General Psychology:: Personality (Part I)

General Psychology:
Personality (Part I)
Prof. Christian Bryan O. De Dios, M.A. RPm
Psychology Department
Definition of Personality
The term personality is taken from the Latin term
Persona meaning Mask which were first used in
Greek in theatrical drama and later adopted by Roman
Players.
It is an all-inclusive term that covers appearances,

abilities, motives, emotion and experiences that have
shape the person.
According to Psychologist Carl Gustav Jung, personality

is a mask, that we have to wear in (public image) order
to respond to a various roles we play in the society.
Principles of Personality
1. Pleasure Principle Man is a pleasure-seeking animal. We
want enjoyment and we avoid pain. It also explains that if
we want something, we want to get it right away. We like
life to be easy (whenever possible) and we want to refrain
from exerting extra effort.
2. Reality Principle It tells us that we cannot always get

things right away. We cannot get what we want
immediately. And sometimes suspend immediate
satisfaction in favor of more important things.
3. Repetition-Compulsion Principle It tells us that we are

compelled to repeat behaviors that brings us satisfaction
and enjoyment, and avoid to do the same mistakes that will
cause us to re-experience pain and hardships.
Principles of Personality (Cont.)
4. Polarity-Duality Principle It explain that we
are bombarded with a lot of conflicting choices
in life, and that we have to make a choice and
stand for it. You must decide. You must make a
choice. There should be no more what ifs
otherwise, you will always have a life or regret
and much of your time will be put into waste.
5. Tension-Reduction Principle Given a problem,

a person would want to resolve it right away.
Defense Mechanism
Everyone uses defense mechanisms.
They are one of the tools the human mind utilizes to deal
with everyday and out of the ordinary life stressors.
Sigmund Freud theorized that human beings use defense

mechanisms to cope with anxiety.
Almost all defense mechanisms are unconscious,

meaning we do not purposely use them; they just seem
to occur. On the other hand, the use of defense
mechanism can distort the reality to protect our ego
from pain, anxiety, and depression.
Types of Defense Mechanisms
1. Repression - Unconsciously blocking unacceptable thoughts or
feelings. The painful unacceptable experiences are pushed back into
the unconscious.
Example: An adult who was molested as a child has no recollection

of the event.
2. Regression The individual acts and behaves and acts in a less

mature way of dealing the situation (Child-like behavior).
Example: A student who bites his nails every time he is called to

recite.
A child who begins wetting the bed when her parents are
arguing
Types of Defense Mechanisms (Cont.)
3. Displacement Involves redirecting ones anger or unwanted feelings
from a threatening person to a weaker one.
Example: Commonly, the boss yells at a worker, who feels he cannot

yell back, so he goes home and yells at his wife and kicks the family
dog.
You kick a chair, bang on the door after your professor reprimanded
you.
4. Rationalization - making excuses for behavior or feelings. It is

providing a justification for not so good behavior.
Example: A student earns a failing grade on a paper and says to her

classmates, I only got this grade because the teacher doesnt like me.
The student believes this to be true.
5. Denial This involves refusal to accept a painful experiences.
Example: A father witnesses his child being killed in a car accident,

but repeatedly says, That wasnt my son.
You cannot accept that your relationship with your boyfriend and
girlfriend has ended so you still go to places you used to go and you
still text him or her.
6. Projection Literally, projecting onto another ones own

unacceptable thoughts or feelings.
Example: When you feels that another person hates your friend,
when in fact it is the other way around.
7. Sublimation This is rechanneling or redirecting unwanted impulses
or unwanted feelings into socially acceptable thoughts, behavior or
feelings.
Example: A man becomes angry with his boss, but rather than lashing
out, he goes to the gym after work and exercises.
8. Reaction Formation It involves doing the opposite of what one

truly feels.
Example: A man suffers from alcoholism and really wants to drink,

but he expresses that he hates alcohol.
You find that the jokes are annoying but instead of showing your
dismay, you just laugh at his jokes even if they are not really funny.
Assignment:
Define the following other defense mechanisms
and give the examples:
1. Conversion
2. Splitting
3. Intellectualization
4. Undoing
5. Introjection
6. Identification

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General Psychology:

It is an all-inclusive term that covers appearances,

According to Psychologist Carl Gustav Jung, personality

2. Reality Principle It tells us that we cannot always get

3. Repetition-Compulsion Principle It tells us that we are

5. Tension-Reduction Principle Given a problem,

Sigmund Freud theorized that human beings use defense

Almost all defense mechanisms are unconscious,

Example: An adult who was molested as a child has no recollection

2. Regression The individual acts and behaves and acts in a less

Example: A student who bites his nails every time he is called to

Example: Commonly, the boss yells at a worker, who feels he cannot

4. Rationalization - making excuses for behavior or feelings. It is

Example: A student earns a failing grade on a paper and says to her

Example: A father witnesses his child being killed in a car accident,

6. Projection Literally, projecting onto another ones own

8. Reaction Formation It involves doing the opposite of what one

Example: A man suffers from alcoholism and really wants to drink,

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