Psychodynamic theory of personality: unconscious processes drive personality
Ego Defense Mechanism: unconscious strategies to fend off anxiety-causing threats
- Repression: burying unwanted ideas into unconscious
- Regression: retreating to earlier/infantile behaviors, e.g. sucking
- Rationalization: making socially acceptable excuses/explanations for unacceptable behaviors, e.g. punishing my children because "that's good for them"
- Projection: attributing to others (thinking that others have) one's own unaccepted thoughts, e.g. feeling like someone else likes someone I like
- Displacement: shifting target of one's intention/behavior to another person, e.g. can't yell at one's boss, turn rage onto one's child
- Reaction formation: protesting too much about one's unwanted thoughts, e.g. "How could I possibly like her? She's the worst!"
- Sublimation: redirecting one's frustration / impulses into more socially acceptable behavior, e.g. studying, creating, sports
Methods
- Case study: a detailed examination of a (usually special) subject within its real-life context
- Projective tests: designed to probe the preconscious or unconscious mind
- Rorscharch Inkblot Test: interpretation of inkblots reflect unconscious projection
- Thematic Apperception Test / TAT: interpretation of stories unconscious motives, e.g. seeing a boy looking at books as industrious reflects achievement motive
- The Barnum Effect: people tend to accept vague personality descriptions as accurate
Humanistic psychology: personality focuses on unconditional regard andtheself-actualizingtendencyasprimary motivating factors
- Abraham Maslow (self-actualization, or self-actualizing tendency)
- Carl Rogers (personal growth; unconditional positive regard)