Psy 405 - Theories of Personality

Personality Overview

Jory Newman

PSY/405 Theories of Personality

March 11, 2013

Angela Snelling

Personality Overview

Introduction

As one begins to study personality there are several theories that can be used. One must keep in mind that each theory is based personal points of view from each theorist. The view of personality is an individual perception and although some traits/characteristics maybe alike no one person is the same. Two theories of personality within psychology are Individual and Psychoanalysis theories. For each theory there are strengths and limitations and knowing what they are will help in understanding each idea as it relates to personality. There are likes and differences that can be examined within each theory as it relates to basic assumptions, deterministic verses free will, and awareness of self.

Psychoanalysis

Freud based his psychoanalysis theory "on his experiences with patients, his analysis of his own dreams, and his vast readings in the various sciences and humanities" (Feist & Feist 2009) (pg. 17). This theory explores the unconscious mind and how people are motivated by drives they are unaware of. Within the unconscious mind there is the ego, id, and superego which according to this theory play a major role in personality. The ego is the component of personality that blocks the pressure of the id, superego, and truth. The ego can help avoid one from behaving off their basic instincts and it works to create a balance between an individual's moral and ideal values. The id is constructed of thoughts that one is unaware that please main impulses, wants and needs. The superego is the element of personality self-possessed of one's internal thoughts that have been learned from parents and society. Another aspect of this theory is a person's actions are based on drives, aggression, and anxiety. The limitations of this theory are that it stresses the unconscious mind, drive, aggression, and anxiety with childhood experiences and many ideas cannot be measured. The strength of this is theory helped contribute to experimental psychology and it also opened doors for many psychologist to help individuals with mental illnesses.

Individual

Alfred Alder once accompanied Freud in sessions on psychoanalytical conversations. Unlike Freud he believed that people were not motivated by drives they were unaware of but by social interest. Within this theory Alder based his perception of personality on six key concepts striving for success or superiority, subjective perceptions, unified and self-consistent, social interest, style of life, and creative power. Looking at each concept individually, striving for success or superiority can be described as one's willingness to achieve their goals because of social interest. Subjective perceptions can described as the reason people strive for success based on their sense of reality. Unified and self-consistent can be described as one's ability to shape their personality. Social interest can be described as shaping personality based on the perspective of social interest. Style of life can be described as personality develops through an individual's life style. Creative power can be described as the ability that one has to create their life style which shapes personality. The limitations to this theory are

Basic underlying assumptions

"Psychoanalysis basic underlying assumptions are psychological problems are rooted in the unconscious mind. Manifest symptoms are caused by latent (hidden) disturbances. Typical causes include unresolved issues during development or repressed trauma"