...Dispositional, Biological and Evolutionary Theory Newspaper Article Jamie Ragland PSY/ 405 Professor Robert Irizarry October 12, 2015 University of Phoenix Abstract Why are dispositional, biological and evolutionary theories important? What are the differences between the three styles of theories? What are the strengths and limitations of each of these theories? Dispositional theory assumes that there are a finite number of personality traits that can be measured, evaluated and observed. Biological theory suggests that genetics are responsible for personality. Evolutionary theory asks how the evolved mind and present – day environment connect to shape human behavior. Dispositional Theories Dispositional theories explain the relationship between traits and personality. Two of the most well-known dispositional theories are Allport’s Psychology of the Individual Theory and Trait and Factor Theories. Gordon Allport, Hans Eysenck, Robert McCrae, and Paul Costa Jr are the more common of the dispositional theorists. The assumptions vary from those of the other theorists. However, just as the other theories, the dispositional theories provide a basis for the study of personality. Retrieved from: http://intothedepthsofthehumanmind.blogspot.com/2013/05/theoretical-perspectives-dispositional.html Dispositional Theory Limitations “All theories have strengths and limitations. One criticism of Allport’s theory...
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...Dispositional, Biological and Evolutionary Theories Paper Diana P. Sanchez PSY/405 September 03, 2014 Sharon Friedman Dispositional, Biological and Evolutionary Theories Paper Personality theories have evolved tremendously in the psychology field. There’s a wide variety of personality theories that have been created over the years. The theorists responsible for their creation have all mainly gathered and altered information from previous theorists and made changes to them; indicating that characteristics of any individual can affect the ideas behind their work (Feist, Feist, & Roberts, 2013). The comparison between the theories (dispositional, biological and evolutionary), comes to show that theirs many similarities and differences between them; as well as weaknesses to them, and strengths. As further research studies into the definition of human behavior, theorists created tests such as the big five test. Comparison Dispositional personality theory, defines the identity of traits and types of characteristics that help determine one’s personality (Feist, Feist, & Roberts, 2013). This theory doesn’t eliminate the use of sub-conscious, but its main focus is on the individual and its conscious thoughts as the center point of personality. It comes to prove the free-will of humans, as well as the possibility of human’s ability to determine their future. The theorist’s responsible for this personality theory, are: Gordon Allport (1897-1967), and Robert...
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...situations. Huberman (1999-2010), “you know, the mayor has said it several times before that while we cannot change the past, we can learn from the past” (Learning Quotes, para. 4). Dispositional versus Learning Although Allport’s theory did not generate a lot of research it, has the capability as he focuses his research on psychologically healthy adults. He receives a moderate rating in generating research because his hypothesis leads to research in only religion, values, and prejudice. Trait and factor theories, however, rate high as Eysenck’s, McCrae’s, and Costa’s theories all generated significant amounts of research. Skinners’ learning theory rates high because his theories generate large quantities of research just as Bandura’s does whom also receives a high rating. The cognitive social learning theories of Rotter and Mischel rate extremely high as their theories generate quantity and quality research. Falsifiability receives a low rating as most of his insights go beyond sciences abilities in determining if other explanations may be equally appropriate. Trait and factor theories receive a moderate rating on falsifiability. Eysenck’s research has not been duplicated by outside researchers, and Costa and McCrae’s research is falsified. Again, Skinner and Bandura’s learning theories rate high on falsifiability as well because a majority of their ideas can be...
