Preview

Biological vs Humanistic Approach to Personality

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1532 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Biological vs Humanistic Approach to Personality
Running head: BIOLOGICAL VS HUMANISTIC APPROACH TO PERSONALITY

Biological vs. Humanistic Approach to Personality
Lawrence Sawyer
University of Phoenix

Biological vs. Humanistic Approach to Personality
As several styles are used to define the personality, two are often used to subsidize another approach. Both biological and humanistic approaches are typically used as under tones.
Evolutionary/genetic perspectives do not generally account for the biological mechanisms between genes and personality. Theorists use biological processes in an attempt to fill in the gap between personality and genetics by inferring, theorizing and researching biological links with behavior. Anatomical approach examines functions of various structures of brain. The biochemical approach examines hormones & neurotransmitters. This is a complex, difficult area of personality with no clear and simple answers. At a second year level, the expectation here is to get your head around the basic principles that have been proposed. Also, look for places where you can link the theories to each other and to other perspectives of personality. In this way, the content of the biological perspective is most likely to make sense and become part of your understanding of human psychology.
One of the pioneers in attempting to relate personality to biology was the British psychologist Hans Eysenck. His theory is complex and has evolved over the years, but one of its basic assumptions is that the human brain has excitatory and inhibitory neural mechanisms.
A basic assumption is that the human brain has excitatory and inhibitory neural mechanisms.
Abraham Manslow developed a theory of personality that has influenced a number of different fields, including education. This wide influence is due in part to the high level of practicality of Maslow's theory. This theory accurately describes many realities of personal experiences. Many people find they can understand what Maslow says. They can recognize some

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    CHAPTER 3: BIOLOGICAL BASES OF BEHAVIOR 3ANEURAL COMMUNICATIONSNEUROTRANSMITTERS ORIGINS OF STUDYING THE BRAIN Plato believed the mind was located in the spherical head  Aristotle believed mind was located in the heart  Phrenology – Studying bumps on the head to reveal a person’s mental abilities and character traits,  Invented by Franz Gall in 1800s  PSYCHOLOGY AND BIOLOGY Everything psychological is simultaneously biological  Biological Psychology – branch of psych that studies links between biology and behavior  We are bio-psycho-social systems.…

    • 952 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Psy 340 Worksheet 1

    • 906 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The field of biological psychology is quite an interesting one, it mainly boils down on study of psychological and behavioral analogy. There are several methods used in the process of scientific research study in biological psychology, one of such methods involves imaging the brain ( with the aid of imaging techniques f MRI machines in particular) while finding a way to know areas of the brain that is hosts certain mental processes, likewise, “studying the effects of lesions on behavior, modulating the activity of certain components of the brain chemically and studying the effects on behavioral outputs, modifying the genetic constitution of organisms in an attempt to discern the genetic correlates of certain behaviors or behavioral tendencies, and applying electrical stimulation to certain brain centers,”(Pinel, 2009).…

    • 906 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Best Essays

    Past research (Barahani, 2008; Riecher & Haefner, 2010) emphasises that the role of biological aspects are important in the aetiology of psychological disorders as genetic identification is one of the examinable pathways towards understanding of the diseases’ pathobiology and to identify the most effective target treatments for the clients (Karayiorgou, 2010). Research done by Foster and Macqueen (2008) suggested that neurobiological basis of personality could also be one of the possible factor…

    • 1775 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    1025 Reading 14: Dimensions of Personality: The Biosocial Approach to Personality – Hans. J Eysenck 1. If we look at both the biology and environment of an individual when assessing their personality you could gain insight to possible causes, triggers and reach a deeper evaluation of the person. For example, a person may be a pessimist and have anger problems because he/she got it from their parents or because they were brought up in a rough household where he/ she was exposed to violence constantly.…

    • 259 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Salem Witch Trials

    • 925 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Lawson, R., Graham, J., & Baker, K. (2007). Biological Foundations in Psychology. In A History of…

