Royce and Powell's Theory of Individuality

The concept of "personality" has given rise to a great diversity of theories that try to explain what it is and how it can be measured and studied. Some authors have tried throughout history to develop a theoretical model that allows integrating the different existing theories with a general theory that explains the existence of individual differences.

One of the most ambitious proposals in this regard is the Royce and Powell's theory of individuality.

• Related article: "The Theory of Personality proposed by Carl Rogers"

What is the Royce and Powell theory of individuality?

The theory of individuality of Royce and Powell pretends to be an integrating theory of the different theories relating to the study of personality and individual differences. Specifically, general systems theory, factor analysis and experimental methodology.

This theory is based on the consideration that behavior is not caused by a single factor but the origin of this is multiple (incorporating biological and social factors).

He also considers that personality is a stable construct over time, despite the fact that it can vary over time. of life or before different situations and that is directed to the achievement of goals and the search for a meaning staff. Finally, it also starts from the idea that individual differences can be found in all the different areas of the psyche.

It is a model that considers that each person, although they can be compared with others by all having specific traits, possesses them to a different degree from all the others. so that they make you a unique individual. It is a general and introductory model, very ambitious, on which different investigations can be carried out.

• Related article: "Differential Psychology: history, objectives and methods"

Personality within the model: what is it and what is it for?

The model proposed by the theory of Individuality of Royce and Powell considers personality in a generic way, as organization of systems that allow translating, transforming and integrating psychic information. This is further detailed in the structure proposed by these authors.

Regarding its function, it is established that the main objective of the personality is make sense of the world and of one's own person, in such a way that one tries to make reality more manageable.

Personality gives rise to different aspects such as emotions, beliefs, values, lifestyle, personal identity and way of conceptualizing reality.

• You may be interested in: "Differences between personality, temperament and character"

A structure in three large systems

The Royce and Powell theory of individuality stipulates that within the personality can be found six systems organized in a hierarchical way, which can be grouped into three categories according to their function and complexity. These categories allow divide them into translator, transformer and integrator systems. The different systems are acquired throughout development, starting with the translators to generate the rest as it grows.

1. translator systems

The concept of translation system of the theory of individuality of Royce and Powell refers to all those components of the person that allow, as the name suggests, to translate the stimulation so that the internal passes to the exterior and the exterior to the inside.

Within these systems the sensory system and the motor system are found. In both, temporality and spatiality can be found in the form of a subsystem, so that a sequential and simultaneous translation process is carried out.

sensory system

It refers to the set of elements that allows grasp external reality so that external information can be processed by other systems.

engine system

On this occasion, the motor system refers to the set of processes that allow energy to be passed to act. That is, the motor system is the one that is in charge of carrying out the movement.

2. transformer systems

The transforming systems are those that are in charge of processing the information obtained or directed by or towards the translation systems. Among the transformative systems, the cognitive system and the affective system stand out.

cognitive system

The cognitive system is the one whose main function is to transform and work the information coming from the environment in such a way that Help us understand the environment.

Within it can be observed as subsystems the perception or mechanism by which we manipulate the information coming from the outside, the conceptualization (equivalent to the intelligence in this model) as the way in which concepts are formed from the transformation of data into verbal and abstract material and the extraction of information about the relationships between elements, and the symbolization or creation of metaphorical constructs based on said data.

affective system

The affective system is one of those that best allows us to see the influence of other theories of personality in the theory of individuality of Royce and Powell. This system transforms the information captured from the outside in such a way that it produces alterations in the level of mental and physical activation. It is made up of subsystems emotional stability, emotional independence and extraversion-introversion.

3. integrating systems

The third and most important element when it comes to explaining behavior and individual differences is the group of integrating systems, whose main function is to direct how information is to be processed and what this will mean in previous systems. Within the integrating systems are the style and value systems.

style system

The main function of the style system is to determine how the information is going to be processed, directly affecting transformer systems in a way that affects the vision we have of the world and the type of affectivity we have.

The style system has three subsystems: the empirical one that is in charge of aspects such as reliability at the cognitive level and extraversion introversion at the cognitive level, the rational in which at the cognitive level it allows conceptualization while maintaining independence at the emotional level, and the metaphorical level in which symbolization and stability are allowed emotional.

value system

The value system directs people's beliefs and motivations, providing interests and needs. Within the value system we can find three large subsystems: the self, the social and the intrinsic.

The ego system is the one that regulates self-preservation and identity, as well as the behavior patterns that we usually use. It is linked with the emotional stability and the ability to symbolize. The social system is in charge of the procedures that define the type of interaction that we maintain with others and the perception of them. Finally, the intrinsic system is linked to the motivation and goal orientation, allowing the generation of concepts and our independence.

Bibliographic references:

• Hernangomez, L. and Fernandez, C. (2012). Psychology of personality and differential. CEDE PIR Preparation Manual, 07. CEDE: Madrid.

• Bermudez, J. (2004). Personality Psychology. Theory and Research (Vols. I and II). Didactic Unit of the UNED. Madrid.