Personality Theories & Assessment
Overview:
On personhood, Self, Identity. Personality Theories and models. Psychological Types (Jung). Holland Codes Typology. Buddhist Personality Types. Personality Theories & Assessment tools. Why is the study of personality theories of good use in psychotherapy? Traits of a positive personality. How can parents cultivate such positive traits to their children even before conception?
PART 1: Warm-Up, Reflection Questions
1. As an introduction to the Personality Theories, please watch this video that uses Nelson Mandela as an example to speak about the most important personality theories. As you watch it, keep track on your thoughts and enter them or some of them to your Self-Assessment/ Reflection Lifeline diary.
2. “Classic personality theories, although intriguing, are outdated. The five-factor model of personality traits reinvigorated personality research, and the resulting findings spurred a new generation of personality theories. These theories assign a central place to traits and acknowledge the crucial role of evolved biology in shaping human psychology; they also address the modifying influences of the social and cultural environment. Teachers can and should teach “personality theories” as a science course, not a history course”.
Robert R. McCrae, Personality Theories for the 21st Century
PART 2: Videolecture
Videolecture 1: On personality
PART 3: Study Material
A. Assessment tools and scales:
Psychoanalytic theory:
- The Rorschach Inkblot Test.
Developed by Hermann Rorschach in the early 1900s.
The test consists of a series of inkblots that individuals are asked to interpret. The interpretation of the inkblots is thought to reveal unconscious thoughts and motivations. - The Thematic Apperception Test (TAT).
Developed in the early 1900s. The test consists of a series of pictures that individuals are asked to interpret by telling a story about what they see in the picture. The stories are thought to reveal unconscious thoughts and motivations.
Humanistic theory:
- The Personal Orientation Inventory (POI).
Developed by Carl Rogers and Richard Price in the 1950s. The POI measures individual differences in personal growth, self-actualization, and psychological health. - The Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF).
Developed by Raymond Cattell in the 1940s and 1950s. The 16PF measures individual differences in personality traits such as warmth, anxiety, and independence.
Trait theory:
- The NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI).
Developed by Paul Costa and Robert McCrae in the 1980s. The NEO-PI measures the Big Five personality traits: extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness. - The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI).
Developed by Starke Hathaway and J.C. McKinley in the 1940s. The MMPI measures a wide range of personality traits and psychopathology.
Behavioral theory:
- The Behavioral Assessment System for Children (BASC). Developed by Cecil Reynolds and Randy Kamphaus in the 1990s. The BASC measures a wide range of behavioral and emotional problems in children and adolescents, and is often used in clinical and educational settings.
- The Behavioral Activation for Depression Scale (BADS).
Developed by Christopher Martell, Steven Dimidjian, and Ruth Herman-Dunn in the 1990s.
The BADS measures the degree to which individuals engage in positive reinforcement activities, which is thought to be important for reducing symptoms of depression. - The Motivational Trait Questionnaire (MTQ).
Developed by Peter Clough and Doug Strycharczyk in the 2010s. The MTQ measures individual differences in personality traits such as achievement orientation, resilience, and motivation.
Cognitive theory:
- The Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS).
Developed by Aaron Beck in the 1970s.
The DAS measures negative beliefs and attitudes that are thought to be associated with depression and other psychological problems. - The Attributional Style Questionnaire (ASQ).
Developed by Martin Seligman in the 1980s. The ASQ measures individual differences in attributional style, or the way individuals explain the causes of events in their lives. Attributional style is thought to be related to a range of psychological outcomes, including depression and anxiety.
Jungian psychology:
- Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI).
Based on the ideas of Carl Jung. It assesses an individual’s preferences for different modes of perception (sensing or intuition) and judgment (thinking or feeling), yielding a four-letter personality type. - The Personal Orientation Inventory (POI).
Developed by Shostrom and Vogel in the 1960s.
The POI measures an individual’s level of personal orientation, or their sense of purpose, direction, and values.
Prenatal psychology:
- The Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health Questionnaire (PPPHQ).
Developed by Thomas Verny and associates in the 1990s. The PPPHQ assesses an individual’s prenatal and perinatal experiences, including maternal stress, nutrition, and medical interventions. - Early Mother-Child Interaction Coding (CITMI-R)
Developed by Trenado, Rosa M. Cerezo, M. Angeles.
It measures four types of maternal behaviour and four types of infant behaviour. CITMI-R provides micro-analytic measurements of two-way interactions, proving relevant for prevention and intervention in the area of infant mental health and that of primary caregivers.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infbeh.2021.10156 - Maternal Postnatal Attachment Scale (MPAS).
Developed by Condon, John T. Corkindale, Carolyn J. used pre-intervention and post-intervention to assess attachment. It measures (1) Pleasure in proximity: desire to interact with infant rather than separation or avoidance; (2) Tolerance: greater willingness and ability to tolerate behaviour, less resentment; (3) Need gratification and protection: desire to identify and gratify infant’s emotional and physical needs; (4) Knowledge acquisition: A desire to understand the infant and a sense of competency from such understanding.
https://doi.org/10.25957/5dc0f28d14338 - Dyadic Parent-Child Interaction Coding System (DPICS-IV).
Developed by Eyberg, Sheila M. Robinson, Elizabeth A.
It is used to monitor progress in parenting skills during interventions and provides an objective, well-validated measure of changes in child compliance through pre-and post-test; and it is often combined with parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT).
https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/0022-006X.49.2.245. - The Prenatal Psychosocial Profile (PPP): This is an interview-based assessment tool that was developed by Michael W. O’Hara and colleagues in the 1990s. The PPP assesses an individual’s psychosocial risk factors during pregnancy, including depression, anxiety, and stress.
- Prebirth Analysis Matrix (PAM)
Developed by Jon RG Turner & Troya GN Turner-Groot.
22 critical moments from preconception to weaning.
Info: info@cosmoanelixis.gr - Care4U
Developed by Olga Gouni
It is used to elicit primal information that impact a person’s health. Useful when the child can not speak yet.
Info: info@cosmoanelixis.gr
B. Notes for the learner
- Person, Personality, Self and Identity: A Philosophically Informed Conceptual Analysis
- Personality Theories: An Overview
- Integrated Approach to Personality Theories
- Personality Theories and Models
PART 4: Self-study Material
The following resources can offer you a better understanding on the theme
- Theories of Personality (Book by Jess Feist, Gregory Feist and Tomi-Ann Roberts) 9th edition
- Psychology (Book by David Myers, 9th edition)
- Psychological Types (Book by Karl Jung)
- Buddhist Personality Types
- Holland Codes Typology
PART 5: Inspiration
“The most important kind of freedom is to be what you really are. You trade in your reality for a role. You trade in your sense for an act. You give up your ability to feel, and in exchange, put on a mask. There can’t be any large-scale revolution until there’s a personal revolution, on an individual level. It’s got to happen inside first.”