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Industrial Psychology
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PERSONALITY persona (latin for mask)
The enduring or lasting patterns of behavior and thought (across time and situation)
Personality Types and Traits
➢ A personality type is a discrete category into which a person can be sorted.
➢ A personality trait is an enduring personal characteristic that underlies a person’s
reactions to a variety of situations. ➢ TRAITS – relatively permanent o Consistency over time o Individual differences in behavior o Stability across situations ➢ CHARACTERISTICS o Unique qualities (e., temperament, physique, intelligence)
Theory
➢ A set of related assumptions that allows scientists to use logical deductive reasoning to formulate testable hypotheses.
####### Theory and its relatives: PHILOSOPHY broader than theory
SPECULATION must be tied to empirical data and science HYPOTHESIS specific guess that can be tested using scientific method
####### Why Different Theories? Different Personal Backgrounds
- Childhood experiences
- Interpersonal relationships Different Philosophical Orientations Unique Ways of Looking at the World Data chosen to Observe is Different
Theorist’s Personalities & Their Theories of Personality
➢ Psychology of Science The empirical study of scientific thought and behavior (including theory construction) of the scientist. ➢ The personalities and psychology of different theorists influence the kinds of theories that they develop.
What Makes a Theory Useful: Criteria for Evaluating a Theory
Dimensions for a Concept of Humanity
Determinism VS Free Choice > Do we consciously direct our own actions, are they governed by other forces? > Behaviors can be determined by past events, spontaneous and under our control. Pessimism VS Optimism > are we basically good or evil? > some view personality is positive and hopeful > quality in human beings are either individually or collectively Causality VS Teleology > past/present > Historical Determinism: the view that personality is basically fixed in the early years of life and subject to little change thereafter. Conscious VS Unconscious Determinants of Behavior > Equilibrium/Growth > are we motivated simply to maintain a physiological balance or state of equilibrium, or does the urge to grow and develop share our behavior? > Some theorists believe that people are tension-reducing, pleasure-seeking animals. Others consider us to be motivated primarily by the need to grow, to realize our full potential, and to reach for ever higher levels of self-actualization and development. Biological VS Social Influences on Personality > Nature/nurture: are we influenced more by heredity (nature) or by our environment (nurture)? Uniqueness VS Similarities > is the personality of each human being unique, or are there broad personality patterns that fit large numbers of persons? > we may thing of personality as so individual that each person’s action, each utterance, has no counterpart of equivalent in any other person. This obviously makes the comparison of one person with another meaningless. GENERATES RESEARCH IS FALSIFIABLE (verifiable) ORGANIZES KNOWN DATA GUIDES ACTION (practical) INTERNALLY CONSISTENT PARSIMONIOUS
TRAIT THEORY
Gordon Allport Psychology of the Individual
Raymond Cattell 16 Personality Factors
Hans Eysenck Biologically Based Factor Theory
McCrae & Costa Five Factor Trait Theory
Trait Theory
> is a way to describe/ predict but is NOT a theory of development > practically, all personality theorists are concerned with traits. After all, traits are what make us who we are; they are aspects of each of us evidenced by the consistency in our interactions.
Knowing this, what makes the trait approach to understand personality
different the other theories.
1 st while most theories represent attempts at better understanding the development of personality, trait theorist typically talk very little about development. 2 nd NOT CONCERNED IN predicting a person’s behavior in a given situation for trait theorists. 3 rd unlike many other theoretical orientations, trait theorists are interested in the comparison of people through based on not just aspects, but also degrees. 4 th DOES NOT inherently provide a medium of personality change
Trait Theory uses two different methods of research
IDIOGRAPHIC APPROACH: defines traits by studying individuals in depth and focuses on the distinctive qualities of their personalities (Gordon Allport). NOMOTHETIC APPROACH: studies groups of people in the attempt to identify personality traits that tend to appear in clusters. This approach uses the statistical technique called FACTOR ANALYSIS (Raymond Cattell).
