Limitations of Personality Theories

Psychodynamic

• Based on personal observations
• Difficult to test empirically
• Personality development isn't limited to age based stages

Trait

• Oversimplified classifications of people
• Underestimate socio-cultural and situational factors influence behaviour
• Traits are statistically identified, which can't be generalised to individuals.

Humanistic

• Simplistic, idealistic and vague.
• Difficult to test empirically eg positive self regard and self actualisation hard to operationalise
• Doesn't recognise human capacity for evil eg murder/aggression - unrealistic

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