When studying human personality, psychologists may consider different levels of analysis. Personality can be viewed as characteristics typical of human nature and that we are “like all others” (Kluckhohn & Murray, 1953), as humans share the same basic biological components, experiences of development and social interactions. Alternatively, personality can be analysed in terms of individual and group differences, where we are “like some other[s]” (Kluckhohn & Murray, 1953). This approach considers that groups of individuals possess common characteristics, but that characteristics vary between individuals. For example, men are generally more aggressive than women, but one man may be more aggressive in comparison to another man. This level of analysis takes a nomothetic view on personality. Some theorists however may be more interested in individual uniqueness and take an idiographic approach to studying personality.
From the ancient Greek term idios meaning ‘private’ or ‘personal’, the idiographic approach emphasises that each individual is unlike any other and aims to develop an in-depth understanding of the individual by exploring their unique traits or personality variables. In contrast, the nomothetic approach - nomos meaning ‘law’ in ancient Greek - assumes that there is a limited set of variables that can be used to describe human personality and aims to identify the minimum number of these variables required to describe personality universally. The nomothetic researcher investigates “how and how much a particular individual is similar to or differs from others” (Shackleton and Fletcher, 1984) and therefore uses quantitative methods such as self-report questionnaires. From quantitative data psychologists can establish which p...
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...f individuals, identify common themes and form hypotheses, and nomothetic methodology can then be used to investigate the theories.
Allport (1937) deemed science as nomothetic and psychology to be concerned with the study of individuals, suggesting that psychology is perhaps not a science, but by combining both the nomothetic and idiographic approaches, science and personality are combined forming a “science of personality” (Beck, 1953) . Allport (1960) reasoned that “unless such idiographic (particular) knowledge is fused with nomothetic (universal) knowledge, we shall not achieve the aims of science”. In which respect, by approaching the study of personality with both nomothetic and idiographic methodology, an agreement can be made that “Every man is in certain respects like all other men, like some other men and like no other men” (Kluckholm and Murray, 1953).
Our book was divided into different chapters on various theorists and explained the major theories of personality that were proposed by the different psychologists. One of the theories that we learned about was the trait theories. Gordan Allport introduced the trait theory and his theory suggested that individual personalities are primarily composed of broad dispositions’. Eysenck’s three dimensions of Personality was also a part of the trait theory. Eysenck developed that model of personality upon three universal trails. And at last, the trait theory had the Big five dimensions which proposed that there are give basic dimensions of personality. One of the four conclusions in our textbook suggested that “until more unambiguous empirical research is available, the best one can do is to evaluate the various theories personally, and to accept concepts that make sense and reject those that do not”(531).
In today’s culture psychologist, sociologist, and scientist investigate several types of personalities. Personality is the pattern of behavior, though process, emotions, and reactions to the people that surround us on daily basis. Several test have been developed for testing personalities. Some test can be simple and short while others lengthy and complicated. Scholars demonstrated knowledge about personalities looking back many thousands of years. The Greeks published a well documented history in profiling people according to personality traits. Two interesting character personalities are conformist type personality and manipulative type personality.
“Everyday conceptions of personality traits make two key assumptions. First, traits are stable over time… Second, it is generally believed that traits directly influence behavior” (Matthews, Deary, & Whiteman, 2003). Traits can be used as explanations or reasoning for behavior or mood. There have been several notable psychologists to agree with and study the trait theory of personality. Gordon Allport was a psychologist that devoted his work to personality psychology with a focus on the trait perspective (Allport, 1961). Carr and Kingsbury (1938) advocated for further research into personality traits and the idea that the human personality was made specifically of traits even if the traits were not always overt or observable, but rather a person’s behavior could be interpreted to learn about what traits they may
In the following essay, we discuss different theoretical perspectives from Nomothetic and Idiographic approach. How they apply to both Personality (pattern of behavior and thinking) and Intelligence (thinking and behavior). Arguments for both sides are base on what psychologists generally use them as, because some might disagrees with the usage of the word nomothetic and idiographic, orientated by Kantian and Wilhelm Windelband.
