PERSONALITY

 

                                      PERSONALITY AND ITS THEORIES:

 

Personality:   Latin word>>> Persona>>> Cover/Mask

·      Personality consists of relatively enduring characteristics (long lasting characteristics).

·      Differentiate one person from another (I.e it causes individual differences, making every individual unique).

·      It leads people to act in a consistent or predictable manner in ( different situations or extended period of time).

·      Personality is determined by consistency of character.

·      Personality development usually takes place in teenage ( I.e  16-19 years), however, according to humanistic approach, changes can be brought about in personality even after teenage.

 

 

                          THEORIES OF PERSONALITY:

 

1)    FREUD’S PSYCHOANALYTIC THEORY OF PERSONALITY:

According to Freud’s psychoanalytic theory, personality develops through a series of stages, each characterized by a certain internal psychological conflict.

This theory can be  divided into three Major parts: 1) Personality Structure,  2) Personality Dynamics and levels Of Consciousness,  3) Psychosexual Stages Of Development.

 

1)    PERSONALITY STRUCTURE; (ID, EGO AND SUPEREGO):

Sigmund Freud ‘s psychoanalytic theory of personality argues that human behavior is the result of the interactions among three component parts of the mind: the id, ego, and superego.

 

A)   Id:

·      Storehouse of biological drives/urges such as urge to eat/drink/eliminate and to be sexually motivated.

·      The sexual energy (libido) underlies these urges.

·      Id operates according to Pleasure Principle.

·      Id is innate, unconscious.

·      Id would satisfy it’s fundamental urges without regard to rules, the realities of life, or morals of any kind. However, the Id is usually controlled and managed by the ego.

 

 

B)   Ego: ( Mediating thought process/factor)

·      Ego tries to satisfy the Id's urge for pleasure but only in realistic ways that take account of what is possible in the real world.

·      It is based on Reality Principle (It helps the people adjusting to the realities of life).

·      The ego delays satisfying “ Id” motives and channels behavior into more socially acceptable outlets.

·      The ongoing tension between the insistent urges of the Id and the constraints of reality helps the ego develop more and more sophisticated thinking skills.

·      Thus the ego's task often involves finding a compromise between the instinctual gratification sought by the I’d and the strict rule-following by the superego.  

 

C)  Superego: ( rigid rules/ prohibitions / moral ideals)

It consists of prohibitions, rigid social rules, and moral ideals learned from parents and other authorities.

 

(Ego and Superego include materials at all three levels of consciousness ( I.e Unconscious, preconscious and conscious level).

 

 

 

 

2)    PERSONALITY DYNAMICS AND LEVELS OF CONSCIOUSNESS/AWARENESS:

 

PERSONALITY DYNAMICS:

 

According to Freud, there is an interplay among the Id, Ego and Superego. In this play, Ego acting as a sort of mediator between the Id ( with it’s blind demands for instant gratification) and the Superego ( with it’s prohibitions and rigid rules).

The Ego's task of satisfying both Id and Superego requires a somewhat risky balancing act.

For example, If the Ego yields to the Id ‘s desire for something that is morally forbidden, the Superego may punish the Ego with feelings of guilt.

 

LEVELS OF CONSCIOUSNESS;

According to Freud, there are three levels of consciousness/awareness (I.e conscious, pre conscious and unconscious level).

A)   Conscious level:

At this level, we are aware of certain things/thoughts around us .

 

B)  Preconscious level:

At the pre- conscious level, are the memories and thoughts that are easily available with a moment's reflection.

For example. What we had for breakfast, or our parents' first names etc.

 

C)  Unconscious level:

The unconscious level contains memories, thoughts and motives which we cannot easily call up.

 

 

3)    PSYCHOSEXUAL STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT;

There are five psychosexual stages of development. These are:

A)  Oral Stage:

·      From birth to age 1.5 years.

·      Erogenous zone is mouth.

·      Infants seek pleasure by sucking and later on by biting.

·      If the needs of oral stage are unsatisfied or over- satisfied, it may lead to oral fixation in adulthood in the form of  1) Smoking,  2) Nail-biting etc.

 

B)  Anal Stage:

·      1.5 to 3 years age

·      Erogenous zone = region around anus

·      Children undergo toilet training I.e “Holding On” and “letting Go”.

