Personality psychology, also called personality theory, is a branch of psychology that studies human personality in all its manifestations. It is a scientific discipline that shows how individuals differ from each other. It focuses, among other things, on constructing a coherent image of the individual, mapping psychological processes and discovering psychological differences and similarities. There are various methods to measure this, such as MBTI and Big Five. These methods make different assumptions about human psychology.
Holistic understanding of the psychology of personality
Personality consists of a collection of personal characteristics with a unique influence on their environment, cognition, emotion, motivation and behavior. Personality refers to a pattern of thoughts, feelings, socially desirable actions and behavior that occurs regularly over a longer period of time. This pattern influences the expectations, self-perception, values and attitudes of the person in question. Based on personality, predictions can be made about reactions to fellow human beings and to matters such as stress, motivation, and happiness.
Approaches to personality theory
In the history of psychology, various systems have been developed to describe personality. One of the first philosophers to deal with this was Hippocrates. He proposed that there were four personalities or temperaments: phlegmatic, choleric, sanguine and melancholic. These temperaments correspond to the bodily fluids: phlegm, yellow bile, blood and black bile.
The biological approach
The biological approach is based on brain activity as the basis for personality. Scientists investigate the biological basis of personal characteristics. They use neurobiological research for this. Examples of methods used for this are functional MRI and electroencephalography, which measure brain activity.
The psychoanalytic approach
The method of psychological therapy was invented by Sigmund Freud. Things like association, dream interpretation and analysis of dealing with resistance are used to discover repressed and unconscious impulses, fears and internal conflicts. Freud
used this in his therapeutic practice and was the founder of more modern techniques such as the dispositional approach.
Dispositional approach
The most commonly used is the dispositional approach. This is based on personality traits, as in the statement ,He has a strange trait,. A disposition is an opposition between two positions, often depicted in a diagram as an axis with two opposites. A well-known example of a theory based on this is the Big Five. According to this theory, there are five personality traits: neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. There is also an opposite for each personality trait: emotional stability, introversion, closedness, unfriendliness and aimlessness. People can differ from each other or be compared with each other. Another example is MBTI. According to this theory, there are four personality traits: extraversion – introversion, empirical observation (sensing) – intuition, thinking – feeling, open reception (perceiving) – decisive choosing (judging). MBTI analyzes personality based on the composition of character traits. for example INFJ or INTP.
Personality psychology as an aid in finding study and work
Personality psychologists are able to explain parts of the personality based on answers to questionnaires. Professionals in study and career guidance make grateful use of these questionnaires and other instruments. They can help you find the right direction when it comes to study or work.
Assumptions within the methods of personality learning: MBTI & Big Five
The range of methods to test personality is wide. Well-known examples are the MBTI and Big Five personality theories. A personality test makes certain basic assumptions. Research shows that it involves five basic assumptions. A question is formulated behind each assumption. By answering the question you will discover what you prefer.
Freedom versus determinism
The first assumption concerns the extent to which the individual has the ability to control behavior and understand the motives behind the behavior. On the other hand, there is the extent to which internal and external forces influence the individual. Are people able to control their own behavior and understand their own motives?
Innate versus environment
Innate and inherited characteristics versus environmental factors how personality forms. In other sciences also called the ‘nature-nurture’ contradiction. Do we exhibit genetically and biologically determined behavior or is our behavior shaped by experiences?
Uniqueness versus generality
The uniqueness of the individual versus the idea that all people are basically very similar to each other. The psychologist Maslow, known for his pyramid of basic needs, is in favor of the uniqueness of the individual. On the other hand, Pavlov, known for the Pavlov effect, is a proponent of the generality of all individuals. Is man unique and incomparable to others or is man not unique and very comparable to other people?
Proactive versus reactive
Proactive theories assume that people act on their own initiative. Reactive theories assume that people simply act reactively. Is man capable of developing himself or is man shaped by his environment?
Optimism versus pessimism
This concerns optimism or pessimism with regard to the belief that the individual has the ability to change behavior and personality over the course of life. Optimists believe in the possibility of drastic personality change over the years. Pessimists believe that people go through life more or less unchanged. How much is man capable of developing his own personality?
Conclusion
Personality psychology is about thinking, feeling, wanting and also behavior of humans, it is comprehensive. It can be a means to help you on your way to the right study and job. Professional guidance from a study or career counselor is recommended. Within personality psychology, several basic assumptions can be distinguished that determine how you view human personality.
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- MBTI: The INFJ personality