Front Matter 2-4
Preface 2
Learning Objectives 3
Scope of the Project 3
Methodology 4
Limitations 4
I. Introduction 5-10
Introduction to Personality Theory 5
What is a Theory 6
Why Different theories 9
II. Theories of Personality 11-98
Psychoanalytic Theory 11-21
Humanistic Theory 21-36 Trait and Factor Theories- Big Five Factors 36-49 Biological and Genetic Theories 49-52 Social Cognitive Theory 53-74 Holistic-Dynamic Theory 74-98
III. Conclusion 98-99
Final Thoughts 98 Summary 99
Back Matter 100
References 100
PREFACE
What makes people behave as they do? Are people ordinarily aware of what they are doing, or are their behaviors the result of hidden, unconscious motives? Are some people naturally good and others basically evil? Is human conduct largely a product of nature, or is it shaped mostly by environmental influences? Can people freely choose to mold their personality, or are their lives determined by forces beyond their control? Are people best described by their similarities, or is uniqueness the dominant characteristic of humans? What causes some people to develop disordered personalities whereas others seem to grow toward psychological health?
These questions have been asked and debated by philosophers, scholars, and religious thinkers for several thousand years; but most of these discussions were based on personal opinions that were colored
References: Carver, C.S., & Scheier, M.F. (1996). Perspectives on Personality. 3rd edn. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn and Bacon. Divides personality into different perspectives and includes a considerable amount of material on self-regulation. Hall, C. S. (1978}. A Primer of Freudian Psychology. New American Library. A good review of Freud 's work, analyzing the impact of psychoanalysis on more modern theories of personality. Mischel, W. (1999). Introduction to Personality. 6th edn. Orlando: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. An interesting introduction to personality research. Pervin, L.A. (1996). The Science of Personality. New York: John Wiley & Sons. A readable and reasonably comprehensive account of personality research. Peterson, C., Maier, S.F., & Seligman, M.E.P. (1993). Learned Helplessness: A Theory for the Age of Personal Control. New York: Oxford University Press. The history and development of learned helplessness theory. Plomin, R. (1994). Genetics and Experience: The Interplay Between Nature and Nurture. London: Sage. Examines the role of both nature and nurture in the development of individual differences. Plomin, R., DeFries, J.C., McClearn, G.E., & Rutter, M. (1997). Behavioral Genetics. 3rd edn. New York: Freeman. Introduces the field of behavioural genetics, including genetic factors in ability and disability, personality and psychopathology.