Personality Theory: Albert Bandura & Carl Rogers Essay

personality is an interest comp mavennt in psychology vital for the wisdom of human beings. sympathy and defining face-to-faceity has proven to be a difficult task. It is so complex, in fact, that no single surmisal can adequately set apart it. If iodine was to ask an ordinary item-by-item to do so, some of the to the highest class common answers might be a soulfulnesss characteristics or the impression (s) one makes on complianceer(a)s. personality Theorists on the separate spend captivate personalizedity as the essence of the person, the individuals unbent inner nature (Rathus, 2004). match to Carver and Scheier (2000), Personality is a energetic organization, inside the person, of psychophysical dusts that create a persons characteristic patterns of demeanour, thoughts, and witnessings (p.5). For this duty appointment the assumptions of the Social-Cognitive and Humanistic theoretical paradigms of personality volition be applied to evaluate the personali ty of the case contain, Myesha.It will also discuss personality tests- methods/instruments, use to footstep whether large number argon sad, glad or bad and how flock with authorized personality traits respond to lifes demand. Before one can begin to understand and assess this individuals personality, it is serious to briefly review the Social-Cognitive and Humanistic theories of personality with their respective theorists such as Albert Bandura and for the Humanistic glide slope, Carl Rogers. According to Passer & Smith (2007), well-disposed cognitive hypothesis is a perspective that was developed by Albert Bandura. It combines the behavioural and cognitive perspectives into an approach to personality that stresses the inter carry out of a weighing human with a affable surroundings that provides learning experiences (p.467). It is proposed that an individuals thoughts and actions riseate in the social world and in that respect is the capacity for egotism regulation and to engage in active cognitive processes (Bandura, 1999).The humanistic or phenomenological theories of personality view humanity as born(p)ly good. Emphasis is placed on individual experiences, relationships and ship canal of catch the world. Human nature includes a natural drive towards personal growth. We as humans have the capacity to choose what we do dis wishing of environment and humans be pretty much conscious beings. We are non control guide by unconscious mind needs and conflicts (Engler, 2008). According to Rogers (1951) individuals possess the innate ability to know what is of import to them, what is essential for a more fulfilling life. This is know as an Organismic Valuing military operation. Myesha demo this as she wanted to orbit Literatures in English, succession her mother wanted her to fol modest in her stepfathers footsteps and study justice instead. Rogers would have stated at this point that Myesha went against her Organismic Valuing Process and conformed to her mothers wishes by studying Law.When significant others in an individuals world, ( in Myeshas case her parents), provide verificatory regard that is conditional, sort of than unconditional, the individual introjects the desired values, making them ones own, thus they acquire conditions of worthy (Engler, 2008). As a firmness, the self concept becomes based on these standards of value, rather than on the organismic evaluation. According to Bandura (1978), while assessing an individuals carriage, there are three interactional processes to consider the person, the individuals behaviour and the environmental set. These factors all operate as interlocking determinants of each other and it is largely by their actions that people nurture the environmental conditions that affect their behavior in a reciprocal fashion (Funder & Ozer, 2001, p.461) ( reveal Appendix 1). This process involves a triadic reciprocal interaction rather than a dyadic conjoint or a dyadic bi wayal one (Schultz & Schultz, 2008).For instance Myesha quickly complete that Law was not for her. She considered falling out of the University as she had gotten involved with a intercommunicate word theme around this time. As a result, her stepfather jeopardise to stop supporting her if she dropped out and this placed a strain on family relationships. These are all factors of cause and effect, which are influencing each other. Bandura views Myesha as an agentic performer in her life. He would believe that she has the capability to intentionally make things adventure by her actions and that she is not an onlooking host of internal mechanisms orchestrated by environmental events (Bandura, 2001, p.2). Individuals are sentient agents of experiences rather than simply undergoers of experience. The sensory motor and cerebral systems are alsols people use to accomplish the tasks and goals that fertilize meaning and direction in their lives (Harr & Gillet 1994).Carl Rogers also ag rees to some degree with Bandura, in the belief that the environment also affects us and the people in our environment narrow what our behavior will be like (Pervin, Cervone & John, 2005). He also believes that her experience in the spoken word sort can have an impact on her personal growth and individual experiences. The belief is that Myeshas experiences are unique, and that her perception of the world is critical to understanding and achieving a particular behavior that would be identical to her becoming a self-actualized individual (Gladding, 2004 Engler, 2008). Social cognitive theory maintains that most human behaviour is self-regulated. Through cumulative direct and secondary winding experience, people develop performance standards that they use to evaluate their own behaviour. roughly constantly the person compares what he or she does in a side with some performance standard (Schultz & Schultz, 2008).According to Bandura (1974), these standards are prescribed by sociali zation agents and parents who define the conduct worthy of reward. Responses from these individuals are either disconfirming or incontroertible based on the valued levels. For example, if performance is achieved or exceeds the standards, an individuals parents may