10 - Introduction to Personality Psychology Flashcards

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1
Q

What characterising rank-order stability?

A

Traits that are reliable over time, i.e. test-retest correlation.

e.g. People who are in the higher bracket on trait X at time-point 1 are likely to be in the higher bracket on trait X at time point 2.

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2
Q

What did Roberts & DelVecchio’s (2000) meta-analysis of rank-order stability findings note about test-retest correlations?

A
  1. test-retest is high.
  2. increase with age
  3. decrease as intervals increase
  4. trait general (no trait more stable than others).
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3
Q

Describe the 3 influences the stability of rank-order traits. (genetic, environmental channelling, environmental selection)

A
  1. Genetic: twin studies found rank-order stability influenced by genetics, where instability (change) was influenced by the environment.
  2. Environmental channelling; route, settling down, e.g. married couples study found rank-order stability was higher for couples with more similar personalities.
  3. Environmental selection: seek environments that match, support, and maintain our traits. e.g. reference group effect - judging yourself relative to others… vocational choice, migration, mating.
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4
Q

What is mean level personality stability and how does it fair overtime? Which traits tends to go where?

A

The idea that mean level of personality traits change over time - O, E, & N drop & A and C rise - i.e. nicer, more responsible, more set in their ways, less outgoing, and more stable.

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5
Q

What did Roverts et al. (2006) find about mean level personality change over time? (social vitality & dominance / A & C, Openness, & Emotional Stability).

A

Social vitality goes down / Social dominance goes up.
A & C increase
Openness plateaus & then decreases
Emotional Stability shows decelerating rises.

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6
Q

What characterises the idea of Psychosocial Maturity?

A

Negative affect drops & positive affect rises through adulthood.

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7
Q

What are the genetic & environmental influences on mean level personality change? What is the evidence for each?

A

Genetic: evolved maturation process & developmental tasks change traits - E & O more useful around reproductive age, C more helpful for parents.
Evidence for monozygotic twins shows mean-level change is stronger correlated, but not so for dizygotic twins.

Environmental: life transitions, stages, role shifts & historical events. The environment demands change.

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8
Q

What cross-cultural evidence did McCrae et al (1999) show for mean-level personality change? What is the main criticism of the study (Italy, Germany, Portugal, Croatia, South Korea).

A

Suggest universal maturation - E, A, O, C particularly.
N was inconsistent.

However, are the environments really that different?

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9
Q

Describe Roberts (1997) major life transitions (work) influence on mean-level personality change.

A

20 year follow up of Women from 1950s - 1980s (societal shift for working women).

Greater participation in the workforce associated with
increases in ‘agency’ (part of E) = entering the workforce may explained mean-level personality change.

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10
Q

Describe Jean Twenge’s ‘generation me’ studies & the Trzesniewski & Donnellan (2010) counter study.

A

Twenge suggests younger gen has inflated self-esteem, ego & expectations of the future.
But used aggregated scores.

The counter study found little support for the hypothesis

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11
Q

Haslam et al. (2007) lay peoples beliefs about personality change over time?

A
  • Ppl believe mean level change overtime is the way the research suggests; nicer., more stable.
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12
Q

How did Quidback et al. (2013) show the end of history illusion? (the tendency to believe
that we are ‘complete’ when we are always ‘works in
progress’)

A
  • Pts completed FFM.
  • 1st Group: Complete same measure for you 10 years ago (reporter).
  • @nd Group: Complete for yourself in 10 years time (predictor).
  • Computed average predicted change and reported change for total personality.
  • Found that: ppl reported a lot more change than predicting.
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13
Q

What did Roberts et al. (2003) study find about the effect of transitioning to work on on individual personality change?

A
  • Personality predicted positive work experiences (occupational attainment and financial security)
  • But, positive work experiences also predicted changes
    in personality (increased E, decreased N)
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14
Q

How does travel ‘broaden the mind’ according to Zimmerman & Nyer (2013) study?

A

Study abroad students were studied compared to those who stayed at home. Found that;

  • Short term trips: higher E and C
  • Long term: higher E and O

Effects of travel:

  • Increases in O and A
  • Decreases in N

Further observations:
For O & N, personality change was mediated by increases in ‘r/ship gains’ i.e. wider social circle…

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15
Q

What characteristics of individual personality change via clinical interventions did the Roberts et al. (2017) meta-analysis find?

A
  • Lasting changes, especially for decreased N & increased E.
  • The type of therapy dd not matter.
  • It is a non-linear impact; no change to 1-months, then change up to 8-months & then no change after that.
  • Greater effects for some presenting problems than others, i.e. anxiety (stronger) vs substance abuse (less so).
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16
Q

Denissen et al. (2018) studied personality change as a result of changing life events, from an anticipatory perspective. What did they find?

A
  • Surprisingly, most personality change effects were in
    the anticipation of a major life event.
  • i.e. the individual change happened in the lead up to the event,
  • e.g. in lead up to transitioning to work, more conscientiousness was reported.
17
Q

What is the evidence of personality change that is dispositional (according to McCabe & Fleeson (2012))

A

Most of the variance in state extraversion was
predicted by momentary goals:
e.g., to attract attention; engage in leadership; make a positive impression; form friendships; have fun

18
Q

Do people want to change and do they change in the ways they desire? What traits tend to change & what are the mechanisms? (Hudson & Fraley, 2015)

A
  • In both studies people desired, on average
    increased E, O, A, C and decreased N.
  • In both studies: Increased E, O, A, C and
    decreased N over time
  • How?
    Counter-dispositional; goals -> personality state > later change in traits.
    Personality Identity: Goals > alignment & change in traits > personality states for goal completition.
19
Q

SUMMARY SLIDE.

A

Rank order stability is moderate-high and increases over the
lifespan
— Evidence for genetic and environmental effects
— Mean level change occurs throughout the lifespan
— Differs by trait
— Changes appear to approach ‘psychosocial maturity’
— Evidence for genetic/ universal maturation factors
— Also, environment effects (e.g., life transitions)
— Individual change also well documented
— Significant, unique events/experiences
— People don’t expect to change, but do
— Evidence of anticipatory change
— People can volitionally decide change their personalities