There are nearly seven billion people on this earth. For every individual, a different interpretation can be made on each personality. Vast ranges of traits and behaviors across innumerable cultures make Personality Theory among the most complex studies of the world. Yet, from these intricate patterns of behavior come key concepts to our human nature. Through the detailed science of personality study, we can better understand the relationships that shape our environment. By analyzing AZ from varying perspectives, we can gain a clearer picture of his personality.
AZ is a socially awkward middle aged man. While he prides himself on being an intellectual with an interest in science and history, he lacks interpersonal skills in social settings. Much like the character Michael Scott in “The Office,” AZ will often say inappropriate and awkward things, but without the quirky humor of Steve Carell. His arrogance and lack of social grace make AZ the perfect candidate for personality study.
For decades, researchers have narrowed the spectrum of personal behaviors down to three basic personality types. Spanning numerous studies and varying demographics, these three types can be referred to as 1. Well-adjusted 2. Inhibited and 3. Undercontrolled (Caspi and Silva, 1995, p. 66). While studies refer to each construct in different terms, these basic personalities have been found in every culture. In an empirical study, Eva C. Klohnen of University of California, Berkeley defines the first construct (“Well-adjusted” as termed by Caspi) as Ego-Resilient (Klohnen, 1996, p. 70). Klohnen (1996) states that, “ER refers to the general capacity for flexible and resourceful adaptation to external and internal stressors (p. 70).” This is a generally well-adjusted person who can handle stress and adjust to life’s challenges. Klohnen (1996) would argue that AZ is not an Ego-Resilient personality type, because of how he handles situations that aren’t going his way. If an argument occurs, AZ will usually begin yelling and then storm off. Often he will sit for hours in front of the TV with a silent glare, just to prove he is upset. A well-adjusted adult would face arguments with rationality and respect for the other person. By being disrespectful and inflexible in his point of view, he is not displaying characteristics of Ego-Resilients (aka Well-adjusted). Perhaps he fits into another of the two constructs: Inhibited or Undercontrolled.
Inhibited personality types tend to be shyer and “too uptight” (Funder, 2007, p. 211). Avshalom Caspi (2003) further explains this construct in a study linking children’s behavior to their later adult personalities:
When observed at age 3, children classified as Inhibited (8% of
the sample) were shy, fearful, and socially ill at ease. At age 26, they
were characterized by an overcontrolled and nonassertive personality
style; they expressed little desire to exert influence over others
and reported taking little pleasure in life.… As adults,
Inhibited children appear to be the kind of people who fail to take
on the world in ways that will produce joy (p. 71).
While Caspi’s analysis that Inhibited people fail to produce joy in the world may be a little exaggerated, AZ does exhibit many Inhibited characteristics. AZ tends to be introverted and uncomfortable in social situations. Though his profession requires “glad handing,” or shaking hands and making small talk at work functions, AZ has been described as “not a people-person” by co-workers. Undercontrolled personalities can be considered the exact opposite. They are chaotic and impulsive, while Inhibited people such as AZ are controlled and reserved (Funder, 2007, p. 213). According to these three classifications, AZ fits neatly in the Inhibited construct.
While Caspi and Klohnen can define AZ as a specific personality type, other researchers can give a deeper understanding behind AZ’s behavior. Alfred Adler, a Freud revisionist, proposed the concept of “Organ inferiority (Funder, 2007, p. 378).” Eva Dreikurs Ferguson (1989) elaborates on Adler’s idea of organ inferiority, stating that it refers to an adult’s overcompensation in an area in which he felt weak in as a child (Ferguson, 1989, p. 45). AZ is the fourth of five siblings, and was often ignored as a child. He was not given the privileges his older siblings enjoyed, nor was he the doted upon baby of the family. On a family vacation at around age 6 or 7, his family left him at a gas station. He recalls running after the car and being terrified they wouldn’t come back for him. His family instantly realized he was missing and went back, but AZ has never recovered from being forgotten. Alder would suggest that this created immense organ inferiority, and that is why AZ strives to be seen as important in his adult life. He is executive vice president in his company and is an active board member for his community. This strong, leader image he portrays to the world is incredibly important to him, perhaps to compensate for going unnoticed as a child.
Although Caspi’s Inhibited construct defines AZ quite well, Adler’s description of organ inferiority gives a better picture of AZ’s personality. It gives deeper reasoning behind AZ’s behavior. Instead of merely saying AZ is introverted and controlled, Alder pinpoints why AZ feels the need to control his life now, whereas he couldn’t as a child. While all the facets of AZ’s behavior can be explained through many different theories, Adler and Caspi both give a perfect overview of AZ’s traits and how they fit into the world.
Works Cited
Caspi, A. and Silva, P.A. (1995). Temperamental qualities at age 3 predict personality traits in young adulthood: Longitudinal evidence from a birth cohort. Child Development, 66, 486-498.
Caspi, A., Harrington, H., Milne, B., Amell, J., Theodore, R., & Moffitt, T. (2003, August). Children’s Behavioral Styles at Age 3 Are Linked to Their Adult Personality Traits at Age 26. Journal of Personality, 71(4), 495-513.
Ferguson, E. (1989, September). Adler’s motivational theory: An historical perspective on belonging and the fundamental human striving. Individual Psychology: Journal of Adlerian Theory, Research & Practice, 45(3), 354-361.
Funder, D. C. (2007). The Personality Puzzle. New York: W. W. Norton & Company. 211-213
Klohnen, E. (1996, May). Conceptual analysis and measurement of the construct of ego-resiliency. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 70(5), 1067-1079.
