The study of personality is one of the major topics of interest in psychology. Numerous personality theories exist and most of the major ones fall into one of four major perspectives. Each of these perspectives on personality attempts to describe different patterns in personality, including how these patterns form and how people differ on an individual level. Show
Learn more about the four major perspectives of personality, the theorist associated with each theory, and the core ideas that are central to each perspective. Illustration by JR Bee, VerywellPsychoanalytic PerspectiveThe psychoanalytic perspective of personality emphasizes the importance of early childhood experiences and the unconscious mind. This perspective on personality was created by psychiatrist Sigmund Freud who believed that things hidden in the unconscious could be revealed in a number of different ways, including through dreams, free association, and slips of the tongue. Neo-Freudian theorists, including Erik Erikson, Carl Jung, Alfred Adler, and Karen Horney, believed in the importance of the unconscious but disagreed with other aspects of Freud's theories. Major TheoristsBelow are the most prominent psychoanalytic perspective theorists:
Humanistic PerspectiveThe humanistic perspective of personality focuses on psychological growth, free will, and personal awareness. It takes a more positive outlook on human nature and is centered on how each person can achieve their individual potential. Major TheoristsThe following are the most influential humanistic perspective theorists:
Trait PerspectiveThe trait perspective of personality is centered on identifying, describing, and measuring the specific traits that make up human personality. By understanding these traits, researchers believe they can better comprehend the differences between individuals. Major TheoristsBelow are the most important trait perspective theorists:
Social Cognitive PerspectiveThe social cognitive perspective of personality emphasizes the importance of observational learning, self-efficacy, situational influences, and cognitive processes. Major TheoristsThe main proponent of the social cognitive perspective is:
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Thanks for your feedback! Which of the following would most likely be of interest to theorist from a cognitive approach?Which of the following would most likely be of interest to a theorist from the cognitive approach? process information. According to Kelly, people want to understand the world so that they can predict and control what happens to them.
What is the cognitive perspective in psychology?The Cognitive Perspective
This approach focuses on how internal thoughts and feelings influence one's behavior. The cognitive approach emphasizes the importance of memory, perception and attention, language, decision-making and problem-solving. This approach often compares the human mind to that of a computer.
What theorist introduced the idea that we learn by watching models quizlet?According to Bandura, we learn many behaviors by observing models.
What does the introductory chapter conclude about the influence of cognitive approaches on other areas of psychology?What does the introductory chapter conclude about the influence of cognitive approaches on other areas of psychology? Cognitive psychology has had an important impact on a variety of areas throughout psychology. Cognitive psychology has had an important impact on a variety of areas throughout psychology.
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