Human psychology is a field of study that covers plenty of multi-layer concepts and phenomena, which without a doubt will still be studied after hundreds of years. One of those concepts happens to be personality, which in the broadest meaning “refers to important and relatively stable aspects of behavior” (Ewen, 2003, 3). Personality is something that we all possess, is a universal phenomenon, which we however express differently due to our inborn qualities, psychological development and peculiarities of temperament.
Personality covers “virtually everything about a person—mental, emotional, social, and physical” (Ewen, 2003, 3), and is an inexhaustible source for variations and interpretations. Thus, personality is viewed from innumerable perspectives, including psychoanalytic, trait, lifespan approach and many others. However, two rather opposing approaches are of great interest: psychodynamic, with Sigmund Freud being the most celebrated representative, and humanistic approach, with its main postulates being defined by Carl Rogers.
The Role of Personality in Affecting Situational Behavior
Situational behavior is greatly dependent on individual’s personality. Each theory of personality revolves around what and why ignites specific reactions and responses to specific situations. This interest concerns both reactions that may not be observed (e. g. thoughts) and visible responses (from occasional utterances to systematic habits).
The Role of Personality in Psychodynamic Theory
The main emphasis of psychodynamic theory falls on what is unconscious, with this layer playing the most important role in our lives. Apparently, it defines what we desire, fear and how we behave. Then, throughout their life, a person constructs a layer of consciousness, adding it to their personality, which in the long run appears to be a rather stable pattern of individual behavior and mentality. Thus, a shaped personality appears to be a result of continuous interaction of conscious and unconscious streaks of an individual.
Essentially, our personality determines our behavior, and “the goal of all behavior is to obtain pleasure and avoid unpleasure or pain” (Ewen, 2003, 15). And its role in our situational behavior is to construct and implement the most adequate patterns of achieving the goal mentioned. The patterns should comply with our individual needs and should not contradict the moral side of our being.
The Role of Personality in Humanistic Theory
The theory advocates the main tendency of our personality is its actualization of an individual. Thus, the personality is both a product and a source of this form of psychological expression. Also, actualization is a basic need of every individual, and its definition may vary from researcher to researcher.
Thus, the main objective of our personality at all times can be defined and its comprehensive fulfillment and obtaining the state of “total self-acceptance (unconditional positive self-regard)” (Ewen, 2003, 203). Thus, in the field of situational behavior our personality is simply how we tend to achieve that goal.
Personality Characteristics
The characteristics of our personality are numerable and their account depends on the researcher or the approach. Whether an individual is introverted or extroverted, logical or ethical, open or reserved, neurotic or emotionally stable – all the criteria are interconnected and subjective. Nonetheless, researchers try to discover personality characteristics with different methods of research, synthesis and analysis.
Personality Characteristics in Psychodynamic Theory
The theory adopts a rather pessimistic image of our personality. Its main characteristics are destructive and contradictory. The most significant is obedience to biological factors, and tendency to their distortion due to traumas of a childhood phase. Humans are prone to various complexes, such as Oedipus and Electra complexes. As far as these are not approved by the moral norms in most of societies, an individual indulges to sublimation and substituting their desires with more attainable ones, which may cause harmful addictions and accumulation of aggression.
However, a personality is viewed as an interconnected and evolving whole. Though it is generally described unfavorably by the adherents of the theory, it also consists of the will power of a man (gathered in the layer of superego), which has the potential to balance the longings of the biological side.
Personality Characteristics in Humanistic Theory
The main characteristic of our personality, according to the theory, is its “innate tendency to develop our constructive, healthy potentials” (Ewen, 2003, 198). Similarly to the psychodynamic theory, we will strive to reduce unfavorable aspects of our biological part, such as hunger, thirst of cold. However, we are constantly stimulated in terms of creativity and desire to gain experiences, thus these factors are favorable. All in all, “actualizing tendency includes both drive-reducing and drive-increasing behavior,” (Ewen, 2003, 198) which causes us to learn end be efficient.
