人格類型[1](英語:Personality type)是指個體的心理分類,又稱類型論(Type Theory)。與特質論(Trait theory)是不同,類型是指人們的人格在「質」不同,而特質則被解釋為「量」的差異。[2][3]。舉例來說,內向與外向人格在類型論來說是一個截然不同的分類(內向=0,外向=100),但以特質論來說是以一個連續向度來表示(有些人內向=20,外向=70,也有些人內向=40,外向=30)。
有效的人格類型學揭示並增加對個體的知識和理解,而不是像刻板印象那樣減少知識和理解。有效的類型學還能提高預測臨床相關信息和制定有效治療策略的能力。[4] 有一個廣泛的文獻關於分類不同類型的人類氣質和同樣廣泛的文獻關於人格特徵或領域。這些分類體系試圖描述正常的氣質和人格,強調不同氣質和人格類型的主要特徵。它們在很大程度上屬於心理學的範疇。另一方面,人格障礙反映了精神病學這一醫學專業的工作,並以疾病為導向。它們被歸類在美國精神病學協會的產品《診斷與統計手冊》(DSM)中。[5]
在當代心理學一般較少採用類型論。有些研究比較內向人格在邁爾斯-布里格斯性格分類法(MBTI)與五大人格量表(NEO-PI)結果,發現特質相對而言更能夠用來預測一些心理疾病[6]。心理學界也認為人類複雜多變的人格太難作出仔細卻不重疊的類型[7][8][9]。
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