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Transcript of Psychology. After Freud’s theories are popularized Debate between pro-Freud and anti-Freud...
PERSONALITY THEORIES
Psychology
PERSONALITY THEORY After Freud’s theories are popularized Debate between pro-Freud and anti-
Freud psychologists Various theories to fit your own insights
about causes of human behavior To explain human complexity
BEHAVIORISM All behavior is reaction to stimuli from
the world around you Control the stimuli-control the behavior John Watson: Psychologists frustrated
with making assumptions about unknown mental functions
Focus only on verifiable observable behavior
Based on Ivan Pavlov’s classical conditioning research: Pavlov’s dogs
JOHN WATSON: BEHAVIORISM System of stimulus-response units:
cause and effects between environment and behavior
Rewarded or pleasurable responses encourage repetition of behaviorPunishment deters behavior
Example: Baby responds to mother, expects careFood, warmth, loveResponds with cooing and waving armsCry when mom goes away
B.F. SKINNER (1904-1990) Watson’s successor as leading American
behaviorist Dismisses Freud’s psychoanalytic
approach Believes development of personality is
too important to leave to parents/learning experiences
SKINNER’S BOOKS Walden Two: Invents self-sufficient
community run on behaviorist principlesTrained nurses raise childrenShape personalities to maintain stable
productive society Applied theory to all of society in
Beyond Freedom and DignityCritics accuse him of trying to solve
problems by sacrificing free will and individual responsibility
SKINNER’S THEORY Infants born with 3 instinctive
responses: love, rage, and fear All others developed through learning Classifies all behavior as respondent or
operant: Respondent: When stimulus causes
reflexive automatic involuntary response
SKINNER’S PERSONALITY THEORY Operant: Behaviors that act on
environment to gain reward Most human behavior falls into this
categoryCan be conditioned through reinforcement
To display: Skinner trains pigeonsTeach behaviors in small steps and reward
with food pelletsBowling, play ping pong, piano, and drop
bombshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGazyH6fQ
Q4http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhvaSEJtOV
8&feature=related
SHAPING BEHAVIOR Broken down into small steps Desirable behavior is rewarded Undesirable behavior is ignored Example: Teaching a child to swim Applied to personality: Early life
experiences can condition later life behavior
Underlying cause for neurotic behavior http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hBf
nXACsOI
BEHAVIORIST PERSONALITY THEORY Neurotic behavior is poorly chosen
response to stimuli Causes general anxiety that makes it
impossible to cope with symptoms Behavioral Therapy: Teaches you to form
the correct response Common Technique: Systematic
Desensitization processExample: Get over fear of heights
SKINNER’S BABY BOX http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn9lB
dkYu5Y
SKINNER’S “BABY TENDER” 1940s: Wanted her to have the best
possible environment to produce healthy, happy babyTemperature control: less restrictive
clothingKeep out noise and light so she sleeps wellClean: Bath her less oftenShe grew up normal and successfulHe was criticized: Why didn’t it catch on?
NEO-FREUDIANS New research shows humans are highly
adaptable to change in environment Psychoanalysts modify Freud’s ideas:
Believe social influences play a major role in shaping personality
Think less about influence of heredity and childhood experiences
FREUDIANS VS. NEO-FREUDIANS Agree:
Unconscious has important influenceRepression used to cope with anxietyDefense mechanisms protect egoEarly childhood is when you form basic personality
Disagree: Sex Drive vs. Social influence=more importantChildhood Sexuality vs. Learned relationship skillsWoman=inferior vs. Neither superior Id/Ego/Superego vs. They don’t exist
PARENTS SUPPORT HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT Basic needs must be met; then child
needs love, support and motivation http://
www.wisc-online.com/objects/ViewObject.aspx?ID=I2P401
ALFRED ADLER (1870-1937) Broke with Freud in 1911 to form new
school of “individual psychology” Believes Freud focuses too much on
sexuality’s influence on personality Focuses on inborn social needs/urges
instead Society modifies these according to it’s
own values/culture
THE CREATIVE SELF Inner system that guides an individual
to a fulfilling style of life It is you: it makes you the unique person
you are Each person chooses a particular role
because society seems to reward that choiceExamples: happy-go-lucky, romantic,
intellectual, melancholyFosters your drive to be a superior personAdler contributes this to free will/choice,
unlike Freud contributing it to unconscious
ADLER: INFERIORITY COMPLEX Begins as child when you are helpless,
adults have all the control and power Most healthy people overcome this Some don’t: lack social skills, have
disabilities, a lack of support, or experience discrimination
Some use it as a motivation to try harder and succeed to prove themselves
Some compensate through actions that hurt others
FICTIONAL FINALISM People driven by ideals that may be
pure fiction, but are ones they pursue with great determination
Causes stress when they attempt to strictly adhere to themExample: “Honesty is the best policy”“If I am good, everyone will love me”
SOCIAL INTEREST Inborn characteristic: we want out
community to be a better place We want to believe there is good in
everyoneWhy some will risk their lives for a strangerGive generously to charity for greater goodMany now are placing concern about
personal safety over social interest in the modern world
