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Dispositional theories are some of the earliest, most traditional theories formed to explain personality and interpersonal relationships. Personality, according to these theories, is comprised of temperaments or particular dispositions.
First proposed by Hippocrate, in the form of his Humoral theory, Hippocrate's theory proposes that the body consists of four basis humors, otherwise called, fluids that drive the human personality (and, in turn, interpersonal connections). Proportion of these fluids determines the strength or intensity of the particular disposition within that individual. The four dispositions are: blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile.
Blood resembles sanguine. Excess of blood in the person causes him or her to be sanguine, to be optimistic and hopeful. Phlegm denotes a phlegmatic, i.e., calm personality. Black bile prompts a melancholic, namely depressed personality, whilst yellow bile results in a choleric, or irritable aggressive individual and consequently, in conflictual interpersonal demeanor.
Modern dispositional theories articulate relationship of personality and physique.
According to Sheldon (1950), for instance, there are three types of physique and each are related to corresponding personality...
The three types are: endomorphic, mesomorphic, and ectomorphic. Endomorphic relates to the soft, round (or plump) physique with corresponding characteristics consisting of joviality, benevolence, and a relaxed, sociable personality. Mesomorphic relates to a muscular physique that connotes assertion and energy. Finally, ectomorphic indicates the thin, tall, fragile person who is, oftentimes, introverted, restrained, anxious, and, occasionally, artistic. These characteristics, in turn, prompt interaction patterns.
Some of other modern dispositional theories are Allport's Psychology of the Individual and Eysenck, McCrae, and Costa's Trait and Factor theory. Allport believed that all people possessed unique personality traits. All theories were scientifically tested and observed buy questionnaire, test, and observation. Allport studied a serious of letters from a relationship in which he focused on the personality traits of the two individuals. Allport categorized the different trait into three categories one called cardinal traits that a few people possess and is a dominant trait a person's entire life revolves around it, second one called central trait characterizes a person's daily interactions, and the third is called secondary trait…
References
Eastman, R. (n.d.) The Dispositional Strategy. Stephen Austin State University.
Major Themes & Underlying Assumptions of the Dispositional Approach to Personality http://www.wilderdom.com/personality/L6-0MajorThemesUnderlyingAssumptionsDispositionalPersonality.html
Sandberg, D. Dispositional Approach: Assessment, Personality Change, & Research. California State University - Hayward.
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