Personality in Biological and Humanistic Theories

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Table of Contents

Introduction
How psychological growth needs influence personality development
Biological factors that influence the formation of personality
How biological factors relate to Maslow’s theory of personality
Aspects of humanistic theory incompatible with biological explanations
Conclusion
Works Cited

Introduction

The subject of human personality has been studied since the time of the ancient Greeks. Several spiritual, philosophical, and psychological explanations have been advanced over the years in an attempt to explain the formation of personality. Historically, studies on this subject have traditionally come from theorists in the areas of social sciences and humanities, but in the recent past biologists and experts in neuroscience have contributed immensely (Hoffman 24).

Hans Eysenck and Jeffrey Alan Gray are the most influential biological theorists who have played a pivotal role in advancing biological explanations of the formation of personality. On the other hand, American psychologists Abraham Maslow and Carl Rodgers are popular humanistic theorists. This paper will discuss the theories involving biological and humanistic approaches and will examine the relationships and differences in both theories.

How psychological growth needs influence personality development

Psychologists Abraham Maslow and Carl Rodgers disliked cognitivist, behaviorist, and psychodynamic views and developed a relatively modern humanist approach to explain human personality (Cooke 45). Maslow and other humanistic theorists established a school of psychology called humanism which refuted views that ignored the unique qualities of humans such as self-realization, rationality, and determination.

Abraham Maslow used Einstein’s writings to develop his theory of the hierarchy of needs and models of self-actualization. According to this theory, individuals strive to attain their full potential or self-actualization only after they have satisfied their basic needs (Grogan 73). The American psychologist also used writings of other successive psychologists to exemplify the traits of a self-actualized person and also provided a profile of what he considered a healthy personality. He placed basic human needs such as shelter, food, water, and oxygen (breathing) at the lowest level of need of the hierarchy pyramid. He argued that needs on the higher levels such as safety, love, esteem, and self-actualization were influenced by education and experiences. The theorist believed that if a person failed to attain the needs at the bottom of the hierarchy pyramid it would lead to neurotic and emotional problems that could eventually adversely impact personality.

Biological factors that influence the formation of personality

The biological theorists place significance on various traits of personality: introversion/extroversion, emotionality/neuroticism, and childhood temperament. The biological theorists assert that the formation of personality is hereditary. They explain that an individual’s personality is an expression of one’s genetic makeup, the brain, and other biological factors such as endocrine glands and the nervous system.

Genetic traits that are transmitted biologically from parent to offspring through the genes help in determining the characteristics of a person. Evidence shows that genotype greatly determines one’s thoughts, social interactions, habits, and social attitudes. However, biological theorists agree that some individual traits are also influenced by the environment.

Endocrine glands (parathyroid, thyroid, adrenal, and gonads) secrete chemical messengers called hormones that influence a person’s growth. Biological theorists explain that hormone levels directly influence behavior and therefore ultimately affect the formation of one’s personality.

According to biological theorists, the nervous system also plays a significant role in the formation of personality. The nervous system consists of a network of tissues, sensory organs, and receptors that controls the response of the body to the external environment.

How biological factors relate to Maslow’s theory of personality

There is a strong relationship between Marlow’s hierarchy of needs and biological factors such as genes, hormones, and the brain. Both biological and humanistic theories provide outstanding arguments concerning the whole issue of personality (Wilson 30).

Maslow’s theory of the hierarchy of needs relates to biological theory because if a person’s genetic makeup, brain other biological factors that determine the formation of personality are not up-to-task, then a person will have difficulty in satisfying the needs presented in Maslow’s pyramid. For example, if a person is not genetically endowed with certain characteristics that are considered strong it could prevent them from attaining certain needs in society.

Aspects of humanistic theory incompatible with biological explanations

The humanistic theory emphasizes the uniquely human qualities of self-determination and states that humans have the ability to think and act rationally. The humanistic theorists believe that humans can exert control over biological factors of influence. Clearly, this assertion is completely incompatible with the biological explanations of personality.

Humanistic theorists also believe that a healthy personality is a self-actualization life that one can attain by striving to satisfy the psychological needs. Biological theorists believe otherwise, that all aspects of personality are hereditary and therefore inevitable, passed genetically from parent to offspring (Turhan 61).

Another incompatibility occurs by the assertion of humanistic theory that undesirable personality traits are acquired during a person’s lifetime through learning and experience. This is contrary to biological explanation which actually states that such traits are hereditary. Humanistic theorists also observe that issues of character and mental disability are not well addressed are not adequately addressed by biology (Albert 94).

Conclusion

Although biological explanation and the humanistic approach appear to be conflicting, they both present powerful explanations and insights to personality assessment. The two theories also share common similarities that help in understanding why certain aspects of life come easily and why other needs are attained through great efforts. It is evident that none of the two theories is superior over the other as they both offer a substantial explanation of the formation of personality.

Works Cited

Albert, Hoffman. The Thoughts of Abraham Maslow. Washington: McMillan press Publishers, 2012. Print.

Cooke, Mills. A Theory of Human Motivation. New York: McGraw-Hill Press Publishers, 2010. Print.

Grogan, Jessica. Humanistic Philosophy: The Shaping of Modern Self. New York: Praeger Publishers, 2012. Print.

Hoffman, Edward. The Founders of Human Psychology. Chicago: Foundation Press Publishers, 2011. Print.

Turhan, Canli. Biology of Personality and Individual Differences. Washington: Guilford Press Publishers, 2013. Print.

Wilson, Colin. Toward a Biology of personality and Emotion. New York: Penguin Press Publishers, 2014. Print.

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