This document provides an overview of theories and approaches to understanding personality, including psychoanalytic, humanist, cognitive, trait, social learning, and behavioral perspectives. It discusses key figures who developed theories like Freud, Jung, Adler, Horney, Maslow, Rogers, Kelly, Bandura, and Eysenck. Assessment techniques are also reviewed, such as the MMPI, TAT, and methods like projective tests, direct observation, and evaluating self-concept and self-esteem. Major concepts discussed include the id, ego, superego, defense mechanisms, psychosexual stages, archetypes, locus of control, the big five model, and influences on personality like culture and assessment biases.

1. Personality
Chapter Objective: In this section of the course, students explore major theories
of how humans develop enduring patterns of behavior and personal
characteristics that influence how others relate to them. The unit also addresses
research methods used to assess personality.
• Compare and contrast the major theories and approaches to explaining
personality: psychoanalytic, humanist, cognitive, trait, social learning, and
behavioral.
• Describe and compare research methods (e.g., case studies and surveys) that
psychologists use to investigate personality.
Identify frequently used assessment strategies (e.g., the Minnesota Multiphasic
Personality Inventory [MMPI], the Thematic Apperception Test [TAT]), and
evaluate relative test quality based on reliability and validity of the instruments.
• Speculate how cultural context can facilitate or constrain personality
development, especially as it relates to self-concept (e.g., collectivistic versus
individualistic cultures).
• Identify key contributors to personality theory (e.g., Alfred Adler, Albert
Bandura, Paul Costa and Robert McCrae, Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, Abraham
Maslow, Carl Rogers).

2. Lesson One: Freud and Personality
ID EGO SUPEREGO
Life Instinct –
Death Instinct –
Pleasure Principle -
Reality Principle - Morality Principle –
Defense Mechanism -
Example Example Example
Freudian Defense Mechanisms:
Defense Mechanism: Description: Real Life Example:
Repression
Regression
Displacement

3. Sublimation
Reaction Formation
Projection
Rationalization
Freud’s Psychosocial Stages of Personality Development:
Define:
• Erogenous Zone –
• Fixation -
Stage Erogenous Zone Focus Activity
Oral (birth – 1-1/2 yrs)
Anal (1-1/2 – 3 yrs)
Phallic (3-6 yrs.)
Latency (6yrs – puberty)
Genital (Puberty-adult)

4. What did Freud have to say about:
• Anal Retentive Personality –
• Anal Expulsive Personality -
What’s the difference between:
• Oedipus Conflict –
• Electra Conflict -
What are some criticisms of Freudian Theory?
1.
2.
3.
Lesson Two: Neo-Freudian Psychologists
What is Carl Jung’s idea of the “collective unconscious” all about?
Classic Archetype Examples:
1.
2.
3.

5. Jungian Terminologies:
What do you think about the idea of the collective unconscious?
Individuation: Extraversion:
Introversion:

6. Lesson Three: Alfred Adler and Karen Horney
What the main difference between Alfred Adler and Sigmund Freud?
What were Adler’s beliefs on inferiority?
What were Adler’s beliefs on birth order? Do you agree with them?
What was Karen Horney’s main focus in her research?
Neurotic Personality Patterns: Karen Horney
Moving Toward People: Moving Against People: Moving Away From People:
Striving For Superiority Inferiority Complex

7. Lesson Four: Humanistic/Behavioral/Social Cognitive Theory
Maslow’s Terminologies:
If you had to make a critique of Maslow’s theory, what would you say?
Rogers Terminologies:
Key Concept: Main Idea:
Self
Unconditional Positive
Regard
Real Self
Ideal Self
Fully Functioning
Hierarchy of Needs: Self-Actualization:

8. What does George Kelly’s Personal Construct Theory have to do with personality?
Bandura Terminologies:
Reciprocal Determinism: Self-efficacy:
What is the difference between:
• Individualistic Cultures –
• Collectivist Cultures -
Julion Rotter’s Locus of Control:
External Locus of
Control
Internal Locus of
Control
Locus of Control

9. Lesson Five: Trait Theory – Allport, Eysenck, Cattel, Big Five
Hans Eysenck: Personality Dimensions
Extraversion: Factor Analysis:
Neuroticism: Psychoticism:
BIG IDEA:
Cardinal Trait Central Trait
Trait

10. Raymond Cattel’s 16 Personality Factors:
The BIG Five Personality Theory:
Big Idea: Openness
Conscientiousness Extraversion
Agreeableness Neuroticism
Surface Traits Source Traits
Big Idea:

11. Lesson Six: Assessment – Projective Tests, Direct observation, self
concept/esteem
Assessment Technique/Term: Main Idea:
Halo Effect
Hawthorn Effect
Projective Personality Test
Self-Report Method
Self-Concept
Self-Esteem