Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsPsychoanalytic PerspectiveHumanistic PerspectiveTrait PerspectiveSocial Cognitive Perspective
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Table of Contents
Psychoanalytic Perspective
Humanistic Perspective
Trait Perspective
Social Cognitive Perspective
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The study of personality is one of the significant topics of interest in psychology. Numerous personality theories exist, and most major ones fall into one of four major perspectives. Each of theseperspectives on personalityattempts to describe different patterns in personality, including how these patterns form and how people differ on an individual level.
This article discusses four of the major perspectives on personality, the theorists associated with each theory, and the core ideas that are central to each perspective. Learning more about these theories can give you greater insight into the many different aspects of human personality.
Neo-Freudian theorists, including Erik Erikson, Carl Jung, Alfred Adler, and Karen Horney, believed in the importance of the unconscious but disagreed with other aspects of Freud’s theories.
Major Theorists
Below are the most prominent psychoanalytic perspective theorists:
Modern Relevance
Classical Freudian psychoanalysis is viewed with skepticism and there has been an overall decline in the approach in recent years.While many of Freud’s theories have fallen out of favor, the psychodynamic tradition is still an essential part of psychology.
Research has shown that psychodynamic approaches can be an effective tool for self-examination. This approach to treatment can also help foster long-term emotional growth.
Overview of Personality Psychology
The humanistic perspective of personality focuses on psychological growth, free will, and personal awareness. It takes a more positive outlook on human nature and is centered on how each person can achieve their individual potential.
The following are the most influential humanistic perspective theorists:
Humanistic psychology continues to have a tremendous influence today, particularly in psychotherapy. The field of positive psychology, which is focused on helping people live better lives, has also grown out of the humanist tradition.
Humanistic therapy can effectively treat various mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, substance use, interpersonal issues, and personality disorders.
The trait perspective of personality is centered on identifying, describing, and measuring the specific traits that make uphuman personality. By understanding these traits, researchers believe they can better comprehend the differences between individuals.
Below are the most important trait perspective theorists:
Trait theory is still a standard approach for understanding human personality. Today, many experts agree that personality is composed of a number of broad dimensions, although they don’t completely agree on the labels for each dimension.
However, modern researchers are now also interested in understanding more about how these traits develop and how understanding them can help improve mental well-being.
For example, research has found that while people may have certain traits, these qualities don’t necessarily serve as accurate predictors of behavior. Contemporary research may focus more on understanding how these traits shape people’s behavior rather than just labeling the existing traits.
Thesocial cognitiveperspective of personality emphasizes the importance ofobservational learning, self-efficacy, situational influences, and cognitive processes.
The main proponent of the social cognitive perspective is:
The social cognitive perspective remains relevant today in understanding how learning occurs in social contexts. It also allows researchers and educators to consider the dynamic between the individual, their environment, and their behavior.
Social cognitive theory is also utilized in the field of public health to develop programs aimed at health promotion. Understanding how observational learning and self-efficacy influence health behaviors allows researchers to create programs that foster healthier behaviors and choices.
A Word From Verywell
Many theories have been proposed to describe and explain human personality. Four of the most prominent are the psychoanalytic, humanistic, trait, and social-cognitive perspectives.
One important thing to remember is that no single theory alone explains every aspect of personality. Instead, each of these theories has played a part in adding to our understanding of different aspects of personality, their causes, and how they shape behavior and individual experiences.
