questionnaires - e.g. psychometric self questionnaires, personality tests, multiphasic personality inventory and Catells 16 primary factors questionnaire.

- are these appropriate for the results the researcher wants to gain?

3. Observations - difficult to remain unobtrusive which will affect behaviour.

- secret observation is unethical

What are the pros and cons of each method?

PERSONALITY – Problems With

ResearchTrait Theory

• NOT A TRUE PREDICTOR OF BEHAVIOUR, NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE EXISTS BETWEEN SPORTS PERFORMANCE & PEOPLE WITH DIFFERING TRAIT STRENGTHS.

• DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE INFLUENCE OF THE ENVIRONMENT – TOO GENERAL.

Social Learnin

g Theory

•TAKES LITTLE ACCOUNT OF EXTERNAL FACTORS THAT MAY EFFECT BEHAVIOUR.

• Additional Reading -

•Create a poster that illustrates either one OR all of the three theories, use pictures and diagrams as well as key words / information to illustrate the theory.

•You can either use A3 paper or produce using ICT and get your images from the internet.

•Note this work will be displayed therefore it must be accurate & well presented.

•All work must be handed in next lesson.

Personality

Class work / Homework

•What are the 3 theories we have been looking at?