PSY 222 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Histology, Social Cognition, Seeed
Document Summary
Personality psychology is unique in that it focuses on individuality. Unlike modern science, personality psychology still upholds the ideas of renaissance humanism. American psychology used to focus more on miniscule details of a person (i. e. habits, reflexes, etc. Personality focused on studying the entire person (e. g. human motivation) American psychology was nomothetic (aiming to discover and test general principles or laws of behaviour) whereas personality psychology aimed to discover the differences and similarities between people. Idiographic: ignore general laws to discern the specific and individual patterning of particular lives. Gordon allport articulated this holistic approach to studying personality. Three periods of modern personality psychology: 1930-1950. Many theories introduced that are still influential today: 1950-1970. Psychology departments grew tremendously, creating professions in areas relating to personality. Increased funding to the research laboratories and field settings. Grew away from grand theories and focused on personality measurement. Many critiques on the study of personality arose. Trait versus situation debate: 1970-present day.
