12.1

Question 1

what is personality

Answer 1

characteristic way of thinking, feeling, behaving

Question 2

psychodynamic approach to personality (Freud)

Answer 2

• a closed energy system
• cannot destroy personality, only suppress
• levels of consciousness

Question 3

Freud: describe the three compartments
- id
- ego
- superego (it develops when child internalizes right and wrong)

Answer 3

id - present at birth, primitive drives eg pleasure (seek immediate relief)

ego - the “self” seen by everyone else, coordinate id needs w/ reality

superego - conscience

parents + social interaction => ego + superego control id (submerged into unconsciousness)

Question 4

what is defense mechanism (Freud)?

Answer 4

protective behavior, occurs when the ego is faced with anxiety

anxiety => conflict between society’s perception of “correct” (superego) and your own beliefs/wants (id)

(Ego must resolve these conflicts)

Question 5

Behavioristic pov

Answer 5

• personality = consistent pattern of responses tendencies
• shaped by past reinforcement + punishment in childhood

Hence, personality can be unlearned and modifiable

Question 6

humanistic approach to personality

Answer 6

• humans are unique (animal research favored by behaviorists = irrelevant)
• we encounter problems bc life is difficult
  => humans strive toward self-actualization / maximizing individual potential and experience congruence

Question 7

define trait

Answer 7

a stable personality characteristic
- factor analysis to identify clusters of traits

Question 8

Big 5 -
OCEAN
what are the high scorers like?

Answer 8

• 5 core traits, relatively few to describe and predict one’s behavior
  O - openness: unconventional, imaginative vs practical
  C - conscientiousness: self-disciplined, reliable
  E - extroversion: excitement seeking, introverts could be more tired from social activity
  A - agreeableness: trustworthy and altruistic
  N - neuroticism: opposite is emotional stability