Personality Psychology

By Cassie Miller, Sass Moreno, Brittany Piper & Dakota Anderson

Personality can be defined as a

dynamic and organized set of

characteristics possessed by a

person that uniquely

influences his or her behaviors in

various situations (Ryckman, 2004).

Many of the ideas developed by the historical and modern Personality Theorists stem from basic philosophical assumptions they hold. Psychology is not a purely empirical discipline, as it brings in elements of art, science, and philosophy to draw general conclusions.

The following five categories are some of the most fundamental philosophical assumptions where theorists disagree:

Freedom vs. Determinism Heredity vs. Environment

Uniqueness vs. Universality Proactive vs. Reactive

Optimistic vs. Pessimistic

(WIKIPEDIA)

Freedom vs. Determinism

Do we have control over our own behavior? Or if our behavior already determined by some other higher power or force? We may merely

respond to external forces like government, parents, professors, the economic system, etc; or we may even be constrained to behave in certain ways by our genetics, upbringing, etc. The causation may be

probabilistic and therefore indeterminate. (Engler, Barbara )

Heredity vs. Environment

Is the way we behave predetermined by our genetics or

does it develop by our environments? There is evidence for both possibilities. Some even

believe it is a combination of both.

Are we all unique truly individuals? Or if humans are basically similar in their nature & habits what necessarily makes us different?

Do we primarily act through our own initiative, or do we react to outside stimuli making us reactive?

Finally, whether or not we can

alter our personalities

(Optimistic) or if they remain the

same throughout our

whole lives (Pessimistic).

IS THE GLASS HALF EMPTY OR HALF FULL?

Optimistic vs. Pessimistic

THE END!