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13.2 Personality Theories

To explain personality qualities, psychologists formulate personality theories. A personality theory is a comprehensive scientific model of human nature and individual differences.

Let’s begin by seeing what goes into a personality theory—its “basic ingredients.” Then we’ll present four theories of personality.

Personality Structures and Processes

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What aspects of personality are structures and processes meant to account for?

Personality theories contain two main parts: analyses of personality structures and personality processes.

Personality structures are those elements of personality that remain consistent over significant periods of time. Many of your qualities—things you like, your typical emotional reactions, your long-term goals in life, personal values and moral standards—remain stable over months and years. These stable elements are personality structures.
Personality processes are changes in mental life and behavior that occur from one moment to the next. If you think about your experiences, you can see personality processes in action. At any time recently, did your mood change from good to bad? Did you suddenly lose interest in an activity and stop pursuing it? Did you feel comfortable talking to some people and uncomfortable with others? Although the core of your personality—your personality structures—remained consistent from day to day, your experiences fluctuated across time and situations. Personality psychologists explain individuals’ distinctive patterns of variation in mood, motivation, and behavior by developing theories of personality processes.

Fluctuating personality processes Maria Sharapova’s personality structure did not change from one time to another. But she did experience shifting personality processes, with her thoughts, feelings, and demeanor changing from one time to another.

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In this chapter, you’ll learn how each of a series of personality theories has addressed personality structures and personality processes. You’ll also learn how each theory has handled a third major topic in the psychology of personality: assessment.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW?…

Question 2

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Personality Assessment

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Question

What tool enables personality psychologists to study people scientifically?

Personality psychologists don’t want to merely speculate about human nature. They want to study it scientifically. To do so, they need objective, reliable methods for learning about individuals. In other words, they need personality assessments.

A personality assessment is a structured procedure for learning about the distinctive psychological qualities of an individual. Each of the personality theories you’ll learn about provides guidelines for assessing personality.

So let’s now turn to the personality theories and their approach to personality structure, processes, and assessment.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW?…

Question 3

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