About the course

Although Gestalt is process-oriented, there is a widespread interest in systems of classification - which can become limiting, diminishing and reductionist. We look at the interface of personality systems, temperament, using a phenomenological approach.
Course includes: 222 minutes video presentation by Steve Vinay Gunther, 24 core readings, 19 additional readings, 1 audio file, 22 related books, 154 item quiz, Completion certificate for 24 CPE points.

Course content

  • 222 minutes of video presentation by Steve Vinay Gunther
  • 23 core readings
  • 20 additional readings (1 audio file)
  • 22 related books
  • 154 item quiz
  • Completion certificate for 24 CPE points
  • Subtitles in 30 languages

Course curriculum

    1. Anodea, J. (2004). Eastern Body Western Mind. Celestial Arts, Berkeley.

    2. Earley, J. (1999). Introduction to the Pattern System for Psychotherapy. httpwww.earley.orgPatternsintroduction_to_the_pattern_syst

    3. Enneagram Institute. (2007). Enneagram. The Enneagram Institute. httpswww.enneagraminstitute.comhow-the-enneagram-system-works.

    4. Fisher, H. E., Island, H. D., Rich, J., Marchalik, D., & Brown, L. L. (2015). Four broad temperament dimensions Description, convergent validation correlations, and comparison with the Big Five. Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 1-18.

    5. Helminen, P. (1999) Discovering our potential....An introduction to Character Types. httpwww.uta.fiFASTAK11SPEph-poten

    6. Helbig, N. (2014). Enneagram of personality mindmaps. Available: https://nikhelbig.at/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Helbig_Enneagram_graphic.pdf [Accessed 28.07.22]

    7. Hoftstede, G., & McCrae, R. R. (2004). Personality and culture revisted Linking traits and dimensions of culture. Cross-Cultural Research, 38(1), 52-88.

    8. Judith, A. (1996). Character Structure. In Eastern body, Western mind. Psychology and the Chakra system as a path to the self. Celestial Arts, Berkeley

    9. Keirsey, D., & Bates, M. (1984). Please Understand Me. Appendix The Sixteen Types. Promethesis Nemises Book Company, Del Mar.

    10. Lyleson, E. (1999). Personality and Personal Evolution The Enneagram.

    11. McAdams, D. P. (1997). Chapter 1 A conceptual history of personality psychology. In R. Hogan, J. Johnson, & S. Briggs (Eds.), Handbook of personality psychology (pp. 3-39), Elsevier.

    12. Schaffner, B. Resistance.

    13. Schaffner, B. Characteristics of Character Resistance.

    14. Schaffner, B. Narcissm.

    15. Smith, D. (2008). The four temperaments. httpwww.fisheaters.comfourtemperaments.html

    16. Sood, S. Enactive, integrative personality and the temperament-personality-character matrix. University of West Georgia.

    17. Stern, D. (1985). Perspectives and approaches to infancy. In The interpersonal world of the infant A view from psychoanalysis and developmental psychology (pp. 1334). Basic Books.

    18. Totton, N. (2001). Character and Personality Types. Open University Press, Buckingham.

    19. Wile, D. B. (1976). Personality styles and therapy styles. Psychotherapy Theory, Research and Practice, 13(4), 1-7.

    1. Burley, T. (1999). A phenomenologically based theory of personality. Paper given at the AAGT conference, New York.

    2. Burley, T., & Freier, M. C. (2004). Character Structure A Gestalt-Cogitive Theory. Psychotherapy Theory, Research, Practice, Training. 41(3), 321-331.

    3. Cahalan, W. (1982). An elaboration of the gestalt personality theory the experience of self in social relations. The Gestalt Journal, 6(1), 40-50.

    4. Shub, N. F. (1999). Character in the present Why Gestalt therapy is particularly helpful for treating character-disordered clients. Gestalt Review, 3(1), 64-77.

    1. Brazzel, M. (2002). Diversity conflict and diversity conflict management. In D. L. Plummer (Ed.), Handbook of diversity management- Beyond awareness to competency based learning (pp. 1–26). University Press of America.

    2. Burras, J. (2018). The bioenergetic character types of Alexander Lowen. Jon Burras.

    3. Chris Williamson and Jessica Baum - How to deal with being anxiously attached. Modern Wisdom #489.

    4. Dahlsgaard, K., Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2005). Shared virtue- The convergence of valued human strengths across culture and history. Review of General Psychology, 9(3), 203–213.

    5. Gordon Allport. httpswww.angelfire.commd2psycpersonalityallport.htm.

    6. Johnson, S. M. (1994). Appendix B Therapeutic objectives for each character structure. In Character styles (pp. 302-314), W. W. Norton & Company.

    7. Lyons, M. (2019). The dark triad of personality- Narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy in everyday life. Academic Press.

    8. Mitchell, N. (2006). Jerome Kagan - The father of temperament. All in the Mind. ABC Radio National.

    9. Park, N., Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2004). Strengths of character and well-being. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 23(5), 603–619.

    10. Paulhus, D. L., & Williams, K. M. (2002). The dark triad of personality- Narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy. Journal of Research in Personality, 36, 556–563.

    11. Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2004). Character strength and virtues- A handbook and classification. Oxford University Press.

    12. Olney, D. (1990). The Bioenergetic Types. https://aliveandreal.com/Bioenergetics/endurer.htmlAvailable 25.02.23

    13. Samsel, M. Aggression. Finding feeling and purpose.

    14. Simha, A., & Parboteeah, K. P. (2020). The big 5 personality traits and willingness to justify unethical behavior—A cross-national examination. Journal of Business Ethics, 167, 451–471.

    15. The Millon Personality Group. (2015). Role of personality. httpswww.millonpersonality.comtheoryrole-of-personality.

    16. The Positivity Project. (2004). Character strengths. The Positivity Project.

    17. The SAPA Project. (1999). PEN model. Great ideas in personality. httpwww.personalityresearch.orgpen.html.

    18. VIA Institute on Character. The VIA classification of 24 character strengths.

    1. Cahalan, W. (1983). An elaboration of the Gestalt personality theory- The experience of self in social relations. Gestalt Journal, 6(1), 39–53.

    2. Jacobs, L. (2012). Commentary I A phenomenologically based theory of personality - Whither meaningfulness_ Gestalt Review, 16(1), 2833.

    3. Philippson, P. (2015). Chapter 29-Contemporary challenges in the application of Perls’ five-layer theory.

    1. Video lecture on Attachment and Developmental Approaches - 222 minute

    1. Quiz on Attachment and Developmental Approaches

    1. 26. Character and personality systems • Assessment 101 • Concept Map

    2. 26. Character and personality systems • Assessment 102 • Reflection Form

    3. 26. Character and personality systems • Assessment 103 • Core Readings - Focus summaries / concept maps

About the presenter

Steve Vinay Gunther

Dr Steve Vinay Gunther

Steve Vinay Gunther has studied Gestalt therapy since 1985 and founded Gestalt institutes in Australia, South Korea, and China. Since 2000, he has been an international Gestalt trainer, teaching in Asia, Egypt, South Africa, Mexico, Colombia, and the USA.

In addition to Gestalt therapy, Steve is trained in family therapy, narrative therapy, somatic therapy, career coaching, and family constellations. He has practiced and studied meditation since 1973 and previously served as a professor of Spiritual Psychology at the Ryokan Institute in Los Angeles.

Steve pioneered relational psychology with his concept, The Unvirtues, and designed the Relational Parenting system. He is the father of five children and grandfather to four boys.

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