Page 18 - Biblical Counseling II

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. (The biological approach
would say our two-year-olds, Joshua and Steven, will have the 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 our
temperament traits to the table of life, and people react accordingly” (p. 146 -150). (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. For
example, if Steven were always smiling and happy, adults would react positively to him, reinforcing more
smiling and happy behavior.

We could spend an entire course just studying personality paradigms, but let’s evaluate the biological
approach. What makes sense, and what seems left out? The first piece of evidence for the biological
paradigm is that there are clear connections between the physiology of the brain and personality traits.
Professors Shields and Bredfeldt (2001) share the following story that is well known in the world of
psychology:

16