<p> Personality Theories -- Summary</p><p>Personality theories vary on the following dimensions: key idea source of personality number of personalities behavioral consistency can personality change? importance of phenomenal (subjective, self-created) world? innateness Type Theory key: personality taxonomy (biol. species) source: ? number: a few consistency: yes change: no subjective? no innate? often yes example: Sheldon’s somatotypes Trait Theory key: overt personality is the product of a combination of underlying factors source: underlying factors number: many consistency: yes change: no subjective? no innate? ----- example: “Big 5” Psychoanalytic Theory key: Pers. depends on family dynamics source: underlying struggles between id, ego, superego and resolution number: few types consistency: yes change: difficult, requires therapy, catharsis, insight subjective? no innate? no, interaction Learning Theory key: there is no such thing as personality source: environmental “contingencies” (rewards and punishments) number: infinite consitency: no change: yes, when reinforcement contingencies change subjective? no innate? no Humanistic Theory key: self-concept: we seek (motive) self-enhancement, self-actualization, growth. Unconditional positive regard promote... conditions of worth stunt... growth. “Adjustment” = congruence between self concept and experience source: human nature + reactions of those around us (like Freud) number: infinite consistency: yes change: yes, growth (like flower) is possible. subjective? yes, one’s interpretation of events is crucial innate? no, interaction examples: Rogers, Maslow’s hierarchy Cognitive Theory key: All perception involves an interpretation; our behaviors are guided by our expectations. We live in and react to a “phenomenal” world. Reciprocal determinism: our self-concept and perceptions shape our actions which influence our perceptions and self-concept! source: internal interpretations number: infinite consistency: depends on perceptions change: when perceptions change subjective? yes innate? mixed examples: Belief systems, self-talk, locus of control, self-efficacy Biological Theory key: personalities are “wired in”. source: genes number: infinite consistency: yes change: no subjective? ?? innate? yes example: Minnesota twin study </p>