Innate Good in Relation to Personality Theories - Essay Example

Innate Good in Relation to Personality Theories Introduction Innate good is believing an individual is born good and adapt to experiences that influence their growth and behavior. Miller (2004) defines it as the human nature often observed in a positive limelight. Good deeds characterize the innate behavior. The human values associated with good deeds such as assistance, helping others, supporting the community, volunteering and empathy demonstrate this belief. Many previous psychological studies have attempted to discuss the human nature and related behaviors. The question whether people are born good, bad or either and the influence of environment on good deeds has been a fundamental topic in every discussion. Most of the personality theories discussed by psychologist support the belief of innate goodness. This paper aims to assess the innate good in relation to Trait, Humanistic, Behavioral and Biological theories. Trait theories In trait theories, many explanations put forward explain personality regarding traits. Personality is a unique combination of qualities possessed by an individual. Ryckman (2013) state that a trait is characteristic that is stable and manifested in human behavior. Five factors that define personality includes openness (willingness to try new experience), Conscientiousness or motivation, Extraversion (social and proactive character), Agreeableness (easygoing personality) and neuroticism that define person emotions stability. Individuals high in Conscientiousness are likely to be fit and agree on many issues in the society. Being an agreeable prosocial individual defines innate good when the trait is not inherited. Funder (2013) explains personality during human development and the environmental factors that are likely to influence. The factors can change person born with innate good and fail to manifest through behavior. Some elements of personality are evident at childhood through items such as duty consciousness, responsibility, and compliance. Ryckman (2014) states that these elements of conscientiousness manifested in early stages of life is evidence that this trait is inheritable in strong inclination and attached to personality. Trait theory, therefore, concurs with the idea that innate good in humanity defines how people behave and react to sensitive situations. Biological Theories Biological theories explain personality development regarding genetics, structure of the brain and Neuro services. Ryckman (2013) teaches all human being beings are born with embedded behaviors on how to respond to the environment. Therefore, innate good could be important in addressing social demands. McDonald and Wearing (2013) state that psychological behavior of any individual is determined by genes, suggesting that human characteristics either positive or negative are carried on in the genes. Funder (2013) in his research found out that altruism is related to genes that agree on innate good and is likely to originate from parental care. Funder (2013) adds that these genes influence individual behavior and tendencies to be kind. Expressions such as the likelihood of any individual to react kindly to babies and feel sympathy when others are suffering are examples of innate right and not necessarily influenced by societal social standards. Through such examples, you can conclude that the biological theories support general notion of the intrinsic right. Funder (2013) concludes that innate good is a set of behavior inherited between generations when ignoring moral meanings according to biological theories. Humanistic Theories Human nature defines the innate good according to Humanistic theories. Rychman (2013) state that Humanistic theories agree that individuals have an intrinsic good, and this motivates them to pursue their goals in life. Humanistic theories explain how behavior drives individuals towards success in life. Furthermore, innate good manifest itself through behavior and shows good intentions when individuals try to be more original, creative and express their beliefs and values. An enabling environment is an important factor in nurturing and of psychological needs (McDonald & Wearing, 2013). Funder (2013) concur with Maslow’s theory statement that, all human species need self-actualization and innate good drives individuals to self-actualization. The strive to self-actualize is because people are not satisfied with food, shelter and safety and the growing need to achieve creativity, moral obligations and justice for all. The concept of humanistic theories support innate good as one of its building principles shows thus show concurrence. Behavioral Theories In this approach, environmental factors influence resulting consequences. Funder (2013) using operant conditioning model argues that punishing or reinforcing values install individual practices. A decisive action with good outcomes likely reinforces behavior in the society while a negative behavior when punished, becomes less likely occurrence. The theories explain that the action of behavior installation with consequence or monetary rewards breeds good deeds but not because of innate good. Behavioral theories do not reject or deny Innate good but do not recognize it either. Skinner's theory suggest that consequence of behavior and its relationship with individual behavior could be due to unique genetic makeup. Therefore, a study of personality theories pertaining behavior should consider person’s ability to respond to environmental changes (Ryckman, 2013). The genetic inheritance could be the capacity that carry innate good. Therefore, with the reinforcement and consequence of certain behaviors through certain individuals, some may be quickly reinforced and helpful because of their background on intrinsic good. Conclusion In conclusion, the trait theories support the idea that innate good is a behavior that cause everyone strive for growth towards achieving life goals both mentally and physically. The character of an individual contained in personality traits can be prosocial or empathic; this defines abilities of conscientiousness and agreeableness.In biological theories, innate good is a genetic behavior inherited from generations to generation. Parental care is an example that defines the likelihood of its evolution. Humanistic theories argue that human beings are born with it to propel them towards goals of life. Due to the innate good individual will strive for self-actualization through self-discovery and development. Behavioral theories do not underline intrinsic good because they describe behaviors as subject to reinforcement and punishment of consequences. However, it does not reject it in these theories: for example, Skinner’s theory takes into account genetic background in evaluating the relationship between genetic background and its impact on behavior. The above study shows that people carry on the innate good in their traits, behavior influenced by both genetics and environmental factors. References Funder, D. C. (2013). The personality puzzle (6th ed.). New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company. McDonald, M., & Wearing, S. (2013). A Reconceptualisation of the Self in Humanistic Miller, A. G. (2004). The social psychology of good and evil. New York, NY: Guilford Press. Ryckman, R. M. (2013). Theories of personality (10th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadswort Read More