Theorists of Personality

Essay # 56718

Psychology > Behaviorism
Psychology > Freud
Psychology > Theory

This essay outlines the prominent theories on personality and describes the theorists that created them.

2,892 words () | 8 sources | APA | 2005 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that numerous theories on personality exist, and all serve a purpose to help understand the complexities of personality. Social workers, psychiatrists, therapists, psychologists, and many other professionals utilize the theories of personality to help understand their clients. This research outlines the predominant theories that exist and give an understanding of personality. While no one theory can be proven or disproved, thus giving it the title theory, all theories on personality have qualities that are similar to one another. The paper discusses the most predominant theories, which include the psychoanalytic perspective, the humanistic perspective, the trait perspective, and the social-cognitive perspective.

From the Paper:

"Sigmund Freud laid the foundation of the psychoanalytic theory of personality. "Freud was born in Freiberg (now Pr?bor, Czech Republic), on May 6, 1856, and educated at Vienna University. When he was three years old his family, fleeing from the anti-Semitic riots then raging in Freiberg, moved to Leipzig. Shortly thereafter, the family settled in Vienna, where Freud remained for most of his life" (Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 2002). Freud began to pursue his medical degree which led him to become very curious about neurological activities. Through his studies he began to believe that the cause of many behaviors was psychological as opposed to physiological. Thus, he began the creation of his psychoanalytic theory which would become well-known and respected by many."