Frequently Asked Questions

Dr. Lester M. Sdorow, author of Psychology, answers questions about personality.

1. Is it true that Freudian personality theory is a bunch of nonsense and should be disregarded?

The answer depends on how much scientific support you believe there is for Freudian concepts. Until relatively recently, psychoanalysis was more of an art than a science, and did not subject itself to scientific scrutiny. Thus far there is mixed support for its concepts. For example, there is substantial evidence that early childhood experiences are disproportionately important in human development, but there is little evidence that one's moral development depends on resolution of the so-called Oedipus conflict in early childhood. The scientific jury is still out on psychoanalysis.

2. What do psychologists mean by "self-actualization"? Isn't that a rather self-centered view of personality?

Humanistic psychologists assume that healthy personality development depends on the successful actualization of one's potentials, whether social, academic, artistic, vocational, athletic, or whatever. Though some people interpret this as supporting self-centeredness and a disregard for the needs of others, its major theorists never intended that. They simply mean that one should not distort one's own personality in order to please others (but without trampling on the feelings and rights of other people). Distorting one's own personality to please others is a practice that can only lead to emotional distress for the person whose public personality becomes incongruent with his or her "real" personality.

3. I have read the chapter but remain perplexed over how people can inherit some aspects of their personality. Are there "personality genes"?

Though heredity exerts a strong influence on personality development, the role of specific genes has yet to be determined. For example, studies of identical twins who were separated in infancy and reared apart have found uncanny similarities in their personalities. In one case, both twins always flushed the toilet before they used it. But it would be ludicrous to think that there is a "flush-toilet-before-using gene." Whatever their role, genes probably exert their influence in a variety of ways. One way is by affecting our physical appearance. This in turn affects both how people respond to us and how we respond to them. Another way is by providing us with an inborn temperament. Infants who tend to be pleasant might be treated more affectionately than infants who tend to be irritable. This might, in turn, affect the personality development of the infants.

4. If a person is not happy with an aspect of his or her personality, can he or she change it? Does the ability to change decrease as one gets older?

Given that you have certain hereditary tendencies and have spent many years acting in certain ways, it should be no surprise that the older you get the less likely you will be to change your personality. Of course, it is not impossible to do so--but it takes work. That is why psychotherapy is a difficult process--you're often trying to alter the effects of years or decades of life experiences.