THE HISTORY OF PERSONALITY

OVERVIEW

Personality psychology consists of two related activities. The first — a personality theory is a semi-philosophical attempt to conceptualize human nature; the second — a personality assessment is a practical exercise that uses psychometric procedures to: (a) predict significant life outcomes (occupational performance); and (b) provide people with feedback to assist their personal and professional development. Here we trace the history of personality psychology from the early theorists to its emergence as a force in the world of business.

Personality psychology begins with the development of psychiatry in France and Germany in the 19th century: prominent names include Jean-Martin Charcot (known as the Napoleon of the Neuroses) and Sigmund Freud (founder of psychoanalysis). Psychiatry set the tone for personality psychology until after W.W. II. That is, for about 70 years personality theory concerned the origins of dysfunctional behavior, and personality assessment concerned efforts to forecast or diagnose dysfunctional behavior (the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory MMPI, became the most widely used personality measure in the world).

After W.W. II, stimulated by humanistic psychology (Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers, and Gordon Allport), personality theory increasingly focused on the origins of maturity. Stimulated by the development of factor analysis and high speed computers, personality assessment became increasingly focused on analyzing the structure of normal personality. Hogan Assessment Systems is a continuation of these trends. Socioanalytic theory is our effort to provide a conceptual account of individual differences in career success (i.e., in the ability to get along and get ahead). The suite of Hogan Assessment Systems' assessments is designed to forecast career success and to provide people with developmental feedback so as to enhance their careers.