Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa: Life Span Development and Personality
Mariflor Custodio
PSY 300
November 3, 2014
Kathy Rupe

Mother Teresa: Life Span Development and Personality
“By blood, I am Albanian. By citizenship, I am Indian. By faith, I am a Catholic nun. As to my calling, I belong to the world. As to my heart, I belong entirely to the Heart of Jesus” (The Holy See, 2014). Mother Teresa is an inspiration for many. This quote shows her true devotion and yet shows how she accepted diversity. When one thinks of Mother Teresa, maybe someone will think she is a soft-spoken, kind-hearted individual who made a difference in the religious community. That is true, however, in the study of Psychology, she is regarded as a transformational leader (Breckler, Olson, & Wiggins, 2012), an unexpected CEO to emulate (Bose & Faust, 2012), a person with a Red personality because of compassion (Hartman, 2012) and a person of impeccable moral personality (Gustavo & Edwards, 2012).
The focus of this paper is to expound on the author 's statements but to know the influences of Mother Teresa 's development and two theories that best describes her personality.
During interviews, Mother Teresa does not want to talk about her early life. She only discloses that she has one sister and brother during interviews and that they were happy (Spink, 2012). However, author noted that Mother Teresa grew up in a well-off family (Spink, 2012). Her life story was more accurate and detailed after her death (Spink, 2012).
Her background was according to the insights of her brother, Lazar (Spink, 2012). Mother Teresa was born on August 26, 1910 in Skopje, Albania. She was the youngest of three siblings. Gonxha Agnes is the baptismal name of Mother Teresa. Nikola Bojaxhiu, Mother Teresa 's father, was a descendant of a wealthy family known for trade (Spink, 2012). He was a council leader and became a public figure (Spink, 2012). He was noted disciplinarian who values education for his kids.
Mother Teresa 's mother, Dranafile Bojaxhiu, "raised her children firmly and lovingly" (The Holy See, 2014). Mother Teresa 's father always wants to remind them of "who they are" when they were children (Spink, 2012). It is contradicting to what Mother Teresa 's life would be.
Mother Teresa 's traditional ideas about women in the home are influenced by the upbringing of her mother, Drana (Spink, 2012). Her mother was her role model (Spink, 2012). Mother Teresa rarely talks about how her mother was busy in the house while her father was working. However, her mother will change their clothes to make sure they are clean to greet their father (Spink, 2012).
Mother Teresa 's father died in an unknown cause that affected them financially. Her mother still raised them well. As what the Holy See said, Drana "greatly influence her daughter 's character and vocation" (The Holy See, 2014).
Mother Teresa 's moved out from their home at 18 and went to Ireland. She has never seen her mother since she left (Spink, 2012). In September 1928, she joined the Sisters of Loreto in Ireland and was called Sister Mary Teresa (The Holy See, 2014). On December 1928, she moved to India and arrived in Calcutta in January 1929 (The Holy See, 2014).
Her independence at a young age and during the 1920s can be attributed to her father 's authoritative style of parenting. The authoritative style encourages independence in children but limits its control (Wallace & Godstein, 1997). Her love to teaching is also influenced by her father 's priorities for education. She spent 20 years teaching and became a school principal (The Holy See, 2014).
Mother Teresa left the convent to answer another calling, "a call within a call" (The Holy See, 2014). Upon seeing the neglect of the poor, Mother Teresa established the Missionaries of Charity (The Holy See, 2014). Mother Teresa went to the poorest of the poor, cared for the sick and dying. According to the Holy See, Mother Teresa started the day with a communion and went out with a rosary in her had to "find and serve Him in "the unwanted, the unloved, the uncared for" (The Holy See, 2014). Her former students joined her thereafter (The Holy See, 2014).
With these selfless acts, Mother Teresa 's personality can be attributed to two differing personality theories: Humanistic theory and Learning theory.
There is no doubt that Humanistic theory best describes the personality of Mother Teresa. Abraham Maslow, a know humanistic theorist, describes self-actualization as the highest form of need after a person can overcome the normal frustrations and attained the basic need in life (Wallace & Godstein, 1997). The theory is optimistic and believes in the goodness of people. Mother Teresa was raised in a well-off family and had an education not all women in her time can have (Spink, 2012). She had all the needs met in her life, and the highest need was serving others selflessly. She lived a "poor life" as part of her calling. Her love for God radiates to her love of people.
Mother Teresa 's parents were her models although indirectly in the case of her father. Her mother was truly her model. She learned to be caring and nurturing because she has seen that from her mother (The Holy See, 2014). Although her father was strict and wanted his kids to act "who they were", he valued education and set limits with the independence that they had (Spink, 2012).
Although the Learning theory is not as strong as the Humanistic theory in terms of describing Mother Teresa 's personality, she definitely looked up to her parents as a role model and she became like them. She valued education and independence that was influenced by her father. Her mother was her model in terms of nurturing and vocation (The Holy See, 2014).
The two theories are different in terms of focus on childhood. Social learning of Bandura has a moderate focus on childhood while there is weak focus in Humanistic theory (Wallace & Godstein, 1997). The theories are also different when it comes to Supportive research (Wallace & Godstein, 1997). Humanistic theory is an ideal theory for me but the supportive research is weak compared to Learning theory. It is noteworthy that it is impossible to do a laboratory experiment to determine our level of need and draw a conclusion applicable to the whole population. Both theories are the same in terms of focus on normal personality, and there is no emphasis on the "unconscious" (Wallace & Godstein, 1997).
Choosing Mother Teresa is influenced by numerous factors and one of them is that I go to her church near me (Blessed Teresa Church) and I wanted to learn her life more and probably emulate her good deeds. She also fascinates me when she is a kind-hearted and soft-spoken woman but has established 610 foundations in 123 countries (The Holy See, 2014). She is known to be a transformational leader because she does not only talk the talk but also walk the walk, like what a popular idiom says. Mother Teresa brought change into how nuns can help the poor. It is not only through prayers and obedience but focusing into helping the slums of Calcutta and solving problems they are facing.
Mother Teresa is a true inspiration. Two years after her death in 1997, the Cause of Canonization was permitted, and she became a saint in December 2002 (The Holy See, 2014). Her positive, caring and selfless personality radiated all over the world. She also showed what true leaders should be.