Approach to Personality Theory Sought to Answer 3 Questions
1 st WHAT IS PERSONALITY? > personality is both physical and psychological > substance and change > includes both overt and covert thoughts > product and process > not only IS but DOES > structure and growth 2 nd WHAT IS THE ROLE OF CONSCIOUS MOTIVATION? > healthy adults aware if what and why they are acting > accepted self-report at face value > some motivation is driven by hidden impulses > most compulsive behaviors originate in childhood 3 rd WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISITCS OF A HEALTHY PERSON? (6 criteria for maturity) > extension of the sense of self > realistic perception of their environment > warm relating of self to others > insight and humor > emotional security or self-acceptance > unifying philosophy of life
GORDON ALLPORT: PSYCHOLOGY OF INDIVIDUAL
STRUCTURE OF PERSONALITY
####### Applications of Psychoanalytic Theory
Morphogenic Science Study of ideographic information or that which is related to the individual case The Diaries of Marion Taylor Letters from Jenny Studied using a variety of approaches, including common sense and factor analysis > traits that are so much a part of who the person is, you can define the person by the trait (e., honest Abe Lincoln) CARDINAL TRAITS > A trait so dominant a person’s entire life revolves around it (e., famous comedy style of Vice > major characteristics of our personality such as: sensitivity, honesty, and generosity. These traits are quite generalized and enduring, and it is these traits that form the building blocks of our personality. Allport found that most CENTRAL TRAITS people could be characterized by a fairly small number of central traits (usually 5 – 10 central traits) CENTRAL TRAITS > Qualities that characterize a person’s daily interactions > To understand a person, one should look at the pattern of central traits. > less generalized and far less enduring traits that affect out behaviors in specific circumstances. Example includes our dress style preferences. SECONDARY TRAITS > Characteristics that are exhibited in specific situations
GORDON ALLPORT: PSYCHOLOGY OF INDIVIDUAL
Criteria for Evaluating a Theory
Concept of Humanity
Moderate on Generating Research Low on Falsifiability Low on Organizing Knowledge Moderate in Guiding Action High on Internal Consistency High on Parsimony FREE CHOICE OPTIMISM TELEOLOGY CONSCIOUS SOCIAL INFLUENCE UNIQUENESS
RAYMOND CATTELL: 16 PERSONALITY FACTORS
> 3 broad sources of data (Q-data, T-data, L-data) are required for any analysis that aims to uncover all the major dimensions of personality > These 3 sources of date must be integrated to capture the full complexity of human personality
Method of Observation (QTL)
Q- Data
> information gathered from
Questionnaires and
interviews
T- Data
> information obtained from objective
Testing situations
L-Data
> gathered from one’s
Life records
Cattell also began his work by identifying certain obvious personality traits, such as integrity,
####### friendliness, and tidiness. He called these dimensions of personality as Surface Traits.
He obtained extensive data about surface traits from a large, day to day, number of people
(nomothetic approach).
Statistical analysis of these data revealed that certain surface traits seemed to occur in
clusters or groups. He theorized that these clusters indicated a single underlying
trait.
He derived a list of 16 primary or source traits (higher order, deep traits) that he considered to be at
the center or core of personality. He listed each of these traits as a pair of polar
opposites (16 PF).
HANS EYSENCK: BIOLOGICALLY BASED FACTOR THEORY
> Disagreed with Allport and Cattell.
####### > He believed that there are only 2 Major Dimensions of Personality
- Introversion - Extraversion
- Neuroticism – Stability
Biography
####### > Born on March 4, 1916 in Berlin
####### > He received his PhD in 1940 from University College, London
####### > Worked in the Department of Psychology under the supervision of Professor Sir Cyril Burt,
####### with whom he had a tumultuous professional relationship throughout his working life.
####### >Described his grandmother as “unselfish, caring, altruistic, and altogether too good for this
####### world.”
####### > Grew up with little parental discipline and few strict controls over his behavior. Neither
####### parent seemed interested in curtailing his actions, nor his grandmother had quire
####### permissive attitude toward him.
