Interpersonal and Systemic Theories of Personality

Abstract

Explores a constellation of approaches that share the basic concept that the self is a product of social experience. H. S. Sullivan addressed factors such as anxiety and mothering, and their impact on the development of the self. The family therapy movement identified family interaction as the source of personality disturbance and focus of intervention. The chapter covers systems theory, the philosophical basis of this movement and various theories within this movement. It concludes with an examination of the recent influence of social constructionism. The inclusion of concepts such as socialization and enculturation as areas of interest for these theoretical approaches brings cultural considerations into the discussion of personality. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved)