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Perspectives 1-Westrick
Personality (PY 370)
University of Alabama at Birmingham
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Perspectives on Personality Assignment Sheet: Understanding Personality
You only met Cece and John briefly, but you probably have formed some impressions of them and their personalities. Now take a few minutes and reflect on their personalities below. There are no “right” or “wrong” answers; only your impressions and perceptions based on what they have told you about themselves.
How would you describe Cece and John’s personalities to someone who asked? Are there any ways in which you see them as similar or different in relation to one another? (100 words or less). Cece is someone who cares about being involved in someone’s life. She wants to be as important to them as they are to her. She cares deeply and trusts openly. She has a bright outlook on life with some anxiety, never wants to be left out, and wants the people around her to reciprocate. John seems to be emotional and self-reliant. He is also passionate and determined. Both John and Cece feel things deeply, but Cece focuses on relationships and John focuses on himself.
This course covers six broad approaches to personality with each approach serving as a lens through which individuals can be viewed, including the nature of their development, their defining relationships, dominant traits or features, as well as characteristic ways of viewing the world and making sense of themselves. What might you say about Cece and John’s personalities from each of the following perspectives? (Brief observations, speculations or impressions are fine; you are just trying on the various lenses that we will be looking at in greater detail throughout the course.)
a. Psychoanalytic (do you see any driving forces in their personalities, influences from their relationship with their parents?) Cece’s driving force in her personality would be her anxiety. She has a fear of missing out and this leads to her need to be included. I think John’s driving force is his need to be the best version of himself. He talks like a motivational speaker and is very self- motivated.
b. Trait Approaches (can you identify any cardinal features, traits, or characteristics of each of them?) Cece’s cardinal feature, trait, or characteristic is the need to be included. She brought it up multiple times and gave different examples of how she feels the need to be included in her relationships. John’s would be his determination. He gave multiple examples of how determined he is in life.
c. Biological Influences (any aspects of their mothers or fathers that you can identify?). Cece said her parents influenced her loyalty and welcoming nature. It also helped her become a social butterfly, inclusive, and trusting.
d. Humanistic Approaches (where would you see Cece and John in relation to their development and potential)? Cece mentioned people thinking she is different or crazy. I think with her anxiety and needs it is harder for her to maintain stable relationships. John seems to know exactly what he wants in life and what he expects out of life. He seems like he has gone on a self- discovery journey and is on the “right” path now.
e. Behavioral/Social Learning Approaches (can you identify any influences that have reinforced or shaped their personalities or anyone they may have modeled in forming aspects of who they are?) Cece’s parents had a great influence on her personality and formed aspects of who she is. She mentions them multiple times in the video and even credits them. John mentions encounters he has had with people in the past who have shared important information with him that he has used to change his life. His “angels” have influenced his decisions, life, and personality.
f. Cognitive Approaches (Any characteristic cognitive styles like optimism or pessimism, perspectives or “schemas” that might influence the way they view things?) Cece is optimistic and this influences her caring nature, not wanting any drama, and believing that people can be trusted. John has an overall positive outlook on life.
If you were to imagine their characteristic ways of coping with stress or challenges, what might those be? Cece seems like she is very good at breathing techniques when it comes to stress or challenges. She said that she is not an overly sensitive person but did admit that she does have anxiety. I think she might not be able to handle stress well, but can incorporate techniques like deep breathing to ground herself. John does not seem like he deals with stress. If he does, he doesn’t do it well. I picture him just blowing off steam at the gym. Since he is so self-reliant, I assume he probably bottles his problems up inside.
In what ways might you see yourself as similar to, or different from, Cece or John? In other words, is there anything about either of their personalities that you can identify
Perspectives 1-Westrick
Course: Personality (PY 370)
University: University of Alabama at Birmingham
