Psychological Development: Mother Teresa

Psychological Development: Mother Teresa

Tammy Walton

Kiesa Freeman

Gen 300

April 24, 2013

Psychological Development: Mother Teresa

I. Psychological Development: Mother Teresa II. Mother Teresa A. Environmental Influences B. Hereditary Influences C. Social Influences III. Theories of Personality A. Phenomenological Theory of Personality B. Trait Theory of Personality C. Phenomenological or Trait Theory
Conclusion

Psychological Development: Mother Teresa

Psychological development is the development of human beings cognitive, social, intellectual, emotional functioning, and capabilities, from the time of infancy, toddler, adolescent, adulthood, and old age. The psychological development of Mother Teresa during her life span has a number of influences both hereditary and environmental (“Psychological development,” 2013) Mother Teresa Mother Teresa, at the age of 12, felt the strong calling “of God.” At this young age she knew, she wanted to be a missionary to spread the love of Jesus. Mother Teresa made her first vows in 1931, choosing the name of Teresa, honoring both saints at the same time, Teresa of Auila and Theresa of Lisieux (Guntzelman, 1996-2012). Mother Teresa started the Missionary of Charity in 1950. Mother Teresa died on September 5, 1997.
Environmental Influences Mother Teresa was a Godly woman influenced by her Father who instilled the word “of God” into all his children. He did this by reading different Holy Books to them daily. Mother Teresa’s Father cared for the poor, and the sick, and so did she. Her Mother was a charitable, kind, and modest women. Although she was attractive, she did not show it, she dressed as much older women. Her Mother lived a Christian life, and died a Christian death. Her Mother greatly influenced her as well as her Father. Mother Teresa’s environmental (non-genetic) influences on her moral development are her parents, her schools, the nunnery, and her fear, and love, “of God.”

Hereditary Influences Hereditary influences are genetically inherited, past down from one generation to the next. Mother Teresa genetic influences were past down from her Fathers side of the Family. Caring for the poor, and sick, came natural to her because her Father, and her Grand- Father, both had the need to take care of the underprivileged. Her Grand-Father took in the children of his slaves and raised them as his own. He also was a man of wealth, using his money to contribute to charities, feed the hungry, and help those in poverty. These traits were past down to her Father and down to her. These are Mother Teresa’s genetic influences on her moral development.
Social Influences Wealth is the social influence that affected Mother Teresa and her psychological development. Coming from a family of wealth, let her attend the best schools and the nunnery. Wealth allowed her to help the needy, those without food, and water, and those with illnesses who needed medical attention. It allowed her Father to have the Holy Books, which were read to instill the word “of God” into his children. Her wealthy family and environment are the reasons for her social advantages. Mother Teresa’s parents, sister, brother, the nunnery, and certain people she met during her life span, were her support system both morally, and socially. Theories of Personality “The unique pattern of psychology and behavioral characteristics by which each person can be distinguished from other people” (Kagan, (n.d.)) Theories of personality are ways to explain behavior, individual differences, personal characteristics, personality development from infancy to adulthood, and the cause, nature, and the treatment of psychological disorders.
Phenomenological Theory of Personality Phenomenological theory states that people are naturally attracted to goodness, love, and motivation; it pushes them forward, and fulfills ones potential. A basic component of growth, and well-being, and the self-confidence to act upon, or to express a persons true feelings, and beliefs. Mother Teresa displayed true feelings about her love for “God.” She believed in “God” with all her heart and soul. The phenomenological theory of personality represents her personality through out her life. Taking her vows to be obedient, to live in poverty, to stay pure in becoming a Nunn, and a servant to “God,” coincide with this theory. She successfully fulfilled her destiny and her full potential. Mother Teresa’s love for human-kind, the goodness in her, the need to help the sick, and the poor, are things that motivated her, and pushed her forward. These are traits of the phenomenological theory of personality.
Trait Theory of Personality The trait theory of personality is explained as a set of characteristics that causes an individual to behave in certain ways, unlike the phenomenological theory the trait theory wants to know the difference between individuals (Cherry, 2013). Gordon Allen put these traits into three levels, the first is the cardinal traits. The cardinal traits are rare traits that a person develops in the later part of life. An individual is known specifically for a unique set of traits. Mother Teresa showed cardinal traits, which dominated her throughout life and were specific and unique to her. Her dominating traits; the love “of God,” her kindness, generosity, caring, and her Christian ways. These dominating traits stuck with her throughout her life, never swaggering, and staying strong up to the time of her death. Mother Teresa was well known for her traits, anytime an individual heard her name the thought that came to mind was goodness, acts of kindness, and the most caring women who served “God,” with all her heart, and soul.
Phenomenological or Trait Approach The phenomenological approach best explains Mother Teresa’s behaviors and achievements. The cardinal level of the trait approach is rare, and tends to develop late in a person’s life. Mother Teresa’s personality, and traits, both environmental, and hereditary, stayed with her throughout childhood, adolescents, adulthood, and old age. For this reason the trait approach is not suitable for Mother Teresa. The phenomenological approach, which says a person is attracted to goodness, strong in his or her beliefs, fulfills his or her own potential; best describes Mother Teresa’s personal development. During her lifetime she displayed goodness, acts of goodness, kindness, acts of kindness, and intense concern for the poor, and for the sick. She stayed strong in her beliefs of the Christian ways, and in her love, and her fear “of God.” Conclusion Mother Teresa was a “Godly” woman from the time of childhood until her death. Her hereditary factors were past down from her father. These were traits of kindness, caring for the poor, and the sick. Mother Teresa’s parents, sister, brother, the Nunnery, and “God,” are the environmental factors in her psychological development. The phenomenological theory best fits Mother Teresa’s behavior and personality. The cardinal level in the trait theory states that a person has dominating traits that are unique and rare and sets him or her apart from another individual. The cardinal traits start late in life whereas Mother Teresa’s traits were from childhood until old age, her entire life span. She sought goodness and stayed with her beliefs until her death. Mother Teresa is known throughout history as women who served “God” obediently throughout her life here on earth.

References
Cherry, K. (2013). Trait Theory of Personality. The trait theory of personality
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Guntzelman, J.(1996-2012).Mother Teresa made her first vows. American Catholic Retrieved from http://catalog.americancatholic.org/product.asp?prodid=0-86716-311-9
Kagan, J. (n.d).The unique pattern of psychology. Psychology Retrieved from http://psychology.jrank.org/pages/484/Personality.html
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References: Cherry, K. (2013). Trait Theory of Personality. The trait theory of personality . Retrieved from http://psychology.about.com/od/theoriesofpersonality/a/trait-theory.htm Guntzelman, J.(1996-2012).Mother Teresa made her first vows