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Biological and Humanistic Theories

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Biological and Humanistic Theories
Victor Bell
University Of Phoenix
Psychology of Personality
Psy 250
Byron Pettit, M.A.
Due July 29, 2009

Biological and Humanistic Approaches to Personality
Understanding the wide range and the development of personalities within our culture has been an ongoing challenge for hundreds of years. Within this document we will consider why people have completely different personalities even in the case of identical twins. Although Freud’s believed that people were basically born with their personality intact, many different theories have developed over the years in direct contrast to Freud’s. I will also consider the impact of genetics, environment and the role they play in reference to the biological aspect of personality development. Two of the more popular personality theories today are Biological and Humanistic; I will analyze and compare both theories to demonstrate an understanding of the differences and similarities between them. The Biological factor determines our physical make-up the color of our eyes, hair how tall we will grow as adults, and our overall body type. Base on society standards our appearance will affect the way we are viewed and treated by others from childhood into adulthood. The preferential treatment that one may receive due to their physical appearance will create a superior level of confidence and self-worth that in most cases will continue throughout adult hood. The reverse would also be true, if a person is considered obese, in general this person can expect little favorable treatment by the public at large, what he or she can expect in many cases, especially as a child, cruel unfair treatment and flat out discrimination into adulthood. In either case the treatment one receives from childhood to adulthood based on physical appearance and

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