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Unit 10: Personality theory:

this unit covers theory and theorists of personality; knowing this unit allows you to have a basic understanding of the units which follow


AB
personalitythe sum total of an individual's relatively organized, consistent and unique thoughts and reactions to the environment
psychoanalytic theoryschool of thought emphasizing the role of the unconscious mind in developing personality
Freudfounder of psychoanalytic theory
unconsciousthe part of the mind which stores our thoughts, feeling, wishes, impulses, etc. that we are not aware of at any given time
idenergy system present at birth; operates on the unconscious level, operates on the pleasure principle; focuses on sex and aggression
pleasure principleid operates on this; emphasizes wanting all pleasure, not pain; give me what I want when I want it
super egooperates on the preconscious level; develops around 18 mos; strives for perfection; acts as your conscience
ego idealsuper ego's desire to have you be a perfect person
preconsciouslevel of the mind which floats in and out of consciousness
egoconscious level of a person's awareness; what the world sees; Freudian concept
reality principleoperating principle of the ego; trying to meet the demands of the id and superego in a healthy, realistic way
defense mechanismsFreudian idea that the id doesn't want to feel pain so it sends these techniques to the ego to defend it from anxiety
displacementdefense mechanism; when you take energy out on someone or something other than the true source of your feelings
repressionmotivated forgetting; putting thoughts in the unconscious
regressiondefense mechanism; acting in a childlike manner
reaction formationdefense mechanism; acting the opposite of what you really feel
projectiondefense mechanism; suggesting that someone else feels the way you really do
denialdefense mechanism; saying that something didn't happen
rationalizationdefense mechanism; explaining away or justifying what you did
libidosexual energy
oral stagepsychosexual stage where pleasure is derived from the mouth
anal stagepsychosexual stage where pleasure is derived by controlling feces
phallic stagepsychosexual stage where a child focuses on genitalia
Oedipal conflictpart of the phallic stage when boys unconsciously fall in love with their mothers and desire to get rid of their fathers
fear of castrationpart of phallic stage when a boy unconsciously fears his father will find out he desires his mother and fears his father will castrate him
Electra Complexpart of phallic stage when girls unconsciously desire their fathers
penis envypart of phallic stage when girls desire to be like their fathers
latencywhen a child sublimates rather than focus on unconscious sexual issues
sublimationredirecting your sexual energy
genital stagelast psychosexual stage when person learns to give and receive mature love
Jungpsychoanalytic theorist; one time follower of Freud
personal unconsciousJung's idea that a person has a personal/unique area of the mind which storehouses their personal memories and thoughts
collective unconsciousJungian idea that every person and generation shares a part of their unconscious mind making us all connected
archetypesuniversal memories stored in the collective unconscious
shadowJungian archetype that we have a "dark" side we don't show the world
personaJungian archetype that we have a face we show the world
anima/animusJungian archetype; feminine side of men; masculine side of women
introversionpersonality trait marked by withdrawn, shy inward behavior
extroversionpersonality trait marked by outward, "life of the party", outgoing behavior
social psychoanalytical/neo-Freudian theoryschool of thought which recognizes the unconscious, but focuses on environmental factors which affect personality
Adlerneo-Freud focusing on the role of inferiority in developing personality
inferiorityAdlerian idea suggesting we feel "less than" others; we don't measure up
creative selfAdlerian concept in which we strive to be a fulfilled person who has lived up to their potential
striving for superiorityAdlerian concept which suggests that to overcome inferiority we try to please others or society
free willAdlerian concept where we try to please ourselves to overcome inferiority
lifestyleAdlerian concept of the choice you make in terms of the way you overcome inferiority in an effort to achieve your creative self
Frommneo-Freud who focuses on the idea that freedom leads to lonliness
need to belongFromm's idea that we need to feel as though we fit in; in many cases we conform
need for an identityFromm idea that we need to be seen as a unique individual
Horneyneo-Freud; focuses on the role of the parent child relationship in determining personality
insecurityHorney idea that we feel unsafe and unsure and that it is the parents' responsibility to provide a sense of security
basic hostility/basic anxietyHorney idea that when we feel insecure we will feel this
coping mechanismsHorney idea that we use these techniques when we feel insecure
moving away from otherscoping mechanism where you choose to isolate yourself from others when you feel insecure
moving toward otherscoping mechanisms where you look for sympathy, cling to others, are permiscuous, etc when you feel insecure
moving against otherscoping mechanism where you are aggressive and domineering toward others when you feel insecure
Sullivanneo-Freud; believes personality is defined by interpersonal relationships
interpersonal relationshipsrelationships we have with others
dynamismSullivan idea; the small habits we have in a relationship
personificationSullivan idea; the labels we attach to relationships and act accordingly
cognitive processesSullivan ideas; the ways in which we see someone as a unique individual
trait/type theoryschool of thought focusing on predisposed traits and types in personality
Allporttrait/type theorist who focuses on traits making up your disposition
common traitstraits that are representative in a culture or ethnic group of people
special traitstraits which are unique to a person
cardinal dispositionAllport idea that some people have one or more traits which define everything about them
central dispositionthe 5-10 traits which define who we are
secondary dispositionAllport idea; our likes and dislikes that are part of our personality
Cattelltrait/type theorist; focuses on the factor theory of personality; there are 16 traits that we all have
surface traitsCattell's idea that these are the traits we show
source traitsCattell's idea that these are traits that lie underneath the surface
Sheldontrait/type theorist focusing on somatotypes defining personality
somatotypebody type
endomorphround body, soft; characterized by friendly,laid back personality
mesomorphangular, hard body; characterized by aggressive, assertive personality
ectomorphthin, angular body; characterized by withdrawn, shy personality
behaviorismschool of thought suggesting personality is learned
Skinnerbehaviorist who focuses on the role of reinforcement and operant conditioning in personality
reinforcementincreasing a behavior by giving something someone wants or taking away what they don't want
Bandurabehaviorist that focuses on the role of modeling in personality
Social Learning theoryBandura's theory of modeling
self efficacyBandura's idea of whether or not we believe our efforts make a difference
Rottercognitive behaviorist
locus of controlRotter's idea of where we believe the responsibility of behavior resides: internally or externally
humanismschool of thought focusing on the role of free will in determining personality
Maslowhumanist who focuses on the role of our hierarchy of needs in determining behavior
hierarcy of needsMaslow's idea that our personality is reflected in how we meet our needs (physiological, safety, love and belongingness, esteem, self actualization)
Rogershumanist focusing on the goodness of people and free will
phenomenological fieldRogers idea of what we are experiencing at the moment
selfself concept; what we choose to believe is reality
organismRogers idea; the reality of who we really are
positive regardRogers idea; compliments and other positive statements made to people
unconditional positive regardRogers idea; when someone loves us no matter what
conditions of worthRogers idea; verbal or non verbal statements made that indicate someone will only like us "if..."
congruenceRogers idea; when the self and organism matchup
incongruenceRogers idea; when the self and organism don't match up; can lead to mental illness
fully functioning personRogers idea; when you achieve congruence; goal for mental health
eclectictaking a little bit from different theories