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...Dispositional, Biological, and Evolutionary Psychology University of Phoenix Dispositional, Biological, and Evolutionary Psychology Personality theory has come a long way since its beginning in psychology. Many theorists have based their work on theorists before them, but made changes that indicate that the characteristics of the individual affects the ideas behind their work (Feist, Feist, & Roberts, 2013). Comparing dispositional, biological, and evolutionary theories indicates the similarities and differences between the theories; as well as their strengths and weaknesses. The use of these theories has led to research and tests, such as the big five test, that help indicate personality characteristics of individuals (Feist, et al. 2013). Comparison Dispositional personality theory identifies types and traits of characteristics to help determine personality (Feist, Feist, & Roberts, 2010). It then attributes behavior to these characteristics (Westmont.edu, 2002). Many previous theorists had looked at subconscious thoughts as motivation for human personality and behavior. Dispositional theory does not dismiss the sub-conscious, but focuses on the individual and conscious thought as the center of personality (Westmont.edu, 2002). It centers on humans having free will to determine their future (Fesit et al, 2013). Biological psychology theories are based on what many others theorists denied, that is, that personality and behavior are affected by biology (Feist...
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...Introduction There are many theories which are used to explain personality. Dispositional theories explain the relationship between personality and attributes. The most well-known dispositional theories are factor, tract and Allport’s Psychology of individual theory (Paul, 2009). This chapter will discuss the differences between dispositional and evolutionary or biological personality theories, the strengths of both and how the Big Five personality test is used in the study of personality. The differences between dispositional and biological theories The assumptions of dispositional theories vary from those of other theorists because they provide the basis of study for personality. On the other hand, biological or evolutionary theories believe that personality development is mainly governed by biological maturation in an individual. Environmental factors which may also influence an individual personality are viewed as part of evolutionary theories (Peterson, 2013). Biological oriented personality theories argue that specific environmental factors are not necessary for a species development but the factors are viewed as a provider of opportunities for biological development. Environmental factors in biological theories are required for an individual personality functional and adaptive development. Dispositional theories bring together several thoughts about human personality. The basis of these theories is that human nature is a combination of both genetics and heritage...
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...What are Personality Theories? Michael J Falls PSY/405 June 23, 2014 Bernard Wakley There are several different personality theories that attempt to explain how people act and who they are. Theories categorize people on characteristics or traits, and then try to describe the effect that this has on a person’s behavior in certain situations. Personality theories are supposed to focus on how people differ from one another; theories select behaviors or characteristics to determine their taxonomies or categories. Biological theories of personalities focus on genetics as well as biological relationships in physiological arousal and the neurochemistry in our brains. The biological approach to studying a person’s personality would be the differences in brain chemistry in extrovert and introverts. Theorist use biological processes to fill in the gap between personality and genetics by theorizing biological effects with behaviors. This anatomical approach examines the functions of brain structures. One of the biggest pioneers in the field was Eysenck; he attempted to relate personality to biology. Eysenck theory is complex, but it has grown over the years, one basic assumption is the brain has excitatory and inhibitory neural mechanisms. The balance between these two produces levels of psychological arousal at any given time. The dispositional theory is the classic or traditional way of psychological study of personalities. Since the early Greeks, maybe even longer it has been recognized...
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... as well as how this process can be made clear by the leader’s dispositional behaviours and attributes, follower perception, and the framework in which this influencing process or method occurs. The term leadership is often paired with power and management but the definition of leadership should be kept different from both of these terms. Leadership research over the years can be classified into nine major schools starting from the 1900s till 2010s. They are: Trait, Behavioural, Contingency, Contextual, Skeptics, Relational, New leadership, Information-processing and Biological/Evolutionary. 1. Trait School of Leadership: This research started in the 20th century and suggests that specific dispositional attributes differentiate leaders from non-leaders or common people. 2. Behavioural School of Leadership: This school of research began in the 1950s and focused on the behavioural approach towards leadership. Meaning, behaviours that were enacted by the leaders and how they took care of their followers were the focus of this research. 3. Contingency School of Leadership: This line of research is mostly Fiedler’s credit who said that leader-member relations, structure of the task and the position power of the leader decide the efficiency of the nature of leadership exercised. 4. Relational School of Leadership: This research was mainly based on leader-member exchange theory, otherwise known as LMX theory. This theory defines the type...
