CHAPTER 3: THEORIES OF 3.

Cultural Influences – differences in

PERSONALITY AND THE FILIPINO one’s cultures may explain several
CHARACTER reasons about different ideas about
appropriate ways of doing things
 PERSONALITY – derived from the
ancient Latin word persona and TRAITS AND STATES
Medieval Latin word personalitas
meaning “mask”  Traits – refers to readiness to think or
- study of personality = study of act in a similar fashion in response to a
‘masks’ that people wear; the variety of different stimuli or situations
personas they project and display [distinguishes the qualities or
characteristics of a person]
Salvador Maddi defined personality as “a
STABLE set of INTRAPSYCHIC (Internal)  States – temporary alteration of one’s
characteristics and tendencies that determines personality
the psychological behavior of people. The
behavior determined by personality is IDIOGRAPHIC VS NOMOTHETIC
RELATIVELY CONSISTENT over time.”
 Idiographic View – views people to
According to Adams (1954. cited in Schultz & have unique personality structures;
Schultz, 1994) personality is “I”. The word “I” believes it is impossible to compare one
is what defined you as an individual, as a person person with others
separate from all others (Schultz & Schultz,
1994. p.8)  Nomothetic View – emphasizes
comparability among individuals but
FACTORS THAT DETERMINE AND sees people as unique in their
INFLUENCE PERSONALITY combination of traits; believes people
differ only in the amount of each trait
1. Genetics and Hereditary Factors – which constitutes to their uniqueness
hereditary influences the child’s nervous
system which then affects the child’s
mental development (part of those THEORIES OF PERSONALITY
inherited traits are his aptitude and his
ability) 1. TRAIT THEORIES
- Theorists assume that traits:
2. Environmental Factors a.) are relatively stable over time
- Primary Group – family, playmates, b.) differ among individuals
neighborhood friends (church, c.) influence behavior
school, other small unit) - extraversion (outgoing and
- Secondary Group – interaction with stimulation-oriented) versus
his society (from conditioned to introversion (quiet and stimulation-
well-regulated behavior) avoiding)

NOTES: Roles [Assigned – we have no  Gordon Allport

control; Acquired – we have a choice] - also called traits “dispositions”
- central traits (basis of one’s
: Socialization- process of learning personality) ; secondary traits
how to behave and interact with others (peripheral)
according to socially accepted ways - common traits (recognized within a
culture – may vary from culture to
 culture) ; cardinal traits (strongly - proposed biological mechanisms as
recognizable trait of an individual) driving traits
- believed that three traits were
 Raymond Cattell sufficient to describe human
- applied statistical method called personality
factor analysis [oblique] a.) extraversion (sociable,
- states that behavior is determined by lively, active, assertive)
heredity, environment, and the b.) neuroticism (anxious,
interaction of heredity and depressed, guilt, low self-
environmental factors esteem)
- asserts that personality is developed c.) psychoticism (aggressive,
on the bases of three kinds of cold, egocentric, impulsive)
learning:
 classical conditioning  Lewis Goldberg
 instrumental conditioning - proposed a five-dimension
 structured learning [most personality model, from the work of
important because it Cattell; nicknamed as the “Big Five”
involves overall change in or OCEAN
personality] 1) Openness to experience:
open to new ideas and
16 Personality Factors described by Cattell change vs. traditional and
oriented toward routine
1) Abstractedness: Imaginative versus 2) Conscientiousness: dutiful,
practical organized and orderly vs.
2) Apprehension: Worried versus confident laidback, spontaneous and
3) Dominance: Forceful versus submissive unreliable
4) Emotional stability: Calm versus high- 3) Extraversion: outgoing and
strung stimulation-oriented vs.
5) Liveliness: Spontaneous versus quiet and stimulation-
restrained avoiding
6) Openness to change: Flexible versus 4) Agreeableness: affable,
attached to the familiar friendly, conciliatory vs.
7) Perfectionism: Controlled versus aggressive, dominant,
undisciplined disagreeable
8) Privateness: Discreet versus open 5) Neuroticism: emotional
9) Reasoning: Abstract versus concrete reactive, prone to negative
10) Rule-consciousness: Conforming versus emotions vs. calm,
non-conforming imperturbable, optimistic
11) Self-reliance: Self-sufficient versus
dependent 2. TYPE THEORIES
12) Sensitivity: Tender-hearted versus - Personality Type: psychological
tough-minded classifications of different types of
13) Social boldness: Uninhibited versus shy people
14) Tension: Inpatient versus relaxed
15) Vigilance: Suspicious versus trusting  Carl Jung
16) Warmth: Outgoing versus reserved - said that there are two types of
people, introverts and extraverts,
 Hans Eynseck which contradict the trait theories as
- also applied factor analysis introversion and extroversion that
[orthogonal] are considered to be part of a
 continuous dimension, with many changes every now and
people in the middle then)

