Personality Theories and Therapeutic Applications Explained

Introduction: Personality's Complexity and Theoretical Diversity

Personality is very complex. Individuals can differ considerably from one another because of the wide variety of traits possible. In addition, a person can act a certain way in one situation and completely differently in another, or have internal processes that manifest through very different external actions and behaviors. Because of this diversity and complexity, psychologists have developed a number of theories to explain personality phenomena and to suggest yet unknown possibilities. This report, based on Perspectives on Personality by Charles Carver, discusses these theories and how they can be applied for behavioral change through therapy.

Dispositional Perspectives: Traits, Types, Needs, and Motives

Two theories fall under the dispositional perspectives category, which emphasizes that people display consistency or continuity in their actions, thoughts, and feelings: the "trait and type" theory and the "needs and motives" theory. The first concludes that people can be divided into different types or categories. Nomothetic personality traits are those relevant to every person, while ideographic ones are unique to certain individuals. Professionals who specialize in dispositional perspectives use self-report inventories as a means of personal assessment, helping people better understand their unique qualities as well as their similarities and differences with others.

Although the trait approach is somewhat pessimistic regarding the ability to change one's personality and resulting behavior, a person who better understands his or her strengths and weaknesses can be helped through therapy to learn how to avoid entering situations where relevant stressors are likely to occur. Keeping away from or reducing involvement with such environments—and finding situations and jobs that fit one's personality—can also provide positive support.

The basic idea of the needs and motives theory is that human behavior is best understood as a reflection of needs. A need is an internal state that is less than satisfactory—a lack of something necessary for well-being. Primary needs are based on a person's biological nature: air, food, water, and so on. Secondary, or psychogenic, needs are either derived from biological needs or inherent in a person's psychological makeup.

Many theorists believe that needs operate through motives, which take a basic need and move it closer to an ultimate action or behavior. Therapists use the motivational dispositional theory to help people work on personality problems. This theory is especially useful for determining links between a specific need or motive and the resulting behavior. It has been suggested, for example, that the need for power can play a part in alcohol abuse. For treatment purposes, people may reduce or eliminate substance abuse by recognizing what they are doing and why, and then finding other ways to fulfill their power needs.