Freudian Theory
Based on the theories of the Austrian psychologist, Sigmund Freud, one of the most powerful psychological methods for understanding personality was developed. According to Freud, the id, ego, and superego comprise the three parts of the mind, and interactions and conflicts between these parts give personality. According to Freudian thought, the id is the psychological trait foundation for our most primal instincts (Khosravi et al., 2020).
Our most significant motivations, such as the sexual (libido) and the aggressive or destructive drive, are controlled by the id, which is unconscious. The desire for instant fulfillment of our sexual and aggressive desires, according to Freud, is what powers the id. The id drives us to smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, watch porn, tell harsh jokes about people, and engage in other enjoyable or destructive behaviors, frequently at the expense of performing more beneficial things (Khosravi et al., 2020).
The superego represents our sense of morality and thinking, in stark contrast to the id. The superego informs us of our social obligations and of all the behaviors we should avoid. When we fall short of the standards set by the superego, we feel guilty.
Humanistic Theory of Personality
According to the Humanistic Theory of Personality, people are inherently decent and want to improve themselves. A person’s self-concept, which encompasses their natural and ideal self, forms the foundation of humanistic ideology. People are driven by a desire for self-actualization, defined as becoming their ideal version of themselves from their current state. The optimal environment for this self-actualizing tendency to grow is always pleasant.
This significant theory emphasizes the concept of free will and the capacity for positive personality transformation (Khosravi et al., 2020). Humanistic psychology aims to enable each person to realize their most significant potential. It affirms that individuals, at their core, are good. The focus on positive traits and flourishing people, as opposed to negative traits and psychologically unhealthy people, makes humanistic psychology historically noteworthy.
Benefits of Recognizing Different Types of Personalities
Knowing one’s personality type can help one avoid disputes in the first place. One can change one’s behavior and become more responsive to circumstances if one is aware of one’s own tendency to react hastily whenever an issue arises. On the other hand, if one is prone to taking full responsibility for a situation even when it was not their fault, one can learn to be more analytical and assess the circumstances before deciding how to handle them (Khosravi et al., 2020). One can develop a deep respect for diversity and its value to one’s team, workplace, and business by understanding how one’s personality type differs from and interacts with others. When one has reached a wall in one’s thinking and needs some help coming up with solutions, having that wildly inventive mind on one’s side can be constructive.
References
Khosravi, S., Jalali, A., Jalali, R., Salari, N., & Alikhani, M. (2020). Personality traits, psychological needs, and social support among suicide attempters. OMEGA – Journal of Death and Dying, 84(3), 899–913.