The personality formation theory of Gordon Allport, with its focus on the unique nature of each individual, is most valid from my perspective, since it basically views human beings as motivated by primarily conscious drives. AllportÆs positive view of human personality also embraces the belief that individuals have the potential for proactive action, something that permits them to consciously strive toward new ways of being that manifest healthy growth and development. C`lled ôpropriate functioning,ö Allport defined healthy human functioning as ôproactive, future-oriented, and psychological,ö i.e. his view of the self (Boeree, 1998, p. 2). From this foundation, Allport maintained that the self has seven functions or tasks that tend to occur at specific periods in oneÆs lifecycle: sense of body, self-identity, self-esteem, self-extension, self-image, rational coping, and propriate striving (Boeree, 1998, p. 2).
Because of human uniqueness, biological desires, and the tendency of psychoanalytical and behavioral theories of personality development to exclude humanism, I believe AllportÆs theory to be more valid. Allport contends that the healthy personality is driven by a desire to change his or her environment and to strive toward mental health. In this manner, people are reactive and proactive but those with greater psychological health tend to exhibit more proactive behavior. As Winter (1997, p. 730) explains, AllportÆs theory of personality is ôoften called a theory of the mature, normal personality.ö
Allport maintains there are certain criteria that an individual must embody to characterize psychological health, like satisfying relations with others, a realistic outlook of self and the world, and capacity for insight and humor. These and other qualities lead to psychological health. Instead of seeing individuals as ôsickö and ôvictimsö of environment and past experience, this theory views huma
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