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Overview- Lecture 8 Personality

Overview- Lecture 8 Personality. Defining Personality Psychodynamic Perspective Trait Perspective Midlife Crisis Cognitive Perspective Myth Busting: Facts on Aging Revisited. Personality: unobservable quality present within the individual

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Overview- Lecture 8 Personality

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  1. Overview- Lecture 8Personality • Defining Personality • Psychodynamic Perspective • Trait Perspective • Midlife Crisis • Cognitive Perspective • Myth Busting: Facts on Aging Revisited

  2. Personality: unobservable quality present within the individual thought to be responsible for that individual’s observable behavior Does personality change or remain stable across adulthood? What is Personality?

  3. Psychodynamic Perspective • Freud • Jung

  4. The Psychodynamic Perspective Review: Freud’s Theory • “Discovery” of the unconscious • First comprehensive approach to personality • Paid little attention to adult development- thought change not possible after 50

  5. Conscious S u p e r e g o Ego Rational, executive functions Unconscious Id Conscience and ego ideal Irrational urges The Psychodynamic Perspective DEFENSE MECHANISMS Review: Structure of personality: protect conscious mind from knowing unconscious urges

  6. The Psychodynamic Perspective: Ego Psychology Jungian Theory • Maturity is possible only in midlife and beyond • Four functions to the psyche- maturity involves achieving balance through individuation Individual with strong “sensing” function Individuation Sensing Feeling Thinking Intuiting

  7. The Psychodynamic Perspective: Ego Psychology Jungian Theory • Maturity is possible only in midlife and beyond • Four functions to the psyche- maturity involves achieving balance through individuation Individuation Sensing Becomes more balanced Feeling Thinking Intuiting

  8. Jung- Age trends • Predominance of one function to balance • Greater acknowledgement of unconscious aspects of personality • therefore development of personality in adulthood

  9. Ego Psychology- Personality Development in Adulthood • Erikson • Loevinger • Vaillant

  10. The Psychodynamic Perspective: Ego Psychology Review: Erikson’s Ego Development Theory: • Eight “crisis” stages in growth of the ego • Epigenetic principle sets the ground plan for unfolding of stages • However, issues are not limited to specific ages

  11. The Psychodynamic Perspective: Ego Psychology Loevinger’s Ego Development Theory: • Development of “character” • Ego incorporates cognition and morality • Stages in development from adolescence to adulthood

  12. The Psychodynamic Perspective: Ego Psychology (see text page 214) Stages of Ego Development Obeys rules to avoid disapproval. Concerned about appearances and reputation. Simple ideas about emotions and inner life. Conformist MAJORITY OF ADULTS Increased self-awareness and inner life. Considers exceptions to rules. Conscientious-conformist (level) Internalized conscience, personal goals, complex inner emotional life and ability to understand others. Conscientious Individualistic (level) Greater sense of individuality and ability to be emotionally dependent on others. Tolerance for ambiguity. Ability to think about and cope with inner conflict. Complex view of reality. Broad, abstract social ideals. Autonomous Integrated Strong sense of identity and self-realization.

  13. The Psychodynamic Perspective: Ego Psychology Vaillant’s Ego Development Theory • Focuses on defense mechanisms and how they change in adulthood • Ego integrates inner and outer reality • Ego passes through stages slightly different from those proposed by Erikson

  14. The Psychodynamic Perspective: Ego Psychology (see text pg 216) Categories of defense mechanisms in Vaillant’s theory Delusional projection Denial Distortion Psychotic Involve distortion of reality Projection Hypochondriasis Acting out Maladaptive reactions to conflict Immature Neurotic Displacement Repression Reaction formation Attempts to change ideas and feelings Mature Altruism Sublimation Humor Adaptive reactions to conflict

  15. The Psychodynamic Perspective: Ego Psychology Additional Stages in Vaillant’s Theory: 6A Career consolidation VS. Self-absorption 7A Keeper of the meaning VS. Rigidity

  16. 1966 1977 1988 Cohort 1 Cohort 2 Cohort 3 Studies Based on Ego Psychology: The Rochester Study Design of study • College to age 42 (54 in 2000) • Based on Erikson’s theory- Inventory of Psychosocial Development (IPD) • Used sequential design (e.g. below) Longitudinal sequences

  17. Studies Based on Ego Psychology: The Rochester Study Identity vs. Identity Diffusion Increase from 20-31 for Cohorts 1 & 2 and 2

  18. Studies Based on Ego Psychology: The Rochester Study Intimacy vs. Isolation Increase from 20-31 for Cohorts 1 & 2 and 2

  19. Summary of selected findings • Identity vs. Identity Diffusion • Intimacy vs. Isolation • scores increase • fits theory

  20. Studies Based on Ego Psychology: The Mills and Radcliffe Studies Design of studies • Women at exclusive women’s colleges first studied in 1950s to 1960s • Retested at age 43 and 52 • Personality scales, many of which were rescored using newer theories

  21. Studies Based on Ego Psychology: The Mills and Radcliffe Studies Overall changes in ego development: • Assurance • Independence • Self-Control Increases in: Decreases in: • Femininity • Increased personality integration Changes occurred against backdrop of stability

  22. Studies Based on Ego Psychology: Defense Mechanisms and Coping Results: Age differences Defense mechanisms Older adults • More mature defense mechanisms • Controlling negative emotions • Put situation in perspective Younger adults • Acting out, projection, or regression

