Assignment: Biologically-Oriented Personality

Assignment: Biologically-Oriented Personality

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For this discussion, select either Topic A or Topic B.

Topic A:

For this discussion, select either Topic A or Topic B.

Topic A:

Describe the position of a biologically-oriented or trait-oriented personality theorist and the position of a social learning-oriented theorist. Explore the differences and the implications of the theoretical positions for rehabilitating prisoners.

Topic B:

Describe the position of a social psychologist who approves of deceptive and stressful research designs (if the stress does no lasting harm), and the position of a social psychologist who does not approve of this type of research. After completing the descriptions, state the values each psychologist (probably) holds, to take the position she or he does.

An individual’s personality is the combination of traits and patterns that influence their behavior, thought, motivation, and emotion. It drives individuals to consistently think, feel, and behave in specific ways; in essence, it is what makes each individual unique. Over time, these patterns strongly influence personal expectations, perceptions, values, and attitudes.

Personality psychology is the study of human personality and how it varies among individuals and populations. Personality has been studied for over 2000 years, beginning with Hippocrates in 370 BCE and spanning through modern theories such as the psychodynamic perspective and trait theory.

Early Philosophical Roots

The word “personality” originates from the Latin word persona, which means “mask.” Personality as a field of study began with Hippocrates, a physician in ancient Greece, who theorized that personality traits and human behaviors are based on four separate temperaments associated with four fluids of the body known as “humors”. This theory, known as humorism, proposed that an individual’s personality was the result of the balance of these humors (yellow bile, black bile, phlegm, and blood), which corresponded to four dispositions (grumpy, melancholy, calm, and cheer, respectively). While this theory is no longer held to be true, it paved the way for further discoveries and insight into human personality.