Topic > A Look at Personality Theories - 791

This course taught me a lot about different personality theories and the best-known psychology theorists who developed these theories. Personality is made up of the thoughts, feelings and behaviors that make an individual unique. Numerous theories have emerged to implicate different personality characteristics. The main purpose of some theories is to focus on explaining how personality developed. Our book was divided into several chapters on various theorists and explained the main personality theories proposed by different psychologists. One of the theories we learned about were trait theories. Gordan Allport introduced trait theory and his theory suggested that individual personalities are primarily composed of broad dispositions. Eysenck's three dimensions of personality were also part of trait theory. Eysenck developed that personality model along three universal paths. And finally, trait theory predicted the Big Five Dimensions, which proposed the existence of fundamental dimensions of personality. One of the four conclusions in our textbook suggests that “until more unequivocal empirical research becomes available, the best thing one can do is to personally evaluate the various theories and accept the concepts that make sense and reject those that do not.” have” (531). I agree with this statement because while most agree that people can be described based on their personality traits; There still remains a debate about the number of traits that make up the human personality. For example, one might conclude that trait theory has some criticisms. Trait theory mainly focuses on the fact that traits are usually poor predictors of behavior. Furthermore, this theory doesn't exactly explain what... half the paper... theory. I believe humanistic theory does a great job simplifying the positive nature of humankind and the association of free will with modification. Humanistic theory also fits well with other approaches. This theory is also well incorporated into the different views on human change. If I had to evaluate a theory and choose the one I had to accept, I would take something away from all the theories we have learned. Theories are created through existing data. However, a theory may not necessarily be correct, but it gives us a better understanding of concepts as it allows people to prove them right or wrong. All in all, understanding is being created. Furthermore, our book stated that “the best available explanation of personality comes from using the best of all theories rather than attempting to use one or a few.” (531).