Child Development

2 Pages 554 Words

Its been stated, the concept of personality is a broad one. The personality theorist has an interest in what individual human beings think, feel and do including how the social situation affects and is affected by the individual. Personality theory is concerned not only with differences between individuals, but also with the basic processes of adaptation through which people interact with the conditions of their lives? (Ehrenreich 33).
The development of personality has long been an area of extreme interest to psychologists and psychoanalysts alike. Because of this, many different theories of personality have developed over the years. From Sigmund Freud to B.F. Skinner, everyone seems to have not only an opinion of what personality is and how it develops but also an idea as to what is the best way to measure and report their findings. In order to test their theories, it was necessary to formulate methods of research that were effective, ethical and would provide a solid foundation for future personality research.
Personality Psychology is the study of the whole person. The practice of psychology, which stems from a portion of philosophy that addresses the issue of behaviorism, evolved into a significant discipline of its own. Psychology eventually came to represent the very essence of mental performance and therefore, personality theory. Throughout history, there have been a number of modifications that have altered the direction of psychology as a discipline. However, this has not deterred the ongoing realization that there may be more to a particular personality theory than what has been passed down by the masters?
In studying personality psychology there are four major themes used. Those are intrapsychic mysteries, interactive episodes, interpretive structures, and interpersonal stories. Intrapsychic mysteries are based upon our unconscious. It focuses on the forces in our daily lives that we are unaware of. Inter...