Personality as a Layered Structure

Personality as a Layered Structure - Hollander 1971

Inner psychological core

Not affected by the environment

Fairly permanent qualities, e.g. basic beliefs and values reside here (controlling or dictating behaviour – trait approach)

Way we typically or usually respond to certain situations

Role-related behaviours

Typical response may be affected by circumstances

Behaviour will be completely different at different times and in different situations and may well be quite unlike our psychological core (interactionist approach)

Social environment

Affects our role-related behaviours