Personality Overview
Conceptualizing Personality
Measuring Personality
Personality Development – Freud’s Theory – Erikson’s Theory (in Chapter 4)

Personality Tendencies to think, feel, or behave in certain ways across situations - what makes one person different from others - individual differences

These tendencies sometimes can be described with “traits.” For some psychologists, these traits are the building blocks of personality… Trait theory: reduce traits to primary defining factors of personality

Personality

anxious ethical

talkative insecure

self-conscious

purposeful

daring

sociable

nonconforming

warm

sympathetic

guilt-prone

affectionate

productive

imaginative

fun-loving

trusting

broad interests

cooperative

dependable

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The Big Five With many measurements psychologists have narrowed the primary traits down to “the big five.”

agreeableness

conscientiousness

neuroticism

extroversion

openness

In the model, someone can be high or low on each trait.

1. Extroversion Introversion

Extroverts are enthusiastic, fun-loving, sociable, talkative, and affectionate

Introverts are shy, submissive, quiet, and enjoy calm activities

2. Agreeableness Disagreeableness

Agreeable people are friendly, warm, cooperative and accommodating

Disagreeable people are untrusting and questioning

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3. Conscientiousness Impulsiveness

Conscientious people are dependable, ethical, competent, productive, organized and responsible

Impulsive people are careless, disorderly, and undependable

4. Neuroticism- Stability

Neurotic people are anxious, insecure, reactive, guiltprone, tense, worrying

Stable people are calm and contented

5. Openness Closedness

Open people seek new experiences and are imaginative, daring, witty, artistic and have broad interests

Closed people are cautious, routined, and like structured environments

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How is this useful? Research has found that dynamic leaders are high on extroversion and low on agreeableness and neuroticism - Outgoing - Secure & Centered - Questioning

We can use questionnaires to identify people with management skills, as one example

How is this useful? Dating sites use personality profiles to match people with common traits

Assumes that people with similar traits or “complimentary traits” will find things in common

Measuring Personality Certain personality tests measure where people score on each of trait of interest. (1) Self-report Questionnaires Big Five Survey (2) Projective Tests

I often am late. 1 2 3 4 5 Disagree Agree

Most important question: Is the test valid?

Ink Blot Tests

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(1) Self-report Questionnaires Questions about how people tend to feel. Generate a “personality profile” from responses

Questionnaires vary in validity They tend to be highly reliable

Big Five Survey I see myself as someone who... 1. ...Is talkative

Disagree 1 2 3 4 5 Agree

2. ...Tends to find fault with others

Disagree 1 2 3 4 5 Agree

3. ...Does a thorough job

Disagree 1 2 3 4 5 Agree

4. ...Is depressed, blue

Disagree 1 2 3 4 5 Agree

5. ...Is original, comes up with new ideas

Disagree 1 2 3 4 5 Agree

6. ...Is reserved

Disagree 1 2 3 4 5 Agree

http://similarminds.com/big5.html

Global 5 / SLOAN Test Answer Key


Add 4,9,11,19,24 = Factor 1








Add 2,7,15,16,21 = Factor 2




Add 1,6,12,17,23 = Factor 3




Add 8,10,13,18,25 = Factor 4




Add 3,5,14,20,22 = Factor 5







If (35 - Lowest Factor Score) > Highest Factor score than that is the Primary Type Otherwise the Highest Factor score is the Primary Type

















If Factor 1 score is > 20 F1 = R If Factor 1 score is < 20 F1 = S If Factor 2 score is > 20 F2 = L If Factor 2 score is < 20 F2 = C If Factor 3 score is > 20 F3 = U If Factor 3 score is < 20 F3 = O If Factor 4 score is > 20 F4 = E If Factor 4 score is < 20 F4 = A If Factor 5 score is > 20 F5 = N If Factor 5 score is < 20 F5 = I

• F1____ F2____ F3____ F4____ F5____

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Global 5 / SLOAN Test F1 = Extroversion F2 = Neuroticism
F3 = Conscientiousness
F4 = Agreeableness
F5 = Openness



Problems with self-report

People report how what they “think” their behavior is like. Unclear how accurate the self-report is.

This may account for the reliability of the scores on the tests.

(2) Projective Tests In projective tests, the person is asked to “interpret” an ambiguous stimulus. (A) Rorschach (or inkblot test)

(B) Thematic Apperception Test Projective tests are difficult to interpret and are less valid and reliable than questionnaires, but they may be useful with children

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The problem with projective tests is that people tend to report a wide variety of answers and their answers differ depending on their mood state. Two people scoring the tests often arrive at very different conclusions But this does bring up an interesting point: What is the difference between a more permanent trait and a more temporary state? If someone is anxious, is it a state or a trait?

