Question 76

The actualizing tendency is the primary motivation of personality.

Humanistic theories of personality emphasize the actualizing tendency, which suggests that individuals have an inherent drive to realize their full potential and develop themselves. This concept is central to the understanding of personality within this theoretical framework.

A) Poor aspects of personality are explained by moral disengagement.

This statement is incorrect as it pertains more to social cognitive theories and not specifically to humanistic theories. Humanistic psychology focuses on positive growth and self-actualization, rather than attributing poor personality traits to moral disengagement.

B) The actualizing tendency is the primary motivation of personality.

This statement is correct as it directly aligns with the core principles of humanistic theories of personality. The actualizing tendency is viewed as the fundamental motivation that drives individuals towards personal growth and fulfillment.

C) The first stage of personality development is delay of gratification.

This option is incorrect because it is more aligned with behavioral and cognitive theories rather than humanistic ones. Humanistic theories do not categorize personality development into specific stages in the same way that other theories do.

D) Personality can be described in terms of underlying source traits.

This statement is incorrect as it reflects trait theories, such as those proposed by Cattell or Eysenck. Humanistic theories focus on the individual's subjective experience rather than categorizing personality into fixed traits.

Conclusion

The actualizing tendency is a defining characteristic of humanistic theories, highlighting the focus on personal growth and self-fulfillment. Other options either misrepresent the core ideas of humanistic psychology or align more closely with different psychological theories, thus reaffirming that B is the most accurate statement regarding humanistic theories of personality.