Trait theorists suggest that individuals have certain characteristics that tend to remain stable over time and appear in many situations. These theorists suggest individual traits to be the unit of analysis. They aim to determine which traits occur together and their specific patterns of organization within individuals.

Trait Theories

The psychoanalytic approach focuses on the unconscious mind and internal conflict. Mainly described by Freud and Erikson, this approach is motivated by the need to satisfy basic drives.  This approach also emphasizes the importance of early childhood experiences, as they impact different aspects of development over time.

Theory of Psychoanalytic Approach

The phenomenological approach focuses on the conscious experiences of the individual. It also emphasizes awareness and free will.

Theory of Phenomenological Approach

He is the Father of Humanism, which is heavily focusing on normal development rather than abnormal behaviors. 

Maslow's Theory of Personality

The study of personality has a long history, with early theories contributed by figures like Hippocrates and Galen. In the modern era, foundational work was done by theorists such as Sigmund Freud, Abraham Maslow, and Gordon Allport, who each attempted to explain how personality develops from their unique perspectives, paving the way for later theoretical approaches.

Historical Perspectives on Personality

The cultural perspective considers culture to be one of the most important environmental factors in shaping personality. It explores how both universal and culture-specific elements contribute to personality development and diversity, questioning the universal applicability of theories developed in a single cultural context, such as the West.

Cultural Perspective in Personality

Neo-Freudians were a group of theorists who followed Sigmund Freud but adapted his ideas to develop new personality theories. While they concurred with Freud on the significance of childhood experiences, they shifted the focus away from sexual drives, placing greater emphasis on the influence of social and cultural factors on personality development.

Neo-Freudians and Personality

Humanism is a highly influential perspective in psychology that focuses on the growth potential of healthy individuals and their innate capacity for good. Championed by key figures like Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers, this approach posits that people are driven by a desire for self-actualization. It highlights concepts such as free will and self-determination, asserting that individuals actively strive to become the best version of themselves, which has significantly contributed to the psychological understanding of the self.

Humanism in Psychology

The evolutionary perspective on personality examines how both universal human traits and individual differences have evolved as adaptations. This view posits that these personality characteristics provided survival and reproductive advantages in ancestral environments. It explores why certain traits are common across cultures and why heritable individual variations persist.

Evolutionary Perspective on Personality

This video provides a summary of several psychological perspectives on personality, offering a broad introduction to the topic.

Video Overview of Personality Perspectives

This theoretical framework examines personality through the lenses of learning and cognition. It encompasses behaviorist views, which see personality as shaped by environmental reinforcements and consequences, as well as cognitive and social-cognitive views, which emphasize the role of mental processes like thoughts, beliefs, and social observation in personality development.

Learning and Cognitive Perspectives on Personality

The biological approach to personality suggests that inherited predispositions and physiological processes are foundational to individual differences. While genetics are believed to largely control certain personality aspects, this perspective also acknowledges that environmental factors, such as family interactions, and the process of maturation can influence how these genetic tendencies are ultimately expressed.

Biological Approach to Personality

Research into the connections between personality and other factors has led to the identification and study of Type A and Type B personality classifications. These concepts are often explored in relation to stress, health, and lifestyle.

Type A and Type B Personalities

Consider the case of Alex, a university student who consistently procrastinates on important assignments and experiences significant anxiety in social situations. Analyze Alex's behavior from two different theoretical viewpoints: the psychodynamic perspective and the learning perspective. How would each perspective explain the root causes of Alex's actions?

Analyzing Personality Through Different Lenses

Following early historical views, Sigmund Freud's psychodynamic perspective became a foundational modern theory, emphasizing the role of early childhood experiences. Subsequently, many other major theoretical perspectives emerged, often in reaction to the psychodynamic approach. These include the learning, humanistic, biological, trait, and cultural perspectives, each offering a different lens through which to understand personality.

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Personality psychology is the branch of psychology that focuses on the unique patterns of thoughts and behaviors that distinguish one individual from another. A central goal of this field is to understand and explain how an individual's personality develops over time.

Personality Psychology

Personality encompasses the enduring and unique set of traits and patterns that cause an individual to consistently think, feel, and behave in specific ways. It defines how a person interacts with the world and is generally considered to be long-term, stable, and resistant to change.

Personality

Personality development describes changes in personality over time and across the lifespan. 

Personality Development 

Setterlund, M., Feshbach, S., Weiner B., & Bohart A. (2019). Personality. United States of America: Academic Media Solutions.

Personality 5th Edition

Funder, D. C. (2019). The personality puzzle. New York, NY: W. W. Norton &amp; Company.

