Discipline: General Psychology,

Lecturer: Yelnura N.Autalipova

Group: 1st course, MDE 154

Lecture 5

Personality

Unit Structure:
1. Definition of personality and general concept.
2. Brief historical development of personality psychology.
3. Structure of personality
4. References
5. Home assignment
1. Definition of personality and general concept

There are three basic factors, which have to be considered in describing personality. There are:
a. The internal aspects: these are mental processes that determined psychological features and the
physiological systems determined physical features.
b. The social situation: they include the influence of the family and other groups to which one
belongs, the influence of customs, traditions, and culture.
c. The reactions or behavior; result from the interaction of the individual and the stimuli from the
environment.

The meaning of Personality

Personality has many meanings, even within psychology there is disagreement about the meaning of
the term. In fact, there may be as many different meanings of the term “personality” as there are
psychologists who have tried to define it
• We often hear remarks that some people have a pleasing personality while others have charming and
fascinating personality.
• Some political leaders have charismatic personality while others have repulsive and annoying
personality.

In our daily language hear such comments as “A lot of personality” and “B has a great personality and
C has more personality.” Personality has also been viewed as the individual’s most striking or
dominant characteristics. In this sense, a person may be said to have an “aggressive personality” or a
“shy personality,” meaning that his or her most distinctive attribute appears to be aggressiveness or
shyness. So personality refers to the overall impression that an individual makes on others, that is, a
sum total or constellation of characteristics that are typical of the individual and thus observable in
various social settings. When one describes D as having a “terrific personality,” one may be referring
to his pleasant disposition, his sincerity, or his willingness to help others.
What are the influences Personality development?
• Genetics
• Environment ( learning)
• Culture and society
• Self-awareness
• Traits
• Unconscious defense mechanisms(it protects from anxious thoughts or feelings)

What is personality? Personality refers to individual differences in characteristic patterns of

thinking, feeling, and behaving. So, personality refers to the overall impression that an individual
makes on others, that is, a sum total or constellation of characteristics that are typical of the individual
and thus observable in various social settings. Example:
•A is shy and timid
•B is sensitive and gets upset easily
•C is suspicious of friends and family
•D is confident and successful
The word “personality” in English is derived from the Latin persona It the masks worn by
theatrical players in ancient Greek dramas term came to encompass the actor’s roles as well. Thus,
personality is the public personality that people display to those around them. This view is similar
with that of the layperson who equates personality with charm, social poise, popularity, physical
attractiveness, and a host of other socially desirable characteristics.

What makes personality psychology a science?

The process of converting speculations or opinions or beliefs about human nature into concepts that
can be studied and tested empirically it is a process beset by many hazards; indeed, efforts to
establish a “science of persons”. It may seem fascinating to try to gain insight into the causes of our
behavior and development.
At first, psychologists resist to objectifying personality within the field of psychology, because it
undermines human uniqueness and complexity instead, they concentrate on the qualities of human
beings such as literature, art, history and religion which may each provide valuable insights into
human behavior.
A second objective of personality psychology is to help people live their lives more fully and
satisfyingly by finding ways to promote more healthy patterns of growth. These efforts include new
forms of psychotherapy, various special learning programs, and changes in the psychological
environment intended to permit people to develop to their full potential.

2. Brief historical development of personality psychology

Early theories assumed that personality was expressed in people’s physical appearance. One
early approach, developed by the German physician Franz Joseph Gall (1758–1828) and known as
phrenology, was based on the idea that we could measure personality by assessing the patterns of
bumps on people’s skulls. In the Victorian age, phrenology was taken seriously and many people
promoted its use as a source of psychological insight and self-knowledge. Machines were even
developed for helping people analyze skulls. However, because careful scientific research did not
validate the predictions of the theory, phrenology has now been discredited in contemporary
psychology.

Phrenology, this definition of phrenology with a chart of the skull appeared in Webster’s Academic Dictionary, circa 1895
Source: Photo courtesy of Webster’s Academic Dictionary, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:1895-Dictionary-Phrenolog.png.

Another approach, known as somatology, championed by the psychologist William Herbert

Sheldon (1898–1977), was based on the idea that we could determine personality from people’s
body types. As with phrenology, scientific research did not validate the predictions of the theory, and
somatology has now been discredited in contemporary psychology.
An ectomorph they have narrow shoulders, thin legs, arms, and a narrow face They may eat
just as much as they want, but never seem to gain any weight. They always stay skinny. Personality-
wise, they tend to be self-conscious, artistic, thoughtful, quiet, and private.
An Endomorph somatotype is also known as a viscerotonic. The characteristic traits of this
somatotype usually include being relaxed, tolerant, comfortable, and sociable. They have wide hips
and narrow shoulders that give a pear shape.
The mesomorph is in between the endomorph and ectomorph. Physically, they tend to have a
large head and broad shoulders with a narrow waist; they have a strong muscular body and strong
arms and legs. They work for the body they have so that they could have an attractive body.
Psychologically, the mesomorph is adventurous and courageous, assertive, competitive, and has a
desire to have power and be dominant. They love taking risks and chances in life.

Sheldon’s Body Types

William Sheldon erroneously believed that people with different body types had different personalities.
 Another approach to detecting personality is known as physiognomy was developed by the
philosophers of Ancient Greece, The idea of physiognomy that it is possible to assess personality
from facial characteristics. In contrast to phrenology and somatology, for which no research support
has been found, contemporary research has found that people are able to detect some aspects of a
person’s character. Despite these results, the ability to detect personality from faces is not guaranteed.