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..._____________________________________________________________________ Human beings are cognitively advanced, yet it is still surprising that much of what we do we cannot explain. Humans are amongst few mammals capable of the self-recognition necessary for self-awareness which enables conscious manipulation in behaviour (Gallup, G. G., 1982). Understanding the behaviour of others and ourselves is increasingly complex since behaviour is attributed to fluctuating mental states (emotions, desires, feelings). Many papers have begun to cover the theory how people understand the causes of behaviour through attribution and self-concept (Kelley, H. H.1973);(Heider, F. 1958);(Markus, H., & Wurf, E, 1987). But conflicting papers have given rise to the argument of error in attributions, experience distortion and group-think to consider the other face of the coin- that people may not know quite so well why they do the things they do (Heider, 1958);(Kurzban & Aktipis, 2007);(Sherif, 1936) “Theory of the mind”/“mentalizing” is a process which we naturally engage with on a daily basis. It identifies that other people have mental states different to our own (Schacter, 2009). The recognition of mental state (e.g. noticing your partner is unhappy) is something which adults naturally perceive. This skill is essential for social interaction and is observable in infants as young as 18 months (Frith, C. D., & Frith, U, 1999);(U. & C.D. Frith, 2003). From the age of 4-6 neurotypical children are able to consciously...
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...abnormal psychology identifies multiple causes for different conditions, employing diverse theories from the general field of psychology and elsewhere, and much still hinges on what exactly is meant by "abnormal". * There has traditionally been a divide between psychological and biological explanations, reflecting a philosophical dualism in regards to the mind body problem. * There have also been different approaches in trying to classify mental disorders. * Abnormal includes three different categories, they are: * subnormal * supernormal * paranormal * The science of abnormal psychology studies two types of behaviors: * Adaptive behavior * Maladaptive behavior * Clinical psychology is the applied field of psychology that seeks to assess, understand and treat psychological conditions in clinical practice. * The theoretical field known as 'abnormal psychology' may form a backdrop to such work, but clinical psychologists in the current field are unlikely to use the term 'abnormal' in reference to their practice. * Psychopathology is a similar term to abnormal psychology but has more of an implication of an underlying pathology, and as such is a term more commonly used in the medical specialty known as psychiatry. * There have been three main approaches to abnormal behavior: * Supernatural * Biological * Psychological traditions * Abnormal psychology revolves around two major paradigms for...
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... helping ■ Abstract Current research on prosocial behavior covers a broad and diverse range of phenomena. We argue that this large research literature can be best organized and understood from a multilevel perspective. We identify three levels of analysis of prosocial behavior: (a) the “meso” level—the study of helper-recipient dyads in the context of a specific situation; (b) the micro level—the study of the origins of prosocial tendencies and the sources of variation in these tendencies; and (c) the macro level—the study of prosocial actions that occur within the context of groups and large organizations. We present research at each level and discuss similarities and differences across levels. Finally, we consider ways in which theory and research at these three levels of analysis...
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...functional analysis, is a sociological philosophy that originally attempts to explain social institutions as collective means to fill individual biological needs. Later it came to focus on the ways social institutions fill social needs, especially social solidarity. Functionalism is associated with Emile Durkheim and more recently with Talcott Parsons (Marshall 1994: 190-1). Since functional analysis studies the contributions made by socio-cultural phenomena to the socio-cultural systems of which they are a part. Many functionalists argue that social institutions are functionally integrated to form a stable system and that a change in one institution will precipitate a change in other institutions; expressed by Durkheim and others as an organic analogy. Functionalism, originating as an alternative to historical explanations, was one of the first twentieth century anthropological theories, until it was superseded by structural-functional analysis or structural-functionalism. Structural-functionalism takes the view that society consists of parts (e.g. police, hospitals, schools, and farms), each of which have their own functions and work together to promote social stability. Structural-functionalism was the dominant perspective of cultural anthropologists and rural sociologists between World War II and the Vietnam War. Along with conflict theory and interactionism functionalism is one of the three major sociological traditions. Functionalism is the oldest, and still the dominant,...