After Allport, came along two psychologists, Raymond Cattell and Hans Eysenck, who each formulated their own theories regarding traits. Their theories have been the subjects of considerable research in the world of psychology. Cattell seemed to focus on far too many traits, while Eysenck seemed to focus on too few. As a result, psychologists have combined the two theories to make one satisfactory theory (Cherry), called “The Big Five Factors” (Myers). They are: conscientiousness, agreeableness, neuroticism, openness, and extraversion. These five factors merge to create the human personality (Cherry). Where people fall into these factors s...
Personality is patterns of thinking, behavior and emotional responses that make up individuality over time. Psychologist attempt to understand how personality develops and its impact on how we behave. Several theories attempt to explain personality, using different approaches. The social-cognitive and humanistic approaches are two of many theories that attempt to explain personality. This essay will identify the main concepts of social-cognitive and humanistic approach, identify perspective differences and discuss approach limitations.
An individual’s behaviour may differ depending on the circumstances they are in though there are definite signs of repetitive behaviour when placed in majority of the situations. These characteristics are known as traits which make up the personality of each person (Engler, 2014). Personality theorists do not have a mutual agreement on how the term personality should be used. They each have their definition of personality thus providing a large number of diverse personality theories (Engler, 2014). For example, Eysenck (1970) defined personality as a relatively permanent and consistent composition of an individual’s disposition that in turn establishes how the person adjusts to their
Personality is universal; we all have at least one. However, personality is also unique to each of us, just like our fingerprints, representing our patterns of thought, behaviors and beliefs. When I look at my friend Sarah, a bubbly, yet anxious college student, I can see two aspects of her personality clearly: on the bright side, she is cheerful and ready to please, on the gloomy side, she is also a nervous wreck and is easily stressed. How did Sarah 's personality become this way?
The study of personality traits is beneficial in identifying the many variables that exist from human to human; the combinations of these variables provide us with a true level of individuality and uniqueness. In the field of psychology, trait theory is considered to be a key approach to the study of human personality (Crowne, 2007; Burton, Westen & Kowalski, 2009). This paper aims to identify a number of significant contributors who have played crucial roles in both the development and application of trait theory. This paper then moves focus to these theorists, outlining their theory and analysing both the strengths and weaknesses of those theories. An illustration of the methods used in trait measurement is given and includes the arguments both for and against such procedures. Lastly the findings of trait theory and its components described within the paper will be summarised.
I believe our personalities make up who we are and how others perceive us at times. Personalities are our own unique qualities, that we possess as individuals. In writing this short paper, I have found that psychologists use assessments to define an individual’s personality to determine their qualities and what makes them different from other individuals. Through the Big Five Personality test, I found it difficult to define and understand an individual personality
Mccrae, R. R. and Costa Jr, P. T. 1997. Personality trait structure as a human universal. American psychologist, 52 (5), p. 509.
Ideographic approaches to the study of personality is associates with social learning that proposes an explanation as to how personality is formed. Erikson’s (1959) theory of psychosocial development is an example of the idiographic approach, explaining that personality developed continuously throughout life. The theory of psychosocial development is split into eight stages from infancy to age 65 and over; each life stage has its own distinctive characteristics. The first five stages are concerned with development of trust, autonomy, initiative and industry whereas the later stages focus on identify, intimacy, generativity and integrity. Erikson proposed each developmental stage is built on the successes of the previous stage, emphasising on both developmental and changing social expectations as individuals
Psychodynamic and behavioural approaches are the two major approaches to personality, however, they view personality from different perspectives. Psychodynamic approach makes the argument that personality is caused by forces in the unconscious that are not learned. The individual has little control over their behaviour as it is predetermined, and early childhood plays a crucial part in shaping a person’s personality. Behavioural approach, on the other hand, recognises personality as learned and focuses only on present behavioural matters. Because of
A person’s personality has been the subject of psychological scrutiny for many years. Psychologists have drawn up several theories in an attempt to accurately predict and determine one’s personality. Foremost amongst these, is the “Big Five Trait Theory” which stemmed from Raymond B. Cattell’s theory.