12. Allport (Psychology of the Individual)

Question 1

Definition of Personality

Answer 1

Dynamic organization within the individual of those psychophysical systems that determine a person’s behaviour and thought

Question 2

Common Traits

Answer 2

General characteristics held in common by many people –> useful for comparing one group of people to another

Question 3

Individual Traits (Personal Dispositions)

Answer 3

Unique to the individual and have capacity to (i) initiate and guide behaviour and (ii) render different stimuli functionally equivalent

Question 4

Three Levels of Personal Dispositions

Answer 4

(i) Cardinal Dispositions

(ii) Central Dispositions

(iii) Secondary Dispositions

Question 5

Cardinal Dispositions

Answer 5

Dispositions that (i) only a few people possess and (ii) are so conspicuous that they cannot be hidden

Question 6

Central Dispositions

Answer 6

The 5-10 personal dispositions that make a person unique

Question 7

Secondary Dispositions

Answer 7

Those personal dispositions that are more numerous and less unique

Question 8

Motivational Traits

Answer 8

Personal dispositions that initiate actions

Question 9

Stylistic Traits

Answer 9

Personal dispositions that guide actions

Question 10

Proprium

Answer 10

Those personal dispositions and behaviours that we view as (i) central to our lives and (ii) uniquely our own

Question 11

Functional Autonomy

Answer 11

Motives that are self-sustaining and independent from the motives that were originally responsible for a behaviour

Question 12

Perseverative Functional Autonomy

Answer 12

Those self-sustaining habits and behaviours that are not part of one’s proprium

Question 13

Propriate Functional Autonomy

Answer 13

Those self-sustaining habits and behaviours that are part of one’s proprium

Question 14

Morphogenic Procedures

Answer 14

Analyzing primary sources (e.g. letters, diaries) to identify patterns of behaviour within a single individual

Question 15

Characteristics of Psychologically Healthy People (3)

Answer 15

(i) Behaviour is proactive (can act upon environment)

(ii) Motivated by conscious processes

(iii) Trauma-free childhood