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...time that strongly influences one's expectations, self-perceptions, values, and attitudes. It also predicts human reactions to other people, problems, and stress.[1][2] There is still no universal consensus on the definition of "personality" in psychology. Gordon Allport (1937) described two major ways to study personality: the nomothetic and the idiographic. Nomothetic psychology seeks general laws that can be applied to many different people, such as the principle of self-actualization or the trait of extraversion. Idiographic psychology is an attempt to understand the unique aspects of a particular individual. The study of personality has a broad and varied history in psychology with an abundance of theoretical traditions. The major theories include...
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...in fact homosexuals themselves. There have also been discoveries that complete information was disclosed at time of trials being conducted. So, instead of picking random people and conducting the trials, people where purposely chosen who were homosexual prior to the beginning of testing. Homosexuality: Is it a Choice? Sexual orientation has to do with the sex of our preferred sex partner. It is the trait that predisposes us to experience sexual attraction to people of the same sex ourselves (homosexual, gay, or lesbian) to persons of the other sex (heterosexual or straight), or to both sexes (bisexual) (Simon, 2011). There have been a multitude of studies and research done on homosexuality and whether it is in fact an act based on biological, social or psychological stimulus (Knight, 2000). Since the early 1990s, there have been activist arguing that scientific research has proven homosexuality has a direct link to genetics or hormonal causes. Sexual orientation studies have been conducted on everything from eye-blinking, differences in portions of the brain, finger length, inner ear differences, genes and neuro-hormonal differentiation (Knight, 2000). These studies were performed with hopes of getting a definitive answer to the question: Are people born homosexuals or is it in fact a learned behavior...
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...Midterm Reviewer General Psychology Psychology – is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. Wilehelm Wundt – “Father of psychology” * Aristotle – methods of Contemporary Science. * Francis Bacon – Deductive Reasoning in the study of behavior. * Charles Darwin – 1859, Theory of Evolution. * Psyche – mind / soul * Locos – study 4 Goals of Psychology * Describe – Detailed of record of ascertain behaviour. Qualitative – names, sex, and nationality, rating/ranking. Quantitative – weights; height, speed, distance, no. of age. * Understand - explain or interpret facts about behavior. The causes of certain. Sign learning. Verbal punishment. Dispositional – nature of personality/ reason. * Predict – predict future behavior. a) Scientific b) Casual c) Cause and Effect * Control – controlling behavior may be done thought planning based on accurate prediction. Traditional Schools of Psychology * Structuralism – structure of the mind. (Edward B. Titchener) a) Sensation b) Image c) Feelings Introspection – a method of metal self-analysis w/c feeling, thinking, & behavior. * Functionalism – how the mind function in the adjustment of man to his environment. ( William James) [ Experimental ] * Functional * Advises * Gestalt – the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. ( Max Weltheirmer, Wolfgang Kholer, & Kurt Koffka ) [ Experimental ] * Behaviorism – The important of learning &...
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...psychology is the branch of psychology that studies unusual patterns of behavior, emotion and thought, which may or may not be understood as precipitating a mental disorder. * Although many behaviors could be considered as abnormal, this branch of psychology generally deals with behavior in a clinical context. * There is a long history of attempts to understand and control behavior deemed to be aberrant or deviant (statistically, morally or in some other sense), and there is often cultural variation in the approach taken. * The field of abnormal psychology identifies multiple causes for different conditions, employing diverse theories from the general field of psychology and elsewhere, and much still hinges on what exactly is meant by "abnormal". * There has traditionally been a divide between psychological and biological explanations, reflecting a philosophical dualism in regards to the mind body problem. * There have also been different approaches in trying to classify mental disorders. * Abnormal includes three different categories, they are: * subnormal * supernormal * paranormal * The science of abnormal psychology studies two types of behaviors: adaptive and maladaptive behaviors. * Behaviors that are maladaptive suggest that some problem(s) exist, and can also imply that the individual is vulnerable and cannot cope with environmental stress, which is leading them to have problems functioning in daily life...
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