Personality Development, Trait and

Self Theories
Personality Development Theories
Psychodynamic Approach- Freud
Adlers Individual Psychology Theory
Eriksons Eight Stages of Psychosocial Development
Trait Theories
The Big 5
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
Based on Carl Jungs psychological types
Self-Theory- Humanistic Theory and Carl Rogers and
Abraham Maslow
Victor Frankl: Search for Meaning
Virginia Satir: Self-Worth
 Some Key Freudian Terms

Psyche: Freuds term for the personality;

contains id, ego, and superego
Id: composed of the basic biological
drives, such as hunger, thirst, sexual
impulses, survival
Pleasure principal- demands immediate
gratification
Superego (conscience): values, morals,
religious beliefs, ideals of parents and
society
Develops around age 4
 Ego to the Rescue
EGO= the reality principle
Develops after first year of life
Id and Superego in conflict
Creates anxiety
Ego encourages id to seek gratification through
realistic and socially acceptable means
Ego creates defense mechanisms, which distorts
ids impulses into socially acceptable forms
Freud: Levels of Awareness

Unconscious: Holds repressed

memories and emotions and the ids
instinctual drives
Conscious: Everything you are aware of
at a given moment including thoughts,
perceptions, feelings, and memories
Preconscious: Material that can easily
be brought into awareness
Fig. 12-5, p. 400
 Adlers Individual Psychology
Theory
Inferiority complex
Drives us toward superiority
Compensation- a good thing
Over-compensation- not so healthy
Superiority- living up to your highest potential
Explains motivation
Large focus on early childhood experiences

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Se5c4v09S-s
Erik Eriksons Eight Stages of
Psychosocial Dilemmas
p. 107
 Eriksons Stages of Psychosocial
Dilemna/Development
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=vapEpQmz86o
 Life Events

Developmental tasks: Any skill that

must be mastered, or personal change
that must take place, for optimal
development (e.g., learning to read and
adjusting to sexual maturity)

Psychosocial dilemma: Conflict

between personal impulses and the
social world
 Stage One: Trust versus
Mistrust (Birth1)
Children are completely dependent on
others
Trust: Established when babies given
adequate warmth, touching, love, and
physical care
Mistrust: Caused by inadequate or
unpredictable care and by cold, indifferent,
and rejecting parents
 Stage Two: Autonomy versus
Shame and Doubt (13)
Autonomy: Doing things for themselves
Overprotective or ridiculing parents may
cause children to doubt abilities and feel
shameful about their actions
 Stage Three: Initiative versus
Guilt
(35)
Initiative: Parents reinforce via giving
children freedom to play, use imagination,
and ask questions
Guilt: May occur if parents criticize,
prevent play, or discourage a childs
questions
 Stage Four: Industry versus
Inferiority (612)
Industry: Occurs when child is praised for
productive activities, such as painting and
building
Inferiority: Occurs if childs efforts are
regarded as messy or inadequate
 Stage Five (Adolescence):
Identity versus Role Confusion
Identity: For adolescents; problems
answering, Who am I?
Role Confusion: Occurs when
adolescents are unsure of where they are
going and who they are
 Stage Six (Young Adulthood):
Intimacy versus Isolation
Intimacy: Ability to care about others and
to share experiences with them
Isolation: Feeling alone and uncared for in
life
 Stage Seven (Middle
Adulthood): Generativity versus
Stagnation
Generativity: Interest in guiding the next
generation
Stagnation: When one is only concerned
with ones own needs and comforts
 Stage Eight (Late Adulthood):
Integrity versus Despair
Integrity: Self-respect; developed when
people have lived richly and responsibly
Despair: Occurs when previous life
events are viewed with regret;
experiences heartache and remorse
 Trait Theories
Attempt to learn what traits make up
personality and how they relate to
actual behavior
Remember: Personality traits are the
stable and consistent personal
characteristics
Trait theories describe personality but
dont show how people developed
those traits
 The Big Five Personality
Factors:
Traits that relate to temperament
Openness to experience
Conscientiousness
Extroversion
Agreeableness
Neuroticism
 Self-theory: Carl Rogers and
Humanistic Theory
Unconditional positive regard (UPR)-
Love or unconditional acceptance is given
regardless of behavior.
Leads to a positive realistic self-concept, high
self-esteem and self-respect (page 65)
 Carl Rogers and
Abraham Maslow
Self-actualization: Process of
fulfillment of ones own unique potentials
The key is self-concept

Peak experiences: Temporary

moments of self-actualization

Think about these times in our lives.

Lets discuss.
 Characteristics of Self-
Actualizers
Efficient perceptions of reality
Comfortable acceptance of self, others,
and nature
Spontaneity
Task centering
Autonomy
 Characteristics of Self-
Actualizers (cont)
Continued freshness of appreciation
Fellowship with humanity
Profound interpersonal relationships
Comfort with solitude
Non-hostile sense of humor
Peak experiences
 How to Become Self-Actualized
(Maslow, 1971)
Be willing to change
Take responsibility
Examine your motives
Experience honestly and directly
 How to Become Self-Actualized
(Maslow, 1971) (cont)
Make use of positive experiences
Be prepared to be different
Get involved
Assess your progress