Theories of Personality, Essay Example

Theories of personality represent different perspectives in regards to how to observe people, their individual traits, as well as their behaviors. One of the most influential theories that is widely considered today is that of Meyer Friedman, who established the Type A and Type B theory, thereby indicating that individuals fall into one of two categories. This personality theory is most complementary to how human beings behave and respond to human experiences and different characteristics. This process is important and relevant because it conveys a variety of perspectives that are essential to the discovery of why humans behave and respond to situations in different ways. However, it appears that each person is born with a type, which is not easily changed. Therefore, individuals must work to develop behaviors that will enable them to strike a balance between the two types more effectively.

A less effective approach to personality theory is that of Sigmund Freud, which is based upon different perspectives of egoism and how to achieve maximum pleasure and self-gratification. Although this theory represents different characteristics of the human personality, it does not necessarily convey the true picture of the human psyche and why people behave in certain ways. Therefore, it is believed that this theory is not applicable to all persons under all circumstances. Not all people strive for self-gratification in every situation; rather, they may seek alternatives that will enable them to support others and to become more well-rounded individuals. The human personality is not exclusively about ego and pleasure, as other characteristics should also be considered that play an important role in shaping how human beings respond to the experiences in their lives.