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.
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