fei75766_ch12_377-407.indd 392  02/06/20 12:56 PM
Part IV    Dispositional Theories392
somewhat  different fromtheprevious one.Newproblems mayleadhertoseeknew
goals andtosethigher levels ofaspiration.
Processes That Are Not Functionally Autonomous
Functional autonomy isnotanexplanation forallhuman motivation. Allport (1961) 
listed eightprocesses thatarenotfunctionally autonomous: (1)biological drives, such
aseating, breathing, andsleeping; (2)motives directly linked tothereduction ofbasic 
drives; (3)reflex actions suchasaneyeblink; (4)constitutional equipment, namely, phy-
sique, intelligence, andtemperament; (5)habits intheprocess ofbeing formed; (6)pat-
terns ofbehavior thatrequire primary reinforcement; (7)sublimations thatcanbetiedto
childhood sexual desires; and(8)some neurotic orpathological symptoms.
Theeighth process (neurotic orpathological symptoms) mayormaynot
involve functionally autonomous motives. Foranexample ofacompulsive symptom 
thatwasnotfunctionally autonomous, Allport (1961) offered thecaseofa12-year-
oldgirlwhohadadisturbing habit ofsmacking herlipsseveral times aminute. This
habit hadbegun about 8years earlier when thegirl’s mother toldherthatwhen she
inhaled itwasgood airandwhen sheexhaled itwasbadair.Because thegirlbelieved 
thatshehadmade theairbadbybringing itout,shedecided tokissittomake itwell.
Asherhabit continued, sherepressed thereason forhercompulsion andcontinued 
“kissing” thebadair,abehavior thattooktheform ofsmacking herlips.Thisbehav -
iorwasnotfunctionally autonomous, buttheresult ofacompulsive need tokeep
good airfrom becoming badair.
Allport suggested acriterion fordifferentiating between afunctionally autono -
mous compulsion andonethatisnot.Forexample, compulsions thatcanbeelimi -
nated through therapy orbehavior modification arenotfunctionally autonomous, 
whereas those thatareextremely resistant totherapy areself-sustaining andthus
functionally autonomous. When therapy allowed the12-year-old girltodiscover the
reason forherhabit, shewasabletostopsmacking herlips.Ontheother hand, some 
pathological symptoms serve acontemporary lifestyle andarefunctionally autono -
mous from earlier experiences thatinstigated thepathology. Forexample, asecond-
bornchild’s attempts toovertake hisolder brother maychange intoacompulsive 
lifestyle, onemarked byunconscious strivings toovertake ordefeat allrivals. Because 
suchadeep-seated neurosis isprobably notamenable totherapy, itmeets Allport’s 
criterion forbeing functionally autonomous.
The Study of the Individual
Because psychology hashistorically dealt withgeneral lawsandcharacteristics that
people haveincommon, Allport repeatedly advocated thedevelopment andtheuseof
research methods thatstudy theindividual. Tobalance thepredominant normative 
orgroup approach, hesuggested thatpsychologists employ methods thatstudy the
motivational andstylistic behaviors ofoneperson.
Morphogenic Science
Early inhiswritings, Allport distinguished between twoscientific approaches: the
nomothetic, which seeks general laws, andtheidiographic, which refers tothatwhich isFinal PDF to printer