Many psychologists throughout many years present theoretical approaches in an attempt to understand personality. Hans Eysenck’s approach of personality differed from that of Sigmund Freud and his psychoanalytical theory of personality. Eysenck’s theory of personality relies on the scientific basis of biology in explaining human personality. Although Freud’s theories are intriguing to an open mind, Eysenck’s approach made measurable scientific sense. He relied on the use of trait and factor analysis, which is a statistical method. Freud relied on faith and his personal opinions based on observational research to reach the assumptions that set forth his theories (Feist & Feist, 2009). Eysenck and Freud did not agree on anything about understanding how and why the mind operates the way, it does.
Eysenck used mathematical steps in his research. In factor analysis, the experimenter begins making specific observations of a large number of people. The information is then quantified by calculating the correlation coefficient between the variables of the experiment. The number will depend on the amount of people who participate in the study. The mathematical deductive process continues until the figures are broken down into smaller, more basic dimensions called traits existing within the factors that represent a large group of closely related variables (Feist & Feist, 2009).
The purpose of factor analysis is to find simple relationship patterns among mathematically examined variables (Buchanan, 2011). However, Freud approached understanding personality with an ever so fascinating perspective. A perspective that remains controversial even after his death. Freud did not use measurable scientific approaches to reach his conclusions; he us...
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...gard to their theories of human life. Eysenck went to the extent of writing a book discrediting Freud’s research. Freud believed in the unconscious mind have dominance over the conscious mind. He expressed that with his scenarios of repressed feelings of sexual desires and aggression. Eysenck was sure an individual is in control of his actions at all times. However, he did accept unconscious abilities to perform at certain levels because of self-confidence, which he also attributed to genetics (Feist & Feist, 2009). The two men did however; share one common ground, the desire to understand how the mind works.
Works Cited
Buchanan, R. D. (2011). Research report: Doing a biography of Hans J. Eysenck. History Of Psychology, 14(2), 210-213. doi:10.1037/a0023481b
Feist, J., & Feist, G. J. (2009). Theories of Personality (7th ed.). New York, New York: McGraw-Hill.
This essay will explore one of the possible combinations of theories on personality and explain how it can be applied in practical therapy.
Westen, D. (1998). The scientific legacy of Sigmund Freud: toward a psychodynamically informed psychological science. Psychological Bulletin, 124(3), 333.
EYSENCK, page 475) Sigmund Freud developed a theory to explain psychoanalytic or psychodynamic theory he was the founder and practised as a psychotherapist and much of his work comes from self-analysis. Freud’s work suggests that early experiences determine adult personality; he identified five stages within the first five years of life. Freud believed that personality consisted of three main elements, The Id: Basic instincts present at birth (The pleasure principle)
Schultz, D. P., & Schultz, S. E. (2013). Theories of personality (10th ed.). Belmont, CA: Cengage/Wadsworth.
Personality is broad and intense subjects that people either understand or do not get it at all. Many people that study psychology also study different people and their own personal views on that person’s analysis. The views range from the founder or real first known one to study this subject Freud, to people that took his views and went in a different direction. Some of the more relevant psychologist is Skinner and Rotter who have taken personal psychology to greater depths and studies. All the people that study the personality of psychology have taken one another’s views and either agreed with them and added to it, or didn’t agree at all and made changes to make their own analysis, and everything between. As for Sigmund Freud he is the one who started it all with his studies of psychoanalysis. Most people think his view are absolutely out of line and incorrect, but after studying him more in depth, you will find that he was not that crazy as you might have thought. For example, in this paper you will come to find that personality and Freud’s views on it aren’t really that off point.
Eysenck believe there are three different dimensions of personality. They are extraversion, neuroticism and psychoticism. He believed that extraversion was inherited from our parents and extroverts had a low levels of cortical arousal and high sensory thresholds. The sensory thresholds that they inherit from their parent s are what causes them to take more risks and not hold back in certain situations. Eysenck also believed that neuroticism is hereditary because it has to do with emotion and motivation. In the brain the amygdala and hypothalamus control these and the environment cannot control brain functions. Psychoticism was not in Eysenck’s theory of development. He believed psychoticism is what makes people angry, hostile, and antisocial which is caused by stress. Depending on how much stress is on someone the more likely they
Cervone, D., Pervin, L. A. (2008). Personality: Theory and research (10th Ed.). New York: Wiley.
