Why might the cognitive-affective processing system provide a more thorough understanding of an individual's personality than older models (e.g., Freud's theory of personality)? Although complex in its own way, Freud’s theory of personality fails to account for the infinite array of experiences and environmental stimuli—not to mention genetics and biology. Other models of psychology can also focus too much on one dimension of the human experience, such as only behavior. The benefit of the cognitive-affective processing system model is that it takes into account numerous issues including cognitive processing, cognitive schemas, emotional responses, coping mechanisms, and the seemingly infinite number of other variables that make up the human personality and human behavior.

The cognitive-affective processing system (CAPS) approach is not just an abstract theory, but one that can also be applied to different psychological issues. For example, Ayduk & Gyrak (2008) apply CAPS to rejection sensitivity. The CAPS model shows how a person learns adaptive behaviors to avoid rejection, but that performing those avoidant behaviors also leads to the inability to achieve goals. Inability to achieve goals then leads to frustration, anger, and anxiety, creating what is essentially a vicious cycle. Without needing to address childhood experiences or the subconscious mind, the CAPS...

Using the CAPS model, a person can identify the irrational or faulty beliefs motiving their dysfunctional patterns, and learn to self-regulate in a way that is more conducive to reaching personal goals. Therefore, the CAPS system does not reduce a person to personality types and offers room for focused, conscientious, and empowering change.
References

Ayduk, O. & Gyurak, A. (2008). Applying the cognitive-affective processing systems approach to conceptualizing rejection sensitivity. Soc Personal Psychol Compass. 2008 Sep 1; 2(5): 2016–2033

Cognitive theorists maintain that our approach to behavioral change rests solely in the way we think about the behavior. Explain the gap that exists between cognitive and behavioral psychology.

Whereas behavioral scientists focus only on the outward behavior and not on thoughts and feelings, cognitive theorists focus mainly on the underlying thoughts. Cognitive theorists conceptualize about the thoughts that undergird or cause behaviors, as well as the thoughts people have about their behaviors. For example, a cognitive theorist would show how negative self-concept is causing someone to avoid taking risks, and also how that person has rationalized their risk-avoidance behaviors. A behavioral psychologist would spend more time focusing…