Abstract
For many years, the argument over which perspective on personality is the more valid has been debated. Two of the more apposed parties have been the dispositional and humanistic perspectives. The dispositional perspective has long argued for a biological account of traits. This can then be associated with predictable personalities which in turn govern certain behavioural tendencies. The humanistic perspective on the other hand refuses to believe that people's traits, personalities and overall behaviours are pre-determined. A strong believer of free will, the humanistic perspective has always argued that despite environmental and biological factors, people have the ability to act and change in ways that they themselves govern. Thiss essay set out to look at the two arguments by looking at several well known philosophical issues from the two perspectives. Although there was no one better argument over the debate, each perspective provided good points to suppost their views. In the end, it was suggested the the answer may not lie in one single explanation of personality, but perhaps a coilition between the two perspectives.
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