PSY 330 Psychology Final Paper

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). PSY 330 Psychology Final Paper

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. PSY 330 Psychology Final Paper

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.

INTEGRATIVE PERSONALITY THEORY 1

INTEGRATIVE PERSONALITY THEORY 2

 

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PSY 330

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Title of Paper

 

Replace the above with the title of your paper. Start the paper with a one-two paragraph introduction. Provide a general introduction to the topic of theories of personality. Explain what you plan to cover and describe the direction your paper will take.

 

Included Concepts

 

Psychodynamic Model

From the psychodynamic model, I have chosen to include XXX’s concept of XXX. (Examples: Freud’s concept of the structure of personality, Freud’s concept of defense mechanisms, Jung’s concept of the collective unconscious, Erikson’s concept of psychosocial development…) Explain the concept briefly. Explain why you have included it. There is a sample of this in the week three assignment tab in the left hand navigation bar. PSY 330 Psychology Final Paper

 

Neurobiological Model

From the Neurobiological model, I have chosen to include XXX’s concept of XXX. (Examples: Thomas and Chess’ classification of temperament, Eysenck’s three factor model, Pert’s concept of neuropeptides and opiate receptors…) Explain the concept briefly. Explain why you have included it.

(Note: The above concepts are due in week three. The following concepts are to be competed for the final submission.)

Trait Model

Ditto

 

Cognitive Model

Ditto

 

Behavioral Model

Ditto

 

Interpersonal Model

Ditto

 

Self-Psychology Model

Ditto

 

Excluded Concepts

Concept One (replace this heading with the name of the concept you have chosen).

From the (choose one) model, I have chosen to exclude XXX’s concept of XXX. These can be any concept with which you disagree from any of the models.

(Note: One concept is due in week three. Two more need to be added for the final submission)

Concept Two

Ditto

 

Concept Three

Ditto

 

Healthy and Unhealthy Personalities

This is a brief discussion of your theory about what contributes to the development of healthy or unhealthy personalities.

 

Heredity, the Environment, and Epigenetics

This is your analysis of the roles these play in the development of personality.

 

Assessment and Measurement

What are the primary ways of assessing and measuring used in some of the concepts that you have chosen to include? This section is not due until the final submission.

 

Self-Reflection

How have your views changed (or not changed) since the beginning of the class? Do not copy and paste your week one paper here. Just provide a brief summary and analysis. PSY 330 Psychology Final Paper

 

Provide a brief conclusion to your paper.

 

 

 

 

References

 

(List all your references in APA format in alphabetical order. Remember that each source on this list should be cited in the paper and each citation in the paper should be on this list. The following is a sample of how to format your references. Refer to the Ashford Writing Center for more details.)

 

Bach, S., Haynes, P., & Lewis Smith, J. (2006). Online learning and teaching in higher

education [ebrary Reader version]. Retrieved from

http://site.ebrary.com/lib/ashford/Doc?id=10197006

Caplow, J. (2006). Where do I put my course materials? Quarterly Review of Distance

Education, 7(2), 165-173. Abstract retrieved from ERIC (Accession No. EJ875031)

Picciano, A. G. (2001). Distance learning: Making connections across virtual space and

time. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall