Question

QUESTION 1: In order to provide a comprehensive theory of personality what does the theory have to be able to explain?

QUESTION 2: What are the strengths and weaknesses of Constitutional Theories. What abouta person does it explain? What does it not explain?

QUESTION 3: What are the strengths and weaknesses of Psycho-Dynamic Theory. Please select one theorist to write about such as (Sigmund Freud; Anna Freud; Karen Horney; Alfred;Erik Fromm; Carl Jung). What about the person does it explain? What does it not explain?

Answer 1

Question No1

Comprehensive theory of personality:

The psychoanalytic theory of Sigmund Freud, or Freudian theory, is a theory about personality organisation, the dynamics between the various stages of personality development, and the impact this has on the development of human beings’ libido. The psychoanalytic theory was published in the late 19th century and has since been frequently refined and altered. Sigmund Freud first worked on analyses within his physiological studies, but halted these studies when he transferred his focus to studying the human mind and its accompanying attributes. His study emphasised the recognition and impact of childhood events and how these could affect the functioning of adults. His studies formed the basis for modern-day psychotherapy.

For this reason, Sigmund Freud is considered the father of psychiatry. The most far-reaching and famous of his many accomplishments is probably the Freudian personality theory. After his death, the Sigmund Freud Theory has often been the focus of other psychoanalysts and was repeatedly adapted and subjected to different interpretations. Despite the fact that this theory is widely valued, the Sigmund Freud Theory is also criticised by many and remains a controversial topic to this day due to its relevance.

Question No.2

Strength and weaknesses of constitutional theories:

Some specialists consider the constitutional theory as a good basis for the temperament evaluation and assessment and claim the very positive experience with somatype investigation as the starting point for the personality exploration.

These theories are important tool to counsellors and teachers, because knowledge of the theory may be utilised in making intelligent guesses about personality of their students or
clients. Constitutional theories provides a repertoire of such knowledge.

Example:Constitutional Theory of Wliiam Sheldon:

Sheldon's work was heavily burdened by his racist, anti-Semitic and sexist views. There is evidence that different physiques carry cultural stereotypes. For example, one study found that endomorphs are likely to be perceived as slow, sloppy, and lazy. Mesomorphs, in contrast, are typically stereotyped as popular and hardworking, whereas ectomorphs are often viewed as intelligent but fearful and usually take part in long distance sports, such as marathon running. Stereotypes of mesomorphs are generally much more favorable than those of endomorphs. Stereotypes of ectomorphs are somewhat mixed. Sheldon's ideas that body type was an indicator of temperament, moral character or potential while popular in an atmosphere accepting of the theories of eugenics were soon widely discredited. The principle criticism of Sheldon's constitutional theory was that it was not a theory at all but one general assumption, continuity between structure and behavior, and a set of descriptive concepts to measure physique and behavior in a scaled manner. HIs methodology was also criticized.

Question No.3

Strengh and weaknesses of Psycho-Dynamic Theories:

Sigmund Feud's Psychodynamic Theory

Sigmund Freud’s psychodynamic perspective of personality was the first comprehensive theory of personality, explaining a wide variety of both normal and abnormal behaviors. According to Freud, unconscious drives influenced by sex and aggression, along with childhood sexuality, are the forces that influence our personality. Freud attracted many followers who modified his ideas to create new theories about personality. These theorists, referred to as neo-Freudians, generally agreed with Freud that childhood experiences matter, but they reduced the emphasis on sex and focused more on the social environment and effects of culture on personality. The perspective of personality proposed by Freud and his followers was the dominant theory of personality for the first half of the 20th century.

Other major theories then emerged, including the learning, humanistic, biological, evolutionary, trait, and cultural perspectives. In this module, we will explore these various perspectives on personality in depth.