Theories of Personality
THEO211 || A.Y. 2024-2025
Chapter 1: Introduction to Personality Theory Theory vs. Taxonomy:
● Taxonomy - is a system for classifying things based on
Persona - a theatrical mask worn by Roman actors in Greek dramas their natural relationships.
Personality Perspectives in Theories of Personality
● a pattern of relatively permanent traits and Psychodynamic Theories:
characteristics that give both consistency and ● These theories, starting with Freud, focus on how early
individuality to a person's behavior childhood experiences and relationships with parents
shape our personality. They emphasize the unconscious
Personality ● Pattern of relatively permanent traits and mind—things we’re not fully aware of—as a powerful
unique characteristics. influence on behavior. Originally, dream analysis was used
● Gives consistency and individuality to a to explore these hidden thoughts and feelings.
person's behavior.
Humanistic-Existential Theories:
Traits ● Contribute to individual differences in ● This approach, also known as positive psychology,
behavior. believes people naturally strive for meaning, growth,
● Ensure consistency of behavior over time and happiness, and mental health. It focuses on positive
across situations.
emotions but also acknowledges that negative
● Can be unique to an individual, common
experiences, like anxiety or loss, are a natural part of life
within a group, or shared by the entire
species. and can lead to personal growth.
● The specific pattern of traits is different for
each person, making everyone unique. Dispositional Theories:
● These theories argue that our personality is made up of
Characteris ● Unique qualities of an individual.
long-term tendencies, called traits, like being outgoing or
tics ● Include attributes like temperament,
anxious. There are five main trait dimensions that help
physique, and intelligence.
predict how people are likely to behave.
● Dispositional Theories say that our personality is built
Theory from specific traits (like being shy or confident) that tend
to stay the same over time and influence how we act.
● A scientific theory is a set of related assumptions that
allows scientists to use logical deductive reasoning to Biological-Evolutionary Theories:
formulate testable hypotheses.
● This perspective suggests that our thoughts, behaviors,
and personality are influenced by our genetics and brain
In Theories of Personality:
chemistry. It also highlights that our personality has been
● What is the personality
shaped over time by evolution, and that both our biology
● How to predict the personality
(nature) and environment (nurture) work together to
● Why has his/her personality become the way it is?
make us who we are.
Theory and Its Relatives
Learning-(Social) Cognitive Theories:
Theory vs. Philosophy: ● These theories focus on behavior itself, arguing that all
behaviors are learned through experiences, like rewards
● A theory is related to philosophy but is more focused.
or punishments. The cognitive side adds that how we
● Philosophy - love of wisdom
think about ourselves and others, and how we solve
problems, is key to understanding our personality. Our
Theory vs. Speculation:
beliefs about what we can do also influence our behavior
● Theories involve some speculation (educated guessing), and personality.
but they are grounded in actual observations and data.
● Speculations - closely tied to empirically gathered data
and to science
Theory vs. Hypothesis:
● Hypothesis - educated guess
prepared by: cybct
, Theories of Personality
THEO211 || A.Y. 2024-2025
What Makes a Theory Useful? Reliability
● of a measuring instrument is the extent to which it yields
consistent results. Personality inventories may be reliable
Generates A good theory should create new ideas for
and yet lack validity or accuracy.
Research research and experiments. These new studies
help confirm or adjust the theory and lead to
Validity
more discoveries.
● is the degree to which an instrument measures what it is
supposed to mea- sure.
Falsifiable A theory must be clear enough to be proven
○ Personality assessment tools must be reliable
wrong through tests. If it’s too vague, it can’t be
(consistent results) and valid (accurately
tested effectively, making it less useful.
measure what they intend to). Two key types of
validity are construct validity (the tool measures
Organizes A useful theory should arrange and make sense
Data the intended hypothetical construct) and
of research data. It helps to connect findings
predictive validity (the tool predicts future
and guide further investigation.
behavior).
