24 C H APT ER PSYCHOLOGY OF PETSSONALITY.

Pa INTRODUCTION TO THE DISCIPLINE 25

personality theories. For instance, it is central to Freud's concept of the id, the
inherited basic component of personality that is fixed in the constitution of the
individual.
Environmentalism is also no newcomer to the thinking of psychologists. Wat -
son's emphasis on basic processes of conditioning or learning is based on the
underlying premise that environment is of monumental importance in shaping
human behavior. In fact. the study of learning is regarded as so important
precisely because it is the psychological process through which the environment
molds behavior. A long and distinguished list of contributors to psychology
preceded that point of view; an equally distinguished group of psychologists
followed, and in various ways, developed its implications. These implications for
personality are most clearly seen in contemporary behavioristic learning theory.
although behaviorism has no monopoly on environmentalism in personality the -
ory. Traces of environmentalism can be found in practically all personality theo -
ries.
What arc some of the consequences of a personologist leaning toward one or
the other side of the constitutionalism-environmentalism dimension? A theorist Is maternal care a result et bio
who is inclined toward constitutionalism will tend to see human nature more as a logical facicts or environmental
product of internal physical forces than external environmental agents (e.g., Jane inouences. or both? The position
and John are highly aggressive because they have strong ids or because aggression that personality theOriStS take on
this nature-nurture issue shapes
is an inherited trait). While the theorist may acknowledge some environmental
their cencelfbons of humandy.
influences upon behavior, the concepts she constructs to describe personality will (Joel Gordon)
reflect a constitutional presupposition. In contradistinction, the theorist who leans
toward environmentalism will view human nature as much more subject to en -
vironmental whim (e.g.. Jane and John are highly aggressive because of their past
conditioning histories—in essence, their environments made them that way). An ment of personality? Or are the surface changes that we observe in ourselves and
environmentally inclined personologist will reflect this perspective and, in addi - other people merely that—superficial changes in behavior that occur while the
tion, will focus on the learning processes through which the environment presum - basic underlying personality structure remains unalterable and intact? Like the
ably affects personality development. other basic assumptions. differences among personologists on this issue are also
reflected in the different emphases of their respective theories.
As noted earlier, most definitions of personality stress a life history, or devel -
Finally, it must be recognized that almost all psychologists today adopt an
opmental. perspective. The changeability-unchangeability assumption addresses
interactionist position on this assumption (Blass. 1984: Kihlstrom. 1987; Magnus -
the question of how much fundamental change in personality can actually take
son, 1981). From this vantage point. human behavior is viewed as always resulting
place throughout a lifetime. Even theorists within the same broad tradition in
from the interaction of constitution with environment, e.g.. a given constitutional
personology can be found to be at odds with one another on this issue. For
factor operates differently under dissimilar environmental circumstances: an en -
example. both Freud and Erikson represent the psychodynamic tradition within
vironmental influence differs in effect depending upon the constitution of the
personality theory, yet they profoundly disagree on this basic assumption.
person on whom it is operating. However, for our purposes, constitution will be
conceptually separated from environment so that the precise role of each in a Erikson (1982) assumes a much greater degree of changeability in personality
theorist's thinking can be more clearly understood. than did Freud. Emphasizing that life is constant change, he depicts persons as
necessarily moving through developmental stages, each of which is earmarked by
a particular psychosocial crisis. Depending on the manner in which people resolve
Changeability - Unchangeability
these crises, their personality development will proceed in either a favorable or an
unfavorable direction. In sharp contrast. Freud 11925) portrayed the basic char -
The basic issue involved in this assumption is the degree to which the individual is
acter structure of individuals as being fixed by the experiences of early childhood.
seen as capable of fundamental change throughout life. Simply stated, to what
While superficial behavior changes take place throughout life, the underlying
extent can an individual's basic personality make-up over time really change?
character structure remains largely unaltered. For Freud, substantive change in
Furthermore. is basic change a necessary component in the evolution or develop-

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