MURRAY - MURRAY’S IMAGE OF HUMAN NATURE

• Murray gave images of human nature according to his personality theory
• Murray’s Image of Human Nature?

  1. Equilibrium vs. Growth
  2. Free-Will vs. Determinism
  3. Uniqueness vs. Universality
  4. Nature vs. Nurture
  5. Optimism vs. Pessimism
  6. Past vs. Present
• Equilibrium vs. Growth


  Murray gave his viewpoint that ‘growth’ is responsible for shaping our personalities
• Equilibrium vs. Growth


  According to Murray, our goal is not tension-free state but the satisfaction achieved by acting to reduce the tension
• Free-Will vs. Determinism


  Murray explained this issue of human nature by creating a balance between the two
• Free-Will vs. Determinism


  According to him, free-will and determinism both are responsible in shaping our personality
• Free-Will vs. Determinism


  He was of the view that personality is determined by our needs and our environment.
• Free-Will vs. Determinism


  Moreover, he explained that free-will is also responsible for growth and change
• Uniqueness vs. Universality


  There exists a balance between uniqueness and universality according to Murray’s personality theory
• Uniqueness vs. Universality


  He believed that every person is unique, meaning that there are distinct characteristics which are responsible for shaping one’s personality
• Uniqueness vs. Universality


  Also, he was of the view that there exist similarities between all of our personalities
• Nature vs. Nurture


  Murray believed that both nature and nurture are responsible for shaping one’s personality
• Nature vs. Nurture


  He suggested that inherited attributes as well as the environment play an equal role throughout the personality development
• Nature vs. Nurture


  It means we cannot understand human personality unless we accept the impact of physiological forces in our physical, social, and cultural environments
• Optimism vs. Pessimism


  Murray’s view of human nature was optimistic, which means that through positive thinking, we have a hopeful view about the future and we are capable of solving our problems through reasoning, creativity, and imagination
• Optimism vs. Pessimism


  He criticized the psychology that projected a negative image of human beings
• Past vs. Present


  Murray explained this image of human nature by creating a balance between the two
• Past vs. Present


  He was of the view that not only the childhood experiences are responsible for shaping our personality because the childhood complexes affect our development unconsciously, but personality is also determined by present events and aspirations for the future