Guides A good theory should offer practical advice for
Action solving real-world problems. It should help Chapter 2: Freud’s Psychoanalysis
people in various fields, like therapy or
education, make informed decisions. Sigmund Freud
Internally A theory needs to be logically sound within ● postulated the primacy of sex and aggression -two
Consistent itself. It should not contradict its own concepts universally popular themes,
and must use clear, consistent terms. ● attracted a group of followers who were dedicated to
spreading psychoanalytic doctrine
Parsimonious The simplest theory that effectively meets all ● advanced the notion of unconscious motives, which
the above criteria is preferred. It should avoid permit varying explanations for the same observations
unnecessary complexity and focus on ● Born on either Mar or May 6, 1856 in Freiberg, Moravia
straightforward explanations. ● Favorite child of his mother
● Wishes death for his younger brother
● Death: cardiac arrest due to nicotine overdose
Dimensions for a Concept of Humanity
Jean-Martin Charcot
Determinism vs. Free Choice
● learned the hypnotic technique for treating hysteria
● Do people’s behaviors result from forces beyond their
○ Hysteria - a disorder typically characterized by
control, or can they choose their own paths?
paralysis or the improper functioning of certain
parts of the body
Pessimism vs. Optimism
● Female hysteria - “wandering womb”
● Are people generally doomed to struggle and be unhappy,
or can they grow into healthy and happy individuals?
Josef Breuer
Causality vs. Teleology ● best known for his work with Anna O
● Is behavior explained by past experiences (causality) or ● Breuer taught Freud about catharsis
future goals (teleology)? ○ the process of removing hysterical symptoms
through “talking them out.”
Conscious vs. Unconscious Determinants ● Freud discovered the free association technique
● Are people aware of their behaviors and motivations, or
are unconscious forces at play? Basic Tenets
Biological vs. Social Influences ● Human personality and behavior are significantly
● Are behaviors shaped more by biological factors or social influenced by early childhood relationships.
relationships? ● Humans are mainly pleasure seeking beings driven by
sexual and aggressive instincts
Uniqueness vs. Similarities
● Should personality theory focus on what makes
individuals unique or what they share in common?
prepared by: cybct
, Theories of Personality
THEO211 || A.Y. 2024-2025
Levels of Mental Life Superego
● Morality and Idealistic Principle
Unconscious ● represents the moral and ideal aspects of personality
● contains all those drives, urges, or instincts that are
beyond our awareness but that nevertheless motivate
Conscience What we should not do
most of our words, feelings, and actions.
● Phylogenetic Endowment - a portion of our unconscious
Ego-ideal What we should do
originates from the experiences of our early ancestors
that have been passed on to us through hundreds of
generations of repetition. A healthy individual must have a strong ego that can deal with the
demands of id and superego.
Preconscious
● contains all those elements that are not conscious but can Dynamics of Personality
become conscious either quite readily or with some
difficulty Drives
● Trieb - (German) a drive or stimulus within a person
Conscious ● His translators rendered the term instinct,
● defined as those mental elements in awareness at any ● Every basic drive is characterized by an impetus, a
given point in time source, an aim, and an object.
● It is the only level of mental life directly available to us
● Perceptual Conscious System - which is turned toward
Sex ● A constant motivational force
the outer world and acts as a medium for the perception
● Sexual drive - Freud believed that the
of external stimuli. What we perceive through our sense
entire body is invested with libido
organs, if not threatening, enters into consciousness
(energy for sexual drive) especially in the
erogenous zones.
Provinces of the Mind ● Erogenous Zones - mouth, anus
● Narcissism, love, sadism, masochism
Id
● The Pleasure Principle Aggression ● The destructive instinct aims to return a
● At the core of personality and completely unconscious is person to an inorganic state, but it is
the psychical region called the id, a term derived from the ordinarily directed against other people
impersonal pronoun meaning "the it," or the not-yet ● Can be expressed via teasing, gossip,
owned component of personality. sarcasm, humiliation, humor and
● No Contact with reality enjoyment of other people's suffering
● Illogical, primitive, chaotic, inaccessible ● Thanatos - Death drive
Ego Anxiety
● The Reality Principle ● A felt, affective, unpleasant state accompanied by a
● The ego, or I, is the only region of the mind in contact physical sensation that warns the person against
with reality impending danger.
● It grows out of the id during infancy and becomes a
person's sole source of communication with the external Neurotic ● stems from the ego’s relation with the id
world. Anxiety apprehension about an unknown danger
● When performing its cognitive and intellectual functions,
the ego must take into consideration the incompatible Moral ● is similar to guilt and results from the ego’s
but equally unrealistic demands of the id and the Anxiety relation with the superego
superego. In addition to these two tyrants, the ego must
serve a third master- the external world. Realistic ● which is similar to fear, is produced by the
● The great reconciler, the diplomat and employs defense Anxiety ego’s relation with the real world
mechanisms (like repression)
prepared by: cybct
THEO211 || A.Y. 2024-2025
Chapter 1: Introduction to Personality Theory Theory vs. Taxonomy:
● Taxonomy - is a system for classifying things based on
Persona - a theatrical mask worn by Roman actors in Greek dramas their natural relationships.