> This benign neglect is exemplified by tow incidents. > His father had bought him a bicycle and had promised to teach him to ride leaving him to learn how to ride all by himself. > As an adolescent, he told his grandmother that he was going to buy some cigarettes, expecting her to forbid it. However, his grandmother said that if he likes it, he do it all by means. > Environmental experiences such as these two have little to do with personality development.
HIERARCHY OF BEHAVIOR ORGANIZATION
(from lowest to highest) 1. Specific acts or cognitions 2. Habitual acts or cognitions 3. Traits 4. Types or Superfactors
æ OF PERSONALITY DIMENSIONS ARE HEREDITY
> Found these factors to exist cross-culturally > Stability of traits over time > Twin research suggests strong similarities on these dimensions Personality as a Predictor Personality and Behavior CRITERIA FOR IDENTIFYING FACTORS
- Psychometric evidence
- Heritability
- Must make sense from a theoretical point of view
- Must possess social relevance
HANS EYSENCK: BIOLOGICALLY BASED FACTOR THEORY
####### Applications of Psychoanalytic Theory
####### Personality and Disease
> Several studies have found an association between personality and disease > These do not prove that psychological factors cause disease, but they may interact with other factors to create risk
Criteria for Evaluating a Theory
Concept of Humanity
Very High on Generating Research Moderate on Falsifiability High on Organizing Knowledge Moderate to low in Guiding Action Moderate to low on Internal Consistency Very High on Parsimony NOT CONCERNED WITH DETERMINISM OR FREE CHOICE NOT CONCERNED WITH OPTIMISM OR PESSIMISM NOT CONCERNED WITH TELEOLOGY OR CAUSALITY CONSCIOUS BIOLOGY INFLUENCE UNIQUENESS
HENRY ALEXANDER MURRAY: PSYCHOGENIC NEEDS
>developed a tool for evaluating personality called the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT),
which hailed as an important contribution to analytical psychology
> TAT, a personality test designed to determine personality themes and
unconscious motivation
> Test had subjects interpret a series of pictures > took theories of Hippocrates, Jung, et. Al., and conceived of a basic 2X2 matrix of super traits > Believed traits were genetically-based was very biologically oriented
> Coined Psychogenic Needs, means basic needs in personality that largely resides at the
####### unconscious level (27 needs)
Biography
> Henry Murray’s history is anything but a prerequisite for a career in psychology > Born on May 13, 1893, New York. Died on June 23, 1988 > American psychologist who developed a theory of human personality based on an individual’s inborn needs and his relationship with the physical and social environment > Murray, who majored history at Harvard University (1915), earned a M. in 1919 from Columbia in biochemistry from the University of Cambridge (1927) > His interest in psychology was sparked when he began reading the works of Carl Jung (later arranged a meeting with him) and Sigmund Freud. During the meeting, Jung convinced Murray to study psychoanalysis, which he did at Harvard University. > After completing his training, Murray began teaching psychology and psychoanalytic theory at Harvard, and he remained there for the rest of his professional career.
McCRAE & COSTA: FIVE FACTOR TRAIT THEORY
> while different theorists may use different terminology, 5 FACTORS or personality traits have
shown up in a rather consistent pattern.
Biographies
ROBERT R. McCRAE PAUL T. COSTA Jr.
> Born in Maryville, MO 1949 > Born in Franklin, NH 1942 > Youngest of 3 children > Received PhD in Human Development > Completed PhD in Psychology at Boston University from the University of Chicago 1970 Where he was referred to Paul Costa > Began collaborating in 1976 > The collaboration between McCrae and Costa has been fruitful, producing over 200 joint publications.