Physiognomy

The theory is based on Hippocrates's (460-370 B.C.) doctrine, he was Greek physician.
Hippocrates’s temperament theory based on biological characteristics of personality inborn traits.
Each of these types was connected with certain types of personality traits. Hippocrates about 400 BC.
classified humanity into four types temperament: sanguine, phlegmatic, choleric, melancholic.
Hippocrates saw the root of one's temperament as being derived from the humours dominant in the
body: blood (sanguine), bile from the liver (choleric), phlegm (phlegmatic), and bile from the kidneys
(melancholic).

Temperament

One of the most important psychological approaches to understanding personality is based on

the theorizing of the Austrian physician and psychologist Sigmund Freud (1856–1939), who founded
what today is known as the psychoanalytic approach (psychodynamic, psychoanalyze) to
understanding personality. Many people know about Freud because his work has had a huge impact
on our everyday thinking about psychology, and the psychodynamic approach is one of the most
important approaches to psychological therapy. Freud is probably the best known of all psychologists,
in part because of his impressive observation and analyses of personality (there are 24 volumes of his
writings). As is true of all theories, many of Freud’s ingenious ideas have turned out to be at least
partially incorrect, and yet other aspects of his theories are still influencing psychology.
Freud proposed that the mind is divided into three components: id, ego, and superego, and that
the interactions and conflicts among the components create personality.
According to Freudian theory, the id is the component of personality that forms the basis of
our most primitive impulses. The Id is entirely unconscious, and it drives our most important
motivations, desires; Id it's about “I want/ I need”, operates mostly at unconscious level. The
unconscious level - is the level of the psyche containing memories, emotional conflicts, dreams,
wishes, and repressed impulses that are not directly accessible to awareness but that have dynamic
effects on thought and behavior.
In stark contrast to the id, the superego represents our sense of morality and oughts. The
superego tells us all the things that we shouldn’t do or the duties and obligations of society. The
superego strives for perfection, and when we fail to live up to its demands we feel guilty; superego it's
about “I must/ I should”, operates mostly at preconscious level. The preconscious level - is the level
of the psyche that refers to the thoughts you aren't actively thinking of but can call to mind easily
given the right trigger (trigger is as a stimulus that elicits a reaction; for example, an event could be a
trigger for a memory of a past experience and an accompanying emotional state).
The ego is the largely conscious controller or decision-maker of personality. The ego serves
as the intermediary between the desires of the id and the constraints of society contained in the
superego. We may wish to scream, yell, or hit, and yet our ego normally tells us to wait, reflect, and
choose a more appropriate decision; ego it help us “make a choice/ makes peace between the id and
superego”, operates mostly at conscious level. The conscious level - is the level of the psyche that
contains thoughts, feelings, perceptions, and other aspects of mental life currently present in
awareness.

Freud believed that psychological disorders, and particularly the experience of anxiety, occur
 when there is conflict or imbalance among the motivations of the id, ego, and superego. When the
Ego finds that the Id is pressing too hard for immediate desires, it attempts to correct this problem,
often through the use of defense mechanisms unconscious psychological strategies used to cope
with anxiety and to maintain a positive self-image. Freud believed that the defense mechanisms
were essential for effective coping with everyday life, but that any of them could be overused.

3. Structure of personality

Four basic concepts of human system according

by Russian psychologist, physiologist Boris Gerasimovich Ananiev

HUMAN

INDIVID SUBJECT OF PERSONALITY INDIVIDUALITY

- ACTIVITY - -
is a separate organism, SUBJECT OF is a self- regulating is the uniqueness and
biological essence and ACTIVITY system. human originality
single representative of - The main The main
the human race (homo is active interaction of characteristics: characteristics:
sapiens), who has the subject with the - own distinctive - talent
unique identifying world, during which character - genius
physiological and subject satisfies his/her - temperament
psychological own social needs. The - will
characteristics. main peculiarity of - motivation
The main human as a subject - ability
characteristics: from others is - own view and aim.
Physiological (Physical: consciousness.
gender, age, height, (Glossary:
weight, body picture; Consciousness is the
biological needs; etc. ) upper level of the
-Psychological mental life of which the
(cognitive process, person is aware as
emotions) contrasted, as a quality
or state or fact of being
conscious of an external
object, state and
characterized by
sensation, emotion,
volition, and thought.
The ability to think,
feel, the desire was
called consciousness)
The main
characteristics:
- consciousness
- actiion (activism)
- activity (play, learn
and labour)
 4. References

1. Mayers, G. D. (2013). Psychology - 10th Edition. Worth Publishers, USA, 908 p. ISBN-13:
978-1-4292-6178-4, Chapter 2, 13
2. Spielman, Rose M. Psychology (2014). OpenStax resource. First Edition Textbook by XanEdu
Publishing. Chapter 11
3. Stangor, Charles (2014). Beginning psychology. "Unnamed Publisher”, Chapter 11
4. Ананьев Б. Г.Человек как предмет познания - СПб.: Питер, 2001. - 288 с. - (Серия «Мастера
психологии»).

5. Home assignment

Task 1. Read the lecture notes.

Task 2. Answer the following questions (in a copybook or in an e- copybook):

a) Define the term of personality.
b) Describe historical background of personality.
c) Describe yourself according to the basic concept of the human system by Ananiev.

Task 3. Make the glossary from lecture notes (in a copybook or in an e- copybook).