Personality Psychology: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries

Program Overview

Personality Psychology explores the enduring patterns of thought, emotion, and behavior that distinguish individuals and shape their interactions with the world. This discipline investigates the underlying structures and dynamics of personality, integrating theoretical frameworks with empirical research to understand human individuality and social responsiveness.

• Freudian Psychology: Examines unconscious processes, early childhood experiences, and the structure of the mind—id, ego, and superego—as foundational to personality development.
• Skinnerian Psychology: Focuses on behaviorism, emphasizing how environmental reinforcement and conditioning shape personality traits and learned behaviors.
• Rogerian Psychology: Centers on humanistic theory, exploring self-concept, unconditional positive regard, and the innate drive toward self-actualization.
• Ellisonian Psychology: Investigates the psychological dimensions of identity, alienation, and existential struggle, drawing from the philosophical and literary insights of Ralph Ellison’s work.
• Neo-Freudian Psychology: Expands on Freud’s foundational ideas with greater emphasis on social and cultural influences, including theories from analysts like Carl Jung and Alfred Adler.
• Psychological Systems: Analyzes how different theoretical models of personality interact, contrast, and contribute to a comprehensive understanding of human behavior.
• Neurophysiology: Studies the biological underpinnings of personality, including brain structure, neural pathways, and the role of neurotransmitters in behavior and emotional regulation.
• Psychopharmacology: Explores how medications affect personality traits and psychological functioning, with attention to the impact of drugs on mood, cognition, and behavior.