react in a exacting manner towards the child. This child will experience inseparable reinforcement. On the other hand if performance falls short of a standard, the person experiences indispensable punishment, as a result of the negative reaction exhibited by ones parents, social agents or ones self (Hergenhan & Olson, 1999). Although Myesha seemed to be able to issue her performance in the Law programme, her conclusion not to attend her category presentation may be viewed as a form of intrinsic punishment.Bandura and Kupers (1964) for example, found that children, exposed to models who set high performance standards, reinforced themselves tho for superior performance, whereas children, exposed to models accepting minimum performance standards, reinforced themselves for minimal performance. It would be expected accordingly that relevant people in a childs life, for instance parents, siblings and peers, would have a profound regularize on the development of a childs performance standards. We see that Myeshas success as a straight A assimilator throughout primary school transitioned to a declining performance upon entering secondary school. Additionally, we need to consider her family relationship as a contributing factor. At this time, her brother was considered the favourite by her mother and stepfather.Additionally, performance standards must be realistic. In other words, if they are too lenient, they will be too easily met, and little, if any, self-reinforcement will result from performing in consonance with them (Bandura 1974). If they are too stringent, one will experience frustration or worse. In Myeshas case, her stepfather threatened to withdraw financial support if she dropped ou t of the Law programme and this further ca apply their relationship to become strained. Her brothers military strength was negative and her mother became depressed. Bandura (1986) says, In its more extreme forms, harsh standards for self-evaluation give rise to depressive reactions, chronic discouragement, feelings of worthlessness, and lack of purposefulness. According to Hergenhan and Olson (1999), Bandura observed among the mechanisms of personal agency, none is more central or pervasive than peoples beliefs about their capabilities to exercise control over events that affect their lives.Self-efficacy refers to what a person is actually unresolved of doing, that is, belief in ones capabilities to engineer and execute the courses of action required to manage prospective situations (Bandura, 1994). This is know as comprehend self efficacy (Bandura, in press, p. 2). According to Pajares (1996), these beliefs of personal competence effect behaviour in several ways as they work out the choices individuals make and the courses of action they pursue (544). Individuals engage in tasks in which they feel competent and confident and avoid those in which they do not. This was exhibited by Myesha with her spoken word group becoming very popular on the topical anaesthetic scene. At this point, according to Bandura, Myesha has a high self esteem and a high self efficacy, as she enjoys performing with her group (Pervin et al., 2005).In contrast, she considers dropping out of the Law programme, as it is something that she does not enjoy, but is still capable of doing. She knew the material for her presentation, but Myesha still skipped it. In doing so, she exhibited a high self esteem, because she knew the work and yet at the same time, she possessed a low sense of self efficacy, as she was unable to achieve a high grade on the presentation as she found it difficult to think about it. Rogers (as cited in Barone, Hersen, Vincent & Hasselt, 2004) stated, an organism f unctions to maintain consistency among self perceptions and congruence between perceptions of the self and experiences.According to Lecky (as cited in Swann, Griffin, Predmore & Gaines, 1987), self conceptions are important for survival because they enable individuals to predict and control the nature of social reality. frankincense individuals are indeed motivated to preserve their self views which they do by thinking and behaving in ways that perpetuate their conceptions of self which was demonstrated by Myesha when she skipped the presentation (Swann, Griffin, Predmore & Gaines, 1987 ,p.881).Rogers states however that if Myesha continues to participate in the spoken word group she is more likely to achieve her ideal self in engagement with the result shown from Banduras High self efficacy (Friedman & Schustack, 2008). The humanistic or phenomenological, theories of personality suggest that she should have a positive and optimistic view of her behaviour and she should deport l ife into her own hands and stop doing jurisprudence which is making her unhappy. She should continue being involved with her spoken word group which she is successful at. Then being able to finance herself in the degree she wants to do as she is old enough to do so (Schultz & Schultz, 2008). According to Pervin et al. (2005), Bandura believes that social and economic conditions exercise individuals beliefs about their ability to influence events (p.419).In the case study Myeshas emotional ties to her family along with her step father threatening to withdraw his financial support led her to continue with the Law programme. In contrast Rogers (as cited in Kahn & Rachman, 2000), views Myeshas decision to continue with the Law programme as a need for positive regard, which is acceptance, peace and financial support from her family. Myeshas decision is also an characteristic that the conditions of worth still exists. However based on Rogers conditional positive regard, she is bending herself out of shape to please her family (Schultz & Schultz, 2008). Experiences in union with these conditions are perceived and symbolized accurately in awareness, while those that are not are denied and distorted into awareness, which may lead to incongruence between the self as perceived and the actual experience of the individual, also resulting in possible tension, mental confusion and maladaptive behaviour (Pervin, Cervone & John, 2005).These said experiences can be perceived as threatening by an organism without conscious