Personality Notes

Historical
Figures
Emphasis

Major
points

Psychodynamic Theory
Carl Jung
Sigmund Freud
Object relations
Interpersonal
Relationships

Humanistic
Carl Rogers
Maslow
Emphasis on humans in
their environments and
meaning in life.

Rogers
Actualising tendency
People aspire to be the
best they can be
Most basic tool
empathy
Person centred

Therapy

The residues of past

relationships shape
emotions and
behaviour.
Some of these are
unconscious, sub
conscious and
conscious
Problems traced back
to maladaptive
relationships in early
life

Focuses on developing
understanding of early
relationships and the
impact later in life.
Hypnotherapy
The basic method of
psychoanalysis is
interpretation (association
tests, dream analysis and
hypnotherapy) of the
patient's unconscious
conflicts that are
interfering with current-day
functioning.

Maslow
Deficiency Needs
(survival)
Each need must be
met before moving to
the higher level
Growth Needs (Self
Actualisation)
Understanding
Aesthetic beauty
S. A. reaching ones
own potential
Transcendence help
others to reach
potential

Rogers
Person centred
Psychotherapy developed
that allowed clients to
grow and aspire to better
themselves.
Unconditonal positive
regard
Maslow
Deficiency needs must be
discovered and met

Trait
Eysenck
Catell
Personality Traits
(temperaments) are
largely inherited and can
be characterised by
several main personality
dimensions.
Certain traits are
common to all people
and fit along
personality
continuums,
dimensions.
Temperaments cannot
be altered, some
behaviours can be
learned to cover up
personality defects.
The combination and
interaction of various
traits forms a
personality that is
unique to each
individual.
Trait theory is focused
on identifying and
measuring these
individual personality
characteristics
Personality tests
EPQ
Big 5
Myers Briggs (Often
work based)
Catell 16PF
Personality tests.
Work related recognises
we all have specific
preferences in the way we
construe our experiences,
and these preferences
underlie our interests,
needs, values, and
motivation.
Employers can utilise
these
strengths/preferences in
workplace to make
employees comfortable
and effective.

Limitations

Advantage
s

Psychodynamic Theory
Based on understanding
that cannot be tested
unscientific (unconscious
mind)
Based on limited case
studies
Rejects choice/free will
(humanism)
Lacks objectivity (empirical
measurement)
Acknowledges
interpersonal
relationships, importance
of childhood

Humanistic
Does not explain the
effects of social
interaction, the presence
of deviance, or personality
continuity.
Lacks objectivity (empirical
measurement)

Trait
Poor predictor of
behaviour
Doesnt address or explain
individual differences
Psychologists cant agree
on the number of traits.

Recognises humans within

their environment
Values personal ideas and
fulfillment

Has objectivity (can be

measured scientifically.
Focuses on differences
between individuals

Personality Disorder
Personality that is so different that it impairs the ability to function socially or
occupationally
Reliability and Validity
Reliability
Do personality tests get the same results every time?
Validity
Does the test measure personality? Face Validity
Are other variables affecting the results? Internal Validity
Does the test have external validity?
Can the test predict future behaviour? Predictive Validity