Module 8: Personality
How does personality develop? There have been many discussions and theories within the field of psychology about the fundamental issues of personality development. Some theories emphasize the role of early childhood experiences, while others focus on the contributions of past and present events. Some theories have proposed temperaments are inborn and predispositions are genetic. Some also point to the role of environment in shaping personality. Modern research methods continue to help confirm or refute these ideas. In this module, you will look at these theories and explain their contributions to the study of personality.
Getting Started
Before you begin studying different personality theories, take a moment to think about what your opinions on the topic are. Consider your answers to the following questions:
- Do you believe your basic personality traits are set, or do you feel they will change as you age? For example, when you imagine your high school reunion, do you think your personality will remain consistent to how it is today?
- Is your personality determined by inherited traits or the result of your environment? For example, do you have a parent or relative with similar personality traits? If so, is how you were raised a factor?
- Do you believe you have free will to choose and change your personality traits? For example, are you shy or outgoing? Can you dictate which one?
- Is your personality unique? For example, do you think no one has a personality like yours or do personality traits fall into broader patterns?
Key Vocabulary
To view the definitions for these vocabulary terms, visit the course glossary.
Albert Bandura
Alfred Adler
anal stage
anal-retentive
archetype
Big 5 test
Carl Jung
Carl Rogers
Cattell Sixteen
collective unconscious
collectivism
denial
displacement
ectomorph
ego
endomorph
external locus of control
fixation
defense mechanisms
genital stage
Hans Eysenck
humanistic theory
id
individualism
inferiority complex
internal locus of control
Karen Horney
latency
mesomorph
need for achievement
need for cognition
Neo-Freudians
Oedipus complex
oral stage
personality
phallic stage
phrenology
projection
psychoanalytic theory
rationalization
reaction formation
regression
repression
self-concept
self-consciousness
sensation seeking
Sigmund Freud
Socio-cognitive theory
sublimation
superego
trait
trait theory
William Sheldon