Christopher Peterson
Christopher Peterson
========================
Full Name and Common Aliases
Christopher Peterson was born as Christopher D. Peterson on July 22, 1950. He is commonly known for his work in the field of psychology.
Birth and Death Dates
July 22, 1950 - January 7, 2012
Nationality and Profession(s)
Peterson held American nationality and was a renowned psychologist by profession.
Early Life and Background
Growing up in the United States, Peterson developed an interest in the field of psychology from an early age. He pursued his academic interests at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in 1973. He furthered his education by obtaining a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Iowa State University in 1980.
Major Accomplishments
Peterson made significant contributions to the field of psychology through his research on personality traits and their impact on behavior. One of his notable accomplishments was developing the Six-Factor Model, which categorizes human personality into six distinct traits: Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, Extraversion, Openness to Experience, and Neuroticism.
Notable Works or Actions
Peterson's research led to several notable publications, including a widely cited book, "Personality in Context." He was also a dedicated educator and taught at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for over 20 years. His contributions extended beyond academia as he served on various professional boards and committees.
Impact and Legacy
Peterson's work has had a profound impact on the field of psychology, influencing research and clinical practices worldwide. His personality traits model remains widely used in academic and practical settings. Beyond his scientific contributions, Peterson is remembered for his commitment to education and public service.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Christopher Peterson's work continues to be referenced and quoted due to its relevance and accuracy in understanding human behavior. His dedication to psychology and its applications has left a lasting legacy, inspiring future generations of researchers and practitioners.
Quotes by Christopher Peterson
Christopher Peterson's insights on:
We are reminded of the comment by Linus in the comic strip Peanuts: “I love humanity – it’s people I can’t stand.
Indeed, lack of self-control may be at the root of all emotional disorders, so named because the person is controlled by anxiety and depression rather than vice versa. Everyone experiences negative emotions; what determines whether they escalate to full-blown disorders may simply be whether the person has the ability to circumscribe them.
Just as a muscle grows tired from exertion, the capacity for self-regulation becomes depleted after it is used. Also like a muscle, the capacity for self-regulation appears to grow stronger through regular exercise (after it recovers from the initial fatigue).
Self-regulation is highly valued. Even if we find them a bit tedious, we admire people who stick to an exercise regimen. We certainly value people who do not express every negative emotion they experience, those who are “low maintenance” because they can control their reactions to disappointment and insecurity. We can count on the self-controlled person to keep her promises because she will not be distracted in the course of so doing.
McCullough and colleagues have worked with a more circumscribed definition of forgiveness. They have defined forgiveness as motivational changes whereby a person becomes less motivated toward revenge and avoidance of a transgressor, and simultaneously more benevolent toward the transgressor.
Forgiveness is associated with a variety of traits that are of value for personal and societal well-being. Forgiving people appear to be slightly lower in a variety of negative affects, including anger, anxiety, depression, and hostility. Forgivers also tend to endorse socially desirable attitudes and behavior, and self-ratings of the disposition to forgive correlate negatively with clinicians’ ratings of hostility and passive-aggressive behavior.
In short, if one is entitled to everything, then one is thankful for nothing.
However, research with activists in the Civil Rights and antiwar movements of the 1950s and 1960s and of those who sheltered Holocaust survivors during World War II confirm that compassion, empathy, and social responsibility were core family values that motivated their actions. Once exercised in action, values of social responsibility and service to others may become integral to identity.