PERSONALITY PSY234 PERSONALITY PSY234

Lecture Lecture 88::Application & EvaluationApplication & Evaluation

Dr Simon BoagDr Simon Boag

Email: Email: simon.boag@psy.mq.edu.ausimon.boag@psy.mq.edu.au

ReadingsReadings

• Carver, C. S. & Scheier, M. F. (2004). Carver, C. S. & Scheier, M. F. (2004). Perspectives on PersonalityPerspectives on Personality. pp. 502-. pp. 502-518.518.

• Monte, C. F. & Sollod, R. N. (2003). Monte, C. F. & Sollod, R. N. (2003). Beneath the mask. Beneath the mask. (pp. 652-663)(pp. 652-663)

Lecture OutlineLecture Outline

I. Application to a case studyI. Application to a case study• Problems with this approachProblems with this approach

II. Which theory is right?II. Which theory is right?• Nature vs nurtureNature vs nurture• Strengths of the respective theoriesStrengths of the respective theories

III. Current status of the fieldIII. Current status of the field• Future directions for researchFuture directions for research

Learning OutcomesLearning OutcomesAfter this lecture you should be able to:After this lecture you should be able to:• Apply the various theories studied in Apply the various theories studied in

this course to a case studythis course to a case study• Understand the problems with such an Understand the problems with such an

approachapproach• Identify the major strengths of each Identify the major strengths of each

respective theoryrespective theory• Develop your own point of view, based Develop your own point of view, based

on the evidence covered in the lectures, on the evidence covered in the lectures, concerning which theory is bestconcerning which theory is best

I. Application to a Case StudyI. Application to a Case Study

• Personality theories can be used to Personality theories can be used to help understand why people behave help understand why people behave the way that they dothe way that they do

• Based on this understanding, Based on this understanding, strategies can be formed to address strategies can be formed to address the situationthe situation

• The following is a fictitious case study The following is a fictitious case study based on several cases outlined in the based on several cases outlined in the NSW Govt’s NSW Govt’s Women & ViolenceWomen & Violence booklet (2000) booklet (2000)

Dora is a woman in her 40s whose Dora is a woman in her 40s whose husband physically and psychologically husband physically and psychologically abuses her. On several occasions she abuses her. On several occasions she has left him, which she finds relieving, has left him, which she finds relieving,

but she always returns. After leaving she but she always returns. After leaving she becomes socially isolated and finds becomes socially isolated and finds

herself with economic problems. She herself with economic problems. She also fears what her husband might do to also fears what her husband might do to her, given what she has seen happen to her, given what she has seen happen to other women in her situation. Also, when other women in her situation. Also, when

she does end up finally returning her she does end up finally returning her husband showers her with love. husband showers her with love.

However, the abuse soon begins again However, the abuse soon begins again and she’s left in a state of not knowing and she’s left in a state of not knowing whether to leave or stay, and feels that whether to leave or stay, and feels that

the situation is out of her controlthe situation is out of her control

Dora is overwhelmed by her feelings Dora is overwhelmed by her feelings and tries to cover these up by and tries to cover these up by

pretending she doesn’t really care, and pretending she doesn’t really care, and when asked why she keeps returning when asked why she keeps returning

she says ‘Because my husband couldn’t she says ‘Because my husband couldn’t cope on his own’. Her therapist cope on his own’. Her therapist

discovers that Dora, based on her past discovers that Dora, based on her past experiences with men, expects all men experiences with men, expects all men

to be abusive. It also emerges that to be abusive. It also emerges that Dora has always been shy and quiet, Dora has always been shy and quiet, which has made it difficult for her to which has made it difficult for her to

form friendships in the first placeform friendships in the first place

InterpretationsInterpretations

PsychodynamicPsychodynamic• Psychological conflictPsychological conflict• Desire to stay/leaveDesire to stay/leave• Unconscious fears/desiresUnconscious fears/desires• Defence; rationalisationDefence; rationalisationApplication based on theoryApplication based on theory• Making conflict conscious, allowing Making conflict conscious, allowing

rational decision makingrational decision making

InterpretationsInterpretationsSkinner’s theorySkinner’s theory• Reinforcement & punishment cycleReinforcement & punishment cycle• Leaving husband = immediate relief Leaving husband = immediate relief

but punishment in the long term (eg but punishment in the long term (eg social isolation)social isolation)

• Rewarded for returningRewarded for returningApplication based on theoryApplication based on theory• Addressing environmental factors (eg Addressing environmental factors (eg

helping her find affordable helping her find affordable accommodation, social support)accommodation, social support)