Feist, J., Feist, G. J., & Roberts, T. A. (2009). Theories of personality. New York:
Famous psychological theorists Sigmund Freud and Carl Rogers were both the greatest researchers in our modern time. They both made a lot of advancement in psychological fields, clinical evidence and expertise. They both developed a theory of 'hidden' personality’, in which the psychologists theorized that people have a ‘hidden' personality within them, one which they are not aware of. This concept indicated that the human nature and the role play in rationale behind the human motivation. Sigmund Freud and Carl Rogers do have same common in their theories. They were both influenced by working within their patients and shared the familiarity through the many years of clinical performance. Based on their experimental studies, Sigmund Freud believed that the human nature is inherently aggressive, and Carl Rogers sustained that the people are innately are good. Indeed, Sigmund Freud and Carl Rogers have diverse opinions and different assumptions on the personality of a human. During the contemporary scientific research, I prefer to agree with Roger’s theory over the Freudian model because it is more in tune with findings of my experiences.
five factor theory is a fairly recent proposal and has its basis in earlier work,
Later research attempted to reduce Cattell’s sixteen “source traits” to five universal personality dimensions resulting in what is now known as “The Big Five Personality Factors.” (Costa & McCrae, 2006; Noftle & Fleeson, 2010)
Lastly, the findings of trait theory and its components described within the paper will be summarised. Major contributors to the trait theory of personality include three prominent psychologists. Boeree (2006) states that American born psychologist Gordon Allport has been described as the founding father of personality trait theory. Allport’s distinguished career included holding the presidency of the American Psychological Association (APA) and receiving the Gold Medal Award and a Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award from the APA (Carducci, 2009, p. 260). After meeting with Sigmund Freud in 1922 and studying his interpretation of personality, Allport developed the opinion that psychoanalysis was too in-depth while behaviourism was far too shallow in the field of personality psychology.
He was more towards statistical factors. He felt that his research and perspectives about the personalities should be more aimed on studying a group and not just on the person themselves. He mainly focused his research on twins. He is also acknowledged for his economic model, which is a three- factor solution. The three-factor solution uses strand of study, which is constructed on the four humors. The four humors were originated by the Greeks. However, Eysenck chose the three factors solutions and repositioned them to his own perspectives. “Eysenck rearranged the four humors on a continuum describable in terms of two personality dimensions: introverted-extroverted and unstable-stable” (Lecci, 2015. Pg. 8.1. Para. 30). These were trusted to be the main characteristics of the human function. He then incorporated his theory on Psychoticism. Hence, which describes a person as being reckless, hostile and as unruly. Eysenck had trusted that these three factors were important to all. However, they scored at a 90-degree level and this was because they did not relate to a score on another factor. His model had also showed of how these characteristic attributes can affect one’s communication. Hence, they are either healthy or not. However, being an extroverted or introverted, can be a positive attribute. Although, it depends on the person’s drive and how they face certain
The second major theory is called the trait or five-factor model. Often referred to as the "Big 5". The five personality traits described by the theory are extraversion, agreeableness, openness, conscientiousness and neuroticism. Beneath each proposed global factor, a number of correlated and more specific primary factors are claimed. One strength of the trait perspectives is their ability to categorize observable behaviors. In other words, observing the behaviors of an individual over time and in varying circumstances provides evidence for the personality traits categorized in trait theories. Another strength is that trait theories use
Over the years, people have wondered what goes on in a person's mind that guides them to meet their needs. Sigmund Freud developed a system of personality that boldly attempts to explain the course of personality and what was it origins. Freud theory assumes that one's personality is shaped and some powerful inner forces motivate one's behavior. According to Freud, personality differences commence from the different ways in which people deal with their underlying drives. By picturing a continuing battle between antagonistic parts of personality, Freud was able to develop three systems that make up the total personality. The three systems of personality are the id, ego, and the superego. If the three systems work together in harmony and unite together to form one complete organization, it enables one to create a positive transaction with the environment. If the systems are fighting with each other, one is said to be dissatisfied with himself or the world. By examining the ego, the id, and the superego, one should see how these three systems of personality play an important role in the development of one's personality. In doing so one should understand what conscious and unconscious, and the functions of the id, ego, and superego.