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THE PERSONALITY THEORIES: A PRELIMINARY SKETCH - Behaviorism

A. Behaviorism is described.
B. The differences in personality are not explained.
C. The units of analysis of previous theories are discussed.
D. Biological foundations of personality are outlined.

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User Bingo
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

The behaviorist perspective, represented by figures like B. F. Skinner, emphasizes that personality is shaped through environmental reinforcements and punishments, with no inherent biological determinism. I

Step-by-step explanation:

The behaviorist perspective of personality is based on the idea that behaviors and personality traits are not inherently inborn but are largely learned through interactions with the environment.

A notable proponent of behaviorism, B. F. Skinner, posited that the environment solely influences behavior, opposing the notion that personality traits are predetermined by biology. Skinner believed that through reinforcements and punishments, individuals develop consistent behavior patterns over their lifetime.

Contrary to behaviorism, other perspectives like the humanistic and biological approaches provide different insights into personality development. Biological theorists, such as the Eysencks, focus on genetically based personality differences, suggesting that our temperament and personality dimensions may be largely governed by our biological makeup.

This view establishes a clear distinction between behaviorism's environmental focus and biological perspectives on personality development.

Ultimately, the study of personality is enriched by various perspectives exemplified by different schools of thought within psychology, each contributing unique theories and findings to our understanding of human behavior.

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