OCEAN of human
Reactions to “Big 5”
Support Opposition Eysenck and his camp There may be more factors (sexiness, attractiveness, faithfulness, spirituality) More robust and replicable than any other taxonomy Is a well-established basis on which to build Research for additional factor is not compelling and the factors are not relevant to personality (attractiveness) Does not capture underlying personality processes Is a framework for phenotypic (appearance) attributes of personality based in human language
McCRAE & COSTA: FIVE FACTOR TRAIT THEORY
####### Applications of Psychoanalytic Theory
####### Basic Postulates
> Postulates for Basic Tendencies > Postulates for Characteristics Adaptations
Criteria for Evaluating a Theory
Concept of Humanity
Very High on Generating Research Moderate on Falsifiability High on Organizing Knowledge Moderate to low in Guiding Action Moderate to low on Internal Consistency Very High on Parsimony NOT CONCERNED WITH DETERMINISM OR FREE CHOICE NOT CONCERNED WITH OPTIMISM OR PESSIMISM NOT CONCERNED WITH TELEOLOGY OR CAUSALITY CONSCIOUS BIOLOGY INFLUENCE UNIQUENESS
SIGMUND FREUD: PSYCHOANALYSIS
> Cornerstones: SEX & AGGRESSION > Spread by a dedicated group > brilliant language (Goethe Prize in Literature)
Biography
> Born in Freiberg Moravia (Czech Republic) 1856. Died in London 1939 > 80 years in Vienna > Was the eldest son of 8 > Studied in Medicine, specializing in psychiatry; interested in science > Studied HYSTERIA (paralysis or improper functioning of a certain body part) with Charcot, and Breuer with CATHARSIS (remove hysterical symptoms through talking them out – about the problem). > FREE ASSOCIATION talking about anything under the sun. > Abandoned seduction theory in 1897 and replaced it with Oedipus Complex > Wrote INTERPRETATION OF DREAMS in 1900. LATENT CONTENT means original form. MANIFEST CONTENT means distorted in dreams (making it less threatening). Dream is the ROYAL ROAD TO UNCONSCIOUS. > Was driven out of Austria by Nazis in 1938
PSYCHODYNAMIC THEORY
Levels of Mental Life
####### ➢ Mental life that is directly available, plays
####### a minor role
####### ➢ Not in conscious awareness, but can be
####### ➢ Beyond awareness
####### ➢ Includes drives, urges, or instincts
####### ➢ Is known only indirectly
####### ➢ 2 SOURCES OF UNCONSCIOUS PROCESSES
####### 1. Repression
####### 2. Phylogenetic Endowment
####### ➢ 2 DIVISIONS OF UNCONSCIOUS
####### 1. Unconscious
####### 2. Preconscious
SIGMUND FREUD: PSYCHOANALYSIS
####### DYNAMICS OF PERSONALITY
####### Drives Anxiety
####### Libido or Sex drive Neurotic Need - id
####### Moral Anxiety – superego
####### Realistic Anxiety - ego
####### Thanatos or Aggression / Destructive
####### Drive/ Death Drive
####### Ego is always caught in the middle of the battles between superego’s desires for moral
####### behavior and the id’s desires for immediate gratification.
####### Neurotic Anxiety: caused by ID IMPULSES that the EGO CAN BARELY CONTROL.
####### Moral Anxiety: comes from THREATS OF PUNISHMENT from the SUPEREGO
####### DEFENSE MECHANISMS
- a process used by the ego to distort reality and protect a person from anxiety
####### Fixation “remain” – permanent attachment to earlier stage of life
####### Reaction Formation “disgust” – exaggerated opposite reaction
####### Repression “forget” – most basic defense mechanism
####### Regression “go back” – brief detachment to earlier stage of life to feel safe
####### Introjection “copy” – own others’ standards to reduce feeling of inferiority
####### Displacement “redirect” – put towards others
####### Projection “mirror out” – undesired-self project to others
####### Paranoia – extreme type of projection
####### Sublimation “socially accepted” – produce rewarding things/ accomplishments
Provinces of
the Mind
Id Ego Superego Pleasure Principle Primary Process Reality Principle Secondary Process Idealistic Principle Conscience – punishment from improper Ego-Ideal – experiences from reward Big Superego
- guilt driven
- low self-esteem Big Id
- aggressive
Theories of Personality Reddit
Course: Industrial Psychology
University: University of San Carlos
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