• An individual’s unique patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that persists over time and across situations.

•An individual’s characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting

© Prentice Hall, 1999

Personality Perspectives

• Trait theories (Biological)

• Psychodynamic theories

• Behaviorism

• Social-Learning Theories

• Humanistic theories

• Social-Cognitive theories

Biological PerspectiveBiological Perspective

• Major themes & assumptions • 1.personality characteristics genetically determined• 2.behavioral tendencies come from evolutionary history• 3.behavior is produced by complex biological

system (e.g. hormones, neurotransmitters)

strengths: twin/adoption studies pharmacological intervention

Sheldon’s Empirical Findings

• 500 boys in Residential Rehabilitation

• 8 Year Study

• 60% of Delinquents were Mesomorphs

• 30% were non Mesomorphs

Personality TypesPersonality TypesWilliam Sheldon (1954) Somatoform Typology (Physiognomy)

The Mesomorph Mesomorphic Body Type:hard, muscular body

overly mature appearance rectangular shaped

thick skin upright posture

Associated personality traits: adventurous

desire for power/dominance courageous

indifference to othersassertive, bold

zest for physical activity competitive

love of risk/chance

The EndomorphEndomorphic Body Type:

soft body underdeveloped muscles

round shaped over-developed digestive

system Associated personality traits:

love of food tolerant

evenness of emotions love of comfort

sociable good humored

relaxed need for affection

The EctomorphEctomorphic Body Type:

thin flat chest

delicate build young appearance

tall lightly muscled

stoop-shouldered large brain

Associated personality traits: self-conscious

preference for privacy introverted inhibited

socially anxious artistic

mentally intense emotionally restrained

Ernst Kretschmer “Biopsychological Constitutional Typology”

• Pyknic-heavy, soft body, lacks spontaneity/sophistication. Commit nonviolent property crimes

• Athletic-muscular body type aggressive,bully,loud Commit violent offenses• Leptosome- tall/thin highly emotional,

unable to control themselves, Commit sexual offenses/crimes of passion.

Trait PerspectiveTrait Perspective

•Gordon Allport Described personality as fundamental traits Wanted to describe individual traits, not explain

them

• Traits– People’s characteristic pattern of behavior or

feeling action; our conscious (rather than unconscious) motives

Trait PerspectiveHow do we describe & classify different

personalities?(Type A vs Type B or

Depressed vs Cheerful?)

Hans Eysenck's three factor model extraversion, neuroticism, psychoticism

The Big Five

Emotional Stability

Extraversion

Openness

Agreeableness

Conscientiousness

• Calm/Anxious• Secure/Insecure

• Sociable/Retiring• Fun Loving/Sober

• Imaginative/Practical• Independent/Conforming

• Soft-Hearted/Ruthless• Trusting/Suspicious

• Organized/Disorganized• Careful/Careless

Assessing Traits

How can we assess traits?(aim to simplify person’s behavior patterns)

MMPIMMPI• most widely used personality inventory• assess psychological disorders (not normal traits)• empirically derived - test items selected based upon how well they discriminate groups of traits

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator - classifies peoplebased upon responses to 126 questions