17 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mcwilliams N.Psychoanalytic Diagnosis: Understanding Personality Structure in the Clinical Process. Guilford; 2011.Barenbaum N, Winter D.Personality. In: Freedheim D, ed.Handbook of Psychology: History of Psychology. John Wiley & Sons, Inc; 2013:198-223.Paris J.Is psychoanalysis still relevant to psychiatry?Can J Psychiatry. 2017;62(5):308-312. doi:10.1177/0706743717692306Shedler J.The efficacy of psychodynamic psychotherapy.Am Psychol. 2010;65(2):98-109. doi:10.1037/a0018378Osafo hounkpatin H, Wood AM, Boyce CJ, Dunn G.An existential-humanistic view of personality change: co-occurring changes with psychological well-being in a 10 Year cohort study. Soc Indic Res. 2015;121(2):455-470. doi:10.1007/s11205-014-0648-0Rogers CR.The necessary and sufficient conditions of therapeutic personality change.TACD Journal. 1989;17(1):53-65. doi:10.1080/1046171x.1989.12034347Kaufman SB.Self-actualizing people in the 21st century: Integration with contemporary theory and research on personality and well-being.Journal of Humanistic Psychology. November 2018. doi:10.1177/0022167818809187Elliott R.Research on person-centred/experiential psychotherapy and counselling : summary of the main findings. In: Lago C, Charura D, eds. McGraw-Hill/Open University Press; 2016:223-232.Fleeson W, Jayawickreme E.Whole trait theory.Journal of Research in Personality. 2015;56(0092-6566):82-92. doi:10.1016/j.jrp.2014.10.009Revelle W.Hans Eysenck: Personality theorist.Personality and Individual Differences. 2016;103:32-39. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2016.04.007Boyle GJ, Stankov L, Martin NG, Petrides KV, Eysenck MW, Ortet G. Hans J.Eysenck and Raymond B. Cattell on intelligence and personality.Personality and Individual Differences. 2016;103:40-47. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2016.04.029McCrae RR, Costa Jr. P.Introduction to the empirical and theoretical status of the five-factor model of personality traits. In:Personality Disorders and the Five-Factor Model of Personality. American Psychological Association; 2013:15-27. doi:10.1037/13939-002McCrae RR, Sutin AR.A five-factor theory perspective on causal analysis.Eur J Pers. 2018;32(3):151–166. doi:10.1002/per.2134Fleeson W, Jayawickreme E.Whole trait theory.J Res Pers. 2015;56:82-92. doi:10.1016/j.jrp.2014.10.009Robinson MD, Klein RJ, Persich MR.Personality traits in action: A cognitive behavioral version of the social cognitive paradigm.Personality and Individual Differences. 2019;147:214-222. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2019.04.041Bandura A.Social Cognitive Theory: An Agentic Perspective.Asian Journal of Social Psychology. 1999;2(1):21-41. doi:10.1111/1467-839x.00024Smith Y, Garcia-Torres R, Coughlin SS, et al.Effectiveness of social cognitive theory-based interventions for glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus: Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.JMIR Res Protoc. 2020;9(9):e17148. doi:10.2196/17148
17 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mcwilliams N.Psychoanalytic Diagnosis: Understanding Personality Structure in the Clinical Process. Guilford; 2011.Barenbaum N, Winter D.Personality. In: Freedheim D, ed.Handbook of Psychology: History of Psychology. John Wiley & Sons, Inc; 2013:198-223.Paris J.Is psychoanalysis still relevant to psychiatry?Can J Psychiatry. 2017;62(5):308-312. doi:10.1177/0706743717692306Shedler J.The efficacy of psychodynamic psychotherapy.Am Psychol. 2010;65(2):98-109. doi:10.1037/a0018378Osafo hounkpatin H, Wood AM, Boyce CJ, Dunn G.An existential-humanistic view of personality change: co-occurring changes with psychological well-being in a 10 Year cohort study. Soc Indic Res. 2015;121(2):455-470. doi:10.1007/s11205-014-0648-0Rogers CR.The necessary and sufficient conditions of therapeutic personality change.TACD Journal. 1989;17(1):53-65. doi:10.1080/1046171x.1989.12034347Kaufman SB.Self-actualizing people in the 21st century: Integration with contemporary theory and research on personality and well-being.Journal of Humanistic Psychology. November 2018. doi:10.1177/0022167818809187Elliott R.Research on person-centred/experiential psychotherapy and counselling : summary of the main findings. In: Lago C, Charura D, eds. McGraw-Hill/Open University Press; 2016:223-232.Fleeson W, Jayawickreme E.Whole trait theory.Journal of Research in Personality. 2015;56(0092-6566):82-92. doi:10.1016/j.jrp.2014.10.009Revelle W.Hans Eysenck: Personality theorist.Personality and Individual Differences. 2016;103:32-39. