Lifespan Development and Personality - Essay Example

? Life Span Development and Personality Here s Here Lifespan Development and Personality The debate of nature vs. nurture has been a popular topic in the study of psychology for virtually as long as the field has existed, and it continues to drawn interest in the development and application of several psychological concepts, including personality development. Dr. Phil McGraw is a popular media personality (and a doctor of psychology) who is known for his direct manner of giving advice which may be interpreted as being “straight-talk”, though it can also come off as theatrical (which is appropriate since Dr. Phil is an entertainer and is not currently a practicing psychologist). We will discuss the potential role of heredity and the environment in the development of Dr. Phil’s colorful personality, as well as interpretations of these factors as viewed through two unique theories of personality. Psychological Development Phil McGraw’s psychological development can be examined in many ways. It is reasonable to expect that a portion of Dr. Phil’s psychological development (cognitive, emotional, and otherwise) is the result of genetics and other biological factors. His parents were successful, and his father became a psychologist, suggesting that his interests and intellect may be influenced by heredity. His large frame may also be partially due to genetics, directly influencing his self-view in combination with his personal traits and contributing to the success he experienced as a collegiate athlete and scholar, respectively (Dempling & Guiterrez, 2004). It is also likely that some aspects of Dr. Phil’s personal characteristics are the direct result of genetic materials passed on through heredity (Zuckerman, 1991). The role of the environment cannot be understated when discussing psychological development. Phil McGraw was the third of four children, and it is likely that his parents were well informed of developmental threats to unborn children (as was understood at the time) and thus may have avoided potentially negative environmental influences on his psychological growth during the sensitive prenatal stages of physical neurological development (such as alcohol and poor diet). Dr. Phil’s many accomplishments may have also afforded him a consistently positive environment that is conducive to the boastful, powerful, and positive psychological characteristics that he often displays on camera. Family and Social Support Among the most important environmental influences in the development of psychological traits may be a person’s relationships and the resulting support systems found in their lives. Phil McGraw appears to have lived in a stable and secure family, although information is scarce regarding personal life during his younger years. The confidence and positivity he exudes makes the possibility of a neglectful or distressing childhood minute. It is likely that Dr. Phil had strong family and social support systems throughout his life, both resulting in and being the result of his success and corresponding personality traits. His potential support networks ranged from family, to school colleagues, and all the systems made available to an American college football star. Personality Theories Sigmund Freud is often credited as being the most prominent founding figure in the study of personality, though many of his contributions may have been overshadowed by excessively suggestive imagery. Irrespective of the controversy, it is difficult to argue against Freud’s role in pioneering the study of personality. The Austrian physician proposed that a person’s ultimate personality is the result of both interplay between the innate structures of the mind (id, ego, superego) as well as the environmental impact of early developmental interactions. The psychodynamic approach to personality, while not perfect, immediately identified the importance of both nature and nurture in the development of adult personalities. In reference to Dr. Phil, Freud’s psychodynamic theory would focus on the apparently balanced interplay of id, ego, and superego that may allow for McGraw’s stable personality characteristics. His sense of authority may reflect a strong influence of the superego in the expression of personality through the ego and the suppression of the socially irresponsible, insatiable id. Additionally, Freud’s theories of developmental stages would focus almost exclusively on the childhood and adolescent experiences of Dr. Phil, and it may be suggested that he successfully navigated the various stages without becoming fixated, allowing his psyche to retain the maximum amount of psychic energy and thus resulting in the various aspects of his personality that have led to a successful life. Several decades after the development of Freud’s theories, a developing perspective known as social-cognitive theory offered an alternate approach to the study of personality. Social-cognitive theory was popularized by Albert Bandura and highlights the importance of observations and interactions in the individual’s development of personality. A refined interpretation of this approach identifies personality as a result of learning (Bandura, 1989), and most importantly focuses on the cognitive relationship that an individual forms with their environment at the time that they observe some stimulus (in most cases another person, but it may vary widely). Several theories have been developed through the social-cognitive approach, including attribution style, locus of control, and self-efficacy. Using social-cognitive theory, Dr. Phil McGraw’s powerful personality may be interpreted as being the result of his personal experiences and cognitions. Dr. Phil’s father became a psychologist when Phil was a child, and his personal experience of his father’s accomplishments may have aided in developing some aspects of his personality, including a drive to achieve. Other experiences such as his academic accomplishments and athletic successes, as well as the resulting social interactions, may all be responsible for the continuing development and maintenance of Dr. Phil’s personality. To relate this concept to other theories found within the social-cognitive approach, Phil McGraw would appear to have a consistently internal locus of control with high self-efficacy as a result of, and contributing to, his personality traits. Conclusion Dr. Phil McGraw has a strong personality with a history of success in academics, athletics, and entertainment. His family and social relationships have likely contributed in large to the development of his personality. Both nature and nurture can be proposed to have an influence on the development of Dr. Phil’s personality, and I believe that the social-cognitive theory provides the best framework with which to explore these influences. This approach allows for the consideration of a lifetime of psychological development (as opposed to the early-years only approach of Freud) while considering the very crucial factor of individual differences in cognition that can frame the interpretation of personal experiences. By taking the personal experience of Dr. Phil into account, we can more fully examine the development of his personality than by using a more restrictive approach such as that offered by Freud. References Bandura, A. (1989). Human agency in social cognitive theory. American Psychologist, 44, 1175- 1184. Dembling, S., & Gutierrez, L. (2004). The making of Dr. Phil: The straight talking true story of everyone’s favorite therapist. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley and Sons. Zuckerman, M. (1991). Psychobiology of personality. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Read More