Page 20 - Advanced Biblical Counseling Student Textbook

Today psychologists study the basic dimensions of personality, the biological roots of these basic
dimensions, and the interaction of persons and environments. They also study self-esteem, self-serving
bias, and cultural influences on one’s sense of self. And they study the unconscious mind (Myers, 2009).
There are many different approaches to understanding human personality development. We are going
to take a look at summaries of two: the biological approach and the behavioral approach. You will see
as we read that one believes our personality is based in nature and the other believes our personality
develops out of nurture. As you read, think of how God created us and how both biological and
behavioral approaches blend together in us.

The Biological Paradigm of Human Personality
Professors and authors Harry Shields and Gary Bredfeldt wrote a book called “Caring for Souls.” In their
book, they explain, “The biological approach to understanding human personality development places
genetics, hormonal activity, and neurological function as the foundational basis of personality. A
personality paradigm is described as “a way of thinking about people. It is a framework or point of view
as to how human personality develops and functions. A personality paradigm can be identified by the
set of propositional statements. These propositions are held to be true by those who embrace the given
paradigm. The biological paradigm of human personality rests on four such propositions:

“Proposition 1: Individuals are born with a set of personality traits that establish predictable patterns
of responding to the environment and other people. Researchers from the biological perspective begin
with the assumption that temperament traits are inborn, carried in the genes. These tendencies or
predispositions affect how the person will respond to environmental experiences and conditions.
Likewise, they predispose the person to certain kinds of interactions with people. (Using our two-year-
old boys as examples, the biological approach would say Joshua and Steven were born with their
personality traits. They were not learned.)

Proposition 2: These genetic tendencies produce behavioral differences that are rooted in variations
in fundamental physiological processes. Biological psychologists believe that variations in personality
can be traced to variations in brain structure, chemistry, and neurological functioning. They would
contend that the distinction between mind and brain is a false one and that all thoughts, decisions,
feelings, and actions are the result of our biochemistry and the firing of billions of neurons within the
brain.

Proposition 3: Temperamental dispositions persist through childhood and into adulthood. Biological
theorists recognize that temperamental dispositions do change over time, but in general,
temperamental traits are considered highly stable in nature, affecting us throughout our lives.
(Biological approach would say our two-year olds, Joshua and Steven, will have their same personalities
throughout their lives. One will continue to be outgoing, the other will remain timid.)

Proposition 4: Temperamental characteristics affect the way individuals respond to people and things
around them, and conversely, the way others respond to them. This proposition means that we bring
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our temperament traits to the table of life and people react accordingly.” (Imagine how adults and
children would respond to Joshua and Steven. There would be very different reactions to their
temperamental characteristics, and this would reinforce the development of certain personality types.

23 Ibid, p. 146 -150.

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