Personality according to the four psychological forces
INTRODUCTION
The study of personality is one of the major topics of interest within the field of psychology. Numerous personality theories exist, and most of the major ones fall into the four psychological forces. Each of these forces describes the theorists associated with each force and the core ideas that influence personality in each perspective. This paper will discuss my perspective on personality and change across the four forces by analyzing each force and concluding with my overall viewpoint.
THE FIRST FORCE- PSYCHODYNAMIC
The psychoanalytic perspective of personality focuses on the “unconscious inner conflicts as people strive to achieve their goals” (Ivey, I.D’ Andrea & Ivey 2012). It views behavior as the outcome of motives, drives, needs, and conflicts. These unconscious processes influence the things to which we attend and how we feel (Pervin and John 2001). As a result, our unconscious thoughts and feelings direct much of our emotional life and guide our decisions.
This perspective is the most challenging to my thoughts on personality and change. This perspective fails to see individuals as agents of free-will. It views individuals behavior as predetermined based on their journey through the psychosexual development stages. Basing an individual’s adult personality on their childhood experiences devalues the importance of looking at an individual holistically.
The psychodynamic perspective is not relevant to populations groups other than those in the middle-class white population group. This population group limitation will make it highly challenging to a therapist within a multicultural society. A psychodynamic perspective to therapy ignores the contextual and environmental issues that affect an individual’s personality.
THE SECOND FORCE- COGNITIVE/BEHAVIORAL
According to the behavioral perspective people have consistent behavior patterns because they have particular kinds of response tendencies. Behaviors that have positive consequences
The study of personality is one of the major topics of interest within the field of psychology. Numerous personality theories exist, and most of the major ones fall into the four psychological forces. Each of these forces describes the theorists associated with each force and the core ideas that influence personality in each perspective. This paper will discuss my perspective on personality and change across the four forces by analyzing each force and concluding with my overall viewpoint.
THE FIRST FORCE- PSYCHODYNAMIC
The psychoanalytic perspective of personality focuses on the “unconscious inner conflicts as people strive to achieve their goals” (Ivey, I.D’ Andrea & Ivey 2012). It views behavior as the outcome of motives, drives, needs, and conflicts. These unconscious processes influence the things to which we attend and how we feel (Pervin and John 2001). As a result, our unconscious thoughts and feelings direct much of our emotional life and guide our decisions.
This perspective is the most challenging to my thoughts on personality and change. This perspective fails to see individuals as agents of free-will. It views individuals behavior as predetermined based on their journey through the psychosexual development stages. Basing an individual’s adult personality on their childhood experiences devalues the importance of looking at an individual holistically.
The psychodynamic perspective is not relevant to populations groups other than those in the middle-class white population group. This population group limitation will make it highly challenging to a therapist within a multicultural society. A psychodynamic perspective to therapy ignores the contextual and environmental issues that affect an individual’s personality.
THE SECOND FORCE- COGNITIVE/BEHAVIORAL
According to the behavioral perspective people have consistent behavior patterns because they have particular kinds of response tendencies. Behaviors that have positive consequences
References: Ivey, A.E., I.D’ Andrea, M.J., & Ivey, M.B. (2012). Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy: A multicultural perspective Pervin, L.A.,& John.L.P. (2001). Handbook of personality. New York: Guildford Press. Bandura, A. (1986). Social Foundations of thought and action. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall. Vivyan, C. (2009). An introductory Self-Help Course in CBT. www.getselfhelp.co.uk Greenberg, L., Rice, L., & Elliot, P Landrin, H. (1992). Introduction: Cultural diversity, contextualism, and feminist psychology. Clinical Psychology review, 12, 401-415. Liriano, D. (2005). Fostering feminist principles in our community, women and therapy, 28, 3-4, 189-200