NEO-FREUDIANS: KAREN HORNEY (1885-1952)
German psychiatrist Didn’t like focus on sexual drives and
inferiority of womenNew ideas cost her a job and some of her
support Worked very hard to be respected as a
woman in her field Well loved for her warmth and
dedication to helping people
BASIC ANXIETY Believes that ability to cope with life is
directly related to how well a child copes with threats to it’s security
Adult personality grows out of this success or failure in coping with this anxiety
Babies: unable to control their environment and feel helpless
Harsh/strict/negligent parents increases anxiety
NEUROTIC NEEDS Major contribution to personality theory Needs grow out of strategies to combat
anxiety People often make unrealistic demands
on themselves on others“I SHOULD always be understanding,
helpful, sympathetic, forgiving, etc.”Do things because you should do them not
because you necessarily feel it or want to
NEUROTIC NEEDS Needs that move an individual toward
people:
Need for affection, approval, to please others
Need for partner to run their life, fear of being alone
Need for prestige: self-confidence rests totally on receiving recognition from others
Need for personal admiration: Expects to be admired on the basis of false/inflated self-image
NEUROTIC NEEDS Needs the move an individual away from
people:
Need to restrict one’s life within narrow borders
Need for self-sufficiency and independence: relationships are painful, won’t accept love
Need for perfection: Mistakes are weakness, person tries to be infallible at all times
NEUROTIC NEEDS Needs that move an individual against
people:
Need for power: control is so important that they will do anything to attain it
Need to exploit others: Take advantage of people to relive own feelings of insecurity/helplessness
Need for personal achievement: Constantly needs more success, even if at the expense of others
ERIK ERIKSON (1902-1994) Austrian psychologist who studied with
Anna Freud Theory of Psychosocial Development:
Same age as Freud’s psychosexual development
In each stage: Achieve new way of seeing yourself in relation to society
Personality develops throughout your whole life
In each stage: Conflict develops between positive and negative ego qualities, you must resolve each crisis to move successfully through stages
If one is not resolved, it CAN be resolved later in life
STAGES OF PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT Trust vs. Mistrust: Birth to one year
Babies learn to trust of fear the world depending on experiences with other people/parents
Need to feel world is orderly and predictableLack of trust causes anxiety/fear in later
stages
STAGES OF PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT Autonomy vs. Doubt: Early childhood
age 2-3Children must develop self confidence and
independenceLearn to feed and dress themselves and
become toilet trainedKids not given the opportunity to explore
new skills will be full of shame and self doubt
STAGES OF PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT Initiative vs. Guilt: Play age, ages 4-5
Children are curious and should be encouraged to develop their intellectual resources and interests
Free to run, play, and question everythingGuilt results from overly strict parenting
that hinder self-motivation
STAGES OF PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT Industry vs. Inferiority: School age, 6-11
Most kids enter school eager to learn and show off skills
Curious and love trying new thingsExplore interpersonal relationshipsTeachers/parents who push too hard can
cause feelings of inferiority and lack of initiative
STAGES OF PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT Identity vs. Role Confusion:
Adolescence, ages 12-18Critical period where you find your own
identityMade more difficult by challenges of
adolescent tasks: sex, career choices, relationships with peers and parents, etc.
Must resolve identity crisis in order to have clear goals for a happy productive adulthood
STAGES OF PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT Intimacy vs. Isolation: young adulthood, ages 19-35
People are looking for a partner Find your values while your identity will be
challenged by friends and loversMust develop strength to stick to
commitments even if there is sacrifice or deferred gratification
STAGES OF PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Generativity vs. Stagnation: Adulthood, ages 36-60Mature adults begin to plan for future generations,
through children or community contributionVolunteer work, coaching, or helping your own kids
succeed adds to quality of lifeStagnant adults are concerned only with
themselves and try to deny aging process and concentrate
on material pleasures
STAGES OF PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT Ego Integrity vs. Despair: old age, 60+
Well-integrated elderly people can cherish their successes, learn from their failures, and accept death
Remain active and involvedThose who did not achieve ego integrity are
full of anger, fear, despair and regret
CARL JUNG (1875-1961) Swiss Psychoanalyst, friend of Freud Doesn‘t agree with Freud’s focus on sex
drives Instead, places emphasis on spiritual and
moral aspects of life So influential and original that he has his
own school of psychology; Analytic Psychology
Calls the human personality the psyche
THE JUNGIAN UNCONSCIOUS Two parts: Personal and Collective
Unconscious The Personal Unconscious: contains
experiences that were once conscious but have been forgotten/repressed
Unconscious can influence conscious behavior
Complex: organized group of feelings/thoughts in the unconsciousFixation on aspect that dominates your life that
you may or may not be aware ofExamples: money complex, power complex,
mother complex, etc.
