Comparing the Major a Personality Theories

Psychodynamic

Key proponents: Adler, Horney, Jung Assumptions: the unconscious and conscious minds interact. Childhood experiences and defense mechanisms are important. View of personality: the dynamic interplay of conscious and unconscious motives and conflict shape our personality.

Trait

Key proponents: Allport, Eysenck, McCrae, Costa Assumptions: we have certain stable and enduring characteristics, influenced by genetic predispositions. View of personality: scientific study of traits has isolated important dimensions of personality, such as the Big Five traits (conscientiousness, agreeableness, neuroticism, openness, and extroversion).

Social-Cognitive

Key proponents: Bandura Assumptions: our traits and the social context interact to produce our behaviors. View of personality: conditioning and observational learning interact with cognition to create behavior patterns.

Psychoanalytic

Key proponents: Freud Assumptions: emotional disorders spring from unconscious dynamics, such as unresolved sexual and other childhood conflicts, and fixation at various development stages. Defense mechanisms fend off anxiety. View of personality: personality consists of pleasure-seeking impulses (the id), a reality-oriented executive (the ego), and an internalized set of ideals (the superego)

Humanistic

Key proponents: Rogers, Maslow Assumptions: rather than examining the struggles of sick people, it's better to focus on the ways people strive for self-realization. View of personality: If our basic human needs are met, pele will strive toward self-actualization. In a climate of unconditional positive regard, we can develop self-awareness and a more realistic and positive self-concept.