Personality Analysis
Dannielle Schilling
Theories of Personality PSY/405
December 06, 2011
Jessica Robbins

Personality Analysis Personalities are not an exact science and determining an individual’s personality can be subjective. Personalities change in situational behaviors and what one may consider to be the norm may change when uprooted from the norm. Humanistic theorists try to focus on the present and not look back on to the past to explain personality. Dispositional theorists focus on the uniqueness of an individual through his or her traits, which explain personality. Famous theorists of both approaches that this paper explores further are: Carl Rogers and Gordon
Allport. Rogers spoke about healthy development in terms of how the individual perceived themselves, while Allport discussed personality in the characteristics of traits. Personalities can sometimes be described through behaviors and characteristics, product, and processes. Personalities have substance and are capable of change.
Personality in situational behavior Personalities far from behaviorist viewpoints are not an exact science. Theorists agree that personalities usually are predictable. There is a portion of predictability that not consistent because of the freedom individuals possess. It is when the response to a situation is outside of what is typical that it becomes unpredictable. For example, a person who is generally calm and does not over-react is put into a traumatic situation such as becoming a victim to a violent crime. Parts of their personality may appear such as irate and angry, which is not consistent with their normal personality. Sometimes situational behavior is also seen in social psychology because personality usually comes second to social norms. Under certain situations behaviors may override personality completely. A study at Yale University showed a passive person can be encouraged to perform violence because of the social direction of a powerful authoritative figure (Blass, n.d.). Stanley Milgram conducted this study with random individual participants. Milgram had the participants deliver shocks to another participant upon answering questions wrong (Blass, n.d.). It seems rationale people caved and delivered the shock under the negative social pressure. Personality may be an excellent indication to what can happen. It is usually influenced by external threats, outside factors, and even emotional trauma that may have occurred in one’s past. Understanding situational behavior is usually more than understanding traits and characteristics. Situational behavior is an interaction of the outside world, situations, family, culture, and genetics.
Humanistic approach Some of the basic ideas behind humanistic theories are that the present is the most important aspect of people. (Allpsych online, n.d.). Humanistic theorists try to look focus on today instead of looking at the past or focusing on the future (Allpsych online, n.d.). Humanistic theories basis are on psychologically healthy people who take responsibility for their actions, both negative, and positive (Allpsych online, n.d.). Every person, good, bad, or indifferent possesses a value just because they do exist (Allpsych online, n.d.). Life’s goal is to grow and learn and through improving and knowledge, one can be happy (Allpsych online, n.d.). Carl Rogers was more of a therapist than Maslow but both of their approaches are humanistic.
Dispositional approach Almost all theorists concern themselves with traits. Traits are what makes an individual who one is and usually are consistent with the actions displayed (Feist & Feist, 2009). Trait theorists typically do not concern themselves with the development of the individual but do with the understanding of the development of personality (Allpsych online, n.d.). Trait theorists compare people based on levels of aspects and degrees (Allpsych online, n.d.) Trait theories do not provide a system for personality change (Allpsych online, n.d.). Gordon Allport considered a trait therapist because he believed in each individual as being unique (cite book).
Personality characteristics Carl Rogers was a humanistic psychologist and agreed with most of what Maslow believed with the addition that in order for a person to grow, he or she needs an environment of genuineness, unconditional positive regard, and empathy (Mcleod, 2007). Personality characteristics of individuals in this approach vary because of the uniqueness of human beings. Self-actualization occurs when a person’s ideal self is congruent with his or her behavior. He believed a person who is self-actualized is a fully functioning person and is determined by the childhood experience (Mcleod, 2007). On the other hand, Allport believed that most human behavior is motivated by the expression of self (Boeree, 1998). He believed that most of what one does in life is because of whom one is. He called this propriate functioning (Boeree, 1998). This functional definition later became a theory all to itself. He believed the self has seven functions that would arise at different times in one’s life. These functions are sense of body, self-identity, self-esteem, self-extension, self-image, rational coping, and propriate striving (Boeree, 1998). These were ways he described a person to develop. Gordon Allport believed that describing people in the term of their general characteristics took away from their uniqueness (Feist & Feist, 2009). Because each individual is unique, studying the individual should be done accordingly. Allport’s understanding of psychology of personality went beyond comparing individuals. Allport believed that every person has certain traits that predetermine his or her personality (Allpsych online, n.d.). These are their central traits. Occasionally one of the central traits that make up personality dominates the entire personality, and this he called a person’s cardinal traits (Allpsych online n.d.). Allport viewed psychology as the study of the healthy person.
Interpersonal relational aspect Rogers approach to humanistic theory is the Person-Centered Approach because he believed the person, rather than the therapist was the initiator of true change. He believed that two primary sources influenced self-concept and that was childhood experiences, and evaluation by others (Mcleod, 2007). When others who are significant to the person’s world provide conditional positive regard, the person internalizes the values, making them his or her own, and thus his or her condition of worth (Pescitelli, 1996). Rogers believed people have the need for positive unconditional regard in order to lead favorable behavior consistent with a person’s self-concept (Pescitelli, 1996). In Roger’s belief personality changes are a necessary part of growth and that self-acceptance is a part of that growth. During therapy with a client using the Rogerian approach people are regarded with unconditional positive regard. He also believed that people inherently have the power to come to their own realizations and know inside the best method to take. The job of humanistic approach according to Roger’s is that there is a trusting nonjudgmental environment in which a client can feel free to work out his issues without judgment. The relationship of the therapist is passive in nature. In direct contrast to the dispositional theory personality traits brought on by situations or those inherited from parents are significant in establishing relationships. This is usually demonstrated by close family ties present among children as they grow up with the similarities they share. The basis of identifying individual strong and weak points usually will depend on the personality traits a parent instilled early in life. Therefore, when an individual encounters a challenging situation, the first reaction is directed toward an innate behavior. Allport believed that people react to their environment and shape their environment to react to them (Feist & Feist, 2009). Reacting to the world around a person is making traits work together through the concept of proprium ((Feist & Feist, 2009). This is where the motives, experiences, and traits work together to create a sense of identity. Humans have different personality and their experiences will change based upon their traits (Feist & Feist, 2009).
Conclusion
Personalities change, depending on the situation, especially during traumatic events. Humanistic approaches of personality consist of concentrating the here and now. Dispositional theories affect personality traits in different degrees such as at some point an individual will interact with others and create a new behavior trait. Humanistic approach, unlike any other approach, focuses on positive growth by understanding behaviors objectively. Personality is both psychological and physical and includes external behaviors and internal thoughts. Personality not only does something, but is something. It is the substance of change, product, and processes.

References
Allpsych online. (n.d.). Personality synopsis. Retrieved from http://allpsych.com/personalitysynopsis/humanistic.html
Blass, T. (n.d.). Milgram basics. Retrieved from http://stanleymilgram.com/milgram.php
Boeree, G. (1998). Gordon Allport. Retrieved from http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/allport.html
Feist, J., & Feist, G. (2009). Theories of personality (7th ed.). New York: McGraw Hill.
Mcleod, S. (2007). Carl Rogers. Retrieved from http://www.simplypsychology.org/carl-rogers.html
Pescitelli, D. (1996). An analysis of Carl Rogers’ theory of personality. Retrieved from http://www.wynja.com/personality/rogersff.html