Personality in basic psychological theories

Personality is one of the Central concepts in psychology, and each psychological approach or direction has its own, different from others, theory of personality. In the theory of U. James's personality is described through the triad of physical, social and spiritual personality, in behaviorism (J. Watson) it is a set of behavioral reactions inherent in a given person, in psychoanalysis (Z. Freud) - the eternal struggle between the ID and the Super-Ego, in the activity approach (A. N. Leontiev) - a hierarchy of motives, in the synton approach (N. I. Kozlov) a person is a responsible subject of expression of will and at the same time a project that can be implemented or not by each person.

Personality by W. James

By W. According to James, the constituent elements of personality can be divided into three classes: physical personality, social personality, and spiritual personality.

Personality in behaviorism

"we will mean by the term "personality" all that the individual possesses (in reality or in potency), and its capabilities (actual or potential) in relation to reactions" (J. B. Watson).

Personality in psychoanalysis

According to Freud, the personality is an ensemble of irrational unconscious drives, and the content of the inner life of the individual and its dynamics is an eternal struggle between the ID (unconscious drives) and the Super-Ego (represented in consciousness by the requirements of society).

The dominant life of the individual is the desire to maximize the satisfaction of innate drives and at the same time minimize punishment (external and internal) for this satisfaction. A person throughout his life tries to resolve the conflict set by his own nature and return to a state of balance. Conflict is inevitable not only because of the initial "depravity" of a person, but also because in the absence of conflict, the source of personality dynamics disappears.

There can be no question of personal growth in psychoanalysis: in the vision of Z. Freud, the personality does not strive for development, its task is to minimize internal conflict.

Personality in the cognitive approach

Homeostatic theory focused on consent.

The principle of homeostasis underlying the theory does not allow for individual freedom.

Personality is a system that models the external world in order to adapt to it.

The main task of a person is to achieve balance with the environment, and initially the nature of a person is neutral (a person is not bad or good). The best thing for a person is to know the world, to master the social experience of humanity and to live in accordance with it.

Personality in the activity approach

The natural essence of a person is a constant desire to develop and change ("go beyond yourself"). The process of complication and improvement of the individual in the course of its formation is designated by the term "personal growth". Crisis situations and conflicts serve as additional mechanisms for development. The personality is constantly an unfinished project. This project is not set initially, but is formed in various activities of the individual. Responsibility for the development project and the outcome of its implementation rests solely with the individual.

Personality in humanistic psychology

Heterostatic theory focused on consent.

An optimistic view of human nature and its life path: a person is good by nature, but society distorts his positive essence. A conflict between a "good" person and a "bad" society is inevitable. The natural essence of personality is "unselfish" (non – adaptive) activity and a constant desire to develop and change ("go beyond yourself"). The ideal to which the individual aspires is a certain natural universal project, set initially (models of self-realization).

Personality theories in psychology

Depending on what exactly is seen as such an integrating principle, personality theories are divided into:

• psychobiological personalities (W. Sheldon, USA),
• biosocial personalities (F. Allport, K. Rogers, USA),
• psychosocial personalities (A. Adler, K. Horney and other neo-Freudians, USA),
• psychostatistical personalities ("factor" — R. Kettell, USA, D. Eisenek, great Britain), etc.