The Theories Of Personality And Social Cognitive Theory

Personality is defined as the characteristic ways in which a person thinks, feels and behaves. Personality makes a person who they are but it is not a distinct thing. Many theorists disagree about personality and the theories that lie within in it. The three main theories of personality are; the Trait Approach, the Humanistic Approach and the Social Cognitive Theory. The trait approach focuses on the differences and the interaction of different personality traits that create an individuals personality; the main theorists for the Trait Approach are Costa and Mccrae. The Humanistic Approach focuses on the way an individual behaves and why they behave in that way; the main theorists for the humanistic approach are Maslow and Rogers. The†¦show more content†¦An individual that is characterised under the trait of neuroticism will behave in an unpleasant manner, e.g., anger or depression. Costa and Mccrae’s big five model Costa and Mccrae claimed that the average person is usually in between the scale of extraverted, and that the five traits are relatively stable over our life span (some have the tendency to slightly increase and decrease). There is some criticism of costa and Mccrae’s model given by other professionals. Critics have argued that the patterns of variability over different situations are crucial to determining personality. There is also limitations as an explanatory theory and that the model does not explain all the sections of personality. Some psychologists have stayed away from the model because they feel as if it ignores other categories of personality. Humanistic Approach The theory of ‘humanism’ is defined as â€Å"The good life is a process, not a state of being, it is a direction not a belief† stated by Rogers (1969). The Humanistic Approach includes theorists Maslow and Rogers. Theorists of the humanistic approach believe that people are innately good and have conscious free will. Maslow stated that people achieve their full potential by moving from basic needs to self actualisation. He was mainly concerned with the individuals innate drive towards self actualisation. Maslow then created theShow MoreRelatedTheories Of Personality : Psychodynamic, Trait Or Five Factor Model, Humanistic, And Social Cognitive974 Words   |  4 Pagesfour major theories of personality: psychodynamic, trait or five-factor model, humanistic, and social-cognitive. The psychodynamic theory primarily focuses on the role of the unconscious mind. The social cognitive theory focuses on the effect of the environment on behavior and is based on theories of learning. Whereas, the humanistic theory emphasizes conscious life experiences and choices. The trait or five-factor model focuses on characteristics themselves and not the roots of personality. To beginRead MoreCritical Review of the Moral, Cognitive, Social and Personality Developmental Stages of Michael Oher in the Movie Blindside. Use the Kohlberg, Piaget and Eriksons Developmental Theories Tosupport Review2605 Words   |  11 Pagesstages rather than two. Stage 4. Maintaining the Social Order. Stage 3 reasoning works best in two-person relationships with family members or close friends, where one can make a real effort to get to know the others feelings and needs and try to help. At stage 4, in contrast, the respondent becomes more broadly concerned with society as a whole. Now the emphasis is on obeying laws, respecting authority, and performing ones duties so that the social order is maintained. In response to the Heinz storyRead MoreExpectancy Theory And Social Cognitive Theory Essay1190 Words   |  5 PagesMotivation Theories: Expectancy Theory in Practice and Social Cognitive Theory Expectancy theory in practice In Expectancy theory we focus on the mental processes when considering choice, or choosing. It clarifies what an individual feel while making choices. In the study of organizational behavior, we can see that expectancy theory is a motivation theory, it tells us that employees who are sure in their ability to perform a particular task are motivated by their expectations of the consequencesRead MoreExpectancy Theory And Social Cognitive Theory Essay1163 Words   |  5 PagesExpectancy Theory in Practice and Social Cognitive Theory Expectancy theory in practice Expectancy theory is about the mental processes regarding choice, or choosing. It explains the processes that an individual undergoes to make choices. In the study of organizational behavior, expectancy theory is a motivation theory first proposed by Victor Vroom of the Yale School of Management. Expectancy theory tells us that people who are confident in their ability to perform a particular task are motivatedRead MoreFinal Examination For The Psychology Of Personality1329 Words   |  6 PagesExamination for the Psychology of Personality Summer 2015 Due Date: 7-28-15 at 11:59pm Seham Azzamel @02773623 Seham_z@hotmail.com Dr. Elbedour College of School of Psychology Washington, DC 2015 Question 1 Personality Traits Personality is defined as â€Å"consistent behavior patterns and intrapersonal processes originating within the individual† (Burger, 2010, p. 4). In order to measure personality, psychologists focus on personality traits. Personality traits are simply actions, attitudesRead MoreLearning Personality Theories1154 Words   |  5 PagesLearning Personality Theories PSY/405 August 8, 2011 Linda O Connor Learning Personality Theories Psychologists have attempted to explain personality with the development of various personality theories. Each theory varies in regard to explanations and views. Each theory of learning personality provides explanations, ideology, and dimensions. Learning personality theories focus mainly on interactions individuals have with his or her environment. Each theory believes that individuals reactRead MoreThe Social Of Social Cognitive Theory1591 Words   |  7 PagesThe Social Cognitive Theory is perhaps the most comprehensive and complex learning theories in the field of psychology. The theory attempts to explain how our social environment has a great influence on our behaviors and actions. Albert Bandura is the most notable psychologist of the Social Cognitive Theory. He has conducted intense research and experiments for over 50 years and continually strives to improve the strengths and correct the limitations of the theory. The Social Cognitive Theory is appliedRead MoreJulian Rotter Walter Mischels Theories Essay533 Words   |  3 PagesJulian Rotter and Walter Mischel both theorized that cognitive aspects, more so than direct reinforcements, establish human reactions to environmental influences. Both psychologists propose that human expectations of impending events are the foremost factors in determining human performance. Recognized for his cognitive social learning model of personality, Mischel’s theory centered on the particular cognitive variables that intervene with the way new experiences influence a person (Feist FeistRead MoreComplex Performance Related Tasks Are Ideal Essay1329 Words   |  6 Pagesrelatively complex (Latham Seijts, 1999). The social cognitive theory has been contributed to the work of Albert Badura, who recognized that cognitive learning is a key aspect that separates humans from other forms of life. This phenomenological approach analyzes the understanding and changing behavior in people, through observations, motivati on, past experiences, and cognition. The following will give a further explanation of the phenomenological theory, and analyze three empirical studies, whichRead MoreTrait Theory And Social Cognitive Theories1190 Words   |  5 Pages Both Trait theory and Social Cognitive Theories are currently and have been very influential in describing personalities in people over the years. They have both similar and opposite qualities as well and seem to work off of each other at times in my opinion. Although many theories are still helpful in some ways, I feel like these two are more beneficial due to them bringing a more positive approach to describing personalities and giving the person more control over their own behavioral change rather