CARL JUNG’S UNCONSCIOUS The Collective Unconscious: Universal instincts, drives, and memories
shared by the human race Cross boundaries of time, skin color, and
geography “Memories” of history are unseen forces
influencing your thoughts/feelings/perceptions
2 million years of evolutionary experience left a mark on the human brainExample: People still like to hunt/fish, universal
behaviors across separated cultures, etc.
ARCHETYPES Universal thought patterns, themes, and
symbols Appear across time in literature,
religion, music, art, etc. Create images on which you base your
perception of the world Creates your sense of wholeness,
completeness, and interconnectivityExamples: Hero archetype, mother earth
archetype, the wise old man, the devil/villain
JUNG’S ARCHETYPES Four become systems within personality: 1. Persona: The “mask” you wear to
hide your true self in public (your image) In response to social pressure, traditions,
and need for acceptanceHealthy if it is a choice, but can’t allow it to
dominate your life Example: the good girl, the bad boy
JUNG’S ARCHETYPES Anima and Animus: All people carry elements of the
opposite sex within their personalities Anima: Feminine image men carry Animus: Male image women carry Provide balance to the personality Enable sexes to understand each other Forms your perception/expectations of
the opposite sexExample: Ideal woman
JUNG’S ARCHETYPES Shadow: Represents the primitive side
of personality Socially unacceptable thoughts/desires
are repressed by personal unconscious Most people hide the shadow behind
their personaDeep secrets, guilty pleasures, skeletons in
the closet, selfish needs, etc.
JUNG’S ARCHETYPES Self: Analytic psychology places great
emphasis on concept of the self Life goal, striving for unity and
completeness Few reach this because all other
elements of personality must fully develop firstExample: Religious leaders or philosophers
who join conscious and unconscious mind see emergence of completed self
JUNG’S OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS Introversion: look inward, find pleasure in
pursuing own thoughts, shy, happiest alone
Extroversion: invest psychic energy in the outside world, need company, excitement, activity, outgoing
Everyone has both aspects, one usually dominates
JUNG’S WORD ASSOCIATION TESTS As the subject responds to a list of
prepared words, repressed/concealed thoughts will slip past the mind’s censors into speech
Responses to key words admit guilt/connect them to a crime, etc. Similar to polygraph test
EXISTENTIAL PSYCHOLOGY Human beings are free agents, they
determine their behavior by choice Not controlled by unconscious forces No one is bound to the past Rollo May: Encourages people to take
responsibility for their own lives“I learned along the way to tune in on my
being, my existence in the now, because that was all there was—that and my tubular body. It was a valuable experience to face death, for in the experience I learned to face life”
EXISTENTIALIST’S APPROACH TO PERSONALITY Created after WWII to aid people who
felt life was empty of meaning It is the belief in the nobility of the
human spirit that gives meaning and purpose to life
Central concept of life is being: all you can know of the world is what you perceive “You are part of the world, and the world is
part of you”
KEY EXISTENTIAL BELIEFS Being is becoming: Humans have potential
to grow and change things Alternative is to give in to frustration and
sense of futility To realize your potential requires that you
explore your own being/consciousness/identity
Happiness found in freedom and commitment
KEY EXISTENTIAL BELIEFS Humans must take responsibility of their
own life, completely free will Make choices, take action, take risks,
learn from mistakes Everyone can change for the better and
has a responsibility to do so Don’t make excuses for your
problems/issues: “My parents hit me when I was little, so it’s
their fault that this is the way I am. I can’t change.”
KEY EXISTENTIAL BELIEFS Happiness is a by-product of committing
yourself to the choices you have made Make each choice in your life as if you
are making it for all humanity Anxiety and despair result when you
refuse to take responsibility of your own life
Life is not fair, bad things will happen, but live your life to the fullest and make the beset of it
EXISTENTIAL VIEW OF NEUROTIC BEHAVIOR Anxiety/despair are inescapable parts of
the human condition Making choices means taking chances Each choice brings new anxiety If you give in to this anxiety it causes
neurotic behaviorExamples: Withdrawal from society, seeking
pleasure by any means, conforming to the views/desires of others so they don’t have to make their own choices, etc.
EXISTENTIAL VIEW OF NEUROTIC BEHAVIOR Existential vacuum: Feeling that
everything is meaningless, feeling helpless to change anything successfully, give up instead
Viktor Frankl: Studied concentration camp inmatesMany were in an existential vacuum=diedThose who lived were those who had a task
to complete in life: someone/something depended on them=gives them meaning and purpose
EXISTENTIAL PSYCHOLOGISTS Viktor Frankl: “I have seen the meaning
of my life in helping others to see in their lives a meaning”
Rollo May: Anxiety in small doses is constructiveSharpens your sensitivity Spark creativity/motivationLiving up to your responsibilities
strengthens you
THE FUTURE OF PERSONALITY THEORY Psychologists still hope for an all-
encompassing theory to explain personality
Family Systems Theory: Therapists should focus on the family not individualsFamily interactions can cause anxiety or
happiness Psychologists are exploring ethnic and
cultural forces that shape personality Gender theory is gaining ground in
comparing roles each sex takes on which form their personalities