    • 925 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Maslow came up with a theory that motivates people. The hierarchy of needs is what he called it, and he analyzed how the needs influence people in general. The needs are self-actualization motives, esteem needs, belongingness and love needs, safety needs, and physiological needs. Each need serves its own purpose.…

    • 697 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Personality is complex, and each 's personality characteristics are unique. Personality has been studied and explained over the years from the likes of Freud, Jung, Adler, and countless other psychologist and is directly linked to Maslow 's theories of biological and humanistic approaches to personality. We will examine the attachment theory assessment and the basic aspects of Maslow 's humanistic theory. Using attachment data will help describe the early relationship between my primary care-giver and me. The attachment theory assessment is designed to measure one…

    • 1234 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Psy 240

    • 2115 Words
    • 9 Pages

    This course provides an introduction to the investigation of physiological and neurological basis for human behavior. The student will be able to study and discuss various influences on personality development, such as pre-natal maternal behavior; gender; nature versus nurture; brain development; genetic composition; sensory motor interactions; learning disabilities; drug impacts; and neurological diseases.…

    • 2115 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    “When discussing the theories on personalities you could name a view that are researched. Biological Theories are the approach of genetics and personality traits. Behavioral Theories suggest that personality is a result of interaction between the individual and the environment. These theorist reject theories that internal thoughts and feeling into account. Psychodynamic Theories are influenced by Freud, focuses on the childhood experience and the unconscious mind in personality. Humanist Theories emphasizes on the importance of free will and individual experience in the development of personalities. Trait Theories is one of the largest in personality theories. It basically a relative characteristic that causes a person to act the way they do (abouteducation).”…

    • 664 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Biological psychology focuses on the neural properties of psychology ranging from the fundamental unit of the brain, the neuron, to the highest levels of cortical organizations in the brain. It takes into account many different biological variations explored on the nature side of the nature vs. nurture debate. Topics that are in the field of biological psychology include neuroscience, neurochemistry, and neurophysiology. The development of brain scanning equipment, such as MRI, allows scientists to look at regions of the brain that become active due to working on certain tasks as well as looking for abnormal regions of the brain that are correlated with abnormal behavior.…

    • 661 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Psy 250

    • 1251 Words
    • 6 Pages

    In our world there are different types of people with different types of personalities. There are many way to describe where they came from through biological or humanistic theories. In my paper I will describe biological factors that are influences to the formation to personality. I will agree to disagree with the theory of biology having an influence on personality. I will break down the basic aspects of humanistic personality theories. Last but not less I will express my opinion on biological and humanistic approach on personality are compatible.…

    • 1251 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Psych Quiz

    • 795 Words
    • 4 Pages

    1. What is it? 2. Freud’s theory 3. Behavior theory 4. Biological theory 5. Humanistic theory…

    • 795 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    There are similarities and differences when analyzing the components of biological and humanistic approaches to personality. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs express important aspects of biological factors that approaches personality.…

    • 1092 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Find THE LEADER ON YOU

    • 2048 Words
    • 9 Pages

    According to (Schermerhorn and others 2012), Personality captures the overall profile, or combination of characteristics, that represents the unique nature of an individual as that individual interacts with others. Personality is determined by both heredity and environment; across all personality characteristics, the mix of heredity and environment is about 50-50”…

    • 2048 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Psy 250

    • 1102 Words
    • 5 Pages

    On the other hand biological theorists believe that genetics can determine a person’s personality. Some concepts state that even if biology plays no direct role in personality, the way a person looks affects how one sees himself/herself and how others interrelate with him/her. This unintended affect controls how a person develops into adulthood. Biological viewpoints teach that intelligence and genes could define a person’s personality. Temperament and mental disorders are thought to be determined by biology. Humanistic theories seem to be generalized, though biological theories are overcomplicated. Although they are wide-ranging opposites in their concepts, together they contain the essence of personality.…

    • 1102 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays