Personality Theory and the Nature of Human Nature Robert Hogan
Personality Theory and The Nature of Human Nature Robert Hogan & Ryne A. Sherman Hogan Assessment Systems Pre-print under review for special issue at Personality and Individual Differences Abstract This overview of modern personality theory makes six points. First, personality theory is crucial for understanding life. Second, life is largely about competition. Third, there is competition within groups for individual status, and there is competition between groups for collective survival. Fourth, academic psychology focuses on within group competition, but between group competition can be more consequential. Fifth, successful within group competition depends on social skill; successful between group competition depends on leadership. And finally, personality determines/explains the outcome of both forms of competition. Personality Theory and The Nature of Human Nature People are the deadliest invasive species in the history of the earth. People have the potential to kill every living thing and, in certain instances have already done so (e.g., passenger pigeons, western black rhinoceros, great auk) or are on their way to doing so (e.g., sea turtles, elephants, tigers, polar bears). Given their frightful potential and world-wide presence, it would be useful to know something about people. Personality psychology is the “go-to” discipline for understanding people; personality psychology is the only discipline whose primary focus is the nature of human nature. What does personality psychology tell us about human nature? The answer depends on whom you ask; or more precisely, to which theory of personality you subscribe. Modern personality psychology began in Vienna at the end of the 19th century, where an amazing flowering of human creativity brought revolutions in a wide variety of fields including architecture, music, physics, medicine, music, painting, literature, economics, and especially philosophy.
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