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Personality Theories Discussion Essay

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Personality Theories Discussion Essay

Theory I Connect With the Most

While there are various personality theories that have been developed by different

scholars, the theory that I connect with the most is the Sullivan’s interpersonal theory, which .

The theory was developed by Harry Stack Sullivan. Sullivan’s theory of personality posits that

an individual’s sense of self, coupled with the sense of security, and the dynamics that drive and

motivate an individual, are the key factors that determine personality (Engle, 2014). Sullivan’s

personality contends that all the aforementioned personality identification factors are determined

by how an individual interacts with other people, particularly with the significant other.

Sullivan’s personality theory argues that it is futile to imagine an individual as an object or

subject of psychological study since the development of a person is based strictly oin the context

of his or her interactions with other individuals.

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In essence, Sullivan emphasizes that the core of a person’s personality comprises of

interpersonal relations (Engle, 2014). The key underlying assumptions and basic concepts

associated with Sullivan’s theory of personality includes anxiety, security operations, dynamism,

personifications, stages of development and cognitive processes respectively. Fundamentally,

Sullivan’s theory of personality asserts that it is erroneous to consider personality as a distinct

concept that is separate from interpersonal scenarios that form an individual’s personality.

Why I Choose This Theory

The main reason behind choosing Sullivan’s theory of personality can be attributed to the

theory’s holistic approach in defining an individual’s personality. In this regard it must be noted

that the orientation of Sullivan’s theory of personality is inclined towards incorporating the

observable empirical elements as opposed to intrapsychic components (Mobbs, 2020). As such,

this approach makes it possible to not only see but also feel and hear a person’s interactions with

other people, for instance, one can be able to determine if an individual interacts with others in a

dominant or passive manner. Sullivan’s theory of personality accentuates that personality

attributes that are directly observable within the scope of interpersonal relations creates a new

focus in the development of personality theory.

Unlike other theories, such as the Freud’s and Jung’s theoriesy of personality, that which

focus on a philosophical orientation, Sullivan’s theory is established on a greater emphasis on

science and empirical validation (Prabhu, 2013). Therefore, the relevance of Sullivan’s

personality theory does not underscore the mental processes that cannot be observed instead it is

based on the verifiable interpersonal processes through the observation of an individual within

social parameters. Even though, it must be noted that this does not imply in any way that the

philosophical assumptions are not encompassed in Sullivan’s theory of personality since such
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concepts such as pessimism verses optimism, determinism and freedom, as well as situational

factors and constitutional factors are all entailed in Sullivan’s theory. Besides emphasizing that

personality cannot be isolated from an individual’s belief, Sullivan’s theory is primarily aimed at

presenting an empirical research on personality rather than providing a philosophical standpoint

on human nature.

How the Theory is Used

Sullivan’s theory of personality is extremely useful in the family therapy, especially in

the treatment of psychological disorders. While the use of Sullivan’s theory was not

implemented until the 1950’s, it worth noting that the theory has become of great value in health

care, more so in administering treatment to the entire family or family instead of separate

individuals (Levy-Leboyer, 2003). According to family therapists, the development of

psychological disorders occurs within the family context. Sullivan’s theory concurs with the shift

in family therapy from the intrapsychic orientation of a person to the inter-psychic interactions

within the family. Alternately, in lieu of providing explanations on the dysfunctional behavior

based on the individual mechanisms, Sullivan’s theory views problems from the aspect of

mutually inclusive interpersonal interactions within the family unit.

Why the Theory is Important

The significance of Sullivan’s theory of personality can be attributed to its ability to

establish the theoretical foundation for administering IPT (interpersonal psychotherapy) and

facilitate the treatment of schizophrenia and depression. In this regard, it must be taken into

account that Sullivan’s theory of personality posits that the development of psychological

problems is as a result of adverse events that are associated with interpersonal loss.
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References

Engler, B. (2014). Personality theories: An introduction. Independence, KY: Wadsworth,

Cengage Learning. https://b-ok.africa/book/2476461/75c9ed

Levy-Leboyer, C. (2003). Personality: Theories and aApplications. Personnel Psychology, 56(2),

507.

https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/personality-theories

applications/docview/220139858/se-2?accountid=45049

Mobbs, A. E. D. (2020). An atlas of personality, emotion and behaviour. PLoS One, 15(1).

http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0227877

Prabhu, V. P. (2013). Proactive pPersonality and cCareer fFuture: Testing a cConceptual

mModel and eExploring pPotential mMediators and mModerators. American

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Journal of Management, 13(1), 11-31. testing/docview/1465502676/se-2?

accountid=45049