Personal Assessment Theories

There are four theories that on personality that we are learning about this week and they are the Psychodynamic Theory, the Humanistic Theory, the Trait Theory, and the Social Learning Theory. Each of these theories have a area of the psyche that it analyses and gets to the root of where the personality comes from. The first theory that I am going to talk about is the Psychodynamic Theory. The psychodynamic theory uses the unconscious thoughts, feelings, motives, and conflicts. Early childhood problems that have been repressed deep inside the mind is also what is being used to help with the determining of the personality. There are methods that are used to assess the personality and some of these methods are the use of projective tests and personal interviews. I think that these methods are useful but in order for the method to be assessed correctly the subject has to be honest with him or herself as well as being honest with the interviewer. I personally have had some experience with this method when I was seeking help with my depression and some of the problems that I had to deal with in my life as a child and now as an adult.

The second theory that I am going to talk about is the Humanistic Theory. The humanistic theory uses a drive forward toward personal growth and higher levels of functioning. Some of the methods that are used in assessing the personality are objective tests and personal interviews. The next theory that I am going to talk about is the Trait Theory. The trait theory uses relative permanent dispositions within the individual that cause the person to think, feel, and act in a characteristic way. This theory uses objective testing to assess the personality. The last and final theory that I will be talking about is the Social Learning Theory. This theory is determined by the past reinforcement and punishment as well as by observing what happens to other people. The method that is used to assess the personality is by interviewing, observations,...