References
Bose, R., & Faust, L. (2012). Mother Teresa, CEO: Unexpected Principles for Practical Leadership. Retrieved from http://books.google.com?id=PfokXzy9wtsC&dq=mother+teresa+history&source=gbs_navlinks_s
Breckler, S., Olson, J., & Wiggins, E. (2012). Social Psychology Alive. Retrieved from http://books.google.com/books?id=-7doW4li-sYC&pg=PA414&dq=mother+teresa+psychology&hl+en&sa=C&ei+6v5XVPTAIsL8oQSWoYIw&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=mother%20teresa%psychology&f=false
Gustavo, C., & Edwards, C. (2012). Moral Motivation Through the Life Span. Retrieved from http:/books.google.com/books?id=L7pESKu4i5IC&dq=mother+teresa+life+span+development+personality&source=gbs_navlinks_s.
Hartman, T. (2012). The Color Code: A New Way To See Yourself, Your Relationships, And Life. Retrieved from http://books.google.com/books?id=Vj5VO8YK9uAC&dq=mother+teresa+personality&source=gbs_navlinks_s
Spink, K. (2012). Mother Teresa: An Authorized Biography. Retrieved from http://books.google.com/books?id=4WVz59ZgYeoC&dq=mother+teresa+biography&source+gbs_navlinks_s
The Holy See. (2014, November). Mother Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997). Retrieved from http://w2.vatica.va/content/vatican/en.html
Wallace, P. M., & Godstein, J. H. (1997). An Introduction to Psychology (4th ed.). Boston, MA: MCGrawHill.

References: Bose, R., & Faust, L. (2012). Mother Teresa, CEO: Unexpected Principles for Practical Leadership. Retrieved from http://books.google.com?id=PfokXzy9wtsC&dq=mother+teresa+history&source=gbs_navlinks_s Breckler, S., Olson, J., & Wiggins, E. (2012). Social Psychology Alive. Retrieved from http://books.google.com/books?id=-7doW4li-sYC&pg=PA414&dq=mother+teresa+psychology&hl+en&sa=C&ei+6v5XVPTAIsL8oQSWoYIw&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=mother%20teresa%psychology&f=false Gustavo, C., & Edwards, C. (2012). Moral Motivation Through the Life Span. Retrieved from http:/books.google.com/books?id=L7pESKu4i5IC&dq=mother+teresa+life+span+development+personality&source=gbs_navlinks_s. Hartman, T. (2012). The Color Code: A New Way To See Yourself, Your Relationships, And Life. Retrieved from http://books.google.com/books?id=Vj5VO8YK9uAC&dq=mother+teresa+personality&source=gbs_navlinks_s Spink, K. (2012). Mother Teresa: An Authorized Biography. Retrieved from http://books.google.com/books?id=4WVz59ZgYeoC&dq=mother+teresa+biography&source+gbs_navlinks_s The Holy See. (2014, November). Mother Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997). Retrieved from http://w2.vatica.va/content/vatican/en.html Wallace, P. M., & Godstein, J. H. (1997). An Introduction to Psychology (4th ed.). Boston, MA: MCGrawHill.