A third bipolar trait is humble-assertive. A person manifesting the first
extreme of the trait will tend to be passive, easily controlled by others, and lack
self-confidence in social relationships. A person manifesting the opposite
extreme of the trait will tend to be a leader, influence others, and have quite a bit
of self-confidence in social relationships. Cattell’s map of the human personality
continues in this manner until, as already indicated, sixteen bipolar traits are
identified.(a) According to Cattell’s research, how many factors describe the human personality?(b) A person tends to be deeply hurt by a criticism and becomes depressed easily. Another
person tends to seldom experience prolonged states of anxiety or depression. What
bipolar trait is associated with these two extremes?
Answers: (a) Sixteen; (b) Affected by feelings–emotionally stable.Freud’s Theory: The Three Faces of You
As earlier noted, type-trait theories are of interest primarily because of their
descriptive powers, not because of the explanations they offer for the existence
of personality traits. On the other hand, Freud’s theory of personality is of inter-
est primarily because it focuses on the processes involved in the expression and
shaping of the human personality. Freud’s theory, proposed in the early part of
the twentieth century, has been highly influential, particularly among psy-
chotherapists.
According to Freud, there are three parts to the human personality: (1) the id,
(2) the ego, and (3) the superego. The idis inborn, and it is present at birth. It is
the psychological expression of the biological drives such as hunger, thirst, the
need for sleep, and so forth. The word idis derived from Latin, and means simply
“it.” In other words, the “it” of the human personality is not uniquely individual.
It is impersonal and roughly similar in all of us. The id is present in the infant, and
Freud said it follows the pleasure principle,indicating that the id seeks relief
from hunger, thirst, and other irritating states. Although the id is present at birth,
it never departs. It is as much a part of the adult personality as the personality of
the child.
The egoemerges with experience. It arises because of various frustrations and
the need to cope with the world as it is, not as it is wished to be. The word egois
also derived from Latin, and means simply “I.” The ego, or the “I” of the per-
sonality, follows the reality principle,suggesting that the ego helps the individ-
ual tolerate frustration and devise ways around obstacles to gratification. The ego
takes form around the age of two or three. Like the id, it too will become a part
of the adult personality.196 PSYCHOLOGY