11 - Personality: Theory, Research & Assessment

Question 1

3 criteria that characterize a personality trait

Answer 1

1. Consistency
2. Stability
3. Individual differences

Question 2

The Five-Factor Model (of personalities)

Answer 2

1. Openness to experience
2. Conscientiousness (constraint) (diligent, dis
3. Extraversion
4. Agreeableness
5. Neuroticism

Question 3

Conscientiousness (constraint)

Answer 3

diligent, disdependable, disciplined, well-organized, punctual

Question 4

Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory

Answer 4

Focus on unconscious mental processes

Developed from lengthy interactions with clients

Question 5

Pleasure principle that engages in primary-process thinking (primitive, instinctive)

Answer 5

Id (Unconscious level)

Question 6

Reality principle that operates at all 3 levels of awareness (mediates between id and superego)

Answer 6

Ego (Preconscious level)

Question 7

Moral component that emerges around 3-5 years old

Answer 7

Superego (Unconscious, Preconscious, &Conscious level)

Question 8

ID

Answer 8

gratify urges immediately

Question 9

Ego

Answer 9

Holds Urges in check with reality

Question 10

Superego

Answer 10

Holds Urges in check with morality

Question 11

Intrapsychic Conflict (Between Id, Ego, and Superego) results in _____ which leads to ______.

Answer 11

Anxiety ——-> Reliance on Defense Mechanisms

Question 12

Justifying unacceptable behavior with excuses

Answer 12

Rationalization

Question 13

Burying distressful feelings and thoughts in unconscious

Answer 13

Repression

Question 14

Attributing own thoughts and feelings to someone else

Answer 14

Projection

Question 15

Diverting emotions from original source to a substitute target

Answer 15

Displacement

Question 16

Criticisms of Psychodynamic Perspectives

Answer 16

Weaknesses:

1) Poor Testability
2) Lack of empirical data
3) Male-Centered views

Question 17

B.F. Skinner and Personality

Answer 17

• Responses shaped by conditioning and reinforcement

- Personality development occurs over the lifespan

Question 18

Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory

Answer 18

• Observational learning

- Self - efficacy = one’s belief about ability to complete tasks or goals

Question 19

Strengths of Behavioral Perspectives

Answer 19

Based on rigorous research

Question 20

Weaknesses of Behavioral Perspectives

Answer 20

• Over-dependence on animal research

- Fragmented view of personality

Question 21

Father of Humanistic Perspective

Answer 21

Carl Rogers

Question 22

Carl Roger’s person-centered theory involves ________.

Answer 22

self-concept

Question 23

Beliefs about own nature, unique qualities, and typical behavior

Answer 23

Self-concept

Question 24

Congruence (person-centered theory)

Answer 24

Self concept matches person’s actual experience

Question 25

Incongruence (person-centered theory)

Answer 25

Self concept does NOT match person’s actual experience

Question 26

Characteristics of Self-Actualizing People (Maslow)

Answer 26

• More likely to be in tune to reality
• More at peace with themselves
• Exceptionally healthy personalities
• Open and spontaneous
• Appreciation of world around them
• Experience peak experiences

Question 27

Culture and Personality 2 types of systems:

Answer 27

Independent Self-System

Interdependent Self-System

Question 28

Independent Self-System

Answer 28

• Self-reliance
• Competition
• Uniqueness

Question 29

Interdependent Self-System

Answer 29

• Relationship to others
• Modesty
• Group harmony

Question 30

• Walter Mischel (1968) said that people’s behaviors across many different situations are not consistent
• Person - situation debate focused on distinctive reactions to specific situation
• Middle ground is needed!
• Aggregate behaviors averaged over time and across differnt situations is best way to capture broad traits

Answer 30

Traits vs. Person-Situation