Personality
An individuals characteristic patterns of thought, emotion, and behaviour together with the psychological mechanisms behind those patterns.
Approaches to studying personality
- Psychoanalytical
- Behavioural
- Cognitive
- Trait
- Biological
Psychoanalytic Theory/Approach
Founded by Sigmund Freud, focuses on the impact of the unconscious desire and conflicts on personality. Personality is influenced by the interaction of 3 parts of our mind: the Id, Superego, an Ego. Early childhood experiences have long-term effects on personality.
Id
Unconscious and focused on pleasure, while avoiding pain (ex. food, sex); present from birth
“What do I want to do?”
Superego
Unconscious and focused on morality based on value from parents and society; develops around 4yrs old.
“What should I do?”
Ego
Conscious and mindful of reality (finds compromise in Id’s desires and Superego’s morality)
“What am I actually going to do?”
Over-expression of id
recklessness and impulsivity
Dominance of superego
preachy and holier-than-thou
Psychosexual Stages of Development
A series of development stages that all children pass through, according to psychoanalytical theory. Each of the stages is marked by a particular set of challenges and realization about the world
Fixation
The process by which a person’s unconscious mind can become stuck in a particular psychosexual stage of development, as a result of that person having adverse experiences during that stage. (ex. if a child has trouble during the feeding stage, they will fixate orally, causing undesirable oral traits as an adult, such as obsessive gum chewing)
Freudian Slip
A mistake in speaking or dreams that reveals unconscious desires or conflicts (ex. calling your teacher “mom” may mean that you unconsciously want your mom). The manifest content of your dreams (what you are actually dreaming about), actually have underlying latent content (unconscious desires or worries based on the dream)
Psychological Defence Mechanisms
Automatic mental strategies used to relieve us of anxiety by distracting us from stressors or disguising their true nature. This includes denial, repression, rationalization, projection, and sublimation
Denial
Rejecting the facts of a situation (ex. getting a bad quiz mark must be a technological error)
Repression
Prevents information from being consciously processed (ex. trauma is pushed down and sometimes even forgotten to avoid thinking about it)
Rationalization
Using logic to justify behaviour (ex. “5 hours of self care is necessary before I study for my exam”)
Projection
Label others as having your own conscious views (ex. bullying someone because they were asking for it)
Sublimation
Finding socially acceptable outlets for unconscious impulses; most mature defense mechanism (ex. playing hockey is a socially acceptable way to channel your aggression)
Behaviourist Approach
An approach that focuses on how personality is expressed through behaviour and how behaviour can change personality through the learning on contingent behaviour (reward/punishments). Behaviourism contends that internal mental processes are unmeasurable, and therefore irrelevant to personality
Blank slate
No particular personality set from birth, according to the behavioural approach.
Cognitive Approach
Similar to the behaviourist approach but acknowledges the role of internal mental processes in dictating personality.
1. Observe a behaviour of others (ex. see classmate raise hand)
2. Watch that behaviour become reinforced (ex. praised from teacher)
3. Model this behaviour (ex. answer a question in class)
4. Subjective interpretation of their responses (ex. “but do I know enough material to do the same?”)
Trait
A personality characteristic that is consistent, stable and that varies from person to person.
The 5-Factor Model
Also known as the Big 5, remembered through the acronym OCEAN. Models personality through an individual’s levels of 5 traits: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, neuroticism.
Openness
Creativity, adventurous, open to changes
HIGH: new experiences, inquisitive, creative
LOW: tradition, routine, resistant to change
Conscientiousness
Thoughtfulness, diligence, orderly
HIGH: self-control, planned, goal oriented, neat and organized
LOW: casual, unscheduled, unrestricted
