Allport's Motivation, Functional Autonomy and Study of the Individual - Essay Example

Allport’s Motivation, Functional Autonomy, and Study of the Individual Essay

According to Allport, states that considerations exist in motives as it changes when one grows old. All assume that people gain motivation by new drives and needs. The theory reckons the urge in people in their present lives rather than events in their past lives. It further states that people functionally have an understanding of the things they carry out and its importance.

A motivational theory of reactive and proactive comes forward. He states that adult behavior can both be proactive and reactive. It is through the motivational theory that it brings to light both cases.

Allport suggests that proactive behavior is a product of personality. The theory views people as conscious beings interacting together in a manner that allows for growth and mental health.

An inclusive theory pushes to include more light for further reactive theories. It calls for the use of other proactive theories that makes the changes happening. The main argument draws its source from a personal connection. Behavioral patterns are delved into deeper. Another focal point for the study deals with growth.

The basis for the reactive theory by Allport expounds that the interaction between people and nature in general. On the one hand, people tend to react to the environment, while on the other hand, they tend to shape the environment while eliciting a reaction. He emphasizes on the use of psychoanalysis and animal behavioral patterns in understanding the interaction further. The main suggestion that elicits a reaction from people in their natural state that helps in reducing the rising tension. A person makes the cross changing nature for the rising motion.

Functional autonomy is another aspect that informs the motivation theory. It forms part of the criticisms of his theory. His explanation gives the meaning that motives and their needs to push all human beings. The motives do not measure up to bring out the perspective that drives the reducing principles. The principles shed light on the part of the motives that come out as functionally independent of the initial motive in charge of eliciting a specific behavior.

Some motives which steer away from the functional autonomy includes the recurrent behaviors and basic drives. In case a motive is functionally autonomous, it can explain particular behavior. Digging deeper into the motive will reveal the primary cause of the behavior. Allport’s concept that circles around motivation is captured through the functional autonomous working that states the changing phase compared to the unchanging states.

Allport formed two aspects of functional autonomy. The first level was the perseverative functional autonomy. This implied the likelihood of certain behaviors showing up with the need for reinforcements to bring them out. The use of the word ‘Perseverative’ by Allport was intentional, implying the glued effect of an impression and its influences on one’s experiences. You can find its application of fully autonomous in living creatures with its basis solely depending on neurological principles. A more practical approach to these perseverative behaviors is addiction.

The second step is to propriate functionally autonomous. It is the motivational mastery that captures the entire unity of one’s personality. It touches on a self-sustaining motive, which all relate to the specific propium. For instance, the application of the propriate functional autonomy is when a person decides to pursue their interests that have meaning in their lives.

The basis for the functional autonomy sets several motives used in bringing new concepts that define our seeking of new goals. Therefore, it means behaviors bred as a result of functional autonomous persist even after the motivation changes.

The functional unit can be described through eight distinct processes that underlie the autonomous behaviors witnessed in living creatures. This includes the biological motive dictated by nature. Other related motives cause a reduction in personal drives. An example is how a person responds to a change in temperature. It forms a fundamental reaction concerning how others view a person.

The sixth process is part of habits under process. We have sublimations as a result of bad childhood experiences. Lastly, we have either the neurotic or pathological signs. Allport put forward criteria in defining whether one is a fully functionally autonomous compulsion or if it is not. He gave an example of a compulsion that can be eliminated as a result of therapy or modifications of behavior. This type of compulsion does not fall under the functionally autonomous. Other types of compulsion which are self-sustaining in nature and cannot be eliminated by therapy are functionally autonomous.

Allport had a hard time differentiating the notion of the conscious and related unconscious motive. Allport is known for his contribution to conscious motivation in his works. However, he also left space for further analysis of unconscious related motive. Quite often, the unconscious nature of the motives is as a result of a string of recurrent behaviors. Human beings still hold the power to control their behaviors.

Allport is known for always trying new means that place a focal point on a specific individual rather than the overall groups. Some push emanates from the foundation of history that created a larger attraction to studying characteristics that were common in groups. Allport suggested for functionally balancing between the normative and group research through the use of stylistic and motivational methods.

Another accomplishment by Allport included functionally distinguishing research between the two scientific approaches in morphogenic science. Earlier science largely depended on the use of nomothetic science. This draws data from basic laws functionally touched on a group of individuals. It defined an idiographic that used is different from the individual cases. Allport remarked that the word ‘idiographic’ was misused on most occasions as this led to the use of morphogenic procedures. The use of morphogenic procedures was functionally precise and included the study of the entire organism with its properties. The morphogenic procedures allowed for the use of intraperson comparisons with others. The process involved the use of self-reports to find value.

1930 marked a transition when Allport received a diary from one Marion Taylor that contained personal documents. Allport knew much of this information contained in the documents, but it was not published on behalf of the account of Taylor. The use of the information contained in the document went a long way in publishing the second case, which shaded more light.

Allport also received a series of documents relating to the matter, which he further analyzed and published under the name of Jenny. The work painted Allport’s depiction of Morphogenic science in a good light. It gave a distinctive definition of the pattern exhibited in a person’s behaviors. His former scholars, Sir, further expounded the subject. Baldwin and Paige, through the use of a personal and factor analysis. He used Jenny’s report while structuring it using the common sense personality factor. Each of the methods employed has similar results, thus ascertaining that morphogenic science could still be reliable.

He assumed that religious orientation marked an exponential growth in people. However, he noted that regular churchgoers were not purely religious and could exhibit a high level of prejudice, both socially and racially. The religious orientation research revealed a deep-rooted study that existed pitching attendees and committing profiling.

The new orientation revelation compelled him to form a religious orientation basis. The new religious orientation scale evaluated the intrinsic orientation and extrinsic religious orientation of people with their inclination towards religion. The results from religious orientation study show a high-level inclination towards prejudice by people who showed extrinsic religious orientation. The people in this group exhibited a low affiliation to profiling instances with the intrinsic group inclined to religious orientation.

A form of orientation for intrinsic beings is through religious motiving to accomplish a set of goals. The goals are set by the religion which members adopt. The extrinsic version for the orientation implies personal motivation during orientation to comply with religious behaviors. The group partakes in religious acts until they feel comfort or protection in achieving social status. The results further revealed religious people showing added marks with the intrinsic scale to have a higher affinity.

The group had a superior level of functioning in comparison to the subjected extrinsic group judging by the religious indicator. Allport’s motivation, functional autonomy, and study of the individual essay showed the intrinsic affiliated subgroup had better mental functioning. The other group whose orientation showed a low level of extrinsic traits in the religious scene came second.