Personality Theory Final Paper due in 24 hours

Initial Assumptions About Personality Development

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March 3, 2020

Explain your view of the impact of genetics and the environment on the development of personality.

Both genetics and the environment have significant impacts on personality. Genetics is, however, a stronger component than the environment. Nature is more important than nurture in the development of personality traits. This is because personality tends to form in the early stages of life.

Genes may increase or decrease a certain characteristic in humans. Both behavioral and molecular genetics is focused on the study of genes that are associated with specific personalities. "Behavioral genetics studies have found that, for most traits, genetics is more important than parental influence” (Lecci, 2015). Molecular genetics also identify the specific genes that cause differences in personalities. However, a single gene does not determine the personality. The action of multiple genes that work together determine personality.

Environmental factors play an important role in shaping personality traits. People who live together for long may start behaving or acting the same way. Environmental influences have huge impacts on personality. Personality is not inherited from parents.

Discuss how understanding personality theory can help you to be successful in your career.

Understanding personality theory can help one succeed in his/her career in several ways. First of all, it helps one narrow down his/her field. By understanding personality theories, one can pick a career that aligns with their personalities. Personality theories can help one determine their personality types. This is because one can compare their traits to the ones listen to a specific personality type. For those who are creative, they can pick careers that align with creativity.

Understanding personality theory also enables one to identify his/her strongest skills. Some people may be more organized and analytical than others. Some may be good at networking and socializing while others may be good at maintaining peace and staying silent. If one realizes that he/she is good at networking, they might take a career that relates to networking. “If you have a deeper level of awareness of your strongest skills, it can help guide you to a career that truly showcases those skills” (Stahl, 2017). Those who are analytical may take careers related to science.

It is possible to reveal the best work environment for a person by understanding personality theories. Extroverts are more confident and may want to work with more people. On the other side, introverts may only want to work with few people because they are quite shy. “Certain personality types function better in some environments than others…” (Stahl, 2017). Introverts may also be more comfortable working alone rather than working in a group.

Describe the four tools used for assessing personality outlined in Section 1.5 of your text.

The four tools used for assessing personality are structured interviews, self-report inventories and objective tests, projective tests, and rating scales and checklists.

Structured interviews may be designed to assess a specific personality trait or a wide range of traits. Predetermined questions are asked to a subject, after which the answers given to the interview questions are matched with DSM’s nosological structure. Structured interviews are pathology-based. The questions asked are focused on determining the reasons or factors that could lead to a specific personality trait.

Self-report inventories and objective tests are also used in assessing personality. Objective tests may be self-administered, administered by researchers or clinicians. The scales used in objective tests are mostly obtained from empirical research. An example of an objective test is the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory® -2 which is extensively validated. “The MMPI--2 has resulted in over 2,800 published journal articles, book chapters, and textbooks, making it one of the most extensively studied tools of assessment”. Computer scoring is used because hand scoring is complex.

The personality assessment inventory is used to assess interpersonal relations, harm potential complications for treatment and behavior disorders. “The PAI® is a 344-item measure that includes 22 scales focusing on psychiatric disorders and several validity indexes”. It is applicable in both nonclinical and clinical settings.

Projective tests are based on the idiosyncratic points of view of humans. “These instruments are based on the assumption that people perceive the world from their own, idiosyncratic point of view” (Lecci, 2015). Individuals project unconscious fears, thoughts, and wishes when showed ambiguous stimuli. The Rorschach Inkblot Method is the most popular projective test. The problem of using this test is that users must accept the psychodynamic theory assumptions. The Thematic Apperception Test is also used in clinical practice to assess personalities.

Ratings scales and checklists are also used in assessing personalities. They ask subject matters to determine if a specific item is appropriate. When a rating scale is used, subject matters are asked their extent of agreement to various items. They are mostly scored from zero to five. Examples of rating scales include the psychopathy checklist-revised (PCL-R) and the Positive Affect/Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS).

Discuss how your personality developmental journey impacted these initial assumptions about personality development.

The personality development journey impacted the initial assumptions about personality development. Most of my behaviors today are influenced by my early behaviors as a kid. For example, the trait of being organized was developed from the parents. My positive relationships with parents as a kid had a good impact on becoming respectable. The environment has also impacted my personality growing up. Despite being outspoken as a kid, this changed recently to balancing extroversion and introversion. Not being exposed to violence made me a more peaceful and unaggressive person. The assumptions about personality development are true considering my personality development journey.

REFERENCES

Lecci, L. B. (2015). Personality. Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu

Lerner, H. (2013, March 5). Become successful by understanding people's personalities (Links to an external site.). Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/hannylerner/2013/03/05/understand-peoples-personalities-and-become-successful/#1f1c9fda6701

Stahl, A. (2017, April 30). 3 ways of knowing your personality type can help you with your career (Links to an external site.). Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/ashleystahl/2017/04/30/3-ways-knowing-your-personality-type-can-help-you-with-your-career/#311ed4c43a33