PAS Seminar Session 1 - Introduction and Single Dimension Behaviors Part 1 Intellectual Dimeinsion

pasc1-01-1

A system of individual differences.
The scientific point of view looks for what is the same about people.

The other half is ideographic point of view - how we differ.

Current point of view is that we have interaction between 
individual consistency and environmental situation.

PAS talks about individual consistencies that allow us to predict how
people react with an environmental situation.

WAIS-R gets rid of some of the "noise" gets rid of information we need for
PAS. 

In daily lives, people don't separate out the three dimensions.

Three dimensions and a developmental sequence.

Primitives may be genetic or acquired in the intense period of early infancy.
It doesn't matter for  PAS theory.

Basic level functional level of personality.
In a sense, "forced" on us by our environment.

In the second decade of life, there is a third level which has more of
an element of choice: "what do I want to be when I grow up."
Surface or contact level more chosen.

First dimension: Intellectual Dimension or Cognitive Dimension
To do with thinking - in its relationship to doing.
Two relationships possible: Doing is the result of thinking. 
    Thinking is a result of our doing.
    Preference is the issue.

Wechsler determining test: Digit Span (D). 

It is more than short term memory.
People of approximate same intelligence can have very different digit spans.

Number is an abstract symbol - not a concrete thing.

What it takes to do well is ability to take abstract material in and 
 put it out.
 Requires abstract generalization.
 Not distracted by the person giving the digits or their dress.
 A good high D person can do it even with distractions.
   They are comfortable with what is in their heads.
 A low D person does poorly with distractions. Even eye contact with
   examiner.

Low D person more interested in concrete, external things. 

Remember what gives personality is relationship of score to other scores
(or average)

Behaviors:
High D: Most comfortable in the internal landscape. 
  Gittinger does not call internal world "fantasy". Rather there is
  an internal reality and an external reality.

Internalized behavior:
Prefer internal reality.
Behaviorally passive.
Ideationally active.
Dependence - not very lonely. Can make up perfect people - better than
  those in the outside world. May have imaginary friends. 
  Therefore: emotionally independent
But they don't learn about external things like making sandwiches.
John used word: Succor dependency - old word.
  Use: "Administratively" dependent - someone to take care of them.
     Clothe/feed
A high D person would like to fly just because it would be nice.
  A low D person (E) would like to for practical reasons.