Another characteristic of our personality is that it still is capable of destructive behavior, though it is not as strongly emphasized as in the psychodynamic theory. In humanistic theory this trait is attributed to “external forces” (Ewen, 2003, 198). Nonetheless, the environment still may have strong influence, causing pathogenic characteristics of our personality, which are unnatural in their core.
The Interpersonal Relational Aspects
Since humans are social creatures, throughout their life they establish various forms of contacts and relations with other humans and society as a whole. The number and depth of these relations vary according to situation, surroundings and the personality of an individual.
Relational Aspect in Psychodynamic Theory
Psychodynamic approach highlights the pessimism of human nature. According to the theory, the main triggers of our social activity are sexual desires or fears, gained in the phase of childhood. Thus, when establishing relationships, “[w]e are doomed to anxiety, to the thwarting of impulses, and to tension and conflict” (Schultz & Schultz, 2009, 90). Moreover, we elaborate a range of defensive mechanisms, than become deeply rooted in our personality and causes crises at all ages.
All the complexities of the relational aspect lie in the structure of the personality. According to the theory, “[t]he three structures of the personality are the id, ego, and superego”. The id, an inborn and universal component of our personality, covers the biological triggers of instincts and sexual attraction (libido). In the middle of personality we find the rational component, called the ego. It is the vehicle of adequate behavior, which “operates in accordance with the reality principle” (Schultz & Schultz, 2009, 89). The superego, something above our consciousness, comprises the global or moral consciousness. The moral side of personality consists of the conscience and the ego-ideal. Conscience concerns morally bad and ego-ideal concerns morally favorable deeds.
Thus, our relationships are formed by ego, which is constantly swinging between the physical id and demanding superego. The inability to meet the standards of the latter results into various complexes and aggression, which is harmful to both outer and inner connections of an individual.
Relational Aspect in Humanistic Theory
Both theories analyzed highlight the importance of the childhood stage in shaping the relational aspect of our personality and life. However, humanistic theory also stresses “our inborn potential for healthy growth and development” (Ewen, 2003, 193) with relation to field of social contacts. If no acute conditions are present, the established relationships will be meaningful and balanced.
The most crucial factor in developing healthy relationships is the attitude of parents. Overprotection or lack of parental approval may lead to psychopathology, with its common symptom of “inability to know what one really wants and to enjoy a meaningful life” (Ewen, 2003, 193) and to develop further social skills. This inability develops from the abovementioned strive to actualize our value, which cannot be realized due to the absence of adequate parental regard.
Our personality determines how we interact with ourselves and the outer world, though it is also predetermined by what was imposed on us in our young age. If parents imposed their standards or unrealized dreams on their child, it will result into development of dependent relationship between an individual and outer regard, as a child will try to “satisfy [parental] conditions of worth instead of actualizing his or her true potentials” (Ewen, 2003, 193).
Conclusion
All in all, theories agree upon the importance of the childhood stage and balance between conscious and unconscious when shaping one’s personality. However, the psychodynamic theory swings towards more pessimistic interpretations, stating that our personality is in a state of a “continual conflict,” (Ellis et al., 2008, 15) arising from amoral nature of our instincts and biological longings. Whereas humanistic theory states that “[p]eople are basically good and strive toward maximum personal development or self-actualization,” (Ellis et al., 2008, 15) which is a far more optimistic interpretation of human personality.
References
Ewen, R. B. (2003). An introduction to theories of personality. 6th Ed. Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.
Schultz, D. P., & Schultz, S. E. (2009). Theories of personality. 9th Ed. Wadsworth, NJ: Sordi.
Ellis, A., Abrams, M., & Abrams, L. D. (2008). The study of personality. In M. Abrams (Ed.), Personality theories: Critical Perspective (pp. 1-23). Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.
