Both biological and humanistic factors have influences on ones personality development. One major issue that arises in this discipline is nature vs. nurture.

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Biological or Humanistic Approach to Personality

Dyanne Kelley

University of Phoenix

Psy 250

Dr. Leslie Brougham

December 22, 2008

Biological or Humanistic Approach to Personality

There are many similarities and differences in the biological and humanistic approaches to personality. Over time there have been theories that many people both agree and disagree with. Both biological and humanistic factors have influences on one's personality development. One major issue that arises in this discipline is nature vs. nurture. This is the notion that an individual's development is based on either their genetic makeup (nature) or their interaction with the environment (nurture). As opposed to history, modern psychologists rarely take the extreme positions in this matter. The question of nature vs. nurture question has been since the beginning of psychology.

Those who believe the biological approach to personality believe that one's personality traits are largely influence by biological or genetic factors (Burger, 2008). One theorist, Hans Eysenck's, introduced a model of personality with three dimensions: extroversion-introversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism. He argued that these biological temperaments influence a person's personality. For example, someone classified as extroversion-introversion are either outgoing and impulsive or the latter,