PSY 330 Psychology Final Paper - DUE in 5 HRS!

Running head: INTEGRATIVE 1

PERSONALITY 2

Integrative Personality Theory

NAME

PSY 330 Social Psychology

INSTRUCTOR

December 4, 2017

Integrative Personality Theory

Scientists that study human personality develop personality theories that provide possible reasons that explain why people may behave the in ways they do. American psychologist and theorist, Gordon Allport stated that “Personality is and does something… It is what lies behind specific acts and within the individual” (Carroll, 2010). It is said that human personality is a comprised of the genetic composition, the environmental influences, and experiences of an individual. However, one may exemplify a distinct and unique combination of these personality elements. This can eventually form over some time and may be expressed in specific ways that are unique to that particular individual exhibiting these traits. Is it also suggested that each person may develop components of his or her personality within dyadic relationships, such as friendships, romantic affairs, family, and relationships with colleagues, also while participating in leisure activities (Grob, 2016).

There are seven theoretical concepts of personality: psychodynamic, neurobiological, behavioral, cognitive / social, interpersonal / relational, trait, and self-psychology (humanism). These concepts may offer some insight to personality and how it was developed over time. The following definitions of each concept may also provide information regarding the importance of each theoretical concept as well as the impact they may have on the theories of personality. Each concept may be helpful in assessing the uniqueness of every person. These concepts may also be utilized in the development of a personal integrative personality theory.

Included Concepts

Psychodynamic Model

I find Alfred Adler and his inferiority complex to be quite interesting. Adle’s theory appeared to be centered on the individuality of people. Adler, Freud, and Jung “are typically credited as the founding fathers of what is known as depth psychology, which emphasizes the psychodynamics of the unconscious” (Lecci, 2015). Adler separated from Freud and Jung in order to establish his school of individual psychology (Adler, 1923). He suggested that no single theory may capture the uniqueness of an individual. Adler recognized three essential social tasks that every individual would experience. These include: occupational tasks (careers), societal tasks (friendships), and love tasks (finding a long-term intimate partner) (Lecci, 2015). Additionally, Adler emphasized that a social motive is the basis of all human behavior as opposed to Freud and Jung’s theory of sexual and/ or aggressive motives. He suggested that the three tasks are essential to the growth and development of an individual’s personality (Lecci, 2015). They also appear to significantly affect the outcome of a person.

Adler’s concept of the inferiority complex suggests that every individual experiences and/ or struggles with feelings of inferiority, which are dependent on situational variables during a specific time. He also suggested that accepting such emotions are more important than becoming superior to others. The underlying cause of this inferiority may be low self-esteem. Acknowledging the possibility of low self-esteem might offer him or her the possibility to overcome the pessimistic view of oneself. It may be possible that low self-esteem is one of the primary causes of inferiority complex within children when dealing with adults (Adler, & Fleisher, 1988). Adler’s view of an individual’s inferiority complex helped him or her to understand that if the principal cause for such feelings is identified, such feelings may decrease or perhaps completely remove the feeling of inferiority (Lecci, 2015).

Unlike Freud, Adler focused on people’s ability to choose. He suggested that the freedom of choice could possibly give the person the ability to change, if need be. His theories with regard to power and will may be what brought about the positive psychology movement. Adler appeared to have a positive outlook on human psyche, as opposed to Freud, who had a more negative view on human nature (Lecci, 2015). Adler also proposed that “one’s relationships (or lack thereof) with siblings that were of greater relevance to personality development” (Lecci, 2015). Until other siblings are born, Adler’s belief that the oldest acquires his or her parent’s favoritism appears to be natural. On the other hand, his theory that the oldest sibling has a greater possibility of being incarcerated seems quite unlikely. According to Adler, all siblings exemplify specific, individual qualities, dependent on the order in which they are born. However, this is difficult to confirm as the sequence of births, as a variable, is almost impossible to study (Lecci, 2015).