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2016.04.007Boyle GJ, Stankov L, Martin NG, Petrides KV, Eysenck MW, Ortet G. Hans J.Eysenck and Raymond B. Cattell on intelligence and personality.Personality and Individual Differences. 2016;103:40-47. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2016.04.029McCrae RR, Costa Jr. P.Introduction to the empirical and theoretical status of the five-factor model of personality traits. In:Personality Disorders and the Five-Factor Model of Personality. American Psychological Association; 2013:15-27. doi:10.1037/13939-002McCrae RR, Sutin AR.A five-factor theory perspective on causal analysis.Eur J Pers. 2018;32(3):151–166. doi:10.1002/per.2134Fleeson W, Jayawickreme E.Whole trait theory.J Res Pers. 2015;56:82-92. doi:10.1016/j.jrp.2014.10.009Robinson MD, Klein RJ, Persich MR.Personality traits in action: A cognitive behavioral version of the social cognitive paradigm.Personality and Individual Differences. 2019;147:214-222. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2019.04.041Bandura A.Social Cognitive Theory: An Agentic Perspective.Asian Journal of Social Psychology. 1999;2(1):21-41. doi:10.1111/1467-839x.00024Smith Y, Garcia-Torres R, Coughlin SS, et al.Effectiveness of social cognitive theory-based interventions for glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus: Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.JMIR Res Protoc. 2020;9(9):e17148. doi:10.2196/17148
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Mcwilliams N.Psychoanalytic Diagnosis: Understanding Personality Structure in the Clinical Process. Guilford; 2011.Barenbaum N, Winter D.Personality. In: Freedheim D, ed.Handbook of Psychology: History of Psychology. John Wiley & Sons, Inc; 2013:198-223.Paris J.Is psychoanalysis still relevant to psychiatry?Can J Psychiatry. 2017;62(5):308-312. doi:10.1177/0706743717692306Shedler J.The efficacy of psychodynamic psychotherapy.Am Psychol. 2010;65(2):98-109. doi:10.1037/a0018378Osafo hounkpatin H, Wood AM, Boyce CJ, Dunn G.An existential-humanistic view of personality change: co-occurring changes with psychological well-being in a 10 Year cohort study. Soc Indic Res. 2015;121(2):455-470. doi:10.1007/s11205-014-0648-0Rogers CR.The necessary and sufficient conditions of therapeutic personality change.TACD Journal. 1989;17(1):53-65. doi:10.1080/1046171x.1989.12034347Kaufman SB.Self-actualizing people in the 21st century: Integration with contemporary theory and research on personality and well-being.Journal of Humanistic Psychology. November 2018. doi:10.1177/0022167818809187Elliott R.Research on person-centred/experiential psychotherapy and counselling : summary of the main findings. In: Lago C, Charura D, eds. McGraw-Hill/Open University Press; 2016:223-232.Fleeson W, Jayawickreme E.Whole trait theory.Journal of Research in Personality. 2015;56(0092-6566):82-92. doi:10.1016/j.jrp.2014.10.009Revelle W.Hans Eysenck: Personality theorist.Personality and Individual Differences. 2016;103:32-39. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2016.04.007Boyle GJ, Stankov L, Martin NG, Petrides KV, Eysenck MW, Ortet G. Hans J.Eysenck and Raymond B. Cattell on intelligence and personality.Personality and Individual Differences. 2016;103:40-47. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2016.04.029McCrae RR, Costa Jr. P.Introduction to the empirical and theoretical status of the five-factor model of personality traits. In:Personality Disorders and the Five-Factor Model of Personality. American Psychological Association; 2013:15-27. doi:10.1037/13939-002McCrae RR, Sutin AR.A five-factor theory perspective on causal analysis.Eur J Pers. 2018;32(3):151–166. doi:10.1002/per.2134Fleeson W, Jayawickreme E.Whole trait theory.J Res Pers. 2015;56:82-92. doi:10.1016/j.jrp.2014.10.009Robinson MD, Klein RJ, Persich MR.Personality traits in action: A cognitive behavioral version of the social cognitive paradigm.Personality and Individual Differences. 2019;147:214-222. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2019.04.041Bandura A.Social Cognitive Theory: An Agentic Perspective.Asian Journal of Social Psychology. 1999;2(1):21-41. doi:10.1111/1467-839x.00024Smith Y, Garcia-Torres R, Coughlin SS, et al.Effectiveness of social cognitive theory-based interventions for glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus: Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.JMIR Res Protoc. 2020;9(9):e17148. doi:10.2196/17148
Mcwilliams N.Psychoanalytic Diagnosis: Understanding Personality Structure in the Clinical Process. Guilford; 2011.