The Personality Puzzle

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

Disorder Class: Disruptive, Impulse-Control, and Conduct Disorders

A repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior in which the basic rights of others or major age-appropriate societal norms or rules are violated, as manifested by the presence of three (or more) of the following criteria in the past 12 months from any of the categories below, with at least one criterion present in the past 6 months:
1. Aggression to people and  animals
2. Destruction of property
3. Deceitfulness or theft
4. Serious violations of rules
 
The disturbance in behavior causes clinically significant impairment in social, academic, or occupational functioning.
 
If the individual is age 18 years or older, criteria are not met for Antisocial Personality Disorder
 
Specify age onset:  Individuals show at least one symptom characteristic of conduct disorder prior to age 10 years

[DSM-5] Conduct Disorder Criteria

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is primarily defined by a pervasive pattern of instability across interpersonal relationships, self-image, and mood, combined with significant impulsivity. Individuals with this disorder often experience intense emotions and may engage in frantic behaviors to manage their profound fear of abandonment.

Borderline Personality Disorder

A personality disorder is defined by a pervasive and inflexible personality style that significantly deviates from cultural norms, causing problems for the individual and for others. This pattern typically emerges during adolescence or early adulthood and leads to significant distress or functional impairment.

Personality Disorders

Identity relates to things that we hold to be our most basic sense of self (e.g. goals, values, gender, and social roles). It involves a sense of continuity in our lives and helps take action for the future. Identity is one's definition of who they are. 

Aspects of Identity

Personality judgements occur when someone draws conclusions about an individual based on behaviors. These judgements may impact opportunities and expectancies for the target individual. 

Personality Judgements

Personality stability describes the belief that people generally maintain their personality and behaviors throughout life. 

Personality Stability

Theories of Personality

How personality affects an individual's behavior in an educational setting, thereby influencing their learning experience.

Personality Psychology in Education

- Organizations
- Books
- Journal Articles
-  Websites

References for Personality Psychology

Pathoplastic relationship is a term that describes a bidirectional relationship between psychopathology and personality in which they impact each other’s appearance, presentation, or expression. This means that the appearance of personality can be influenced by the existence of a psychopathology, and the psychopathology’s appearance can also differ depending on an individual’s personality traits. 

Pathoplastic Relationships

Personality psychologists can analyze several types of data to draw conclusions and test hypotheses.

 Common forms of data collection include:

- Self Reports

- Informant Reports

- Life Outcomes

- Behavioral Observations

Sources for Data in Personality Psychology

Important figures in personality psychology include: 
- Albert Bandura
- Julian Rotter
- Alfred Adler
- Erik Erikson
- Carl Jung
- Karen Horney
- Albert Bandura
- Julian Rotter
- Walter Mischel
- Abraham Maslow
- Carl Rogers
- Hans and Sybil Eysenck
- Raymond Cattell
- Gordon Allport

Important Figures in Personality Psychology

Carl Gustav Jung developed a "Neo-Freudian" theory surrounding Personalities. He describes the Psyche as the main part of his theory, with four different aspects going into it. First is the Psychic Energy, also known as “Libido.” Next, is the principle of opposites, followed by the principle of equivalence. Finally, there is the principle of entropy.

Jung's Theory of Personality

Reference for Pathoplastic Relationships 

A personality trait is a relatively consistent and enduring pattern of thought and behavior that an individual exhibits across various situations and throughout their lifespan. Modern personality research focuses on identifying and measuring these traits to predict behavior.

Personality Trait

The term 'personality' originates from the Latin word 'persona.' In the ancient world, a persona was a theatrical mask used by an actor not to conceal their identity, but rather to represent or project a specific character trait.

Etymology of Personality

From the perspective of a psychologist studying personality, what is the primary flaw in the classmate's conclusion? Explain your reasoning.

Analyzing Behavioral Patterns

What is personality?

Causes of Personality Change:
-  Psychotherapy 
-  General Interventions (ex: school programs such as DEI, employment preparation, and home visits)
-  Targeted Intervention (ex: meditation, self-affirmations, etc.)
-  Life Experiences (ex: regular exercise, drugs, etc.)
-  Overcoming Obstacles (ex: becoming more conscientiousness to do better in school) 

Causes of Personality Change

These claims serve as a guide for future research in personality development. Each principle explains how personality remains stable or how it changes over time. 

Principles of Continuity:
-  Cumulative Continuity Principle
-  Role Continuity Principle
-  Identity Development Principle
-  Corresponsive Principle


Principles of Change: 
-  Maturity Principle
-  Plasticity Principle
-  Social Investment Principle


Principles of Personality Change and Continuity 

Read the following scenario. Based on your understanding of how personality can evolve, analyze the key factors that likely contributed to the changes in Alex's personality from adolescence to adulthood.

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