fei75766_ch12_377-407.indd 387  02/06/20 12:56 PM
Chapter 12    Allport: Psychology of the Individual387
dispositions. Interperson comparisons areinappropriate topersonal dispositions, and
anyattempt tomake suchcomparison transforms thepersonal dispositions intocom-
montraits (Allport, 1961).
Motivational and Stylistic Dispositions
Allpersonal dispositions aredynamic inthesense thattheyhavemotivational power. 
Nevertheless, some aremuch more strongly feltthanothers, andAllport called these 
intensely experienced dispositions  motivational dispositions. These strongly feltdispo -
sitions receive theirmotivation from basic needs anddrives. Allport (1961) referred 
topersonal dispositions thatarelessintensely experienced asstylistic dispositions, 
eventhough these dispositions possess some motivational power. Stylistic disposi -
tions guide action, whereas motivational dispositions initiate action. Anexample of
astylistic disposition might beneatandimpeccable personal appearance. People are
motivated todress because ofabasic need tostaywarm, butthemanner inwhich 
theyattire themselves isdetermined bytheirstylistic personal dispositions. Motiva -
tional dispositions aresomewhat similar toMaslow’s concept ofcoping behavior, 
whereas stylistic dispositions aresimilar toMaslow’s ideaofexpressive behavior (see
Chapter 9).
Unlike Maslow, whodrew aclear linebetween coping andexpressive behaviors, 
Allport sawnodistinct division between motivational andstylistic personal disposi -
tions. Although some dispositions areclearly stylistic, others areobviously based ona
strongly feltneed andarethusmotivational. Politeness, forexample, isastylistic dis-
position, whereas eating ismore motivational. How people eat(their style) depends at
leastpartially onhowhungry theyare,butitalsodepends onthestrength oftheirsty-
listicdispositions. Ausually polite buthungry person mayforego manners while eat-
ingalone, butifthepoliteness disposition isstrong enough andifothers arepresent, 
thenthefamished person mayeatwithetiquette andcourtesy despite being famished.
Proprium
Whether motivational orstylistic, some personal dispositions areclose tothecoreof
personality, whereas others aremore ontheperiphery. Those thatareatthecenter of
personality areexperienced bytheperson asbeing animportant partofself.They are
characteristics thatanindividual refers toinsuchterms as“That isme”or“This ismine.” 
Allcharacteristics thatare“peculiarly mine” belong totheproprium (Allport, 1955).
Allport usedthetermproprium torefertothose behaviors andcharacteristics 
thatpeople regard aswarm, central, andimportant intheirlives. Theproprium isnot
thewhole personality, because many characteristics andbehaviors ofaperson arenot
warm andcentral; rather, theyexistontheperiphery ofpersonality. These nonpropri -
atebehaviors include (1)basic drives andneeds thatareordinarily metandsatisfied 
without much difficulty; (2)tribal customs suchaswearing clothes, saying “hello” to
people, anddriving ontherightsideoftheroad; and(3)habitual behaviors, suchas
smoking orbrushing one’s teeth, thatareperformed automatically andthatarenot
crucial totheperson’s sense ofself.
Asthewarm center ofpersonality, theproprium includes those aspects oflifethat
aperson regards asimportant toasense ofself-identity andself-enhancement (Allport, 
1955). Theproprium includes aperson’s values aswellasthatpartoftheconscience Final PDF to printer