This argument against personality traits is very interesting and I believe that mischel has some good ideas, as to why personality traits should not be used to predict people's actions. For one reason, traits tend to label people, which groups people together unfairly and this could lead to discrimination. If someone is said to have obsessive-compulsive disorder, people might think that they have a mental problem or think that the person is crazy. Why should someone be labeled just for having strange habits or a strange way of living? Mischel's argument against personality trait psychology is a very strong one and is supported by other psychologists. Mischel has some very interesting ideas on why we should not use personality traits to judge peoples behavior. Some of those ideas are that personality traits tend to label and stereotype people, and even discriminate against them. Mischel also says that personality traits exist only in the observer's mind. So personality traits might be better used to study the way people think about other people, instead of the way people behave.
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
To Freud, the mind was a mechanistic energy system that derived mental energy from the physical functioning of the body and constantly attempted to moderate this physical effort or tension by restoring it to a quiet steady (quiescent) state. This energy is not evenly distributed to all human purpose or functioning, and if blocked from expression will manifest itself as anxiety, which through cathartic release, prescribes a least resistant path of action. Because anxiety is painful, the mind attempts to cope with this state through a range of defence mechanisms that alter reality and supress feelings that stimulate this state. The mind and its energies (derived from drives or…
- 808 Words
- 4 Pages
Powerful Essays -
Do you think you have what it takes to be successful in life? According to Walter Mischel, kids who have willpower will have a higher rate of being successful in life. To be able to prove his theory, Mischel came up with an experiment call “The Marshmallow Experiment”. Due to his Mischel’s experiment, scientists have come to the conclusion that kids, or adults, who have willpower will be more likely to be more successful in life because they will be more patient and self-control than those who do not possess the two abilities. Mischel believe the more patient can also lead to kids being able to pay more attention in class. By doing the marshmallow experiment, not only will it show if the kids have any willpower, but can also show their personality and the environment at home.…
- 577 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Why are there considered no infallible indicators of personality, and why is it important to scientifically research personality?…
- 429 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Maslow came up with a theory that motivates people. The hierarchy of needs is what he called it, and he analyzed how the needs influence people in general. The needs are self-actualization motives, esteem needs, belongingness and love needs, safety needs, and physiological needs. Each need serves its own purpose.…
- 697 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
The trait theory approach lends to the suggestion that each individual’s personality is made up of broad dispositions. Our personality traits are relatively consistent over time and across situations, our traits are made up or our; thoughts, emotions and behaviors. I believe that all types of personalities stem from one basic group of characteristics and individual personalities are just selections of a few of those…
- 1374 Words
- 6 Pages
Powerful Essays -
“When discussing the theories on personalities you could name a view that are researched. Biological Theories are the approach of genetics and personality traits. Behavioral Theories suggest that personality is a result of interaction between the individual and the environment. These theorist reject theories that internal thoughts and feeling into account. Psychodynamic Theories are influenced by Freud, focuses on the childhood experience and the unconscious mind in personality. Humanist Theories emphasizes on the importance of free will and individual experience in the development of personalities. Trait Theories is one of the largest in personality theories. It basically a relative characteristic that causes a person to act the way they do (abouteducation).”…
- 664 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Sigmund Freud was born in Freiberg, Moravia in 1856. He received his medical degree in 1881. Around 1886 Freud set up his own private practice in the treatment of psychological disorders. In 1908 Freud’s became recognized after the very first International Psychoanalytical Congress. After a life of many different important contributions to psychology, sadly he passed away of cancer in England in 1939. Sigmund Freud played a huge role in psychology which helps us in modern days. He was the founder of psychoanalysis and the psychodynamic approach to psychology. He figured that the human mind has three phases to it such as; the id, the ego, and the superego. Another…
- 1065 Words
- 5 Pages
Powerful Essays -
Francis, D., & Kaufer, D. (2011). Beyond nature vs. nurture. The Scientist, 25(10), 94. Retrieved…
- 2494 Words
- 7 Pages
Best Essays -
Personality can be defined as ‘a person’s unique pattern of traits’ (Guilford 1959). They are the individual differences that…
- 1811 Words
- 8 Pages
Powerful Essays -
Personality can be defined as “the complex of all the attributes-behavioral, temperamental, emotional and mental-that characterizes a unique individual.” (Princeton University, n.d.) Personality has been studied and explained for a long time and is linked directly to Maslow’s humanistic and biological theories. This paper seeks to describe the biological factors that influence the formation of personality. It will also examine the basic aspects of humanistic theory that are incompatible with biological explanations of personality.…
- 1254 Words
- 6 Pages
Better Essays -
Eysenck’s (1953) Trait theory adopts a nomothetic approach that classifies personality dimensions to measure and describe the individual differences of personality. It’s based on the assumption that individuals can be characterised by certain personal attributes or traits that in turn influence behaviour. Descriptions of traits have their foundation in everyday language used to describe human behaviour; trait theory draws on the histrionic usage of traits in vocabulary such as ancient Greek typology. This usage is used to support evidence of, ‘constitutional and biological factors that are indicated through personality traits’ (Butt, 2004). Eysenck used factor analysis to establish cluster traits using questionnaires (Eysenck’s Personality Inventory) proposing that two high order factors could account for the clustering profile…
- 2045 Words
- 7 Pages
Powerful Essays -
Personality psychology is the focus of some of the best known psychology theories by a number of famous thinkers including Sigmund Freud. Biological approaches suggest that genetics are responsible for personality. Research on heritability suggests that there is a link between genetics and personality traits.…
- 1048 Words
- 5 Pages
Better Essays -
The science of personality focuses on the field of personality psychology, also known as personology. It is the study of the person, that is, the whole human individual. The main part of personality psychology addresses the broader issue of “what is it to be a person”. There are two classes of research methods: quantitative and qualitative. Quantitative methods involve measurements and qualitative methods do not. Measurement is very important to science because scientists want to get beyond the purely subjective and to the more objective. Creating personality tests to measure personality traits is a common activity of personality psychologists (webspace.ship.edu).…
- 746 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
I really thought that when I was reviewing the list of behavioral theories that was given to us that I would surely end up with three different ones. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Upon checking off the three things and matching the numbers to my choices, I discovered that everything I chose fell underneath the Trait Theory of Psychology, and after doing a little research on it, it is definitely the most accurate depiction of my thoughts when it comes to analyzing other people’s behavior. Traits are distinguishing features of a person’s personality, and there are no two people in this world with absolutely identical traits. Each person treats external events differently, behaves in various situations in a certain way, and appears to others in a particular way.…
- 691 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
In order to understand the concept of personality theories, one must submerge themselves into research. The study of personality may sound simple, but it is very broad and it is supported by many different theoretical perspectives. Nevertheless, one can focus on one of the theories developed by influential individuals in the field of psychology to try to understand personality with their theoretical perspective. Erik Erikson was a very significant individual in the field of psychology who created his own theory of human development. He explained the development of individuals with his psychosocial theory of development, which developed into also explaining individuals personalities.…
- 891 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays