What is Personality Theory? Learn About 3 Approaches in Personality Theory in the Following Article

Personality theory is a set of concepts, principles, and perspectives used to explain and understand the nature, behavior patterns, and characteristics of individuals. This theory attempts to explain how a person’s personality is formed, develops, and influences their interactions with the environment and others.

The main goal of personality theory is to provide a deeper understanding of various aspects that shape human personality, including how individuals react to certain situations, why they have certain preferences, values, and habits, and how these personalities affect daily life and social interactions.

Some well-known personality theories include Psychoanalysis, Humanistic, Behavioral, Cognitive, and Personality Types. Each of these theories has a different approach to explaining specific aspects of human personality, including the role of the unconscious, basic needs, environmental influences, and mental structures. Through understanding personality theory, we can gain better insights into the complexities of individuals and their interactions with the world around them.

Psychoanalysis, Humanistic, and Behavioral are three main approaches in personality theory that provide different understandings of the nature and development of individual personalities. In this article, we will discuss each approach and the contributions of its main figures, namely Sigmund Freud in psychoanalysis, Abraham Maslow in Humanistic, and J.B. Watson in Behavioral.

1. Psychoanalysis according to Sigmund Freud
   Psychoanalysis is an approach developed by Sigmund Freud, an Austrian psychologist in the early 20th century. According to Freud, personality is formed by the complex interaction between three main structures: the id, ego, and superego. The id represents basic instincts and primitive needs, the ego acts as a mediator between the id, ego, and external reality, while the superego reflects internalized norms and moral values.
2. Humanistic according to Abraham Maslow
   The Humanistic approach emphasizes human potential to achieve self-actualization and personal growth. One of its main figures is Abraham Maslow, who developed the Hierarchy of Needs Theory. According to Maslow, individuals have a series of hierarchical needs, ranging from physical and safety needs to self-actualization needs. Humanism highlights the importance of subjective experience, freedom, and individual responsibility in the development of their personality.
3. Behavioral according to J.B. Watson
   The Behavioral approach emphasizes the importance of the external environment in shaping individual behavior and personality. J.B. Watson, one of the founders of the Behavioral school, proposed that human behavior can be understood and modified through observation and experimentation. This approach rejects complex and unseen personality concepts, focusing instead on observable and measurable behavior.

Although Psychoanalysis, Humanistic, and Behavioral have different approaches to understanding personality, they all provide valuable contributions to the development of psychological theories. Psychoanalysis highlights the role of the unconscious and past experiences in shaping personality, Humanistic emphasizes human potential for growth and self-actualization, while Behavioral emphasizes the influence of the external environment in shaping individual behavior. By understanding these three approaches, we can gain deeper insights into the complex nature of human personality.