Theories on Personality Development, Thesis Paper Example

Introduction

Personality is a combination of the distinctive and relatively stable styles of behaviour, thought and emotional response which makeup a person’s ability to adapt to all circumstances that surround a person. There has been a struggle to understand why people act the way they do. Two theories have been introduces to explain mans behaviour and the possibility to change. “These theories are: the biological theory and the humanistic theories” (Greval, 1997, P. 76). They aim at determining the reasons for occurrence of difference in the way people carryout themselves. There are other theories that still try to explain human behaviour such as social cognitive, evolutionary psychology, and psychoanalytic technique.

Biological and Humanistic Approaches to Personality

According to Hans, the biological factors determine a person’s behaviour and personality. He believes that biological factors such as sex influence a person’s behaviour. He believed that certain behaviour can be traced in persons who are closely related. The traits are passed on from one person to another through the genetic makeup. The biological approach emphasizes on the role of hormones and many other chemicals in influencing a person’s behaviour (Belowr, 2000). He looks at a human being as weak and one who cannot make decisions independently. The biological approach tries to emphasize that peoples behaviour can be traced from times of old. This means that human behaviour is continous and people from the same family have a similarity in the way they act as a result of their biological makeup.  It states that the brain structure and specific neurotransmitters have a positive effect and the rest indicate a negative influence on human behaviour. The availability of re-uptake and the difference in neurotransmitters result to a variation in sensitivity to cues of the surrounding environment and these determines external rewards, punishment and availability of resources. However, it is not the biological factors that solely explain the variation in human character and behaviour. There is always interplay of the environment and the biological factors. The constraints and opportunities around a person influence on his or her personality.

Humanistic approach emphasizes on a person’s behaviour in regard to the society, the future and culture. It states that human beings are interdependent of each other and the environment. They make choices of how to act with other people in mind. This is because a human being is a social being. The character of a person is determined by the social group he or she is in.  New behaviours develop in the people involved as the society changes. For a society to ensure human development there is need to look into the existing system and social structures. Old institutions need an adjustment to meet the required organizational efficiency.  This also influences on a persons ability to make informed choices, being creative, responsible and trustworthy. The humanistic approach emphasizes on the worth of human beings and the self respect. It looks at human beings as capable of developing competence in their lives. It’s emphasis is on the potential creative, spontaneity and growth of human beings. It looks at a person as an individual.

Strengths of the Humanistic Theory

The humanistic theory sees a human being as being capable of determining their behaviour.  It states that a human being can make decisions out of a free will. The biological approach on the other side sees a human being as incapable of making decision on their own. The biological approach sees people as weak and hence can only be controlled by external factors. I disagree with this because if it was so, persons from the same family would behave in a similar manner.

The humanistic approach is very important where there is a need for change. This is because it emphasizes on a persons ability to influence his or her decisions. This approach has been utilized in development of professionals. Though it may not completely offer solutions to the problems faced by human beings, it is fundamental to acquiring any change (Wagher & Stert, 1992).  This means that people can be able to stop certain vices in the community such as suicide, murder; crime and war just to mention a few.

The approach however fails in that it offers no solution to persons with severe mental and personality problem. This is due to the emphases on a person’s free will. Incase of young children, the mentally handicapped and the very old persons, the approach is not applicable.  It is impossible to treat mental disability using this approach as the person involved cannot make independent informed choices. The approach also fails in its generalization. Human beings do not act similarly in any situation. Some make decisions that negatively affect them. If Manslow theory is correct, then all beings could make choices that do not have negative outcomes. As one moves towards self actualization, there is a need to identify with the spiritual part of a human being.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

According to Manslow, a human being is born with certain need that must be fulfilled to ensure their survival. He looks in the basic needs and the needs that one needs to meet to climb up the hierarchy ladder. The basic needs which are food, shelter, water, oxygen and sleep should first be met for survival. After one has acquired this, the next is the need for security and safety. He emphasizes on the importance of one level so as to go to the next.  The safety and security leads one to seek for a place to belong. There is need to feel loved and to be associated with others. One then acquires a sense of self worth and respect which leads to attaining the right self esteem. The final stage is self actualization. At this stage one appreciates the importance o human beings and their worth. It is a place where one feels satisfied physically, spiritually and socially (Greval, 1997). The needs of a person determine his or her behaviour. If a certain need is not meet, a person may exhibit a low self esteem and hence not get to self actualization. Few people have attained the five stage due to up and downs they face in life.

My Personality

My personality is influenced by the humanistic theories rather than the biological theories. My behaviour has been influenced by my ability to make independent choices. This has been in regard to the society around me. The self esteem I have acquired is as a result of fulfilled needs and the acceptance by people such as my family. My behaviour has thus change with my mental development and improved ability to make sound decisions.  The character traits that I have similar to those of close members of my family are as a result of socializing with them. As I grow and gain more education, there are certain character traits that have changed. This is because education interferes with those believes that I have acquired from the society around me. Reasoning becomes an individual task while seeking advice from those around me. I would thus conclude that though both theories apply in explaining human behaviour, the humanistic approach has a greater impact.

References

Belowr, M. (2000). Social change and character development’ Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press.

Greval, C. (1997).Biological theories and Personality Assessment. New York: Twayne Publishers.

Osbrebone, D. (1992). Theories on personality development: Humanistic approaches Glasgow, Scotland: Addison-Public Administration.

Wagher, T. & Stert, W. (1992). Change personal characteristics. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press.