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Part IV    Dispositional Theories382
awarded theDistinguished Scientific Contribution Award oftheAPA; andin1966, he
washonored asthefirstRichard Clarke Cabot Professor ofSocial Ethics atHarvard. 
OnOctober 9,1967, Allport, aheavy smoker, diedoflungcancer.
Allport’s Approach  
to Personality Theory
Answers tothree interrelated questions reveal Allport’s approach topersonality theory: 
(1)What ispersonality? (2)What istheroleofconscious motivation inpersonality the-
ory?(3)What arethecharacteristics ofthepsychologically healthy person?
What Is Personality?
Fewpsychologists havebeen aspainstaking andexhaustive asAllport indefining 
terms. Hispursuit ofadefinition ofpersonality isclassic. Hetraced theetymology 
oftheword persona backtoearly Greek roots, including theOldLatin andEtrus -
canmeanings. AswesawinChapter 1,theword “personality” probably comes from 
persona, which refers tothetheatrical mask usedinancient Greek drama byRoman 
actors during thefirstandsecond centuries B.C.E. After tracing thehistory oftheterm, 
Allport spelled out49definitions ofpersonality asusedintheology, philosophy, law,
sociology, andpsychology. Hethenoffered a50thdefinition, which in1937 was“the 
dynamic organization within the individual of those psychophysical systems that deter -
mine his unique adjustments to his environment” (Allport, 1937, p.48).In1961, hehad
changed thelastphrase toread“that determine his characteristic behavior and thought” 
(Allport, 1961, p.28).Thechange wassignificant andreflected Allport’s penchant 
foraccuracy. By1961, herealized thatthephrase “adjustments tohisenvironment” 
could imply thatpeople merely adapt totheirenvironment. Inhislaterdefinition, All-
portconveyed theideathatbehavior isexpressive aswellasadaptive. People notonly
adjust totheirenvironment butalsoreflect onitandinteract withitinsuchawayas
tocause theirenvironment toadjust tothem.
Allport chose eachphrase ofhisdefinition carefully sothateachword conveys 
precisely what hewanted tosay.Thetermdynamic organization implies anintegration 
orinterrelatedness ofthevarious aspects ofpersonality. Personality isorganized and
patterned. However, theorganization isalways subject tochange: hence, thequalifier 
“dynamic.” Personality isnotastatic organization; itisconstantly growing orchang -
ing.Thetermpsychophysical emphasizes theimportance ofboththepsychological 
andthephysical aspects ofpersonality.
Another word inthedefinition thatimplies action isdetermine, which suggests 
that“personality issomething anddoessomething” (Allport, 1961, p.29).Inother 
words, personality isnotmerely themask wewear, norisitsimply behavior. Itrefers 
totheindividual behind thefacade, theperson behind theaction.
Bycharacteristic, Allport wished toimply “individual” or“unique.” Theword 
“character” originally meant amarking orengraving, terms thatgiveflavor towhat 
Allport meant by“characteristic.” Allpersons stamp theirunique mark orengraving 
ontheirpersonality, andtheircharacteristic behavior andthought setthem apart 
from allother people. Characteristics aremarked withaunique engraving, astamp Final PDF to printer