Integrative Personality Theory 1 Integrative Personality Theory 6 Integrative Personality Theory Tameka Bowen Tolanda Martin PSY 330-Theories of Personality September 18, 2016 Major Concepts   The psychodynamic model The psychodynamic model consists of concepts by Sigmund Freud that explains most aspects of personality. These theories were based on Sigmund’s the patients’ therapy whereby he was able to collect many theories and later became the psychodynamic approach to personality. Throughout the years, these theories have become of much importance in the field of psychology. They have been widely used by therapists to treat patients suffering from depression and anxiety disorders. The psychodynamic approach assumes that the behavior and feelings of a person are highly affected by their unconscious motives (Henning, Cilliers, 2012). For adults, their behavior and feelings are developed from their childhood experience. According to Freud, personality consists of three parts namely; the id, super-ego, and super-id. These three sections are shaped differently based on one’s childhood experiences during the psychosexual development stage. The unconscious mind consists of the super-ego and the id while as the conscious mind is the ego. These three parts are in constant conflicts that result to anxiety. This anxiety can be dealt with by the ego using defense mechanisms. The neurobiological model The neurobiological approach deals with the functioning of the neurons. In psychology, this approach is more concerned with how the neurotransmitters affect the behavior of a person. For instance, when trying to understand mental illness, an analysis on how biological aspects influence the human behavior is necessary. This will focus much on how learning and information processing occur in people. Since this approach deals with how individual think, relates to others and perceive external events, it is very much related the antisocial personality. People suffering from neuron related disorders do not consider what is right or wrong when making decisions. According to neurobiological approach, the functioning of the effect neural functioning of the morally emotionally (Dodman et al., 2016). According to this model, components that affect the way people behave are; the level of knowledge and skills, environmental constraints such as attitude, habits, and norms. This theory tries to explain how the mind affects the body and how the body affect the mind resulting in certain behaviors from a person. Excluded Concepts  While discussing the psychodynamic model, there were some assumptions made. One of the assumptions made is that every behavior has a cause. By making this assumption, aspects such as feelings, thoughts and behavior are taken to be as a result of a certain cause either genetically or environmental. Other assumptions made are t.

1. Integrative Personality Theory
1
Integrative Personality Theory
6
Integrative Personality Theory
Tameka Bowen
Tolanda Martin
PSY 330-Theories of Personality
September 18, 2016
Major Concepts
The psychodynamic model
The psychodynamic model consists of concepts by Sigmund
Freud that explains most aspects of personality. These theories
were based on Sigmund’s the patients’ therapy whereby he was
able to collect many theories and later became the
psychodynamic approach to personality.
Throughout the years, these theories have become of much
importance in the field of psychology. They have been widely
used by therapists to treat patients suffering from depression
and anxiety disorders.
The psychodynamic approach assumes that the behavior and

2. feelings of a person are highly affected by their unconscious
motives (Henning, Cilliers, 2012). For adults, their behavior
and feelings are developed from their childhood experience.
According to Freud, personality consists of three parts namely;
the id, super-ego, and super-id. These three sections are shaped
differently based on one’s childhood experiences during the
psychosexual development stage. The unconscious mind
consists of the super-ego and the id while as the conscious mind
is the ego. These three parts are in constant conflicts that result
to anxiety. This anxiety can be dealt with by the ego using
defense mechanisms.
The neurobiological model
The neurobiological approach deals with the functioning of the
neurons. In psychology, this approach is more concerned with
how the neurotransmitters affect the behavior of a person. For
instance, when trying to understand mental illness, an analysis
on how biological aspects influence the human behavior is
necessary. This will focus much on how learning and
information processing occur in people.
Since this approach deals with how individual think, relates to
others and perceive external events, it is very much related the
antisocial personality. People suffering from neuron related
disorders do not consider what is right or wrong when making
decisions. According to neurobiological approach, the
functioning of the effect neural functioning of the morally
emotionally (Dodman et al., 2016).
According to this model, components that affect the way people
behave are; the level of knowledge and skills, environmental
constraints such as attitude, habits, and norms. This theory tries
to explain how the mind affects the body and how the body
affect the mind resulting in certain behaviors from a person.
Excluded Concepts
While discussing the psychodynamic model, there were some
assumptions made. One of the assumptions made is that every
behavior has a cause. By making this assumption, aspects such
as feelings, thoughts and behavior are taken to be as a result of

