(Psychology In Life, Phillip .G. Zimbardo, page 519)
Psychologists who study personality development try to discover why individuals differ and therefore look for continuities in behavioural functioning over time.
Psychoanalytic therapy was developed by Freud, it was a long-term treatment used perhaps several times a week were he tried to analyse and resolve an individuals childhood. Issues such as these are considered to be primary unconscious and are kept from consciousness by nature through a complex defence system.
“There is a tendency to be over critical about Freud’s theories, but it is worth remembering the theory was constructed during a different epoch from ours and his concepts were quite revolutionary for there time. His ideas have endured – and not just in psychology. They appear in literature and art and everyday life. This testifies to the fact that there must be some important meanings in the theory. Many of these meanings have become such a part of commonplace knowledge that you are not even are that they are Freudian.”
(PSYCHOLOGY FOR A2 LEVEL, MICHAEL W. EYSENCK,
Page 766)
“ Freud founded developmental psychology, proposed one of the first systematic theories of personality, and devised a form of therapy that was unsurpassed for over 80 years. Psychoanalysis has been widely used and adapted, though it tends to be suitable only for literate and wealthy people because of the time and expense involved.
(PSYCHOLOGY FOR A2 LEVEL, MICHAEL W. EYSENCK,
Page 766)
The social learning developmental theory argues that personality is learnt through interactions with the environment.
“Psychologists with a learning theory orientation, however, have quite a different focus. They look for environmental contingencies – reinforcing circumstances that control behaviour. From this perspective behaviour and personality are shaped primarily by the outside environment.”
(Psychology In Life, Phillip .G. Zimbardo, page 527)
Alfred Bandura used an observation learning theory, he emphasised the role of observation and modelling. Bandura believed that children would more likely imitate the behaviour of people who are warm and loving towards them, competent and powerful and most similar to themselves. He believed reinforcements or rewards may be used or expressed as enjoyment, pride and satisfaction from the child.
Although, Brunner believed that it was the ideas about stimulus and not the stimulus itself that was important. Learning is not merely about imitation but involves setting goals, the prediction of outcomes and the evaluation of performance.
Socialisation starts from when we are infants, this is when we learn to behave and start to think like those around us.
“A child competent in language and cognitive skills would still be deficient without appropriate social and emotional relations and capabilities.”
(Psychology In Life, Phillip .G. Zimbardo)
It is important for a child to develop meaningful, effective relationships with others. “Smile and the world smiles back” is an aphorism that many parents and teachers encourage children to do, it has a significant impact on their social environment. The family helps the child to socialise through teaching good manners like saying “thank you”, “please” etc and also through encouraging good behaviour in the child. Social development or the ways in which we gradually become socialised is important in deciding what sort of person we will be. Children who are socially deprived or are isolated will have some difficulties with social development.
Inherited Characteristics
From Both Parent
Gender –expected Facilities- toys,
Boy/girl behaviour playgroup, schools
& playgrounds
Culture –beliefs and
Behaviour of a group of Health & Special
People needs - illness
And disability may
Values and Attitudes Restrict social contact
Self-concept -The way Enviroment-Rural or
We feel about ourself and the city housing
image we present to others Experiences – outings
& visits
Position in family
1st born, only child Parents- what they expect-
Last born praise, discipline & criticism
Interactions- with others inside
and outside home, expectation,
acceptance & rejection
Bandura developed two specific aspects of social learning theory.
“There are two specific aspects of social learning theory that were developed by Bandura (1977, 1986) that help explain personality development, which we will consider here. These are the concepts of reciprocal determination and self-efficacy. Learning is influenced by self-regulation (reciprocal determinism) insofar as the learner very much contributes to the learning process. Learning is also affected by the way you feel about yourself (self-concept or self-efficacy).
(PSYCHOLOGY FOR A2 LEVEL, MICHAEL W. EYSENCK,
Page 425)
“One mighty think that social learning theory, like traditional learning theory, is a determinist account of behaviour. Learning theory suggests that we are shaped by external factors and this leads us to behave in predictable ways. However, Bandura stressed that social learning theory does not represent the individual as a helpless victim of circumstance. Nor did Bandura subscribe to the idea that one can somehow add up internal and external factors and thus explain personality. Bandura felt this was an oversimplification and that it was the interaction that was all important.”
(PSYCHOLOGY FOR A2 LEVEL, MICHAEL W. EYSENCK,
Page 425)
In closing I would just like to say, that I believe a persons personality is a uniqueness and that each one of us has to look into the depths of our own soul to get to know our selves.
Like a person,
“A poem records emotions and moods that lie beyond normal language, that can only be patched together and hinted at metaphorically.”
(Ackerman, Diane. 1948 American Poet Writer Naturalist.) (www.borntomotivate.com)
By Joanne Reid
