1) When completing this theoretical evaluation self-test resource, thoughtfully consider and respond to each prompt as it will determine which human nature dimension and theoretical perspective you most associate with.
2) review the Human Nature Dimensions and post a reflection regarding your survey results. Your reflection should be 1-2 paragraphs in length. In your post, identify the theoretical orientation you most agree with, as well as your beliefs on the following human nature dimensions:
Determinism versus free choice
Pessimism versus optimism
Causality versus teleology
Importance of conscious versus unconscious determinants of behavior
Biological versus social influences on personality
Uniqueness versus similarities
HUMAN NATURE DEMENSIONS
Determinism versus free choice. Are peoples behaviors determined by forces over which they have no control, or can people choose to be what they wish to be? Although the dimension of determinism versus free will is more philosophical than scientific, the position theorists take on this issue shapes their way of looking at people and colors their concept of humanity.
Pessimism versus optimism. Are people doomed to live miserable, conflicted, and troubled lives, or can they change and grow into psychologically healthy, happy, fully functioning human beings? In general, personality theorists who believe in determinism tend to be pessimistic, whereas those who believe in free choice are usually optimistic.
Causality versus teleology. Briefly, causality holds that behavior is a function of past experiences, whereas teleology is an explanation of behavior in terms of future goals or purposes. Do people act as they do because of what has happened to them in their past, or do they act as they do because they have certain expectations of what will happen in the future?
Importance of conscious versus unconscious determinants of behavior. Are people ordinarily aware of what they are doing and why they are doing it, or do unconscious forces impinge on them and drive them to act without awareness of these underlying forces?
Biological versus social influences on personality. Are people mostly creatures of biology, or are their personalities shaped largely by their social relationships? A more specific element of this issue is heredity versus environment; that is, are personal characteristics more the result of heredity, or are they environmentally determined?
Uniqueness versus similarities. Is the salient feature of people their individuality, or is it their common characteristics? Should the study of personality concentrate on those traits that make people alike, or should it look at those traits that make people different?
