Major Pesonality Theories and Coping Strategies Summary

1. Summarize the key elements of the major personality theories (e.g. type and trait theories, psychodynamic theories, humanistic theories, etc.) discussed in the text.

Personality types are distinct pattern of personality characteristics used to assign people to categories (Gerrig 407). One of the elements of this theory is that if a person belongs to one type they cannot belong to any other. When the theory was first established it was believed that people could be grouped into four categories sanguine, phlegmatic, melancholy, and choleric. In the past it was believed that these were determined by fluids within the bodies such as blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile. In today’s theory ones personality or temperament are related to one’s physique. Each type of physique determines what one’s temperament would be. As of late there has been a new idea towards the theory that states one’s personality is determined by one’s birth order.
The other portion of this theory involves personality traits. Traits are enduring qualities or attributes that predispose individuals to behave consistently across situations. This states that while one day you may demonstrate one trait the next day depending on the situation you may do the opposite. In Allport’s trait approach it is stated that traits act like building blocks that connect to produce a person’s reaction to stimuli. The theory led to the belief that 16 factors are what underlie human personality and create how one acts. The most recent and most valued theory in this category is the five-factor model, which suggests that there are five broad overlapping factors that determine one’s personality.
The psychodynamic theory is the assumption that powerful inner force...

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...ther support system with this could also be financial, if one is unable to work and I having difficulty with finances as a result family, friends and even a community can help with money by lending and fundraising.
There are many different ways to cope and deal with stress. Stress can be very detrimental to one’s health and mental stability. An individual should find ways to deal with the stresses in their everyday life, and even find different ways of thinking about these stresses. It is important to maintain a health mental state to keep the rest on ones faculties in homeostasis. In times of severe stress such as an illness, loss of a loved one, financial difficulty and during a great tragedy is the time when one needs family, friends, and society the most.

Gerrig, R. J., & Zimbardo, P. G. (2010). Psychology and life (19th ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.