Theory Tables Psych 645 Version 27 University Of Phoenix Mat

Theory Tablespsych645 Version 27university Of Phoenix Materialtheory

Complete the tables as a Learning Team. Each table should be completed for its respective week, starting with Week Two. Submit the completed tables to your instructor in Week Five. Key figures: Jonathan; Key concepts of personality formation: Larry; Explanation of the disordered personality: Amber; Scientific credibility: Diane; Comprehensiveness; Applicability.

Paper For Above instruction

The development of personality theories provides critical insights into understanding human behavior, motivation, and personality disorders. Across different psychological paradigms—psychodynamic, attachment, humanistic, behavioral, social cognitive, and trait—distinct key figures, concepts, and methodologies shape the exploration of personality formation and disordered personalities. This essay synthesizes these approaches, examining key figures, core concepts, their scientific credibility, comprehensiveness, and applicability to real-world contexts.

Psychodynamic Theory

The psychodynamic paradigm, founded by Sigmund Freud and further developed by Carl Jung, Alfred Adler, and Erik Erikson, emphasizes the influence of unconscious motives, early childhood experiences, and innate drives on personality development and disorders. Freud's theory, arguably the most comprehensive, posits that adult personality is largely formed by unresolved conflicts from childhood, driven by instincts and unconscious desires. Freud believed that behaviors stem from conflicts among the id, ego, and superego, with unresolved issues manifesting as psychological disorders (Kroger, 2006). The theory's applicability extends into psychoanalytic therapy, focusing on uncovering unconscious motives for treatment.

However, Freud's approach suffers from limited scientific credibility due to its reliance on introspective methods, difficulty in falsification, and challenges in replicability (Cervone & Pervin, 2013). While comprehensive in covering personality, including dreams, sexuality, and symbolism, the theory's applicability is often criticized for its lack of empirical validation. Carl Jung's concepts of archetypes, the collective unconscious, and typologies like introversion and extraversion expanded the psychodynamic framework, influencing personality assessment tools like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, although these lack rigorous scientific validation (Jungian Model of the Psyche, 2018). Adler's emphasis on striving for superiority and social interest introduces the idea that social factors and individual goals are integral to personality development, but its scientific credibility remains debated due to limited empirical support (Alfred Adler’s Personality Theory, 2018). Erikson's psychosocial stages, emphasizing identity development across the lifespan, offer a more comprehensive and applicable model, particularly valuable in clinical and developmental psychology, despite some criticisms regarding its scientific rigor (McLeod, 2018).

Attachment Theory

John Bowlby pioneered attachment theory, emphasizing the importance of early bonds—particularly with primary caregivers—in shaping personality and future relational patterns. The theory highlights that secure attachments foster positive internal working models, promoting healthy relationships and adaptive personality traits (Cassidy et al., 2013). Bowlby’s work was complemented by Mary Ainsworth and colleagues, expanding understanding of attachment styles—secure, avoidant, ambivalent, and disorganized—that are linked to later personality traits and potential disorders.

Despite its influence, attachment theory faces issues with scientific credibility due to reliance on self-report measures and limited longitudinal data directly linking attachment styles from infancy to adult personality disorders. Its comprehensiveness is also challenged by findings that attachment styles are not fixed, and individuals may exhibit multiple styles over time (L, 2016). Nevertheless, in applied settings such as counseling and psychotherapy, attachment-based approaches help address relational difficulties and personality pathology, making it highly applicable in clinical work.

Humanistic Theory

Core figures like Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers, and Clark Mustakas emphasize personal growth, self-actualization, and positive human potential. Maslow's hierarchy of needs represents a flexible framework illustrating how fulfilling basic needs progresses toward self-actualization—the realization of one’s true potential (Humanistic Perspectives on Personality, n.d.). Carl Rogers introduced client-centered therapy, emphasizing the importance of unconditional positive regard and self-concept development, which directly influence personality and self-actualization processes (Humanistic Perspectives on Personality, n.d.).