Barenbaum N, Winter D.Personality. In: Freedheim D, ed.Handbook of Psychology: History of Psychology. John Wiley & Sons, Inc; 2013:198-223.
Paris J.Is psychoanalysis still relevant to psychiatry?Can J Psychiatry. 2017;62(5):308-312. doi:10.1177/0706743717692306
Shedler J.The efficacy of psychodynamic psychotherapy.Am Psychol. 2010;65(2):98-109. doi:10.1037/a0018378
Osafo hounkpatin H, Wood AM, Boyce CJ, Dunn G.An existential-humanistic view of personality change: co-occurring changes with psychological well-being in a 10 Year cohort study. Soc Indic Res. 2015;121(2):455-470. doi:10.1007/s11205-014-0648-0
Rogers CR.The necessary and sufficient conditions of therapeutic personality change.TACD Journal. 1989;17(1):53-65. doi:10.1080/1046171x.1989.12034347
Kaufman SB.Self-actualizing people in the 21st century: Integration with contemporary theory and research on personality and well-being.Journal of Humanistic Psychology. November 2018. doi:10.1177/0022167818809187
Elliott R.Research on person-centred/experiential psychotherapy and counselling : summary of the main findings. In: Lago C, Charura D, eds. McGraw-Hill/Open University Press; 2016:223-232.
Fleeson W, Jayawickreme E.Whole trait theory.Journal of Research in Personality. 2015;56(0092-6566):82-92. doi:10.1016/j.jrp.2014.10.009
Revelle W.Hans Eysenck: Personality theorist.Personality and Individual Differences. 2016;103:32-39. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2016.04.007
Boyle GJ, Stankov L, Martin NG, Petrides KV, Eysenck MW, Ortet G. Hans J.Eysenck and Raymond B. Cattell on intelligence and personality.Personality and Individual Differences. 2016;103:40-47. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2016.04.029
McCrae RR, Costa Jr. P.Introduction to the empirical and theoretical status of the five-factor model of personality traits. In:Personality Disorders and the Five-Factor Model of Personality. American Psychological Association; 2013:15-27. doi:10.1037/13939-002
McCrae RR, Sutin AR.A five-factor theory perspective on causal analysis.Eur J Pers. 2018;32(3):151–166. doi:10.1002/per.2134
Fleeson W, Jayawickreme E.Whole trait theory.J Res Pers. 2015;56:82-92. doi:10.1016/j.jrp.2014.10.009
Robinson MD, Klein RJ, Persich MR.Personality traits in action: A cognitive behavioral version of the social cognitive paradigm.Personality and Individual Differences. 2019;147:214-222. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2019.04.041
Bandura A.Social Cognitive Theory: An Agentic Perspective.Asian Journal of Social Psychology. 1999;2(1):21-41. doi:10.1111/1467-839x.00024
Smith Y, Garcia-Torres R, Coughlin SS, et al.Effectiveness of social cognitive theory-based interventions for glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus: Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.JMIR Res Protoc. 2020;9(9):e17148. doi:10.2196/17148
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