1
BAHAN AJAR
NEO-FREUDIAN AND PSYCHODYNAMIC THEORY OF PERSONALITY
2024203351 2 sks
PRODI PSIKOLOGI
FAKULTAS ILMU PENDIDIKAN DAN PSIKOLOGI UNIVERSITAS NEGERI SEMARANG
2025
2 VERIFIKASI BAHAN AJAR
Pada hari ini Jum’at tanggal tanggal Tujuh Februari tahun dua ribu dua puluh lima, Bahan Ajar Mata Kuliah Teori Kepribadian Psikodinamika dan Neo-Freudian Program Studi Psikologi Fakultas Ilmu Pendidikan dan Psikologi telah diverifikasi oleh Koordinator Program Studi Psikologi
Semarang, Ferbruary 7th 2025
Koorinator Program Studi Psikologi Penulis
Anna Undarwati, S.Psi., M.A., Ph.D.
NIP. 198205202006042002
Yogi Swaraswati, S.Psi., M.Si NPU. 1985041020230122001
3 BAB I
BASIC CONCEPTS OF PERSONALITY THEORY
Brief Description
This chapter discusses the basic concepts of personality theory.
Capaian Pembelajaran Pertemuan (Sub-CPMK)
1. Students are able to explain the definition and scope of personality
2. Students are able to explain the history of the emergence of personality theories
A. THE DEFINITION OF PERSONALITY
Psychologically, individual differences can be seen in various aspects, namely intelligence, talent, motives, needs, traits, personality, etc. These differentiating aspects are sometimes divided into cognitive or ability (intelligence, talent, and other potential abilities) and non-cognitive/personality (traits, needs, motivations, and other characteristics). These aspects can be separated but remain interrelated.
Based on the explanation above, personality is one aspect that can differentiate one person from another. Personality is also known as a non-cognitive aspect, which includes the traits a person possesses, their needs, the values that dominate them, or their motives.
Psychology has different views on the meaning of personality. Most agree that
"personality" comes from the Latin "persona," which refers to the mask worn by Roman actors in Greek drama performances. These actors used personas (masks) to play their roles. Of course, this definition is not acceptable according to the meaning of the language because when psychologists use the term "personality," they refer to something more than just the role that a person plays (Feist et al., 2017). There are many definitions of personality adapted to different perspectives on the essential nature of humans. Although there is no single definition that all personality theorists can accept, we can say that personality is a relatively permanent pattern of traits and unique characteristics that give consistency and individuality to a person's behavior (Roberts & Mrosczek, 2008).
4 B. THE DEFINITION OF THEORY
Feist et al (2017) stated that scientific theory is a set of interrelated assumptions that allow scientists to use logical deductive reasoning to formulate testable hypotheses. The following are some keywords in understanding the meaning of theory.
1. Theory is a set of assumptions
A single assumption cannot be used to meet the requirements of a strong theory.
2. Theory is a set of interrelated assumptions
Assumptions that stand alone cannot produce meaningful hypotheses 3. Assumptions
The components of a theory are not proven facts, in the sense that they have been proven to be true. However, these components are accepted as if they were true.
4. Logical deductive reasoning
Logical deductive reasoning is used by researchers to formulate hypotheses.
5. Theories must be testable
Hypotheses must provide the possibility of being tested by scientists in the future.
Some concepts related to the theory:
1. Philosophy 2. Speculation 3. Hyphothesis 4. Taxonomy
In its development, many personality theories have different perspectives in understanding humans. Some of the reasons that cause many different personality theories, namely:
1. Theory should be as objective as possible when collecting data, but interpretation of the data is a personal matter for the researcher..
2. All theories are a reflection of the background, childhood experiences, philosophy of life, interpersonal relationships, and attitudes or views about the world of the theorist.
C. CRITERIA THAT DETERMINE THE USEFULNESS OF SCIENTIFIC THEORY
5 The most important criterion of a useful theory is its ability to stimulate and direct further research. A useful theory can generate two different types of research, namely descriptive research and hypothesis testing.
2. Can be reviewed
To be reexamined, a theory must be clear enough to guide research whose results might support or refute its main principles.
3. Organized the Knowledge
A useful personality theory must be able to integrate what is currently known about human behavior and personality development.
4. Solve the Problems
A good theory provides a structure for finding answers to many difficult everyday problems.
5. Have Internal Consistency
A useful theory need not be the same as or follow from other theories, but it must be consistent with itself. An internally consistent theory is one whose components are logically compatible. Its scope is carefully defined, and therefore, it does not allow for explanations that fall outside its scope. In addition, an internally consistent theory uses consistent language; that is, it does not use the same term for two different things, or two different terms for the same thing.
6. Simple
When two theories have the same ability to produce research, can be reviewed, provide meaning to research data, help solve problems, and are consistent with themselves, the theory we should choose is the simplest. This is called the law of simplicity or parsimony.
D. DIMENSIONS OF THE CONCEPT OF HUMANITY
Each personality theorist has implicit or explicit differences regarding the basic concept of humanity. Each personality view reflects the assumptions of its creators regarding humanity.
These assumptions are based on several major dimensions that make the views of theorists
6 different from each other. There are 6 different dimensions as a frame of reference in studying the concept of humanity from personality theorists.
