Flashcards
Gordon Allport: Trait Theory
Cards in this deck (50)
- 1Allport's theory & definition of PersonalityTrait Theory: the dynamic organization within the individual of those psychophysical systems that determine his unique adjustments to his environment.
- 2dynamic organizationconstantly changing opinions or information
- 3Psychophysical systemssystem operating using the body and mind
- 4Characterpersonality evaluated, not moral judgement
- 5The Raw Materials of Personalitytemperament, intelligence, physique
- 6Temperamentthe emotional component of the personality
- 7Typea category in which one person can be placed by another person (aggressive type)
- 8Criteria for an Adequate Personality Theory1. explained in internal mechanisms rather than external
2. views person as filled with variables that contribute to their actions
3. seeks motives for behavior in present rather than past
4. employs units of measure capable of living synthesis
5. adequately accounts for self awareness - 9measures living synthesisdescribes the whole dynamic person
- 10Traita neuropsychic structure that causes a person to consistently respond to similar environmental situations in a similar way.
- 11criterion for a traitfrequency, range of situations, and intensity of reactions
- 12Habit v. Traitmore specific than traits; habit is an activity you do often. A trait synthesizes specific habits. (brushing your teeth vs. being a cleanly person)
- 13Attitude v. TraitA person has an attitude towards something specifically. Involve evaluation of something being positive or negative. Traits are more general.
- 14Individual Traitspossessed by a particular individual(the unique pattern of traits, not a trait only one person possesses)
- 15Common Traitstraits shared by several individuals.
- 16Idiographic methodstudy of the individual
- 17Nomothetic MethodStudies groups
- 18Personal Dispositionrenders many stimuli functionally equivalent; initiates and guides consistent forms of behavior (similar to definition of trait)
- 19Cardinal DispositionOne word could describe a majority of the person's actions. (Don Juan)
- 20Central DispositionsA few foci that summarize consistences in the person's behavior. (As in a recommendation letter)
- 21Secondary Dispositionsmore specific range of behaviors similar to habits/attitudes, such as preferences of food and clothing.
- 22The PropriumOrganizer of the personality(equivalent to the ego) which evolves over time
- 23Stages of development of the proprium1. bodily "me" 2. self-identity
3. self-esteem 4. self-extension
5. self-image 6. self as rational coper 7. Propriate Striving 8. self as knower - 24Development: sense of self-extensionchild claims ownership of other things than himself (toys, parents)
- 25Development: Emergence of Self-imageconscience develops/ formulate future goals
- 26Development: Self as Rational Coperdiscover thinking is a means to life's problems
- 27Development: Emergence of Propriate Strivingbecome future-oriented. Create long term goals to give meaning to life.
- 28need reductionbeliefs that people want to accomplish their goals to eliminate need (incorrect to Allport)
- 29need inductionhealthy adults create problems by formulating future goals that can be virtually unattainable to give meaning to life.
- 30Development: Self as Knower(Adulthood) occurs when the self is aware of/unifies/transcends the preceding seven aspects of the self; synthesizes all propriate functions
- 31must conscienceevolves out of parental restrictions and fear of punishment.
- 32ought conscioustied to proprium striving. Things you ought to do to succeed/ follow moral compass
- 33Functional Autonomytheory of motivation: tensions involved currently are not the same as the tensions from which the system developed.
- 34Criterion for a Theory of Motivation1. recognize contemporary nature of motives
2. allow for the existence of several types of motives
3. recognize importance of cognitive processes( conscious)
4. recognize each person's unique pattern of motivation - 35Perserverative Functional Autonomyrepetitious activities blindly engaged in that once served a purpose but no longer do.
- 36Principles of Propriate Functional Autonomy1. Organizing energy level (energy unused, used for striving)
2. Mastery & Competence (drive induction)
3. Propriate Patterning (all motives compatible with the proprium) - 37Allport focused on:The healthy adult, individuality, the human element
- 38Characteristics of a Healthy Adult1. self-extension 2. warm human interaction 3. emotional security/ self-acceptance 4. realistic perceptions 5. self-objectification 6. unifying philosophy of life
- 39Capacity for self-extensionparticipate in a wide range of events/activities. Tend to be politically/religiously involved.
- 40emotional securityhealthy adults have the tolerance necessary to accept the conflicts and frustrations inevitable in life.
- 41self-objectificationhealthy adults have an accurate picture of their own assets and liabilities
- 42Motives and growth of an unhealthy personGrowth is stunted. Motives lie in the past. Can be helped by new experiences
- 43Prejudicepre-judging something positively or negatively independently of facts
- 44Extrinsic religionunhealthy religion that favors only it's members, divides the believer from others
- 45Intrinsic religionhealthy, encourages identification with all humanity. Directs the course of a person's life and development
- 46Letters from JennyPersonal documents analyzed over a woman's lifetime were used to judge what her traits were. Used factor analysis to isolate 8 factors of her behavior.
- 47Expressive Behaviorthings observed of a person's facial expression, walking style, speech mannerisms, handwriting
- 48Scale of Values1. Theoretical (search for truth)
2. Economic (pragmatic/relevance of knowledge)
3. Aesthetic (artistic)
4. Social (relationships)
5. Political ( attaining power)
6. Religious (seeks unity) - 49Concept of HumanityCulture over biology, uniqueness, free choice, teleology, optimism, conscious systems
- 50Circularitytraits describe and explain behavior. if someone acts a way in one situation, it cannot be said that the behavior is common for other situations. (suspicious once, not necessarily a suspicious person)
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- Personality Theories Flashcards on Gordon Allport: Trait Theory, created by carlyreier on 18/10/2013.
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