fei75766_ch12_377-407.indd 405  02/06/20 12:56 PM
Chapter 12    Allport: Psychology of the Individual405
Key Terms and Concepts
•Allport waseclectic inhisacceptance ofideas from avariety ofsources.
•Hedefined personality asthedynamic organization within theindividual 
ofthose psychophysical systems thatdetermine aperson’s behavior and
thought.
•Psychologically healthy people aremotivated largely byconscious processes; 
haveanextended sense ofself;relate warmly toothers; accept themselves 
forwhotheyare;havearealistic perception oftheworld; andpossess 
insight, humor, andaunifying philosophy oflife.
•Allport advocated aproactive position, onethatemphasized thenotion that
people havealarge measure ofconscious control overtheirlives. 
•Common traits aregeneral characteristics heldincommon bymany people. 
They maybeuseful forcomparing onegroup ofpeople withanother.Finally, our freedom can be expanded by our mode of choosing. If we 
stubbornly adhere to a familiar course of action simply because it is more 
comfortable, our freedom remains largely restricted. Conversely, if we adopt 
an open-minded mode of solving problems, then we broaden our perspec -
tive and increase our alternatives; that is, we expand our freedom to choose 
(Allport, 1955). 
Allport’s view of humanity is more teleological  than causal. Personality, 
to some extent, is influenced by past experiences, but the behaviors that 
make us human are those that are motivated by our expectations of the 
future. In other words, we are healthy individuals to the extent that we set 
and seek future purposes and aspirations. Each of us is different from others 
not so much because we have different basic drives, but because we have 
different self-erected goals and intentions.
The growth of personality always takes place within a social setting, 
but Allport placed only moderate emphasis on social factors.  He recognized 
the importance of environmental influences in helping to shape personality, 
but he insisted that personality has some life of its own. Culture can influ -
ence our language, morals, values, fashions, and so forth; but how each of 
us reacts to cultural forces depends on our unique personality and our basic 
motivation. 
In summary, Allport held an optimistic view of humanity, maintaining 
that people have at least limited freedom. Human beings are goal oriented, 
proactive, and motivated by a variety of forces, most of which are within 
their realm of consciousness.  Early childhood experiences are of relatively 
minor importance and are significant only to the extent that they exist in the 
present. Both differences and similarities among people are important, but 
individual differences  and uniqueness receive far greater emphasis in All -
port’s psychology.Final PDF to printer