States can be assessed with questionnaires as well…

• Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) • Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) - ask questions about current or temporary states - tend to have high validity - if reliable across time = trait?

Person-situation debate continues in personality

The Person-Situation Debate


Do people really behave consistently across situations, or is behavior just determined by the situation? – Consistency within the same kind of situation, – Less consistency across different situations – Self-monitoring is one determinant of consistency




Most psychologists believe that personality and situation interact

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Summary: Conceptualizing and Measuring Personality (1) Traits are a common way to describe personality (2) The “Big Five” are broad dimensions of personality discovered through research (factor analysis) (3) Personality can be measured through self-reports and projective tests (4) These tests can vary in their validity and reliability (5) The Person-Situation Debate requires a consideration of the interaction between the person and the situation

Personality




Conceptualizing Personality Measuring Personality Personality Development – Freud’s Theory

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Freudian Theory: Overview






Major Parts of the Mind Structure of Personality Defense Mechanisms Stages of Psychosexual Development Criticisms of Freudian Theory

Personality: Description vs. Explanation

The Psychodynamic View of the Mind Freud described personality as the result of an internal struggle within the unconscious mind…particularly over drives to satisfy biological needs.

Conscious Mind

Unconscious Mind

* Conscious mind contains things that occupy one’s current attention * Preconscious mind contains things that aren’t currently in consciousness, but can be accessed * Unconscious mind contains memories, urges, and conflicts that are beyond awareness

The structure of personality, according to Freud The ID is governed by biological drives for sex and aggression

SUPER EGO

EGO

- operates on the pleasure principle

ID

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The structure of personality, according to Freud The SUPEREGO is governed by a societal focus on morality - operates on the morality (idealistic) principle

SUPER EGO

EGO

ID

Develops as a result of societal constraints

The structure of personality, according to Freud EGO (self): the referee between the id and the superego

SUPER EGO

- operates on the reality principle

EGO

ID Attempts to satisfy desires of the ID but at the same time address concerns of the Superego.

Defense Mechanisms Part of the ego’s job is to shield us from the id/superego conflict. The ego has various strategies to protect us.

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One strategy is to repress it; to bury it deep in the unconscious. A related option is to deny that it exists altogether.

I’m not interested in dating Rachel. She and I are just good friends.

Another option is to rationalize; to create explanations in attempt to deal with the ID’s desires

I’m not mad that Rachel went to the party without me. I didn’t really want to go anyway.

Another option is to project; to attribute (unacceptable) thoughts to another person

Joey’s the one interested in Rachel — not me. I wish he would just admit it already… jeez

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…and another option is reaction formation; to behave in a way that is counter to how you really feel

We are so over!

Freud would argue that the Id’s sexual and aggressive desires are dealt with in these ways.

Another way the Id deals with unconscious desires (sexual or aggressive) is by disguising them as part of socially acceptable activities: sublimation

Despite these defense mechanisms set up by the ego, the aggressive and sexual desires of the ID escape in several ways

Dreams are a way to fulfill the wishes of the ID without upsetting the superego

Rachel, I want you to know that you’ll always be my breast friend

Desires of the ID may also slip out through “slips of the tongue”

Unconscious conflict may also be manifested in the form of mental illness

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How is adult personality determined?








By how you dealt with conflicts among the ID, EGO, and SUPEREGO during several key points as a child Conflicts, memories, urges in unconscious mind come from experiences in childhood – Emerging sexuality & pleasure are the focus of many stages of development Failure to move through a stage properly leads to fixation – Fixated individuals continue to act in ways appropriate for a much earlier stage

Stages of Psychosexual Development




Oral Stage (first year)




Anal Stage (second year)




Phallic Stage (ages 3-5)




Latency Period (age 5 – puberty)




Genital Stage (puberty – adulthood)

– Weaning – Toilet training – Oedipus/Electra complex

According to Freud, if weaning and toilet training do not go well, the child may become “fixated” at these stages. As a result, these experiences influence the behavior of the person as as an adult.

For example, a child weaned too early may become orally fixated and exhibit behaviors such as smoking, overeating, or nail biting

Someone who experienced conflict during toilet training would become fixated with neatness and orderliness

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Criticisms of Freudian Theory












Sexist Unscientific: – Not falsifiable HOWEVER… Zeitgeist The role of the unconscious mind (e.g., implicit memory) Mental illness can be psychologically as well as physiologically driven Role of childhood Defense mechanisms

Summary: Personality Development According to Freud (1) Freud proposed that we develop our personality through childhood experiences (2) Freud suggested that our personalities are influenced by the ego and the conflict between id and superego during key stages of childhood (3) The ego uses defense mechanisms such as repression, projection, denial, reaction formation, and rationalization. (4) Sublimation, slips of the tongue, and dreams are other ways the unconscious expresses itself

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