Understanding Psychology (10th Ed)

 Module 
41 
Trait, Learning, Biological and Evolutionary, and Humanistic Approaches to Personality 
459
Humanistic approaches have also been criticized for making the assumption that 
people are basically “good”—a notion that is unverifi able—and, equally important, 
for using nonscientifi c values to build supposedly scientifi c theories. Still, humanistic 
theories have been important in highlighting the uniqueness of human beings and 
guiding the development of a signifi cant form of therapy designed to alleviate psy-
chological diffi culties (Cain, 2002; Bauman & Kopp, 2006; Elkins, 2009).
Comparing Approaches 
to Personality
In light of the multiple approaches we have discussed, you may be wondering which 
of the theories provides the most accurate description of personality. That question 
cannot be answered precisely. Each theory is built on different assumptions and 
focuses on somewhat different aspects of personality (see Figure 7). Furthermore, 
there is no clear way to scientifi cally test the various approaches and their assump-
tions against one another. Given the complexity of every individual, it seems reason-
able that personality can be viewed from a number of perspectives simultaneously 
(Pervin, 2003). 
Stresses determinism, the view that 
behavior is directed and caused by
factors outside one’s control 
Stresses determinism, the view that 
behavior is directed and caused by 
factors outside one’s control 
Stresses determinism, the view that 
behavior is directed and caused by 
factors outside one’s control 
Stresses determinism, the view that 
behavior is directed and caused by 
factors outside one’s control 
Stresses the freedom of individuals 
to make their own choices 
Stresses innate, inherited 
structure of personality while 
emphasizing importance of 
childhood experience 
Approaches vary 
Focuses on the environment 
Stresses the innate, inherited 
determinants of personality 
Stresses the interaction 
between both nature and 
nurture 
Emphasizes the stability of 
characteristics throughout a 
person’s life 
Emphasizes the stability of 
characteristics throughout a 
person’s life 
Stresses that personality 
remains flexible and resilient 
throughout one’s life 
Emphasizes the stability of 
characteristics throughout a 
person’s life 
Stresses that personality 
remains flexible and resilient 
throughout one’s life 
Psychodynamic 
(Freud, Jung,
Horney, Adler) 
Trait (Allport, 
Cattell, Eysenck) 
Learning (Skinner, 
Bandura) 
Biological and 
Evolutionary 
(Tellegen)
Humanistic 
(Rogers, Maslow)
Emphasizes the 
unconscious 
Disregards both 
conscious and
unconscious 
Disregards both 
conscious and 
unconscious 
Disregards both 
conscious and 
unconscious 
Stresses the 
conscious more 
than unconscious 
Theoretical
Approach and
Major Theorists 
Conscious Versus 
Unconscious 
Determinants of 
Personality
Nature (Hereditary
Factors) Versus Nurture
(Environmental Factors) 
Stability Versus Modifiability 
Free Will Versus Determinism 
FIGURE 7 
The multiple perspectives of personality.
feL82795_ch13_436-469.indd Page 459 8/6/10 7:25 PM user-f465
feL82795_ch13_436-469.indd Page 459 8/6/10 7:25 PM user-f465
/Users/user-f465/Desktop
/Users/user-f465/Desktop

---