Theory Tables

Theory

Key figures

Key concepts of personality formation

Explanation of the disordered personality

Scientific credibility

Comprehensiveness

Applicability

Psychodynamic

Shawanda

Sigmund Freud – Psychoanalytic Theory of Personality

Alfred Adler- Individual

Psychology Theory

Inferiority Theory

Carl Jung –

Analytical Psychology Theory

-Collective Unconscious

Karen Horney – Psychoanalytic Social Theory

Theory of Neurosis

Feminine Psychology

Henry Stack

Sullivan – Interpersonal Theory of Psychiatry

Heinz Kohut – Self Psychology

Key concepts of personality formation include:

The three levels of awareness which one’s psyche consists of (the id, ego, superego)

The concept of the unconscious mind is found through exploration. Therefore our behavior and feelings are affected by motives that are unconscious.

Our childhood experiences have an effect on our behaviors and feelings as adults.

People motivation is driven by sex or aggression.

optimistic view

Social interest

People motivated by social influences

Individual awareness

Collective unconscious

Archetypes concepts

Development of personality

Personality is developed within a social context.

Sigmund Freud believed that adult personality was largely determined by childhood experiences. In addition, dreams help to shape personality. According to Cervone and Pervin (2012), personality is addressed in terms of the unconscious mind and explains level of consciousness. Cervone and Pervine (2012) suggested that personality structure is formed through conflict between the id, ego, and superego. It addresses the sexual and aggressive drives that make up human beings.

Adler’s theory suggested that everyone is born with a sense of inferiroty as evidenced in new borns how they are weak and helpless. Cervone and Pervin (2012) indicate that “Adler’s theory proposes that people are motivated to compensate for feelings of inferiority. These compensatory strivings can shape the development of a person’s life” (p.136). So basically being inferior is an integral part of our personality in a manner that it makes us want to be superior. This is where birth order comes in also as a contributing factor in the development of our personality as first born children may feel inferior or develop an inferior complex once a younger sibling arrives. This is how siblings can develop competition with each other.

Jung viewed the libido as life energy. In this manner, according to Cervone and Pervin (2012), Jung felt that personality development had a forward moving tendency. He added onto Freud’s view of the conscious with his idea of the collective unconscious and how it had a significant influence on individuals minds. Jung also hypothesized about the archetype of self-positioning himself with the belief that it is a universal feature of the human mind. (Cervone & Pervin, 2012)

Horne and Sullivan emphasized the importance of cultural factors and interpersonal relations (emotional experiences based on relationships with others) as being factors in developing personality.

“The greatest criticism of the psychodynamic approach is that it is unscientific in its analysis of human behavior.” (McLeod, 2017). Many of the theories are based on personal feelings or opinions, therefore are difficult to test scientifically.

McLeod (2017) suggests that the psychodynamic approach places too much emphasis on psychological factors and doesn’t take into account that other factors such as biological or genetic may play apart in mental problems

The theories hold little credibility as it has little free-will, it is difficult to prove wrong, and you cannot generalize the test results on case studies as they are based on one individual.

However, it is still noted here that Grunbaum (1979) found that Freud’s theory was indeed not a pseudo-science. Although it has a series of hypotheses, it is not contradictory.

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Sigmund Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory of Personality was the first original comprehensive theory of personality. This theory explained a variety of behaviors that were both normal and abnormal. His theory extended the importance of childhood, which is often used today in counseling focusing on the nature vs. nurture debate. However, this theory was expanded upon greatly by the works of Jung, Adler, and Erickson.

The psychodynamic theory has been applied in several areas. Some of these areas include psychoanalysis therapy, gender role development, moral development (which extends from our super ego), psychopathology which includes studying depression, aggression, and dream analysis.

These theories have also been applied to many studies dealing with cases such as Little Hans, dream analysis, free association, projective tests, slips of the tongue, and lastly hypnosis. (McCleod, 2017)

Attachment

LaTonya

John Bowlby

Mary Ainsworth

Psychosocial

LaTonya

Erik Erickson – Psychosocial Development

Personality forms throughout our lifespan.

Theory

Key figures

Key concepts of personality formation

Explanation of the disordered personality

Scientific credibility

Comprehensiveness

Applicability

Humanistic

Moniquea

Carl Rogers

Abraham Maslow

Concept of free will

Self-actualization

Theory

Key figures

Key concepts of personality formation

Explanation of the disordered personality

Scientific credibility

Comprehensiveness

Applicability

Behavioral

Moniquea

John B. Watson

Ivan Pavlov

B.F. Skinner

Interactions occur because of the relationships between the individual and their environment

Cognitive

Shonda

George Kelly

Social cognitive

Shonda

Albert Bandura

Theory

Key figures

Key concepts of personality formation

Explanation of the disordered personality

Scientific credibility

Comprehensiveness

Applicability

Trait

Jeanette

Gordon W, Allport

Cattell

Biologically oriented

Jeanette

Jerome Kagan

Hans Eysenck

Genetics are responsible