3. a certain cause either genetically or environmental. Other
assumptions made are that personality consists of two parts,
one's childhood experiences play a great role in shaping one's
personality and that the conscious and the unconscious mind are
in endless conflicts.
However, the assumption that behavior is either motivated by
the life instinct or the sex drive was omitted. The reason behind
my omission of this concept is that there are very few
supporting materials and research on it, and besides, it conflicts
with other concepts discussed. According to the psychodynamic
model, these two drives are from the id part. This presents a
conflict since these two drives are in the id part yet only one of
them influence one's behavior at a time. We would expect that
the id is only in conflict with the super-id part (Larsen & Buss,
2008).
The Differences between Healthy and Unhealthy Personalities
Personalities can either be healthy or unhealthy. The difference
between these two is based on the flexibility of a person in
different environments. Different situations need to be
interpreted differently such that the unique demands they
present are meet (Engler, 2013).
A person is said to have a healthy personality if he/she
interprets his/her environment accurately such that their
behaviors, thoughts, and feelings are by their environment. Such
a person can navigate their environment efficiently and
productively.
On the other hand, a person is said to have an unhealthy
personality if he/she lacks a skill called metallization. Such a
person is not able to adjust their behavior as per different
environments with ease. They have rigid feelings, thoughts, and
behaviors (Engler, 2013).
The Roles of Heredity, the Environment, and Epigenetics
Personality development is highly determined by some factors
namely; the environment, heredity, and epigenetics. The
personality of different people differs significantly based on the
above factors.

4. Heredity refers to the aspects of a human being that are passed
at conception from parents to children (Boeree, 2006).
Psychology argues that the personality of a person lies in
his/her molecular gene structure. This genetic structure of an
individual is found in the chromosomal makeup of a person as
passed from their parents. Research done supports the fact that
heredity plays a great role in determining a person’s
personality. Epigenetics, on the other hand, deals with the
change in genetic makeup that does not have to do with the
change in the DNA makeup of a person. In most cases,
epigenetics process is natural but it can also be influenced by
factors such as disease, lifestyle, and the environment. Change
in the genetic makeup will have an effect on one’s personality.
An environmental factor that affects one's personality mostly
includes ones culture. The culture of the place where one is
raised affects his/her norms, attitudes, values and behaviors.
These aspects in most cases are passed from one generation to
the other hence changing people’s personality. The parenting
style of parents to their children can is another environmental
factor that determines one’s personality (Hjelle & Ziegler,
1992). When growing up, people learn to do different things
differently depending on their environment. However, the
impact of culture on different people’s personality is different
since different people pass these values.
Self-Reflection
This class has been of much importance to me whereby I have
been able to understand my personality better. Through it, I
have added knowledge about personalities. When the course
began, I knew little about the seven common models of
personality. The most interesting concept was learning about the
psychodynamic model. Aspects of it were so convincing that
they caught my attention. Another concept that I learned was
the big five personality.
By using this knowledge, I can now analyze my personality. I
believe I have a healthy type of character since I can adapt to
different environments with ease. Besides, I can assess my

5. achievements, behave responsibly, control my emotions and
remain goal oriented.
References
Boeree, G. C. D. (2006). Personality theories.
Dodman, N. H., Ginns, E. I., Shuster, L., Moon-Fanelli, A. A.,
Galdzicka, M., Zheng, J., Ruhe5, A. L., Neff, M. W. (2016).
Genomic Risk for Severe Canine Compulsive Disorder, a Dog
Model of Human OCD.
Engler, B. (2013). Personality theories. Nelson Education.
Henning, S., Cilliers, F. (2012).Constructing a systems
psychodynamic wellness model.
Hjelle, L. A., & Ziegler, D. J. (1992). Personality theories:
Basic assumptions, research, and applications. McGraw-Hill
Humanities, Social Sciences & World Languages.
Larsen, R. J., & Buss, D. M. (2008). Personality
psychology. Jastrebarsko: Naklada Slap.