·      Fixation in adulthood as a result of improper training of the former (holding on) may lead to a messy and  careless personality, while fixation in the latter case (letting go) lead to over conformity, exaggerated self control and rigid personality.

·      It is the first time,  that the Id must be brought under the control of emerging ego.

 

C)  Phallic Stage:

·      3 to 6 years age

·      Erogenous zone = genitals

·      Children get attracted and develop sensual feelings toward the parent of opposite sex.

·      Such thoughts and feelings

In boys >>> Oedipus complex

In girls>>> Electra complex

 

 

 

D)   Latency Stage:

·      6 years to puberty

·      The child learns more about the world, get attached to his friends and peers.

·      Sexuality (libido) is largely repressed.

·      The ego expands, superego started to develop properly.

 

 

E)  Genital Stage:

·      Also known as puberty stage.

·      Mature heterosexual interests appear at this stage.

·      Three major sources of sexual arousal during this stage are:

1)    Memories and sensations from earlier childhood periods.     

             2) physical manipulations of genitals and other          erogenous zones.

              3)  Hormonal Secretion.

·      The targets of sexual arousal now lie outside the tiny circle of self and family.

 

 

 

EYSENCK’S PERSONALITY THEORY:

Hans Eysenck was a personality theorist who focused on temperament—innate, genetically based personality differences. He believed personality is largely governed by biological factors, arguing that individuals inherit a type of nervous system that affects their ability to learn and adapt to the environment.

He used a technique called factor analysis. This technique reduces behavior to a number of factors which can be grouped together under separate headings, called dimensions.

Eysenck (1947) found that  behavior could be represented by two dimensions: Introversion / Extroversion (E); Neuroticism / Stability (N). After collaborating with his wife and fellow personality theorist Sybil Eysenck, he added a third dimension to this model: psychoticism vs. socialization.

 

EXTRAVERSION/INTROVERSION:

Extraverts are sociable and crave excitement and change, and thus can become bored easily. They tend to be carefree, optimistic and impulsive. They are more likely to take risks and be thrill seekers. Eysenck argues that this is because they inherit an under aroused nervous system and so seek stimulation to restore the level of optimum stimulation.

Introverts on the other hand lie at the other end of this scale, being quiet and reserved. They are already over-aroused and shun sensation and stimulation. Introverts are reserved, plan their actions and control their emotions. They tend to be serious, reliable and pessimistic.

Neuroticism/stability

A person’s level of neuroticism is determined by the reactivity of their sympathetic nervous system. A stable person’s nervous system will generally be less reactive to stressful situations, remaining calm and level headed.

Someone high in neuroticism on the other hand will be much more unstable, and prone to overreacting to stimuli and may be quick to worry, anger or fear. They are overly emotional and find it difficult to calm down once upset. Neurotic individuals have an ANS that responds quickly to stress.

Psychoticism/normality:

Eysenck later added a third trait / dimension - Psychoticism – e.g., lacking in empathy, cruel, a loner, aggressive and troublesome. This has been related to high levels of testosterone. The higher the testosterone, the higher the level of psychoticism, with low levels related to more normal balanced behavior.

He was especially interested in the characteristics of people whom he considered to have achieved their potential as individuals.

According to Eysenck, the two dimensions of neuroticism (stable vs. unstable) and introversion-extroversion combine to form a variety of personality characteristics.

Critical Evaluation

·      Twin studies can be used to see if personality is genetic. However, the findings are conflicting and non-conclusive.

·      Shields (1976) found that monozygotic (identical) twins were significantly more alike on the Introvert – Extrovert (E) and Psychoticism (P) dimensions than dizygotic (non-identical) twins.

·      Loehlin, Willerman, and Horn (1988) found that only 50% of the variations of scores on personality dimensions are due to inherited traits. This suggests that social factors are also important.

·      One good element of Eysenck’s theory is that it takes into account both nature and nurture. Eysenck’s theory argues strongly that biological predispositions towards certain personality traits combined with conditioning and socialization during childhood in order to create our personality.

·      This interactionist approach may, therefore, be much more valid than either a biological or environmental theory alone.

·      It also links nicely with the diathesis-stress model of behavior which argues for a biological predisposition combining with an environmental trigger for a particular behavior.