The Four Causes of Personality: A Thomistic Approach to Personality Theory

Martín F. Echavarría

Abstract: Among personality psychology theorists there is general agreement that personality is the result of multiple causes. Biological and environmental causes are especially mentioned. However, no coherent theory of causality is found among them to account for the multi-causality that affects personality. This article proposes that the Aristotelian-Thomistic theory of causality can provide personality theory with the necessary framework of understanding for a coherent and integrated view of this multi-causality. From this perspective, the term ‘cause’ is analogous, and has four main meanings: the material cause, the formal cause, the efficient cause and the final cause. These are not unconnected causes, but constitute a system in which each cause is reciprocally dependent on the other. Moreover, these four causes are genera, which contain other specific causes. In this article we propose to determine for each factor affecting personality one of these causes, showing the capacity of this causal theory to contribute to personality theory and to the philosophy of psychology from a Thomistic perspective. From the application of the Aristotelian-Thomistic causal theory to personality, it is proposed, finally, a complete definition of the concept of personality where each of the four causes is assigned, in comparison with other less complete definitions taken from authors relevant to the Personality Psychology.

Keywords: theory of causality, personality psychology, philosophy of psychology, thomistic psychology.