What is Personality?
-Pattern of psychological characteristics (traits) that differentiate us from others and lead us to act consistently across situations
-Know the defense mechanisms be able to identify which defense mechanism the person is using
-If a person is having a problem, be able to identify which stage that person developed that fixation.

Personality consists of traits
• Traits: relatively enduring predispositions that influence our behavior across many situations
Example: extroversion, conscientiousness

Lecture Overview
• Development of personality
– Psychoanalytic theory
– Cognitive-behavioral approaches
• Measuring personality
• Causes of personality differences

Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory
Beginnings: Clash between mind and body
– Freud initially believed in mental disorders were somatogenic (lookup)
• BUT 2 important observations that made him think perhaps this is not the case
– Glove anesthesia
– Hypnosis treatment for “grande hysteria” involving reports of patients traumatic experience of catharsis, disappearance of symptoms
• Freud concluded mental disorders were psychogenic

Core Assumptions of Psychoanalytic Theory
1. Psychic Determinism
All thoughts and behaviors have a cause (no randomness)
2. Symbolic Meaning
All thoughts and behaviors have meaning
Ex. Male accidentally breaking chalk while writing
3. Unconscious Motivation
We cannot fully understand why we do what we do
Reasons for actions are beneath our conscious awareness in unconscious

Components of Psyche
1. Id (sexual drive, immediate gratification)
Unconscious
Basic instincts
Acts according to pleasure principle
2. Ego (conscious part, socially appropriate)
Slave system managing the id
Interacts with environment
Acts according to reality principle
3. Superego (what is right/wrong, taught through socialization society and parents)