THEORIES OF PERSONALITY
§ not proven facts that in the sense that their
INTRODUCTION TO validity has been absolutely established.
§ Testable. Worthless if not. Need not be tested
PERSONALITY THEORY immediately but it must suggest the possibility
that scientists in the future might develop.
What makes a theory useful?
§ Generates research – descriptive; Hypothesis
testing.
§ Is falsifiable – verifiable
§ Organizes data – organizes and integrates.
Shapes bits of information into meaningful
arrangement
§ Guides action – practical and provides
structure for finding answers
§ Internally consistent – components are
compatible and is operationally defined
§ Parsimonious – simple and straightforward
PERSONALITY
§ May refer to a well-known person
PHILOSOPHY
§ May refer to what a person does have or not
§ Means “Love of wisdom”
§ Having the quality of a person as contrasted with
§ It encompasses several branches, one of which
that of a being; a non-person
is epistemology (nature of knowledge)
§ State of being. Emphasis on the individual rather
§ Deals with what ought and should be.
than the collective viewpoint
§ A theory deals with broad sets of if-then
§ Originated from the Latin “persona” which refers
statements but the badness or goodness of
to a theatrical mask worn by roman actors in
outcomes is in the realm of philosophy. However,
Greek dramas.
it is much narrower than a theory.
§ equated to social skill or adroitness
§ consist of the most outstanding or salient
SPECULATION
impression an individual creates in others.
§ These do not flow forth from the mind of a great
thinker.
§ Biosicial – Social stimulus value
§ Mere armchair speculation
§ Biophysical – organic and perceived side
§ Rag-tag/ omnibus – enumeration
HYPOTHESIS
§ Integrative – enumeration
§ Is an educated guess or prediction, specific
§ Adjustment – varied and typical efforts in
enough for its validity to be tested through the
adjusting
use of the scientific method.
§ Uniqueness – individual and distinctive
§ Springs forth from a theory
§ Essence – most representative; what one
actually is
§ Deductive reasoning – general to specific
§ Inductive reasoning – specific to general
Traits – contribute to individual differences in
behavior, consistency of behavior over time and
TAXONOMY
stability of behavior across situations
§ A classification of things according to their
natural relationships
Characteristics – are unique qualities of an
§ Can evolve into a theory when they generate
individual that include such attributes as
testable hypothesis and to explain research
temperaments, physique, and intelligence
findings.
THEORY
THEORIES OF PERSONALITY
§ is a set of related assumptions that allows
§ The field of personality is concerned with
scientists to use logical deductive reasoning to individual differences
formulate testable hypothesis § It always suggests direction for research
§ a single assumption can never fill all the § Helps pull together what we know and suggest
requirements of an adequate theory
how we may discover of what is yet unknown
REZAZA 1
§ not proven facts that in the sense that their
INTRODUCTION TO validity has been absolutely established.
§ Testable. Worthless if not. Need not be tested
PERSONALITY THEORY immediately but it must suggest the possibility
that scientists in the future might develop.
What makes a theory useful?
§ Generates research – descriptive; Hypothesis
testing.
§ Is falsifiable – verifiable
§ Organizes data – organizes and integrates.
Shapes bits of information into meaningful
arrangement
§ Guides action – practical and provides
structure for finding answers
§ Internally consistent – components are
compatible and is operationally defined
§ Parsimonious – simple and straightforward
PERSONALITY
§ May refer to a well-known person
PHILOSOPHY
§ May refer to what a person does have or not
§ Means “Love of wisdom”
§ Having the quality of a person as contrasted with
§ It encompasses several branches, one of which
that of a being; a non-person
is epistemology (nature of knowledge)
§ State of being. Emphasis on the individual rather
§ Deals with what ought and should be.
than the collective viewpoint
§ A theory deals with broad sets of if-then
§ Originated from the Latin “persona” which refers
statements but the badness or goodness of
to a theatrical mask worn by roman actors in
outcomes is in the realm of philosophy. However,
Greek dramas.
it is much narrower than a theory.
§ equated to social skill or adroitness
§ consist of the most outstanding or salient
SPECULATION
impression an individual creates in others.
§ These do not flow forth from the mind of a great
thinker.
§ Biosicial – Social stimulus value
§ Mere armchair speculation
§ Biophysical – organic and perceived side
§ Rag-tag/ omnibus – enumeration
HYPOTHESIS
§ Integrative – enumeration
§ Is an educated guess or prediction, specific
§ Adjustment – varied and typical efforts in
enough for its validity to be tested through the
adjusting
use of the scientific method.
§ Uniqueness – individual and distinctive
§ Springs forth from a theory
§ Essence – most representative; what one
actually is
§ Deductive reasoning – general to specific
§ Inductive reasoning – specific to general
Traits – contribute to individual differences in
behavior, consistency of behavior over time and
TAXONOMY
stability of behavior across situations
§ A classification of things according to their
natural relationships
Characteristics – are unique qualities of an
§ Can evolve into a theory when they generate
individual that include such attributes as
testable hypothesis and to explain research
temperaments, physique, and intelligence
findings.
THEORY
THEORIES OF PERSONALITY
§ is a set of related assumptions that allows
§ The field of personality is concerned with
scientists to use logical deductive reasoning to individual differences
formulate testable hypothesis § It always suggests direction for research
§ a single assumption can never fill all the § Helps pull together what we know and suggest
requirements of an adequate theory
how we may discover of what is yet unknown
REZAZA 1