Neurobiological Model

Hans Selye was a Hungarian-Canadian endocrinologist known for revolutionizing the neurobiological concept. He developed his stress model, the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS), which is comprised of three stages in which the body uses in response to stress. First is the alarm reaction stage, when the fight-or-flight response is activated. During this stage, natural reaction prepares an individual to either defend oneself or flee in a dangerous situation. The heart rate increases, the adrenal gland releases the stress hormone, cortisol, and a boost of adrenaline is received, increasing energy. The second stage is resistance. After the initial shock of a stressful situation and following the alarm reaction stage, the body begins to mend itself. Lower levels of cortisol are released and the heart rate begins to normalize. This is considered the recovery stage in which the body begins to normalize itself; however, it will remain on high alert for some time. When stress is overcome, the body will repair itself until the heart rate, blood pressure, and hormone levels are returned to its pre-stress state. On the other hand, if stress is not resolved and the body remains on high alert, it learns to adapt and adjust to living with higher levels of stress. The third stage is exhaustion. This is the result of prolonged or chronic stress. High levels of continuous stress can have debilitating effects. The body can become depleted, the immune system impaired, and the individual may lose the ability to function (Lecci, 2015). Selye (1953) suggests that prolonged stress at high levels may result in mental confusion caused by maladaptation.

Stress is experienced in everyday life. Ongoing stress can hinder the brain’s ability to shut down the cortisol response. This can cause various mental and/or physical illnesses, such as chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia (Mendelson, 2013).

Trait Model

From the Trait model, I

Cognitive Model

Behavioral Model

Interpersonal Model

Self-Psychology Model

Excluded Concepts

The Stability and Change of Personality

There are various theoretical models that would state that personality is stable. Various researchers “have devoted a significant part of their careers to establishing that personality is stable” (Lecci, 2015). I find this concept to be unacceptable as people tend to constantly undergo changes, dependent on various situations and circumstances.

Concept Two

Concept Three

Healthy and Unhealthy Personalities

Science appears to have some difficulty providing answers with regard to healthy and unhealthy personalities may be. Those with a considerably healthy personality may understand their environment and see the differences within various situations. Additionally, they are more likely to respond sensibly to stressful situations, manage stressors, and acknowledge possible dangerous situations. On the other hand, those with a relatively unhealthy personality may react in a manner opposite those with a healthy personality as they may not possess the ability to control their thought processes within stressful situations.

Heredity, the Environment, and Epigenetics

Heredity, the environment, and epigenetics play a significant role in the development of human personality. A good example may be the ongoing debate of nature versus nurture. It is still unknown if nature or nurture plays the larger role in the development of an individual’s personality. Many people exhibit traits similar to that of their parents; however, they also develop their own traits that are dependent on their environmental influences and experiences.

Assessment and Measurement

Self-Reflection

References

Adler, A. (1923). The practice and theory of individual psychology. New York: Harcourt Brace.

Adler, A., & Fleisher, L. (1988). The Child’s Inner Life and a Sense of Community.

Individual Psychology: The Journal Of Adlerian Theory, Research & Practice, 44(4), 417.

Carroll, G., K. (2010). An Examination of the Relationship Between Personality Type, Self Perception Accuracy and Transformational Leadership Practices of Female Hospital

Leaders. Retrieved from https://etd.ohiolink.edu/!etd.send_file?accession=bgsu1288189512&disposition=inline

Grob, A. (2016). Co-development in personality in close relationships. European Psychologist, 21(4), 233-236. doi:10.1027/1016-9040/a000273 Lecci, L. (2015). Personality. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education.

Mendelson, S. (2013). The Lasting Damage of Child Abuse. Huffington Post.

Selye, H. (1953). The General-Adaptation-Syndrome in its Relationships to Neurology, Psychology, and Psychopathology. Contributions toward medical psychology: Theory and psychodiagnostic methods, Vol 1, 234-274.