Theories of Individual Personality and Behavior - Essay Example

Human Development Behaviorism Behaviorists believed that psychology should only be concerned with the study of behavior and not feeling and thinking (Watson 4). The works of Ivan Pavlov forms the basis of behaviorism with stimulus-response being the focal point. Behaviorist believes that behaviorism is a perfect theory because it was tested in the laboratory. Skinner holds the view that people respond to the environment. He pioneered classical conditioning theory, which holds the idea that people behave the way they do because this kind of behavior has had particular consequences in the past. Pavlov’s research indicated that behaviors could be learned via conditioned associations. The learning process was argued to have grounds on which environmental stimulus and naturally occurring stimulus could be associated (Watson 6). Therefore, this means that the focus of behaviorism is purely on the idea that human behavior is acquired as a result of interaction with the environment (Berger 2005). In regard to contribution of behaviorism to my development, it is apparent that behaviorism played a key part in dictating my current personality. Having been brought up in rural areas, most of the behaviors of the rural people were vested on me because I always interacted with them. The rural school setting is different from urban school setting. We used to travel for long distances to school and believed that schooling is a difficult task that one has to strive to achieve. Nevertheless, this was instrumental to me because I have always worked hard to achieve my desires. This is contrary to urban people who are brought up in urban settings. They have little struggles because the life in the urban is a bit comfortable than the life in the rural settings. This is equally the same case to children brought up in wealthy families and those that are brought up in rural settings. The personality of these two groups of people is wide owing to the lifestyle that they are exposed to. It is argued that people brought up in areas where crime is prevalent tend to adapt to criminal behaviors. Most people who engage in crime are either due to the influence of drugs or as a result of poverty. Since such people have little they can do to change their lives, they resort to crime and drugs as a way of either reducing stress or use crime as a way of earning a living. Hence, it is true to stipulate that the environment that such people find themselves in influences their character so that they can fit in it. Cognitive Theory of cognitive development was pioneered by Jean Piaget who believed that as human develop, they undergo progressive stages that make them adapt to the environment (Baars 13). The theory is derived from the study of children, whereby Piaget determined that younger children were not less intelligent, but rather lacked adaptation to the environment. Nevertheless, the theory is based on the concept of adaptation and organisation. Adaptation is associated with survival needs whereby, in order to survive in the environment, people must adapt to it (Baars 15). Conversely, organisation articulates on developing individuals’ the capability to accommodate new adaptations. Although the theory is different from behaviorism, the line of argument is almost the same. In light of the contribution of the theory in my development, cognitive theory highly contributed to my personality in different ways. During various developmental stages, I learned a lot of things as I grew up. This is in line with what Piaget believed to be adaptation to the environment to enhance the already existing intelligent. As I grew up, I learned that there are some several things that individuals need to do to get things done or accomplished. For instance, when I was 8 years old, I learned that a combination of several factors leads to success in life. For example, I learned that although handwork is indispensable to pass exams, being smart equally important and cannot be ignored. Psychoanalytic theory The theory originated from the works of Sigmund Freud. Through his clinical work especially with patients suffering from mental illnesses, he comprehended that childhood experiences as well as undesired desires influenced behavior (Freud and Holt 2). According to him, conflicts that occur to individuals in every stage of development can have a lifelong control in people’s personality and behavior. Contribution of this theory in my development is also indispensable because it outlines major developments in my early days and which are still intact to me today. My mother narrates that when I was three years old, I used to laugh most of the time. However, although this behavior vanished with time, I can confess that this behavior reemerged as I approached 20 years. I love laughing as it makes me feel good. This is similar to what happened when I was young. Research study The purpose of the study is to establish if the three theories outline contribute to human development. The research used interview as a data collection tool to gather information about the influence of psychoanalytic, cognitive and behaviorism theories. Three participants were selected to take part to the study. They were required to comment on the influence of the three theories on their personality. The first respondent argued that although not all the theories can be argued to highly contribute to personality development, it is apparent that they contribute to some extent given that there are other factors that shape ones behavior. For instance, the participant argued that although behaviorism is considered to be the most influential, personal conscious also contribute to what individuals are adapted to. He gave an example of greedy people whom when they hear about money become exited about means of being wealthy. He argued that the force that pulls such people in engaging in different dubious means of getting money is inbuilt and that not everybody is greedy. In regard to psychoanalytic theory, the participant argued that his personality has not been influence by childhood behavior in any way and that there is no single behavior that has been manifested in his adulthood. However, in regard to contribution of cognitive theory to his personality, he argued that the theory cannot be authenticated because children have to be taught on different ways of coping with life. He wondered why this was the case if people are born intelligent. The second participant argued that behaviorism has highly contributed to her personality. She believes that people tend to change their characters depending on the environment they live in. She argued that the reason why poor people change when they become rich and live with rich people is because they have to interact with them and do what they do in order to adapt to their lifestyle. She, however, refuted that cognitive and psychoanalytic theories have anything to do with the behavior and personality of individuals. Just like the first participant, she believes that apart from the stipulation of the three theories, there are several other factors that highly determine the personality and behavior of individuals. Conclusion and recommendations With many deliberations on the contribution of the three theories to individual personality and behavior, it is apparent that each theory plays a distinct role in shaping the life of people. Nevertheless, there has been argument that no single theory can be used alone in explaining the human development without recognising the other theories. In this regard, it is indispensable for researchers and theorists to dig deeper into which theory highly contributes to the human development. Additionally, when assessing individual personality and behavior, it is critical to consider other factors such as genetic factors as well as mental factors in ascertaining the cause of the behavior. Works cited: Baars, Bernard. A cognitive theory of consciousness. Cambridge [u.a.]: Cambridge Univ. Press, 1995. Print. Watson, John. Behaviorism. New York: Transaction Publishers, 2009. Print. Freud, Sigmund and Holt, Eobert. Freud reappraised: a fresh look at psychoanalytic theory. New York: Guilford Press, 1989. Print. Berger, Kathleen. Invitation to the life span. New York: Worth, 2010. Print. Read More