Personality Paper
Personality Paper
Jo Hanousek
University of Phoenix
Karen Wilson
Personality Paper Just as no two people are alike, no two personalities are alike. Each person’s personality is unique to the individual to whom it belongs. A person may share the same traits as others, such as family members, and while there may be similarities in traits, each individual will have different patterns which will help to make up a different personality (Feist & Feist, 2006). A personality is made up of different characteristics which help to define a person and make them an individual. Besides traits and characteristics, a personality can be made up of a person’s thoughts, feelings, actions, and behavior.
Definition of Theory A theory can be described as “A set of assumptions.” (Feist & Feist, 2006, p. 4) Since theories are built on assumptions rather than actual proven facts they are each open to the interpretation of the individual. A theory takes its shape and is a refection of the author showing his or her frame of reference and interpretation to the experience or theory (Feist & Feist, 2006). The more theories that develop the more approaches and interpretations that develops in order to see in contrast to each theory. A theorist needs to be able to have research to support their findings and be able to explain the data in which they have. For a theory to be useful it needs to generate research. If a theory is useful, others are interested and it creates attention where more research and data is formed. A theory must be falsifiable where it can either be confirmed or disconfirmed. A useful theory should organize data in order for clear directions to be followed. A useful theory also guides action in order for it to be able to find structure. A theory must be internally consistent with itself to be useful and once these steps have been met it becomes parsimonious. Different theorists have their own view point and their own research as to what they consider to
Jo Hanousek
University of Phoenix
Karen Wilson
Personality Paper Just as no two people are alike, no two personalities are alike. Each person’s personality is unique to the individual to whom it belongs. A person may share the same traits as others, such as family members, and while there may be similarities in traits, each individual will have different patterns which will help to make up a different personality (Feist & Feist, 2006). A personality is made up of different characteristics which help to define a person and make them an individual. Besides traits and characteristics, a personality can be made up of a person’s thoughts, feelings, actions, and behavior.
Definition of Theory A theory can be described as “A set of assumptions.” (Feist & Feist, 2006, p. 4) Since theories are built on assumptions rather than actual proven facts they are each open to the interpretation of the individual. A theory takes its shape and is a refection of the author showing his or her frame of reference and interpretation to the experience or theory (Feist & Feist, 2006). The more theories that develop the more approaches and interpretations that develops in order to see in contrast to each theory. A theorist needs to be able to have research to support their findings and be able to explain the data in which they have. For a theory to be useful it needs to generate research. If a theory is useful, others are interested and it creates attention where more research and data is formed. A theory must be falsifiable where it can either be confirmed or disconfirmed. A useful theory should organize data in order for clear directions to be followed. A useful theory also guides action in order for it to be able to find structure. A theory must be internally consistent with itself to be useful and once these steps have been met it becomes parsimonious. Different theorists have their own view point and their own research as to what they consider to
References: Feist, J.& Feist,G. (2006). Theories of Personality. (6th ed.). New York: McGraw Hill. Pervin, L. & Oliver, J. (1990) Handbook of personality: theory and research. (2nd ed.) Stricker, G., Widiger, T., Weiner, I. (2003) Handbook of psychology. V8. Clinical Psychology.