 Isabel Briggs Myers and her mother, o unconscious (ultimate

Katharine C. Briggs arbiter of all behaviors;
- based on the writings and responsible for all
observations of Carl Jung, they important human behavior)
delineated personality types by
constructing the Myers-Briggs Type o preconscious (lies between
Indicator which was later elaborated conscious and unconscious;
further by David Keirsey contains anything that have
minimal significance which
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator can easily be brought into
consciousness)
 Extraversion vs Introversion [basic] - said that personality is based on the
interaction of the three structures
 Intuition [trust in conceptual/abstract personality
models] vs Sensing [concrete sensory- o id : present at birth; savage
oriented facts] desires and raw urges;
source of psychic energy
 Thinking [considers thinking as the (sexual); operates on the
prime-mover in decision-making] vs basis of pleasure principle
Feeling [considers feeling as the prime- that needs to be released
mover in decision-making]
o ego : reality-testing
 Perceiving [desire to perceive events] vs structure that helps the id in
Judging [desire to have things done so expressing itself; operates
judgements can be made] according to the reality
principle or the act of
3. PSYCHOANALYTIC THEORIES delaying satisfaction of an
- describes development as primarily id impulse until an
unconscious and heavily colored by appropriate object is
emotions; symbolic workings of the located in the external
mind have to be analyzed to environment
understand behavior
o superego : serves as an “in-
 Sigmund Freud dwelling parent”; moral
- Father of Psychoanalysis arm of personality; keeps
- explained human behavior in terms the id and ego in check by
of the interaction of various exercising moral judgement
components of society and societal rules; last
- proposed that psychic energy could function of personality to
be converted to behavior develop
- demonstrated that the mind is like
an iceberg with only its tip 4. NEO-FREUDIAN CONCEPTS
[consciousness] showing above the
surface  Alfred Adler
o consciousness (contains - Ordinal Theory
everything which we are - believes that birth order may
aware at any given time; influence personality development
unstable and its contents
 o oldest : set high goals to the
get attention back from the  John B. Watson
younger siblings - Father of American Behaviorism
o middle : competitive and - made four major assumptions about
ambitious to be able to radical behaviorisms:
surpass the oldest o Evolutionary Continuity :
achievements laws of behavior are applied
o last born : dependent and equally to all living
sociable but be the baby organisms
o only child : love being the o Reductionism : all behaviors
center of attention; mature are linked to physiology
quickly but fails to become o Determinism : animals don’t
independent respond freely but rather in
a programmed way to
 Heinz Kohutz external stimuli; biological
- used narcissism [exaggerated sense organisms respond to
of one’s self to protect his low self- outside influences
esteem] as a model of how we o Empiricism : only our
develop our sense of self actions are observable
evidence of our personality
 Karen Horney
- believes that people have two views 6. COGNITIVE THEORIES
of their own self - emphasizes cognitive processes
o real self [how you really such as thinking and judging
are] - in contrast to psychoanalytic and
o ideal self [constructs you trait approaches, social-learning
apply to yourself to conform theorists believes that behavior is a
to the norms] product of a continuous interaction
between personal and environmental
 Object Relations Theory variables
- Freud coined the term “object” to
refer to the target that an infant uses  Albert Bandura
to satisfy his or her needs, it can be - social learning theorist
the mother/primary caretakers or - forces of memory and emotions
objects like blanket, favorite toy, worked in conjunction with
pacifier, etc. environmental influences
- mostly known for his study
5. BEHAVIORIST THEORY observational learning or modeling
- explain personality in terms of [bobo doll]
reactions to external stimuli
- people’s behavior is formed by  Walter Mischel
processes - defended the cognitive approach to
- behaviorists focus on observable personality
behavior - worked on “Cognitive Affective
Units”; encoding of stimuli affect
 Ivan Pavlov goal-setting and self-regulatory
- well-known for his classical beliefs
conditions experiment utilizing a
dog [classical conditioning]  Julian Rotter
 - believes in the interaction of the - Humanistic psychologists hold an
person and the environment as the optimistic view of human nature
most important determinants of while Freud’s view is pessimistic
behavior on which he stresses that - emphasized that people have free
only those aspects that are will and play active role in
meaningful for a person are to be determining how they behave
seriously considered as behavior
determinants  Abraham Maslow
- believes that those who are
 Albert Ellis interested in growth move towards
- considered as the grandfather of self-actualizing views
cognitive behavioral therapy - characteristics of self-actualizers
- developed the Rational Emotive according to Maslow include the
Behavior Therapy (REBT) or four key dimension:
Rational Therapy o Awareness
- believes that the thoughts we have o Reality and problem
become our emotions and the centered
emotions we have become our o Acceptance/Spontaneity
thoughts o Unhostile sense of
- introduced the A-B-C Theory of humor/democratic
Personality (the emotional
consequences are caused by what  Carl Rogers
the person believes in) - believes in the primacy of self-
o A [activating event] actualization for the basis of his
o B [belief system] nondirective or client-centered
o C [emotional consequence] therapy
- his theory centers on the self, or
 Aaron Beck self-concept, which refers to the
- Father of cognitive-behavioral image people have of themselves,
therapy (CBT) which may or may not correspond to
- suggested that nearly all reality as others see it
psychological dilemmas can be
redirected in a positive manner with 9. BIOPSYCHOLOGICAL THEORIES
the changing of the suffering - previous efforts for identifying
individual’s thought processes personality differences relied upon
simple, direct, human observation,
7. PSYCHOSOCIAL THEORY Neuroscience introduced powerful
brain analysis tools like
 Erik Homburger Erikson Electroencephalography (EEG),
- Psychosocial Theory [describes the Positron Emission Tomography
impact of social experience across (PET), and Functional Magnetic
the whole lifespan Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
- differs from the works of Freud by
giving emphasis on the development  Richard Davidson
of ego identity (conscious sense of - one of the founders of the
self that we develop through social Neuroscience era of brain research
interaction) which constantly - his research focused on the role of
changes due to new experiences the prefrontal complex (PFC) and
amygdala in manifesting human
8. HUMANISTIC THEORIES personality
 5. Hard work and Industry – desire to
improve one’s standard of living by
taking multiple jobs at a time which
results in entrepreneurship and survival
THE FILIPINO CHARACTER despite poverty for others

