The study of comprehensive theory of personality has been carried out over the past 2500 years. According to Freud’s psychodynamic theory, which says that personality is formed through early childhood experience, in reaction to the psychodynamic perspective, some other theories have emerged, which include learning from humanistic, biological, and cultural perspectives.
Psychodynamic perspective by Freud:
The first comprehensive theory of personality was presented by Sigmund Freud around 100 years ago. He was the one who noticed that most human mental activities happen outside of our conscious awareness
Learning Approaches:
People tend to behave in a certain manner depending on there previous learning. Appointment behaviourist known as B.F. Skinner said that we demonstrate consistent behavior patterns because we have developed certain response tendencies. Mishel believed that our personal goals play a role in the self-regulation process. According to Albert Bandura, one’s environment influences one’s behaviour. At the same time, even a person can influence his environment with his thoughts and behaviour, which is also termed as reciprocal determinism. Bandura also believed that our learning is influenced by watching others, and this type of learning also plays a part in the development of human personality. Bandura also discussed human self-efficacy, which shows the level of confidence a person has in his own abilities. Rotter discussed the concept of locus of control, which shows the power of control that we have over our lives.
Humanistic Approaches:
Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers studied the growth potential aspects of healthy individuals. According to the duo, people always look to fully realize one’s own potential. Studies greatly emphasize individuals understanding of the self. Both of them focused on free will and self-determination, with each person trying to become the best version of himself.
Biological Approaches:
Major aspects of human personality are, by and large, controlled by genetics. Children’s personalities is greatly affected by the environment in which they are brought up, for example, family interactions and the emergence of personal and behavioral characteristics through growth processes (maturation).
Trait Theorists:
Trait theorists tried to determine our personality based on our stable characteristics and ways of behaving. The five-factor model theory is one of the most popular and widely accepted theories in today’s modern world. The five-factor model comprises openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.
Influence of culture on human personality:
one of the most important environmental factors that shapes our personality is the culture in which we live. As the culture changes, the strength of personality also changes. Culture is usually categorized into two groups: individualist culture and collective culture. People belonging to the individualist culture believe in independence, competition, and personal achievement. Whereas people belonging to collective cultures give importance to social harmony, respectfulness, and group needs.
Personality assessment:
Personality tests are carried out to measure an individual’s personality. These tests are usually carried out to figure out any psychological problems if present in the individual. These kinds of tests are necessary when a person gets admitted to a college or during a person getting employed. There are mainly two types of personality test which are self-report-inventories and projective tests.The MMPI is widely used self-report inventories. In the MMPI an individual is asked a series of true/false questions that gives a broder view of his clinical profile. In projective tests images or other stimuli are used to find out an individual’s hidden fears, desires, and challenges. The different projective tests are the Inkbot Test, the TAT, the RISB ,and the C-TCB .