Info sheet today – 1 Extra Credit!

• Fill in the excel sheet posted on web

– First and last name
– An identifier code: 4~6 digits
Chapter 1 – E-mail
– Your preference for application project type
– Paper
What is Personality? – Group Presentation (with whom?)
– Individual Presentation
– The name of the movie/show/book you would like to
work on your application project – not required for this
assignment but would help me if you prefer group pres.
– An identifiable picture of you (Use Paint under Accessories to cut
your face out of a bigger picture)
• Download the excel sheet from my website and then send it
to jacqueye@[Link] – fill it with all the above information

Application Project Schedule Personality Diary 1 – Due on 01/15 (Tuesday)

• You should have submitted by today:
• your ranked preferences of project format
- Define what personality is according to
• Now until 01/22 submit your personal understanding of it.
• For the content refer to “Step by Step Instruction” on my - How would you prefer to assess your
website
personality? Which method(s) would you
• Do so as soon as possible so I can try to grant your first
choice! prefer? Why?
• Failing to submit the information during this period will
cost you 100 pts! - Not graded, No Right or Wrong
• your preferred group members if you know
- 10 pts.
• 01/31: you should have received email from me about your - 2 to 4 pages
assigned movie/show/book, the characters, the time of
presentation, and group membership - Late paper won’t be accepted!
The content of the project is determined for you now and you can
start working on it!
 Submission of paper assignment Today’s class

• Including all paper assignment in this class • Activity: “I am …”

• Hard copies, not webCT unless otherwise • Concept of personality in this class, and in
announced other historical and cultural contexts

• Format: • Intro to the 8 theoretical perspectives

p.1: Title of the paper, Name + ID. Code;
after that (the actual text) – put your ID. code
in the header of each page.
No APA format required.

What is Personality?
Activities

In this class, we define personality as:

• Exercise “I am …?”:
Complete five sentences with this
The _________ and _________ thoughts,
beginning. feelings, and behaviors an individual
engages in.

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004

 Personality A Definition of Personality
1. Conveys a sense of consistency or “Personality is a dynamic organization, inside the
continuity person, of psychophysical systems that create the
person’s characteristic patterns of behavior,
– Across time
thoughts and feelings.”
– Across situations
2. Captures a sense of personal —Gordon Allport (1961)
distinctiveness (prominent characteristics) • Personality…
3. Suggests internal origins of thoughts, – has an organized structure
feelings, behaviors – involves active processes
– has psychological and physical components
4. Helps in predicting and understanding – helps determine how people relate to the world
behavior – demonstrates patterns and consistencies
– manifests itself across a range of thoughts, feelings, behaviors
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004 Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004

To describe and predict: Cultural Influences

• Ancient times:
Theater and self- • West:
presentation – Religion: Divine control & spiritual nature
–Archetypal characters
– Darwinism (Evolutionary biology): The law of
–“The true self” vs.
nature and adaptive value of characteristics
“the relative self” brave, Just, Rough, cunning,
upright, noble bold craftiness,
• In the 1900s: Testing loyal /impartial, treachery • East:
in U.S. Army: selfless
– East: inner balance, consciousness
– Qualifications for An example of personality representations: & self-fulfillment
work assignment Peking Opera (China)
 8 Major Perspectives to Personality 8 Major Perspectives to Personality
Personality consists of eight components: (5) Cognitive dimensions, or thinking about and
actively interpreting the world around oneself:
1) An unconscious aspect of personality: Cognitive Perspective
Psychoanalytic Perspective (6) A collection of traits, skills, and predispositions:
2) Ego forces, that provide a sense of identity/a Trait Perspective
sense of self: Neo-analytic Perspective (7) A spiritual dimension, which prompts a person to
3) Biological components including genetics, ponder the meaning of her/his existence, seeking
physical and physiological makeup: Biological happiness and fulfillment: Humanistic/Existential
Perspective
Perspective
4) Conditioned or shaped aspects of our personality:
Behaviorist Perspective (8) Ongoing interaction between the person and
her/his specific environment: Interactionist
Perspective
Note: Also refer to your textbook p. 8 Table 1.1

Personality Psychology as Science

Where do the theories come from?
Continuous cycling between theory and research
between generalizations and particular instances
• Observation
• Introspection
- Theories (generalizations) suggest predictions to be
• Research tested
• deductive approach – top-down
- Research (particular instances) results suggest
changes in theories
• inductive approach – bottom-up
 Good theory: 4 Criteria
• The relationships among the
1. Is it empirically testable, therefore theories: Competitors or
falsifiable? complements?
2. Does it explain the known facts and
phenomena? • Why don’t someone come up with
3. Is it useful to understand pathology and OBT- One Big Theory?
predict the future (explain development)?
4. Does it capture differences associated
• Make your OBT with your critical
with the environment (such as cultures)?
thinking!

Some Basic Issues Get ready for next class:

[Link]
• What is the importance of the unconscious?
• What is the self? » Choose Your Own Adventure
» Masculinity and Your Health [new!]
• Should we use unique or general approaches to
» Criminals and Personality
study individuals? » Obligation and Entitlement
• Are there differences between men and women? » Your Attachment Hierarchy
» Attachment, Personality, and the Perception of Emotion
• The person versus the situation
» Relationship Structures
• To what extent is personality culturally » What do you Regret in Life?
determined? » Close Relationships Questionnaire [Attachment Style
• The origin of personality: nature vs. nurture? Questionnaire]
» Politics and Personality
» True Crime and Serial Killers
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004