CHAPTER 2
THEORIES OF PERSONALITY
START!
01 WHAT IS
The conglomeration of an individual’s thoughts,
feelings emotions, attitudes, intelligence,
PERSONALITY?
interests and abilities.
The combination of trait patterns that play a
vital role in the behavior, motivations, emotions,
and thinking of the individual.
Came from the Latin word “persona” which means
“mask”.
Comprised a dynamic pattern of behavior, a
consistent set of thoughts and feelings that makes
one distinct, Generally a summation of overt and
covert behavior.
The combination of the physiological, moral, and
spiritual, psychological, and emotional,
intellectual facets of one’s ability.
WHAT ARE
02 INFLUENCES ON
THEPERSONALITY?
DEFINE
Personality is a complex concept that has to be
scrutinized to be understood well. There are
several ways to discover the real essence of
personality. Scientific investigation and
studies culminated to major theories that will
elucidate on the complexities of personality.
03
THEORY
PSYCHOANALYTIC
This theory was developed by Sigmund Freud. It
is said that the personality is made up of three
major systems that points onto the role of the
id, the ego and the superego. The three systems
are said to be the main determinants of one’s
unique personality.
[Link]
ID
The most primitive.
The pleasure-oriented side
of one’s persona.
Concerned with instant
gratification of psychological
needs and urges.
[Link]
SUPEREGO
The moral arm of the
persona.
Sometimes termed as “conscience”
which serves as a measure on
social expectations.
Concerned with instant
gratification of psychological
needs and urges.
[Link]
EGO
The rational and realistic
area of the persona.
Resolves the conflict between
the id and the superego.
Maintains the balance and the
homeostasis between two opposing
systems of the persona.
04 BEHAVIORISM
John B. Watson argued that personality can be
determined only through overt responses.
Behaviorists like B.F. Skinner believed in the
use of rewards whether positive or negative and
punishments to produce orderly change in the
individual.
LETS DISCUSS!
Behaviorists agreed on the use
of rewards and punishments to
reinforce and strengthen
positive and negative
personality and behavior.
a. REINFORCEMENT
POSITIVE
This involves adding something to
increase response, such as praising
a child when they complete a
designated task.
b. REINFORCEMENT
NEGATIVE
This involves removing something
to increase response, such as
withholding payment until the
person completes the job.
c. PUNISHMENT
This involves adding something
aversive to modify behavior.
d. EXTINCTION
This involves removing or taking
away something to modify a certain
response. This is called negative
punishment or extinction.
05 HUMANISTIC THEORIES
Humanists proposed a theory that rests on the
“person” and the “self”. Carl Rogers focused on
the changes and development of personality. It
is asserted in this theory that how a person
behaves depends upon his reality and not from
his environment.
Parallel to this view is Abraham
Maslow’s Theory of Needs. This
includes a.) Physiological Needs;
b.) Safety Needs; c.)
Belongingness and Love Needs; d.)
Esteem Needs; and e.) Need for
Self-actualization
Humanistic theory shows how an
individual’s deficiencies and needs
manifest in his behavior and personality.
The environment to which an individual
was raised will determine how
satisfaction of his need for necessities,
love, protection, prestige, will direct
him towards self-realization.
06 TRAIT THEORY
Trait theorists posited that personality can be
understood as exhibited in one’s common traits
or characteristics ways of behaving. A person
may be sociable, aggressive, shy, an optimist,
clingy etc. A certain group of people may have
similar traits but these may vary in degree.
a. GORDON ALLPORT
Organized the thousands of
personality traits into a
hierarchy. Noted 171
traits.
a.1 CARDINAL
TRAITS
Collectively known as “master
control” and is inclusive of
a person’s ruling passion.
a.2 CENTRAL
TRAITS
General characteristics
that make up the building
blocks shaping one’s
behavior.
a.3 SECONDARY
TRAITS
Includes preferences and attitudes and
in some instances these traits
contradict and become incongruent with
the usual behavior of an individual.
b. RAYMOND CATTELL
Reduced the total
number of human traits
from 171 to 16.
b.1 16 PERSONALITY
Abstractedness Intelligence
FACTORS
Warmth Rule
Apprehension Consciousness
Emotional Tension
Stability Sensitivity
Liveliness Social
Openness to Boldness
Change Self-reliance
Perfectionism Vigilance
Privateness Dominance
c. HANS EYSENCK
Emphasized that biological
inheritance is the origin
of human traits.
Eysenck related temperament onto an
individual’s personality which is largely
influenced by his genes. He believed that
personality is determined by a person’s
genes. He theorized that some people can
be conditioned more readily than others
because of inherited difference in their
physiological functioning.
c.1EYSENCK’S CATEGORIES
OF HUMAN TRAITS
Extroversion Vs. Introversion
Neuroticism Vs. Stability
Psychoticism Vs. Socialization
07 FACTORS AFFECTING
DEVELOPMENT OF PERSONALITY
THE
Personality is not just a product of a
single factor but a result of several
intertwining elements that make up the
totality of an individual persona. The
interaction between these elements brings
“no two persons are alike”.
[Link]
A person’s biological inheritance. The traits
derived from one’s biological parents are
provided in the 46 chromosomes arranged in 23
pairs that comprise the blueprint of one’s
total system which begins during the process
of conception
[Link]
The physical and social environment
influences the formation of the
traits, attitudes, interests,
motivations, emotions of the
individual.
08 BASIC PERSONALITY
Researchers and psychologists suggest that most
personality tests have recurring
TRAITS
themes/dimensions known as "The Big Five.” The
Big Five personality dimensions by Robert
McCrae and Paul Costa were built upon Lewis
Goldberg's five primary personality factors.
a. BIG 5 PERSONALITY TRAITS
Openness - Describes an individual's openness to
experience. A high score of this trait is great in a
fast-growing company where there are many changes and
ambiguity.
Conscientiousness - The degree to which a person is
characterized by dependability, efficiency, and
purposeful action.
Extraversion - Refers to a person's comfort level
with his or her environment.
Agreeableness - Measures how well a person gets along
with others, competitiveness, and cooperation.
Neuroticism - Measures a person's emotional
stability. High neuroticism can lead to issues in the
workplace.
