Personality Psychology
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can personality change over time?
Are personality tests accurate?
How much of personality is genetic?
Why is personality psychology important?
KEY TERMS
Trait Theory
Trait theories suggest personality consists of stable characteristics that guide behavior. The Big Five Model is the most widely accepted trait framework:
Openness to Experience – creativity, curiosity
Conscientiousness – organization, reliability
Extraversion – sociability, assertiveness
Agreeableness – kindness, trust
Neuroticism – emotional stability vs. anxiety
Research confirms the Big Five traits predict life outcomes like career success and relationships (Roberts et al., 2007).
Psychoanalytic Theory
Sigmund Freud proposed that personality arises from unconscious drives, conflicts, and childhood experiences. Core concepts include:
Id, ego, superego
Defense mechanisms (e.g., repression, projection)
Psychosexual stages of development
Although controversial, Freud’s ideas spurred decades of research into the unconscious mind (Freud, 1923).
Humanistic Theories
Humanistic theorists like Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow emphasize:
Personal growth
Self-actualization
Free will and conscious choices
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs suggests we strive for fulfillment once basic needs are met (Maslow, 1943).