InterpretationsInterpretationsBandura’s theoryBandura’s theory• Observational learningObservational learning• Fear of husband based on observation Fear of husband based on observation

of other women in her situationof other women in her situation• Feeling out of control (low self-Feeling out of control (low self-

efficacy)efficacy)Application based on theoryApplication based on theory• Modeling & improving self-efficacyModeling & improving self-efficacy• Protection ordersProtection orders

InterpretationsInterpretations

Kelly’s theoryKelly’s theory• Past experiences of abuse leads to Past experiences of abuse leads to

future expectationsfuture expectations• Experience cycle & self-fulfilling Experience cycle & self-fulfilling

prophecyprophecyApplication based on theoryApplication based on theory• Exploring & changing constructs & Exploring & changing constructs &

expectationsexpectations

InterpretationsInterpretations

Eysenck’s theoryEysenck’s theory• Introverted personalityIntroverted personality: :

susceptible to shyness & lonelinesssusceptible to shyness & loneliness

Application based on theoryApplication based on theory• Addressing underlying causes (eg. Addressing underlying causes (eg.

managing shyness)managing shyness)• Environmental matchingEnvironmental matching

ProblemsProblems

• Post hocPost hoc (after the fact) interpretation (after the fact) interpretation• How do we know if this is the right How do we know if this is the right

interpretation?interpretation?• How much of this interpretation is How much of this interpretation is

theory-driven or subjectively biased?theory-driven or subjectively biased?• Supplement with other types of Supplement with other types of

testingtesting

II. Which Theory is Right?II. Which Theory is Right?

• Is any theory better than the Is any theory better than the others?others?

• Theoretical issuesTheoretical issues• Free will vs determinismFree will vs determinism• Nature vs nurtureNature vs nurture• Strengths & weaknesses of the Strengths & weaknesses of the

various theoriesvarious theories

Free-will vs DeterminismFree-will vs Determinism

• DeterminismDeterminism• Psychoanalysis, Learning theories, Psychoanalysis, Learning theories,

Eysenck’s theory, Evolutionary Eysenck’s theory, Evolutionary psychpsych

• Free-willFree-will• Humanistic approaches, Personal Humanistic approaches, Personal

construct theoryconstruct theory

Nature vs Nurture:Nature vs Nurture:Degree of emphasisDegree of emphasis

• Emphasis on Emphasis on naturenature• Eysenck’s theory (though role for Eysenck’s theory (though role for

nurture)nurture)• Emphasis on Emphasis on nurturenurture• Learning theories, Personal construct Learning theories, Personal construct

theorytheory• InteractionistInteractionist• Psychoanalysis, Humanistic Psychoanalysis, Humanistic

approaches, Evolutionary approachesapproaches, Evolutionary approaches

Which Theory is Right?Which Theory is Right?

• Important facets of each theory:Important facets of each theory:

PsychoanalysisPsychoanalysis::• Psychological conflict, defense & Psychological conflict, defense &

drivesdrives

Skinner’s theorySkinner’s theory::• Behaviour shaped by consequencesBehaviour shaped by consequences

Bandura’s theoryBandura’s theory::• Observational learningObservational learning

Which Theory is Right?Which Theory is Right?

Humanistic PsychologyHumanistic Psychology::• Experiential componentExperiential componentEysenck’s theoryEysenck’s theory::• Traits eg. extro- & introversionTraits eg. extro- & introversionKelly’s theoryKelly’s theory::• Personal constructs; future orientedPersonal constructs; future orientedEvolutionary psychologyEvolutionary psychology::• Sex differences; attachment stylesSex differences; attachment styles

Clinical ApplicationClinical Application• Some clinicians feel that a single Some clinicians feel that a single

theory may not be entirely correct or theory may not be entirely correct or sufficient for understanding personalitysufficient for understanding personality

• Taking what is valuable from any Taking what is valuable from any respective theory (eclecticism)respective theory (eclecticism)

• This may depend upon the type of caseThis may depend upon the type of case• eg Psychoanalysis might be more eg Psychoanalysis might be more

appropriate to one case, whereas a appropriate to one case, whereas a social learning account more social learning account more applicable to anotherapplicable to another

The lecturer’s point of viewThe lecturer’s point of view

• Have you been able to judge which Have you been able to judge which approach the lecturer thinks is approach the lecturer thinks is best?best?

• Most important thingMost important thing: make your : make your own mind up based on evidence & own mind up based on evidence & reasoningreasoning

III. Current Status of the Field III. Current Status of the Field of Personality Researchof Personality Research

• Lack of unifying frameworkLack of unifying framework• Experimental testingExperimental testing• Psychopathology researchPsychopathology research• Neuroscientific researchNeuroscientific research• Genetic researchGenetic research• Developmental researchDevelopmental research• Every theory covered involved in Every theory covered involved in

ongoing research/debateongoing research/debate

Your turn:Your turn:

Questions?Questions?

Comments?Comments?