Humanistic theories are praised for their focus on positive aspects of personality and their applicability in therapeutic contexts, particularly with respect to fostering personal growth and resilience. However, they are often criticized for insufficient empirical support and limited scope regarding biological and cultural variables, which impacts their scientific credibility (Feist & Feist, 2009). Despite these limitations, their applicability remains high in counseling, education, and organizational settings, promoting holistic development.

Behavioral Theory

Behaviorism, led by Pavlov, Skinner, Thorndike, and Watson, concentrates on observable behaviors shaped through reinforcement and punishment. Skinner’s operant conditioning models suggest that personality traits develop through learned responses to environmental stimuli (Kroger, 2006). Forensic applications such as criminal profiling utilize behavioral principles to infer potential suspects based on behavioral patterns.

While arguably the most scientifically rigorous due to experimental methods, behaviorism's scope is limited in explaining internal mental states, motivations, and personality disorders rooted in cognitive or emotional processes. Its applicability is strong in behavior modification and applied settings but less so in understanding complex psychological disorders, which require an integration of cognitive and emotional factors (Bandura, 1986).

Cognitive and Social Cognitive Theories

Jerome Bruner, George Miller, Jean Piaget, and Ulric Neisser are foundational figures in cognitive psychology, which investigates mental processes like perception, memory, and problem-solving—factors contributing to personality development. Albert Bandura expanded into social cognitive theory, emphasizing observational learning, modeling, and self-efficacy, profoundly impacting educational psychology and behavior change interventions (Bandura, 1986).

These theories are valued for their scientific credibility, grounded in empirical research and experimental methods. They are highly applicable in educational and psychotherapy settings, where understanding cognition and observational learning help modify maladaptive behaviors and personality traits.

Trait Theory

Allport, Cattell, and others focused on stable personality traits—enduring characteristics that predict behavior across contexts. The trait approach emphasizes measurements such as the Big Five model (neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, conscientiousness), providing a comprehensive, replicable framework (Feist & Feist, 2009). Its scientific credibility is robust, supported by extensive factor analysis and cross-cultural validation.

Trait theories are widely applied in personnel selection, psychological assessment, and research, owing to their systematic and empirically validated methods of personality description. However, they sometimes overlook situational influences, which limits their ability to predict behavior in specific contexts (McCrae & Costa, 1999).

Conclusion

In synthesis, each personality theory offers unique insights with varying degrees of scientific rigor, scope, and applicability. Psychodynamic theories provide deep explorations of unconscious influences but lack empirical validation. Attachment theory offers vital understanding of relational development but is challenged by measurement issues. Humanistic approaches foster personal growth and are valuable in therapy but lack scientific robustness. Behavioral and cognitive theories excel in empirical support and practical applications but may oversimplify complex personality phenomena. Trait theories stand out for their scientific credibility and utility in assessment, although they may neglect situational factors. An integrated understanding of these paradigms enhances our ability to diagnose, treat, and facilitate personality development and management effectively.

References

  • Bandura, A. (1986). Social Foundations of Thought and Action: A Social Cognitive Theory. Prentice-Hall.
  • Cervone, D., & Pervin, L. A. (2013). Personality Theory and Research (12th ed.). Wiley.
  • Jungian Model of the Psyche | Journal Psyche. (2018). Retrieved from https://journalpsyche.com
  • McLeod, S. (2018). Erik Erikson | Psychosocial stages | Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/erik-erikson.html
  • Feist, J., & Feist, G. J. (2009). Theories of Personality (7th ed.). McGraw-Hill.
  • Humanistic Perspectives on Personality | Boundless Psychology. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://psychologyeducation.com
  • Alfred Adler’s Personality Theory and Personality Types | Journal Psyche. (2018). Retrieved from https://journalpsyche.com
  • L, D. (2016). Attachment Theory (Bowlby) - Learning Theories. Retrieved from https://learningtheories.com
  • Kroger, J. (2006). Identity Development: Adolescence through Adulthood. Sage Publications.
  • Jungian Model of the Psyche | Journal Psyche. (2018). Retrieved from https://journalpsyche.com

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