New/old Freud logo slide

Nature vs. Nurture?Nature vs. Nurture?A ‘human nature’?A ‘human nature’?Is personality real or a construct?Is personality real or a construct?What motivates us?What motivates us?Conscious vs unconscious?Conscious vs unconscious?Group vs individual?Group vs individual?

Nomothetic vs.Nomothetic vs.idiographicidiographic

More global and generalMore global and general

Long history of interestLong history of interest

Many large-scale theoriesMany large-scale theories

Theories don’t guide researchTheories don’t guide research

Theories generated/tested Theories generated/tested differentlydifferently

Theorists clinicians, not scientistsTheorists clinicians, not scientists

Influenced by theorist’s personalityInfluenced by theorist’s personality

Study of personality divided Study of personality divided into into theoreticaltheoretical and and empiricalempirical (a-theoretical) approaches.(a-theoretical) approaches.Theories difficult to test:Theories difficult to test:

Postdictive, not predictivePostdictive, not predictiveVague, abstract conceptsVague, abstract concepts

““a characteristic pattern of thoughts and a characteristic pattern of thoughts and behaviors that make us uniquebehaviors that make us unique” (Kluckhorn ” (Kluckhorn & Murray, 1953)& Murray, 1953)

Based on ‘persona’Based on ‘persona’

Personality studies the variety and Personality studies the variety and consistency in human conduct:consistency in human conduct:

like every human beinglike every human beinglike some human beingslike some human beingslike no other human beinglike no other human being

Hypothetical constructs

ConstructConstruct ConstructConstruct

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Type Approach:Type Approach:

The Four The Four HumoursHumoursThe Four The Four HumoursHumours

Limited number of distinct Limited number of distinct personality typespersonality types

Emphasis on biological bases of Emphasis on biological bases of personalitypersonality

Oldest approachOldest approach

BloodBlood

Yellow Yellow BileBile

Black Black BileBile

PhlegmPhlegm

HippocratesHippocrates GalenGalen

Trait Approach:Trait Approach:

Personality = internal Personality = internal characteristics and tendenciescharacteristics and tendencies

Emphasis on biological factorsEmphasis on biological factors

Say little about developmentSay little about development

Behaviorist Approach:Behaviorist Approach:

Personality = consistent Personality = consistent patterns of behaviorpatterns of behavior

Emphasized experience and Emphasized experience and learninglearning

Influenced by Watson, SkinnerInfluenced by Watson, Skinner

Cognitive Approach:Cognitive Approach:Personality = style of information Personality = style of information selection & processingselection & processing

Emphasis on memory, thinking, Emphasis on memory, thinking, problem-solving, language use.problem-solving, language use.

Cognition can be potentially Cognition can be potentially replicated on a computer.replicated on a computer.

Evolutionary Psychology Approach:Evolutionary Psychology Approach:Emphasizes biological bases of Emphasizes biological bases of personalitypersonality

Focus on adaptive function of Focus on adaptive function of personality through evolutionpersonality through evolution

Growing in influence in the fieldGrowing in influence in the field

Psychoanalytic/psychodynamic approachs:Psychoanalytic/psychodynamic approachs:Emphasis on unconscious, Emphasis on unconscious,

emotional conflictemotional conflictEmphasis on early experienceEmphasis on early experienceBehavior and symptoms are Behavior and symptoms are

symbolicsymbolicBased on case studies, clinical Based on case studies, clinical

evidenceevidence

Humanistic Approach:Humanistic Approach:Personality = manifestation of the Personality = manifestation of the Self, inner unitySelf, inner unity

Stress positive motivation and Stress positive motivation and reaching of full potentialreaching of full potential

Search for personal meaningSearch for personal meaning

IdiographicIdiographic approach approach

Two views of science: Two views of science: Realist (Popper)Realist (Popper)Constructionist/Paradigmatic Constructionist/Paradigmatic (Kuhn)(Kuhn)Popper: Popper: FalsificationFalsification; science is based ; science is based on theory, predictionson theory, predictionsKuhn: science is bound by Kuhn: science is bound by paradigmsparadigms

Stages: pre-paradigmatic Stages: pre-paradigmatic (prescientific), paradigmatic (normal (prescientific), paradigmatic (normal science), revolutionary (paradigm shift).science), revolutionary (paradigm shift).