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 the integration of the different existing theories with a general theory that explains the existence of individual differences.

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

What is Royce and Powell’s theory of individuality?

Royce and Powell’s theory of individuality aims to be an integrative theory of the different theories concerning the study of personality and individual differences . Specifically, of the general theory of systems, factorial analysis and experimental methodology.

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

It also considers that personality is a stable construct over time even though it may vary throughout life or in different situations and that it is directed towards the achievement of goals and the search for personal meaning. 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 he can be compared with the others because they all have some specific features, possesses them in a different degree from all the others so that they make him a unique individual . This is a general and introductory model, very ambitious, on which different investigations can be carried out.

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

The model proposed by Royce and Powell’s theory of Individuality considers personality in a generic way, as an organization of systems that allow the translation, transformation and integration of psychic information. This is further detailed in the structure proposed by these authors.

As far as its function is concerned, it is established that the main objective of personality is to find meaning in the world and in one’s own person, so 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.

A structure in three large systems

Royce and Powell’s theory of individuality states that within personality there are six systems organized in a hierarchical way, which can be grouped into three categories according to their function and complexity. These categories allow to divide them into translating, transforming and integrating systems . The different systems are acquired throughout the development, starting with the translators to generate as the rest grows.

1. Translation systems

The concept of the translator system of Royce and Powell’s theory of individuality 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 interior.

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

Sensory system

It refers to the set of elements that allows to capture 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 on . That is, the motor system is the one in charge of carrying out the movement.

2. Transformer systems

Transformer systems are those that process the information obtained or directed by or towards the translator systems. Among the transforming systems, the cognitive system and the affective system stand out.

Cognitive system

The cognitive system is that whose main function is to transform and work the information coming from the medium in such a way that contributes to make us understand the medium .

Within it, we can observe as subsystems the perception or mechanism by which we manipulate the information coming from the outside, the conceptualization (equivalent to 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 relations between elements, and the symbolization or creation of metaphorical constructs based on these data.

Affective system

The affective system is one of the systems that best allows us to see the influence of other personality theories on Royce and Powell’s theory of individuality. 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 the subsystems of emotional stability, emotional independence and extraversion-introversion.

3. Integrating systems

The third and most important element in explaining individual behaviour and differences is the group of integrating systems, whose main function is to direct how information will be processed and what it will mean in the 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 the transformer systems in a way that affects the vision we have of the world and the type of affectivity we have.

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

Value system

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

The “I” system is the one that regulates self-preservation and identity, as well as the patterns of behavior that we usually employ. It is linked to emotional stability and the capacity for symbolisation . The social system is in charge of the procedures that delimit the type of interaction we have with others and their perception. Finally, the intrinsic system is linked to motivation and goal orientation, allowing the generation of concepts and our independence.

Bibliographic references:

  • Hernangómez, L. and Fernández, C. (2012). Personality and differential psychology. Manual CEDE de Preparación PIR, 07. CEDE: Madrid.
  • Bermúdez, J. (2004). Personality Psychology. Theory and research (Vols. I and II). UNED Didactic Unit. Madrid.

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