Psychology Personality psychology is a branch of psychology that focuses on the individual differences in characteristic patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving. It seeks to understand how personality traits are developed, assessed, and how they influence behavior across various contexts. Researchers in this field explore various theories of personality, such as the Five Factor Model, psychodynamic theories, and humanistic approaches, to explain how stable personality traits interact with social environments and impact life outcomes. Additionally, personality psychology examines the assessments, such as personality tests, to measure and evaluate different aspects of personality.
Theories of Personality Trait Theories The Five Factor Model (Big Five) Openness Imagination and Creativity Curiosity and Open-mindedness Appreciation for Art and Beauty Conscientiousness Organization and Reliability Self-discipline and Goal Orientation Dutifulness and Perseverance Agreeableness Trust and Empathy Altruism and Cooperation Modesty and Compliance Neuroticism Anxiety and Emotional Instability Moodiness and Irritability Self-consciousness and Vulnerability Cattell's 16 Personality Factors Warmth Reasoning Emotional Stability Dominance Liveliness Rule-Consciousness Social Boldness Sensitivity Vigilance Abstractedness Privateness Apprehension Openness to Change Self-Reliance Perfectionism Tension Eysenck's Three Dimensions of Personality Psychoticism Aggressiveness Impulsivity Empathy and Interpersonal Sensitivity (Low) Neuroticism Emotional Reactivity Stress Response Anxiety Levels Psychodynamic Theories Sigmund Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory Id, Ego, and Superego Interaction and Conflict among the Three Components Role of Unconscious Processes Balance and Mental Health Defense Mechanisms Repression and Denial Projection and Displacement Sublimation and Rationalization Psychosexual Stages Oral, Anal, Phallic, Latency, and Genital Stages Fixations and Their Impact on Adult Personality Oedipus and Electra Complexes Carl Jung's Analytical Psychology Archetypes The Persona The Shadow The Anima and Animus Collective Unconscious Shared Patterns and Symbols Influence on Dreams and Myths Universal Psychological Experiences Individuation Integration of Unconscious and Conscious Achieving Psychological Wholeness The Role of Life Stages Alfred Adler's Individual Psychology Inferiority Complex Origins in Childhood Experiences Overcoming Feelings of Inferiority Compensation Strategies Striving for Superiority Motive for Personal Growth Social Contribution and Success Healthy Versus Neurotic Striving Social Interest Contribution to Society Cooperation versus Competition Karen Horney's Neo-Freudian Perspective Basic Anxiety Impact of Parenting and Environment Coping Strategies Core Influence on Personality Development Neurotic Needs Moving Toward, Against, and Away from Others Evolving from Unmet Emotional Needs Relation to Anxiety Management Self-Theory Real Self versus Idealized Self The Tyranny of the Shoulds Importance of Self-awareness and Growth Humanistic Theories Carl Rogers' Person-Centered Theory Self-Concept Development and Influences Congruence versus Incongruence Importance of Self-Perception Unconditional Positive Regard Role in Therapeutic Settings Impact on Self-Acceptance Essential for Personal Growth The Fully Functioning Person Characteristics and Traits Continuously Growing and Evolving Emphasis on Self-Actualization Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Self-Actualization Personal Fulfillment and Potential Pursuit of Growth and Peak Experiences Integration of Life Experiences Peak Experiences Characteristics and Recognition Contribution to Personal Development Moments of Highest Happiness The Hierarchical Model Progression through Needs Role of Deficiency and Growth Needs Influence on Behavior and Motivation Social-Cognitive Theories Albert Bandura's Social Learning Theory Reciprocal Determinism Interaction between Cognition, Environment, and Behavior Influence on Personal and Social Development Balancing Internal and External Controls Observational Learning Role Models and Imitation Cognitive Processes in Learning Media and Environmental Influences Self-Efficacy Impact on Motivation and Performance Developing and Enhancing Belief in Abilities Connection to Behavioral Outcomes Julian Rotter's Locus of Control Internal versus External Locus Influence on Responsibility Perception Link to Achievement and Social Behavior Walter Mischel's Cognitive-Affective Personality System Consistency Paradox Variations in Behavior across Situations Individual Patterns and Responses Situation-specific Personality Expressions Situationism Emphasis on Environmental Variables Relationship Between Situations and Actions Critiques of Trait Consistency Personal Constructs Individual Interpretations and Perceptions Role in Predicting Behavior Development through Experiences Biological Theories Genetics and Personality Heritability of Traits Twin and Adoption Studies Genetic Predispositions Neuroscience and Personality Brain Structures and Function Neurotransmitter Activity Neural Correlates of Traits Evolutionary Personality Psychology Adaptive Traits Survival and Reproduction Advantages Evolutionary Basis for Behavior Selection Pressures Natural Selection Development of Universally Adaptive Traits Long-term Impacts on Personality Differences Evolution of Social Behaviors Constructivist and Narrative Approaches Personal Constructs Theory of Personal Constructs Importance in Shaping Experiences Cognitive Frameworks and Reinterpretation Life Stories and Narrative Identity Construction of Self through Stories Influence on Personal Identity Purpose and Coherence in Individual Lives Cultural Influences on Identity Role of Societal norms and Values Cultural Differences in Identity Formation Multicultural Experiences and Adaptation