  23. Studies Based on Ego Psychology: Defense Mechanisms and Coping Results: Age differences Coping strategies Older adults • Problem-focused coping and suppressing or channeling negative emotions Younger adults • More likely to cope through self-destructive or emotional ways However, verbal ability and ego level also influenced as did gender

  24. The Trait Perspective • Stable enduring attribute • One element of individual’s personality • Organization of traits guides behavior Trait: May have a genetic basis • Constitutional basis for personality • Endures throughout life

  25. The Trait Perspective: The Five Factor Model Costa & McCrae’s Theory Five major dimensions to personality in adulthood: Openness to experience Conscientiousness Extraversion Agreeableness Neuroticism

  26. The Trait Perspective: The Five Factor Model (text pg. 229) Measured by the NEO-PI-R Five Factor Model Traits: Tendency to experience psychological distress, overreactiveness, and instability Neuroticism Preference for social interaction and lively activity Extraversion Receptiveness to new ideas, approaches, and experiences Openness to experience Selfless concern for others, trust, and generosity Agreeableness Organization, ambitiousness, and self-discipline Conscientiousness

  27. The Trait Perspective: The Five Factor Model Research on the Five Factor Model: 12 yr. 10 yr. 6 yr. 3 yr. Stability of trait Neuroticism .68-.74 .69 .83 Extraversion .75-.80 .84 .82 .83 Openness .71 Agreeableness .77 .63 Conscientiousness .71 .79

  28. The Trait Perspective: The Five Factor Model Mean scores over adulthood • No observable changes • Data support stability scores

  29. The Trait Perspective: The Five Factor Model Conclusions: • High stability coefficients in Costa & McCrae studies as well as others • Cross-cultural data support U.S. studies • Original studies suggested NO CHANGE after 30 but more recent data show continued maturation

  30. Midlife Crisis Theories and Findings:Theory of the Midlife Crisis Late Adult Transition: Age 60-65 Culminating life structure for middle adulthood: 55-60 Age 50 transition: 50-55 Entry life structure for middle adulthood 45-50 Era of late adulthood 60-? Era of late adulthood 60-? Mid-Life Transition: Age 40-45 Culminating life structure for early adulthood 33-40 Age 30 transition 26-23 Entry life structure for early adulthood 22-28 Culminating life structure for early adulthood 33-40 Age 30 transition 26-23 Entry life structure for early adulthood 22-28 Early Adult Transition: Age 17-22 Era of early adulthood 17-45 Levinson’s stages Changes in the life structure

  31. Midlife Crisis Theories and Findings:Theory of the Midlife Crisis Themes of the Midlife Crisis Overcoming disillusionment Making life structure decisions Resolving polarities of personality Regarded as universal patterns, applying to men AND women

  32. Midlife Crisis Theories and Findings:Critiques and Research on the Midlife Crisis Critique of Levinson study • Heavy reliance on age • Problems in Levinson sample • Bias in ratings procedure Empirical challenges: McCrae & Costa • NEO scores for “midlife crisis” ages • Midlife crisis higher for men with high Neuroticism scores

  33. Midlife Crisis Theories and Findings:Critiques and Research on the Mid-Life Crisis Other critical studies: • Whitbourne identity interview study- no significant changes in mid-40s • Mills study of supposed crisis “triggers” showed no midlife crisis

  34. Overview- Lecture 8Personality • Defining Personality • Psychodynamic Perspective • Trait Perspective • Midlife Crisis • Cognitive Perspective • Myth Busting: Facts on Aging Revisited

  35. The Cognitive Perspective:Kelly’s Personal Construct Theory Personality= thoughts about self and others • Personal construct- organizing framework to predict and control experiences • Constructive alternativism- people can change thoughts and therefore personality

  36. The Cognitive Perspective:Cognitive self theories View life experiences in terms of self • Baumeister: See self in positive light • Whitbourne: Life span construct • Markus: Possible selves • Cantor: Life tasks model • Emmons: Philosophy of life

  37. The Cognitive Perspective:Control theories Primary control • control environment Secondary control • change goals Primary and Secondary Control (Heckhausen & Schulz) Based on principle of selective optimization with compensation

  38. The Cognitive Perspective:Control theories Primary and Secondary Control: Selective and Compensatory • Selective • choose narrower goals Primary control • Compensatory • change environment • Selective • choose new approach Secondary control • Compensatory • minimize failure

  39. The Cognitive Perspective: Control theories Assimilative coping • maintain goals (tenacious goal pursuit) Accommodative coping • change goals (flexible goal adjustment) Cognitive Control-Branstädter

  40. Overview- Lecture 8Personality • Defining Personality • Psychodynamic Perspective • Trait Perspective • Midlife Crisis • Cognitive Perspective • Myth Busting: Facts on Aging Revisited

  41. Myth Busting Myth: There is a dramatic change in personality with age. Reality: No easy answer. Stability for the most part. Change is not dramatic and when there is change, the change tends to be “positive”.

  42. Myth Busting Myth: People experience a mid-life crisis. Reality: Apparently not. There is no strong data to support the existence of a mid-life crisis.

  43. Myth Busting: Facts on Aging Revisited #5. The majority of old people feel miserable most of the time. False

  44. Myth Busting: Facts on Aging Revisited #11. The majority of old people are unable to adapt to change. False

  45. Myth Busting: Facts on Aging Revisited #23. Old people tend to become more religious as they age. False

  46. Myth Busting: Facts on Aging Revisited #24. The majority of old people say they are seldom irritated or angry. True

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