11.2 and .3 Humanistic and Trait Personality Theories

1. 11.2 and .3Humanistic and Trait Personality Theories

2. Evaluating Psychodynamic Theories • Culture(era)-bound ideas • Freud made no connection between women’s subordinate status in society and their sense of inferiority • Psychodymanic theories are largely untestable in any scientific way • Based on recollection in Freud’s case, memories are faulty • Some studies to prove that trauma in the stages of development can lead to depression later in life etc but not universal

3. Warm Up-Humanism Write 5 adjectives that describe your personality.

4. Assessing Are these traits who you think you are or who you want to be for others or to be successful? Do you do activities to fulfill these self concepts?

5. Humanistic Personality Theories Humanistic personality theory- fundamental goodness of people and their constant striving toward higher levels of functioning Does not dwell on past occurrences, but rather focuses on the present and future Stresses people’s potential for growth and change Emphasizes personal responsibility

6. Carl Rogers • Actualizing tendency- the drive of every organism to fulfill its biological potential and become what it is inherently capable of becoming • Humans also have a self-actualizing tendency- the drive of human’s to fulfill their self-concepts • Self-concept- images they have of themselves • If you see yourself as “intelligent” you will strive to live up to that image of yourself. • Unconditional positive regard-Acceptance of another regardless of person’s behavior • Conditional positive regard-Acceptance is dependent upon certain ways of behaving

7. But…. If you lose sight of your inborn potential you become constricted, rigid, and defensive As well as threatened, anxious, and uneasy Conditional positive regard can make a person want to live up to the expectations of others not their own self-concept

8. Evaluating Humanistic Theories • The basic tenets of humanistic theory are difficult to test scientifically • How do you know if someone reached their potential? • Some view these theories as overly optimistic and that they ignore the nature of human evil • Some argue that humanistic view lead to narcissism and self-centeredness because you are focusing on your self-concept

9. Trait Theories • Personality traits- dimensions or characteristics on or in which people differ in distinctive ways • People differ on personality traits such as dependency, aggressiveness, or anxiety • The “Big Five” traits currently thought to be central to describing personality • Extroversion • Agreeableness • Conscientiousness • Emotional stability • Culture, intellect, openness

10. Factor analysis a statistical technique that identifies groups of related objects used to identify trait clusters by Cattell

11. Are the “Big Five” Traits Universal? Evidence point to the presence of the big five traits across cultures Findings suggest a genetic basis for traits based on presence in some animals

12. Questions? • Is personality inherited? • Read 437 “On Cutting Edge” • How stable is personality over time?

13. Evaluating Trait Theories • Unlike some other theories, trait theories can be studied scientifically • But….. • Traits merely descriptive • Traits represent statistical averages of populations rather than individuals • Disagreement over minimum number of traits needed to fully describe variety of human behavior • Could discount cultural, ethnic, racial, gender diversity

14. Activity In groups create a concept map detailing the “Big 5” and the 30 related facets. PAGE 435 Title: Trait Theory: Big 5 Concept Map Locus: Personality