Theories on Individual Differences in a Personality

The study of personalities is known as personology, or personality psychology. Personality psychologists study the differences between personalities as well as what it means to be a person. Some theorists believe that our personalities are innate and present from birth, while others believe that the personality is developed through our experiences. Most all theorists agree that the human personality is very complex and that there is not just one theory that explains personality.

Psychoanalytic

• Sigmund Freud theorized that the personality is a structure of motivating factors and that a person is always at conflict with themselves. Freud introduced the theory of the id, ego and superego, from which he explained that a person is naturally at conflict with itself, but that in a healthy person there is a balance between the three. The id, he said, is a person's natural instinct to satisfy immediate needs; the superego is the moral part of the personality and the ego is what regulates the two. Freud also theorized that the personality is driven by unconscious and conscious motives and desires. According to his theory, the human personality is mostly made up of unconscious motives.

Behavioral

• Behavioral theorists believe that our personality is nothing more than a product of our environment. These behavioral theorists believe that we model our personality by observing those around us. Ivan Pavlov introduced the theory of classical conditioning, which presented the idea that people's behaviors can be shaped by different stimuli. B.F. Skinner introduced the idea of positive and negative reinforcement and that our personality and behaviors are shaped by positive and negative consequences.

Social Cognitive

• Albert Bandura, believed that much of our personality is developed through our observation of behavior in others; however, he is most widely known for his social-cognitive theory. This social cognitive theory states that the personality is driven by both internal and external factors. Bandura's theory says that a person's personality is not just developed through his environment but also from internal motivation. It is a combination of external and internal drivers that shape a person's personality and creates differences between personality.

Biopsychological

• The biopsychological theory dictates that a large portion of our personality is determined by our genetics. This argument is based on the idea that through our physical characteristics and genetic makeup, we develop a sense of who we are. Through this sense of self, we conduct ourselves in a certain way, which then shapes our personality based on our own self-perception. This combination of genetics and experiences is what creates differences in people's personalities.