Personality Theories

Personality Theories – Ch. 12
Assigned Readings: pg. 20, “Social Psychology & Cross-Cultural Psychology”; 383, “Revealing Who We Really Are”; pg. 398, “Murray’s Personological Approach”; pg. 407, “Can Personality Change”; pgs. 414 – 415, “The Type A/ Type B Behavior Pattern”

I. Personality (pgs. 384) - an individual's unique and relatively _______________ patterns of behavior, thoughts, and emotions; consistent behavioral traits; general style of interacting with the world

A. Urich et al. 1963 study:

II. Historical perspectives: A. Galen's humor theory - relative concentrations of four humors or bodily fluids are responsible for personality traits 1. Blood – Sanguine

2. Phlegm – Phlematic

3. Yellow bile – Choleric

4. Black bile – Melancholic

B. Gall's phrenology –

III. Trait Theories of Personality (pgs. 393 – 397) C. Trait Theories
1. What is the difference between a trait and a state?

2. Is your personality stable or does it change as you age?

3. Is your personality inherited?

D. Allport’s Trait Theory –

5. Secondary traits –

6. Central traits –

7. Cardinal trait –

E. Eysenck’s Trait Theory –

1. Psychoticism -

2. Extroversion –

3. Neurotism -

F. The "Big Five": (Chart pg. 395, fig. 12.4; online assessment on BB) 8. Openness –

9. Conscientiousness –

10. Extroversion –

Introversion –

11. Agreeableness –

12. Neuroticism -

E. Do animals have personalities? 1. Study by Gosling & John

2. Do dogs and owners have similar personalities?

F. Criticisms of Trait Theories:

IV. Freud's theory of personality (pgs. 383 – 389): G. Three levels of consciousness 13. conscious mind - thoughts/ motives currently aware of

14. preconscious mind –