Behavioral and Animalistic Essay

Biological and Humanistic Approaches Personality Assessment


C Griffin


Psy/250


March 15, 2012


Debra Julian



Biological and Humanistic Approaches Personality Assessment










  Introduction
  The day has come for the expectant mother to finally take a peek at the life growing in her womb. The father is hoping that he or she doesn’t have his nose, and the mother is hoping that he is a she! Finally the moment comes and there appears on the screen a beautiful baby. However, no amount of technology could predict what that child’s personality will be like once he or she is born into the world. This is a great mystery upon which many great psychologists have formed several theories, preformed numerous tests, and wrote endless books about. While there are many, the focus lies on the humanistic and biological approach to personality. Although each focuses on different factors, both theories give great insight into the human personality and why we become who we become in life. In this paper, the biological and humanistic approaches will be compared to one another, viewed in contrast, and in explained in relation to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.

Compare and Contrast

Biological Approach vs. Humanistic Approach to Personality

Biological Approach
To Agree or Disagree? That is the Question.
In the biological approach, James Watson stated we inherit our personality through DNA (M. 2009).   This is a factor that I feel I can agree with and holds to be somewhat true. When we are born, many of the characteristics that we eventually begin to display are based upon the traits found in the DNA of our parents according to the biological approach to personality For example, my children are both avid readers, love to learn, and they love to talk. These are specific characteristics of my personality that are prevalent and have been since I was younger.   Also this approach biology effects personality through the physical environments in...