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Schools of thought in psychology are often believed to present conflicting explanations of personality. The thesis of this eclectic analysis is that the significant contemporary contributors to personality study (Murray, Allport, Lewin) are attacking different problems and for that reason employ different techniques and concepts. Murray and his associates who are psychoanalytically
oriented attempt the reconstruction of past experiences to better understand the present personality with the use of free association techniques. Allport, utilizing personality tests and rating scales, is interested in present personality uniqueness. Lewin emphasizes the influences of the environment and studies it as a behavior determinant. A further point of contrast between these approaches is Murray's concern with abnormal adjustment as distinguished from Allport's interest in normal personalities. Lewin does not dwell appreciably on personality structure, normal or abnormal. Instead, he devotes his time to uncovering environmental vectors that determine behavior, in order to formulate laws of behavior.
Rosenzweig presents a diagram illustrating the relations between the three major approaches. This figure shows that '… Allport emphasizes the personality as it now appears within its own boundaries, Murray queries how it got that way from past experience, and Lewin studies its interaction with the present environment'. The author anticipates a synthesis of these approaches to personality study in the near future and points to their complementary aspects as evidence of the validity of this prediction.