Personality Perspectives in Theories of Personality
● a pattern of relatively permanent traits and Psychodynamic Theories:
characteristics that give both consistency and ● These theories, starting with Freud, focus on how early
individuality to a person's behavior childhood experiences and relationships with parents
shape our personality. They emphasize the unconscious
Personality ● Pattern of relatively permanent traits and mind—things we’re not fully aware of—as a powerful
unique characteristics. influence on behavior. Originally, dream analysis was used
● Gives consistency and individuality to a to explore these hidden thoughts and feelings.
person's behavior.
Humanistic-Existential Theories:
Traits ● Contribute to individual differences in ● This approach, also known as positive psychology,
behavior. believes people naturally strive for meaning, growth,
● Ensure consistency of behavior over time and happiness, and mental health. It focuses on positive
across situations.
emotions but also acknowledges that negative
● Can be unique to an individual, common
experiences, like anxiety or loss, are a natural part of life
within a group, or shared by the entire
species. and can lead to personal growth.
● The specific pattern of traits is different for
each person, making everyone unique. Dispositional Theories:
● These theories argue that our personality is made up of
Characteris ● Unique qualities of an individual.
long-term tendencies, called traits, like being outgoing or
tics ● Include attributes like temperament,
anxious. There are five main trait dimensions that help
physique, and intelligence.
predict how people are likely to behave.
● Dispositional Theories say that our personality is built
Theory from specific traits (like being shy or confident) that tend
to stay the same over time and influence how we act.
● A scientific theory is a set of related assumptions that
allows scientists to use logical deductive reasoning to Biological-Evolutionary Theories:
formulate testable hypotheses.
● This perspective suggests that our thoughts, behaviors,
and personality are influenced by our genetics and brain
In Theories of Personality:
chemistry. It also highlights that our personality has been
● What is the personality
shaped over time by evolution, and that both our biology
● How to predict the personality
(nature) and environment (nurture) work together to
● Why has his/her personality become the way it is?
make us who we are.
Theory and Its Relatives
Learning-(Social) Cognitive Theories:
Theory vs. Philosophy: ● These theories focus on behavior itself, arguing that all
behaviors are learned through experiences, like rewards
● A theory is related to philosophy but is more focused.
or punishments. The cognitive side adds that how we
● Philosophy - love of wisdom
think about ourselves and others, and how we solve
problems, is key to understanding our personality. Our
Theory vs. Speculation:
beliefs about what we can do also influence our behavior
● Theories involve some speculation (educated guessing), and personality.
but they are grounded in actual observations and data.
● Speculations - closely tied to empirically gathered data
and to science
Theory vs. Hypothesis:
● Hypothesis - educated guess
prepared by: cybct
, Theories of Personality
THEO211 || A.Y. 2024-2025
What Makes a Theory Useful? Reliability
● of a measuring instrument is the extent to which it yields
consistent results. Personality inventories may be reliable
Generates A good theory should create new ideas for
and yet lack validity or accuracy.
Research research and experiments. These new studies
help confirm or adjust the theory and lead to
Validity
more discoveries.
● is the degree to which an instrument measures what it is
supposed to mea- sure.
Falsifiable A theory must be clear enough to be proven
○ Personality assessment tools must be reliable
wrong through tests. If it’s too vague, it can’t be
(consistent results) and valid (accurately
tested effectively, making it less useful.
measure what they intend to). Two key types of
validity are construct validity (the tool measures
Organizes A useful theory should arrange and make sense
Data the intended hypothetical construct) and
of research data. It helps to connect findings
predictive validity (the tool predicts future
and guide further investigation.
behavior).
