PREVNEXTSUBMITTable of ContentsResourcesGlossaryTranscriptClear and return to MenuSearch ResultsFilterSlide TextNotesSearch in:Check to includeSearch...TermsDefinitionFINISHfinishdefinitionresourcessearchpauseplayreplaysubmitnextpreviousvolumeSUBMIT ALLsubmit allQuestion ListMore infoSend an emailCloseBioExit<html><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>In order to understand what is meant by “personality theory,” we first need to understand what is meant by “personality.”</textformat></html><html><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>You may have heard one of the more popular Dr. Suess quote about “you.” I think that sums it up pretty well. Personality is what it is about you that is consistent over time and situation and what it is about you that distinguishes you from other people. Now really, what could be more interesting than that? </textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'></textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>The definition of personality provided in your text is a pattern of relatively permanent traits and unique characteristics that give both consistency and individuality to a person’s behavior. It is pretty much the same thing.</textformat></html><html><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>So now that we know what personality is, and that it’s something everyone has, despite what you might think about (fill in the blank), the next question is “what causes it?” </textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'></textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>What makes people think, feel, and behave as they do? Do they have a choice? Do unconscious factors play a role? What about nature vs. nurture? Is who we are a direct product of our genes, or do other aspects of our environment, such as our parental influences, play a more significant role. Why do people at times behave in such a maladaptive manner? What causes mental disturbances? And so on.</textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'></textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>This is where theories come in. This is where I think it gets really interesting!</textformat></html><html><textformat leading='2' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>Let’s break down the definition of a </textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>scientific theory: A theory refers to </textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>a set of related assumptions, not a </textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>single assumption, and not </textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>disconnected assumptions. And </textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>they are assumptions, not facts, so </textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>we need to continuously the validity</textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>the ideas. And these assumptions </textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>must be logical and precise enough </textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>that from these assumptions </textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>hypotheses can be generated, and </textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>tested. </textformat></html><html><textformat leading='2' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>The cycle of science in research, and in personality research, generally involves both deductive reasoning (from theory to testing hypotheses) and inductive reasoning (observing data and modifying the theory). Though most of the theorists we’ll cover did not conduct experiments to test their theories, they did observe data, most commonly as a result of therapeutic encounters with patients. Many of them modified their theories as a result. Freud, for example, modified his theories a handful of times over his long career.</textformat><textformat leading='2' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'></textformat><textformat leading='2' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>In addition to generating research, a theory is useful to organize observation, or give meaning to data. For instance, we might observe a friend behaving in a manner that seems inconsistent with their stated values, or we might observe this in ourselves. If we are familiar with Carl Rogers theorizing about incongruence, then these behaviors may make a whole lot more sense.</textformat><textformat leading='2' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'></textformat><textformat leading='2' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>When a theory no longer generates research or offers a viable explanation for data, then it loses its usefulness. </textformat></html><html><textformat leading='2' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>Often there are multiple theories that can explain the same observation. Take, for instance, a tendency for some women to adopt a traditionally masculine role. Alfred Adler’s theorizing would explain this as result of overcompensation in response to patriarchal cultural values (what he called the “masculine protest”), whereas Freud would attribute this to “penis envy.”</textformat><textformat leading='2' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'></textformat><textformat leading='2' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>This raises two questions: Why do theories differ? </textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>And, can only one theory be right?</textformat></html><html><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>Lets start with the second question:</textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'></textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>In response, it’s important to keep in mind that personality is complex, and therefor it is often possible, and likely I would argue, that multiple theories are to some extent right. So, if were trying to understand women’s feelings about being a woman, well yeah, the reaction to societal views presumably play an important role, but that doesn't mean that feelings associated with the anatomy of one’s own body does not also contribute to the phenomenon. (Please note: I am not arguing that there is validity to the concept of penis envy!) The point is, that more than one theory can be true, and we can get the greatest insight into personality by studying many theories. </textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'></textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>Also, theories differ in their focus. For example, Skinner’s theorizing may be very be very relevant to understanding why people engage in particular behaviors. but will not be very useful if we want to understand the meaning of our own dreams. And if we are interested in neuroticism, Horney’s insights may be particularly relevant, but if we are more interested in understanding health, then we might be better off studying Maslow. </textformat></html><html><textformat leading='2' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>In response to the question </textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>why </textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>theories differ</textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>, the position </textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>taken by your text is that </textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>theories differ because </textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>theorists differ. They differ </textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>in their personal backgrounds, </textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>their philosophical orientation, </textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>and their personalities. Though </textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>they must be as objective as </textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>possible when collecting their </textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>data, the data they chose to </textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>observe, and their interpretations</textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>vary. In short, each theorist has</textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>his or her own way of looking </textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>at things. </textformat><textformat leading='2' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'></textformat><textformat leading='2' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>Psychology of science </textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>is a </textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>new subfield of psychology</textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'> that addresses these issues.</textformat><textformat leading='2' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'></textformat><textformat leading='2' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>Do you recognize this name? </textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>You should, because Gregory </textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>Feist is one of the author’s of </textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>your textbook. He’s also one</textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>of the leading researchers in </textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>this new field, hence </textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>explaining the focus on the </textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>lives of the theorists in our </textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>text. You can read an interview </textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>with him about the psychology </textformat><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>of science, if you are interested. </textformat></html><html><textformat leading='2' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>Finally, I just want to spend a few minutes talking about personality psychology as it compares to another subfield in psychology, social psychology, which happens to be the perspective from which I conduct my research. Social psychologists focus on a different cause of why people do what they do: the situation. This is in contrast to a person-based approach, where we assume that it is something about the person.</textformat><textformat leading='2' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>In practice most contemporary social psychologists take an interaction approach. So, for instance, in my research on objectification I don’t just assume that women objectify themselves because of cultural pressures, but that some women’s personalities may make them more or less likely to be influenced by these pressures. </textformat><textformat leading='2' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>The approach we’ll take in this class is a person-based approach. We will focus on the person, and assume personality is what influences behavior. However, from the perspective of most of the theories we will discuss, the situation is also important. But it’s important in terms of its influence on the person. For example, many theories suggest personality is a result of life experiences, often beginning early in childhood. These experiences influence the person, which causes their behavior. </textformat><textformat leading='2' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>So, just like the case I made for multiple theories being right, we don’t need to take a position as to whether personality or the situation matters more. But in this class our focus is on the person.</textformat></html><html><textformat leading='0' tabstops='[0, 48, 96, 144]' blockindent='0' indent='0'>You should now have a pretty good idea of what to expect from this course. We will study a number of theories that help explain what makes you you, and we can consider whether these theories are useful. We will study the theorists, in addition to the theories, because we assume whom a person is influences the theories they develop. </textformat></html>