awareness, utilizing a process known as subception, which is a form of discrimination without awareness that can result in anxiety. This was displayed when Myesha thrashed in bed, sweating and her heart pounding the night forwards she was to do the presentation (Barone et al., 2004). Carl Roger proposed that Myesha is living in the here and now as she is involved with the spoken word group which she enjoys. This is what he calls existential living, which is on the basis that the present is the only reality that one has.Social cognitive theory disagrees with this notion in that a primary determinant in an individuals actions and emotions is in ones expectations about the future (Pervin et al., 2005, p. 425). Organisms possess expectancies regarding topics such as behaviour of others, the rewards or punishments that may follow a certain type of behaviour, or an indviduals ability to handle stress and challenges. It is this system of thoughts about the future that constitutes the persons expectations. In the case of Myesha, she matte an immediate sense of relief when she played truant and did not take part in the presentation, she also felt guilty and worried over the consequences of her failure (Pervin et al., 2005).Recommended Instruments to assess Myeshas personality When one speaks of personality assignment in psychology, activities include the diagnosis of mental illness, prediction of behaviour, measurement of unconscious proce sses and quantification of interpersonal styles and tendencies. Although all of these descriptions may be true for different clinicians work with various client groups, this listing may not accurately seizure the full range of modern personality sound judgement. Personality assessment therefore is a complex clinical enterprise where the tools of assessment are utilise in concert with data from referring providers, such as, clients, families, schools, courts and other influential sources ().In order to assess Myeshas personality, we should briefly look at her perceived self-efficacy. Self-efficacy is defined as a persons beliefs about their capabilities to produce designated levels of performance that exercise influence over events that affect their lives. Self-efficacy beliefs determine how people feel, think, motivate themselves and behave. Such beliefs produce these diverse effects through four-spot major processes (Betz, Klein & Taylor, 1996). They include cognitive, motivat ional, affective and selection processes. We see that Myeshas jumble to choose a race, has affect on her self-efficacy. Therefore, it is suggested that we measure her personality victimization the Career Decision Self-Efficacy Scale (CDSE). The CDMSE is a well-developed construct. Hackett and Betz (1981), were the first to apply Banduras (1977) propositions about self-efficacy to life behaviour in a seminal study of womens career development.They demonstrated that career decisions, achievements and adjustment behaviours were subject to the influence of self-efficacy beliefs in both men and women. Taylor and Betz (1983) developed the Career Decision-making Self-efficacy (CDMSE) scale to measure these self-efficacy expectations, in terms of goal selection, occupational information, problem solving, planning, and self-appraisal. In the process, Taylor and Betz demonstrated that participants with lower levels of efficacy for decision-making were also more undecided. Another instrumen t that will be used to assess Myeshas personality is the Q-Sort. The Q-Sort is a technique used by humanistic theorists such as Carl Rogers, to measure the self concept of an individual (Hergenhan and Olson, 1999). The Q-Sort assessment was developed by Stephenson (1953).This assessment was used to help individuals to differentiate between the ideal self and the concepts of the self, since human beings difference with the concepts of who they really are as Myesha exhibited in the case study (Barone, Hersen,Vincent & Hasselt, 2004). The Q-Sort consists of a deck of 100 cards, each containing fairly specific characteristic statements at heart an individuals personality such as detail oriented or high self-esteem(see Appendix 2). Since the individual chooses the cards this enables the psychologists conducting the assessment to have some control in the results of the assessment and to find the origin of Myeshas behaviour, also defining what they want to know. The goal of this assessm ent is to determine where a person is at, relative to these qualities, at the beginning of treatment and then to re-assess at various intervals and at the end to determine progress (Engler, 2008).As the name indicates, Myesha will have to sort the cards in accordance to what she believes are her characteristics and place them in categories. This will enable Myesha and the tester to be able to see the differences and discrepancies between the real and ideal self as well as examine and highlight the level of self esteem. Meyshas real self will reflect immediate circumstances, experiences and self characterization, while her ideal self should enable her to relate to the future by setting goals to which she would aspire, rather than goals that others want her to obtain.This technique is often best used on students. Myesha is a student and this assessment will indicate how empathy, conditional positive regard and genuineness have played a role in her personal growth. This will enable the psychologists to help her to come to some realization of who she is and how to work towards who she needs to be. These two instruments will allow Myesha to have an understanding of who she is and this should also enable her to successfully cope with, or eliminate, her anxiety as she strives towards her future goals.ReferencesBandura, A. (1994). Self-efficacy, Encyclopedia of human behavior. Academic Press, 4,77-81Bandura, A. (1986). Social foundations of thought and action A social cognitive theory. New Jersey Prentice-Hall.Bandura, A., & Kupers, C. J. (1964). Transmission of patterns of self-reinforcement through modelling. daybook of Abnormal and Social psychology, 69, 1-9 Bandura, A (1999). A social cognitive theory of personality. 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