Guides A good theory should offer practical advice for
Action solving real-world problems. It should help Chapter 2: Freud’s Psychoanalysis
people in various fields, like therapy or
education, make informed decisions. Sigmund Freud
Internally A theory needs to be logically sound within ● postulated the primacy of sex and aggression -two
Consistent itself. It should not contradict its own concepts universally popular themes,
and must use clear, consistent terms. ● attracted a group of followers who were dedicated to
spreading psychoanalytic doctrine
Parsimonious The simplest theory that effectively meets all ● advanced the notion of unconscious motives, which
the above criteria is preferred. It should avoid permit varying explanations for the same observations
unnecessary complexity and focus on ● Born on either Mar or May 6, 1856 in Freiberg, Moravia
straightforward explanations. ● Favorite child of his mother
● Wishes death for his younger brother
● Death: cardiac arrest due to nicotine overdose
Dimensions for a Concept of Humanity
Jean-Martin Charcot
Determinism vs. Free Choice
● learned the hypnotic technique for treating hysteria
● Do people’s behaviors result from forces beyond their
○ Hysteria - a disorder typically characterized by
control, or can they choose their own paths?
paralysis or the improper functioning of certain
parts of the body
Pessimism vs. Optimism
● Female hysteria - “wandering womb”
● Are people generally doomed to struggle and be unhappy,
or can they grow into healthy and happy individuals?
Josef Breuer
Causality vs. Teleology ● best known for his work with Anna O
● Is behavior explained by past experiences (causality) or ● Breuer taught Freud about catharsis
future goals (teleology)? ○ the process of removing hysterical symptoms
through “talking them out.”
Conscious vs. Unconscious Determinants ● Freud discovered the free association technique
● Are people aware of their behaviors and motivations, or
are unconscious forces at play? Basic Tenets
Biological vs. Social Influences ● Human personality and behavior are significantly
● Are behaviors shaped more by biological factors or social influenced by early childhood relationships.
relationships? ● Humans are mainly pleasure seeking beings driven by
sexual and aggressive instincts
Uniqueness vs. Similarities
● Should personality theory focus on what makes
individuals unique or what they share in common?
prepared by: cybct
, Theories of Personality
THEO211 || A.Y. 2024-2025
Levels of Mental Life Superego
● Morality and Idealistic Principle
Unconscious ● represents the moral and ideal aspects of personality
● contains all those drives, urges, or instincts that are
beyond our awareness but that nevertheless motivate
Conscience What we should not do
most of our words, feelings, and actions.
● Phylogenetic Endowment - a portion of our unconscious
Ego-ideal What we should do
originates from the experiences of our early ancestors
that have been passed on to us through hundreds of
generations of repetition. A healthy individual must have a strong ego that can deal with the
demands of id and superego.
Preconscious
● contains all those elements that are not conscious but can Dynamics of Personality
become conscious either quite readily or with some
difficulty Drives
● Trieb - (German) a drive or stimulus within a person
Conscious ● His translators rendered the term instinct,
● defined as those mental elements in awareness at any ● Every basic drive is characterized by an impetus, a
given point in time source, an aim, and an object.
● It is the only level of mental life directly available to us
● Perceptual Conscious System - which is turned toward
Sex ● A constant motivational force
the outer world and acts as a medium for the perception
● Sexual drive - Freud believed that the
of external stimuli. What we perceive through our sense
entire body is invested with libido
organs, if not threatening, enters into consciousness
(energy for sexual drive) especially in the
erogenous zones.
Provinces of the Mind ● Erogenous Zones - mouth, anus
● Narcissism, love, sadism, masochism
Id
● The Pleasure Principle Aggression ● The destructive instinct aims to return a
● At the core of personality and completely unconscious is person to an inorganic state, but it is
the psychical region called the id, a term derived from the ordinarily directed against other people
impersonal pronoun meaning "the it," or the not-yet ● Can be expressed via teasing, gossip,
owned component of personality. sarcasm, humiliation, humor and
● No Contact with reality enjoyment of other people's suffering
● Illogical, primitive, chaotic, inaccessible ● Thanatos - Death drive
Ego Anxiety
● The Reality Principle ● A felt, affective, unpleasant state accompanied by a
● The ego, or I, is the only region of the mind in contact physical sensation that warns the person against
with reality impending danger.
● It grows out of the id during infancy and becomes a
person's sole source of communication with the external Neurotic ● stems from the ego’s relation with the id
world. Anxiety apprehension about an unknown danger
● When performing its cognitive and intellectual functions,
the ego must take into consideration the incompatible Moral ● is similar to guilt and results from the ego’s
but equally unrealistic demands of the id and the Anxiety relation with the superego
superego. In addition to these two tyrants, the ego must
serve a third master- the external world. Realistic ● which is similar to fear, is produced by the
● The great reconciler, the diplomat and employs defense Anxiety ego’s relation with the real world
mechanisms (like repression)
prepared by: cybct
