Chapter 8Chapter 8Motives and the Motives and the

Dynamics of PersonalityDynamics of Personality

Personality PsychologyPersonality Psychology

Needs and Motives Theory DefinedNeeds and Motives Theory Defined

A theory of personality that asserts that personality is best understood as a reflection of underlying needs

Key ComponentsKey Components

Personality revolves around concept of Needs Personality is reflected in behavior, which results

from underlying needs/motives/press Very General

Based on basic aspects of life humans want or desire for their well-being

Very Individualized Idiographic

Key PeopleKey People

Henry Murray Abraham Maslow Carl Rogers

Henry MurrayHenry Murray

Central figure Developed wide-ranging theory of personality

organized by a pattern of needs, motives, and press

Idiographically oriented Manifest needs (observable) Latent needs (underlying)

NeedsNeeds

Basic desire for something; states of tension; internal state that is less than satisfactory (Need for Food)

Two Types Three Combinations Thought to be objective

MotivesMotives Drives to meet needs and reduce dissatisfaction; internal

states that arouse and direct behavior towards goals (Hunger)

Influenced by needs Cognitions with affective overtones, organized around

preferred experiences and goals (emotionally-charged goals)

Appear in thoughts that pertain to either desired or undesired goals

Subjective overtones Leads to behavior directly

PressPress

External events that influence motives (Seeing someone eat dessert)

Environmental influence on motives as opposed to biological, internal influences of needs

Can bring on a motivational state simply through environmental exposure

Both objective and subjective press exists Alpha Press (objective environment) Beta Press (perceived environment)

The process of personality in The process of personality in Needs and Motives TheoryNeeds and Motives Theory

Underlying need and the external press are combined into motives

Motives influence what behaviors are expressed

Need

Press

Motive Behavior

Murray’s Understanding of Personality

Water

Hot day

Thirst Buy a drink

Murray’s Understanding of Personality

Murray’s Hierarchy of Needs Murray’s Hierarchy of Needs

Needs exist at different levels of strength Each need interacts with other needs, resulting in

interactions, or dynamics within the person Varies from person to person, resulting in unique

patterning of needs, motives, and behaviors (individualized)

Measuring NeedsMeasuring Needs

Manifest Needs (aka Motives) Behavior, self-report

Latent Needs (True definition of Needs) Murray was most interested in pattern of latent

needs Indirect methods Applied the term “Apperception” to mean the

process of projecting needs onto a stimulus Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)

Most Researched NeedsMost Researched Needs

Need For Achievement

Doing Things Better Research Findings Gender Differences Promoting Achievement Motivation

Most Researched NeedsMost Researched NeedsNeed For Power

Having Impact Research Findings Gender Differences Health Status and The Need For Power War and Peace…and Power

Most Researched NeedsMost Researched Needs

Need For Intimacy

Wanting Relationships Research Findings

Most Researched NeedsMost Researched NeedsNeed For Affiliation

Motive to spend time with others; want to be accepted; actively make social contacts

Couples do best when Need for Affiliation is similar

Four sub-domains in terms of the function of this need Social comparison, Emotional support, Positive

stimulation, Attention from others

The Humanism ParadigmThe Humanism ParadigmThe Motive to Self-ActualizeThe Motive to Self-Actualize

The “Self” is the most important being; the “Self” is the center of one’s universe, second to no others

Humans determine for themselves what their lives are to be like: Focus on free-will

Emphasizes the human need for growth and realizing one’s full potential

Believes that humans are intrinsically good and self-perfecting

The Humanistic Tradition:The Humanistic Tradition:Maslow’s Hierarchy of NeedsMaslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Needs are hierarchically organized Needs must be satisfied at the lower levels

before we proceed to satisfy the higher needs Lower needs

More powerful and pressing, but more primitive Deficiency-based

Higher needs Weaker, or subtle, but more human Growth-based

Characteristics of “Self-Actualizers”Characteristics of “Self-Actualizers”According to MaslowAccording to Maslow

Efficient in perceptions of reality

Accepting of themselves and others

Spontaneous, natural, authentic

Philosophical

“Oceanic feelings”

The Humanistic Tradition: The Humanistic Tradition: Carl RogersCarl Rogers

The Motive to Self-Actualize Main Beliefs

Actualization Self-actualization Fully-functioning person Positive Regard

Rogers: Positive RegardRogers: Positive Regard

Unconditional: Offered without prerequisites Conditional: Offered only on the basis of certain

requirements Conditions of Worth Conditional Self-regard

Rogers as a “Self” TheoristRogers as a “Self” Theorist

Self-Concept: Set of qualities the person views as being part of himself or herself; made of many elements Ideal Self: Image the person wants to be Actual Self: Image the person understands him

or herself to be Real Self: Who each person acts like from day

to day

Rogers as a “Self” TheoristRogers as a “Self” Theorist

How perspectives on the Self can interact

Congruence of Self Incongruence of Self

Congruence vs. IncongruenceCongruence vs. Incongruence

Congruence of “Self” Occurs when ideal self and actual self are

similar – when you are whom you want to be Occurs when actual self and real self are

similar – when you act like the person you know yourself to be

Both achieved by self-actualization and result in a fully functioning person

Congruence vs. IncongruenceCongruence vs. Incongruence

Incongruence of “Self” Caused by a mismatch of ideal/actual selves

or actual/real selves Caused by ‘conditions of worth’ Leads to anxiety Defenses enacted to protect Self from this

anxiety

Rogerian DefensesRogerian Defenses

Distortions of experiences Perceive event from being different than it is Rationalization

Preventing threats to reach awareness Denial of experience Avoidance Self-handicapping

Rogerian Client-Centered Rogerian Client-Centered TherapyTherapy

Focus on the client’s topics of discussion Clarify feelings Restatement of content Client is responsible for therapy’s progress

and coming to own conclusions, solving own problems

Rogers versus MaslowRogers versus Maslow Rogers began at Maslow’s social needs

level (3rd level) Maslow’s Need for Love and Belongingness

is similar to Roger’s Need for Positive Regard

Maslow’s Esteem Need is a positive need; Rogers’ Conditions of Worth are negative according to him

Both thought the need for acceptance was stronger than the need for self-actualization