12.6-12.18: Trait Perspectives on Personality & Social Cognitive Perspectives on Personality Flashcards
The hypothesis that the traits that provide useful ways to differentiate among people’s personality characteristics are necessarily encoded in language
Lexical hypothesis
A statistical technique that groups a large set of variables into a smaller set of constructs based on how they correlate with one another
Factor analysis
The process of developing and validating tools to accurately measure and quantify traits and other features of personality
Assessment
The dominant model in the trait approach to personality, which posits five key dimensions along which humans vary: open-mindedness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism
Five-factor model
An approach that estimates the heritability of a trait by statistically comparing patterns of similarity in the behavioral or personality profiles of people who differ in their genetic relatedness
Behavioral genetics
A biological system that governs people’s general tendencies toward approaching things that are rewarding
Behavioral activation system (BAS)
A biological system that governs people’s general tendencies toward avoiding things that are threatening
Behavioral inhibition system (BIS)
A model positing that in order to understand and predict behavior, it is necessary to account for both personal dispositions and the situation people find themselves in, as well as the interaction between the two
Person x situation interactions
A theory of how people’s cognitions, behaviors, and dispositions are shaped by observing and imitating the actions of others
Social learning theory
The idea that personality guides cognition about the world in ways that can shape the environments people choose, serving to reinforce or amplify their personality
Reciprocal determinism
An evolutionary perspective positing that men and women develop distinct profiles of personality traits because of the different reproductive challenges they face
Sexual selection
A theory positing that the roles people find themselves in can profoundly shape their personality
Social role theory