According to the study commissioned

by the Senate Committee on Education, Arts and 6. Faith and Religiosity – Filipinos are
Culture, and the Committee on Social Justice, predominantly Christians, if not
Welfare and Development under the sponsorship Catholics; we have deep faith in God
of former Senator Leticia Ramos Shahani and and are religious
Chairperson, Movement for Moral Recovery the
following are the strengths and weaknesses of
the Filipino character: 7. Ability to survive – Filipinos are
survivors and are resilient. We have the
STRENGTHS OF THE FILIPINO great capability to surpass and recover
CHARACTER easily from difficult times

1. Pakikipagkapwa-tao – demonstrated in
the Filipinos’ ability to empathize with WEAKNESSES OF THE FILIPINO
others in helping and being generous in CHARACTER
time of needs as in pakikiramay; in
extending mutual assistance as in 1. Extreme personalism – Filipinos have a
bayanihan; and being hospitable. personalistic world view [no separation
Through this, Filipinos develop that between an objective task and emotional
sensitivity to the quality of smooth involvement] which makes them
interpersonal relationship (SIR) uncomfortable with dealing with all
forms of impersonal activities that leads
2. Family Orientation – closely-knit to nepotism, lagayan and worst, graft
families is very evident in the Filipinos and corruption
which demonstrate their deep love for
every member and develop a feeling of 2. Extreme family centeredness – our
belongingness with safety and security excessive concern for the family makes
us ardently loyal that the larger
community is neglected which leads to
3. Joy and Humor – being cheerful and factionalism, patronage, and political
fun-loving in times of being up or down dynasties
is an important mechanism that adds to
the Filipino charm and have strong
capacity to survive to be emotionally 3. Lack of Discipline – we lack patience,
balanced often taking shortcuts and skirting the
rules (palusot syndrome); we are prone
to commit ningas cogon; we have
4. Flexibility. Adaptability, and Creativity relaxed attitude toward time which
– very evident in us Filipinos is our results in inefficiency and lack of
great capacity to adjust and to adapt to commitment
circumstances that come our way and
our ability to improvise and produce
something from any materials 4. Passivity and lack of initiative – we wait
to be told what has to be done; we
strongly rely on what others can do for
 us and we tend to show no sense of
urgency about any problem which
makes us simply complacent

5. Colonial Mentality – lack of patriotism

and we show actual preference for
things that are foreign

6. Kanya-kanya Syndrome – this refers to

the selfish, self-serving attitudes that
generates a feeling of envy and
competitiveness towards others;
example of this is the talangka (crab)
mentality using the power of tsismis,
intrigue and destructive criticism to pull
others down

7. Lack of self-analysis and self-reflection

– we tend to lack analysis and reflection
which relates on the form of being
maporma rather than substance

ROOTS OF THE FILIPINO CHARACTER

1) the home environment

2) the social environment
3) culture and language
4) history
5) the educational system
6) religion
7) the economic environment
8) the political environment
9) mass media
10) leadership and role models