1. Determinism versus freedom of choice 2. Pessimism versus optimism
3. Causality versus teleology
4. Conscious versus unconscious behavior 5. Biological versus social influences 6. Uniqueness versus similarity
E. THE DEVELOPMENT OF PERSONALITY THEORY
1. In the clinical observation tradition, theories are formulated based on observations of patients with clinical disorders.
2. Gestalt tradition emphasizes the unity of behavior as the result of a process.
3. Small studies of psychological symptoms
4. Experimental psychology learning theory gave rise to controlled empirical studies, detailed theories of behavior and change
5. Psychometric tradition, emphasis on measurement and research of individual differences, increasing sophistication in the construction of scales/measures of behavioral dimensions
F. THE DIMENSION OF PERSONALITY THEORY
A personality theory is expected to be able to provide answers to questions about what, how, and why human behavior occurs. A complete personality theory usually discusses structure, process, growth and development, psychopathology, and behavioral change.
1. Discussion of structure
Discussion of structure, namely aspects of personality that are relatively stable and permanent and are elements that form personality.
2. Discussion of processes or dynamics
These are concepts about motivation to explain the dynamics of behavior or personality.
3. Discussion on growth and development
7 accompanying processes and various determining factors.
4. Discuss About Pathology
Namely the nature of personality or behavioral disorders along with their origins and development process.
5. Discuss About Behavioral Changes
It is a concept about how behavior can be modified or changed..
G. PSYCHODYNAMICS
Psychodynamics is one of the earliest approaches to personality. Sigmund Freud is the pioneer of the psychodynamic approach. The concept explained by Freud is psychoanalysis.
Psychodynamics, especially Freud, views humans as being driven by unconscious forces or the unconscious. Freud explains that human personality consists of three levels, namely conscious, preconscious and unconscious. The conscious level is the outermost level, namely all experiences and sensations felt and realized by humans. According to Freud, the conscious level is a limited level because only a few thoughts, sensations, and memories exist in human consciousness.
The preconscious is a bridge between consciousness and unconsciousness, also called storage. The function of the preconscious is temporary storage for memories, perceptions, and thoughts that we can easily access and appear at this stage of consciousness. An example of preconscious activity is when we forget the name of an old friend, try to remember it, and then succeed in remembering it.
The deepest and broadest level of human personality is the unconscious. The main driver of human behavior is the unconscious, which is a place for various drives, instincts, and desires. The unconscious contains drives that humans cannot see and control. Another concept that is no less important is about the structure of human personality.
There are three personality structures, namely, the id, ego, and superego. The id aspect is at the unconscious level where instincts and libido (psychic energy manifested by instincts) are stored. The id is a strong personality structure because it provides all the energy for the other two components. The main principle of the id is the pleasure principle, namely avoiding pain and wanting to be fulfilled immediately.
8 The ego is the rational aspect of humans, which means it is the aspect that controls and directs drives based on reality. The principle of reality is a principle of fulfillment and expression of drives with acceptable limits. One example of the function of the ego is when we are hungry while still attending class. So, the ego holds back the id in the form of hunger until later during break time.
The superego is the moral aspect of human personality. The content of the superego is the internalization of values that come from parents and society. There are two main components of the superego, namely conscience and ego ideal. Conscience is a behavior that is formed through punishment received during childhood around the age of 5-6 years. The ego ideal contains good and correct behavior that is given, which is marked by behavior that is rewarded.
H. CRITIQUES ON PSYCHODYNAMICS
Some criticisms that have been leveled at psychodynamics are that it is too deterministic, blaming the victim and focusing on pathology and sexual drive. Psychodynamics is seen as deterministic because it sees that development is only determined by the first five years of life.
Personality is considered to have no connection to the future because it is purely shaped by the past. Psychodynamics is considered to tend to blame what happens to someone by themselves.
The research conducted by Freud focused on patients who experienced hysteria so that generalizations could not be made, especially for those who were "normal". Humans, in Freud's view, are nothing more than a collection of sexual drives. Whatever humans do is definitely based on sexual drive. Hope, motivation, or self-actualization are not seen as driving and shaping personality. Another criticism is the validity of Freud's research, which is considered unscientific because there is no evidence that can be provided.
I. SUMMARY
1. Personality includes all the relatively enduring traits or characteristics that give consistency to a person's behavior.
2. A theory is a set of interrelated assumptions that allow scientists to formulate testable hypotheses.
3. Every personality theorist has a concept of humanity, whether implicit or explicit.
9 namely: determinism versus freedom of choice, pessimism versus optimism, causality versus teleology, conscious versus unconscious behavior, biological versus social factors, and uniqueness versus similarity in humans.
J. DISCUSSION
1. What is the definition of personality from a psychological perspective?
2. What are the key concepts in psychodynamics?
3. Explain the criticisms given to psychodynamics!
4. Explain the dimensions of the basic concept of humanity of personality experts!
5. Explain the dimensions of personality according to psychodynamic theory.
K. REFERENCES
Feist, J., Feist, G.J., & Roberts, T. (2017). Teori Kepribadian (edisi kedelapan). Salemba Humanika
Schultz, D. P., & Schultz, S. E. (2005). Theories of personality (Eighth Ed). Thomson.
