Personality Theories

Personality Theories

Introduction

Personalities theories have been offered since the inception of study of personality began. These theories offered a wide range of human personality by defining their characteristics and traits, which are the explanations for the behavior by the person. This essay will closely analyze the personality theory of Carl Rogers. The personality theory by Carl Roger evolved around the work as a clinical psychologist and then he developed his theory on basis of that by off shooting the client centered therapy, which was later known as the person centered therapy (Cervone & Pervin, 2010).

He was the first and prominent therapist, with an abiding respect to human beings considers the dignity and emotions of the person and never compared the interest of person as an object but it was used as the subject throughout his therapy. Carl Rogers approach for study the personality traits and characteristics of the person is idiographic and phenomenological. His views about the characteristics and behaviors of humans are “exquisitely rational”. Further his opinion revolves around the nature of the man which is positive according to his study. He also consider human as the trustworthy organism, which are reflected in his theory of personality (Fanning, 2007).

Discussion

There are several different theories and assessments that can be used to determine and individuals personalities type. The first thing that must be known when testing and individuals personality is what personality theory is going to be applied. The testing can become meaningless without understanding this to begin with (Holman, 2009).

The first theory we look at is Freud's theory of psychodynamic theory. This theory shows behavior as a product of psychological impressions caused by unconscious thoughts, feelings, and repressed issues from early childhood. An example of this is a person that smokes or habitually chews gum is linked as a suppressed deprivation of oral needs during infancy. According to this theory the personality grows out of the resolution of unconscious conflicts and developmental needs. Freud's different developmental stages can explain this theory best. Personality assessments that are used to correspond to this theory include projective tests, personal observation and personal interviews.

According to Daniel Cervone and Lawrence Pervin (2010) “Erikson believed that development was not merely psychosexual but also psychosocial.” He believed that a very important factor to personality development is a positive childhood. Erikson found truth in Freud's theory; however he decided to expand on his theory. According to ...