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Psychology 1001 > 12c - Personality > Flashcards

12c - Personality Flashcards

1
Q

What are projective tests? (psychodynamic perspective)

A

Tests involve interpretations of an ambiguous stimulus to access the unconscious mind.

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2
Q

Describe the thematic apperception test.

A

Asked to make up a story about an
ambiguous scene (picture).

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3
Q

Describe the Rorschach (inkblot) test.

A

Shown a series of 10 “inkblots” and asked to indicate what they look like to you.

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4
Q

What are some criticisms of projective tests? (3)

A
  • Subjective scoring
  • Low validity and reliability
  • People may say what they think they should see
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5
Q

What is a personality inventory?

A

Paper and pencil questionnaires designed to assess various aspects of personality.

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6
Q

Give some facts about the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory 2
(MMPI-2) (5).

A
  • Useful in assessing abnormal personality tendencies
  • 576 questions (long)
  • Several scales - questions shown to distinguish various clinical population
  • Many questions for each scale (like intelligence tests)
  • Includes validity items to account for response patterns that may compromise the test
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7
Q

Describe the NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R) (4).

A
  • Evaluates traits of 5 superfactors
  • 240 questions, self-rating on 5 point scale
  • High consistency (.85 - .9)
  • Derived from factor analysis (seems to be valid)
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8
Q

What are some criticisms of the NEO-PI-R? (3)

A
  • Accuracy of self-appraisal (wanting to see yourself in a positive light)
  • Social desirability (no validity questions)
  • Misuse in employment/hiring decisions
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9
Q

Describe the nature-nurture debate.

A

To what extent are the differences in personality due to variations in genetic make-up (nature) and to what extent are they due to variations in environmental factors (nurture)?

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10
Q

Give some facts about the Minnesota twin studies (4).

A
  • Found and studied 59 pairs on identical twins separated at birth an raised in different families (and 47 fraternal twins raised in the same families)
  • Jim Lewis and Jim Springer
  • Separated at birth, re-united at 39
  • Had remarkable similarities
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11
Q

What did Franz Joseph Gall study?

A

Phrenology

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12
Q

What is phrenology?

A
  • Assumes personality traits are localized to specific brain regions
  • Size of brain region determines the strength of trait
  • Size of brain could be inferred from bumps on the skull
  • So personality can be assessed by examining skull bumps
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13
Q

What are the brain regions currently implicated in personality? (2)

A

Amygdala and reticular activating system

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14
Q

What is the amygdala’s function and what personality trait may it explain?

A
  • Reacts to threatening or stressful stimuli
  • Reactivity varies in people
  • May explain introversion (avoid stressful social situations)
  • May contribute to neuroticism (emotional instability)
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15
Q

What are two neurotransmitters linked to personality?

A

Dopamine and serotonin

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16
Q

What personality trait is dopamine linked to?

A

Pleasure and overall levels of activity/motivation (openness?)

17
Q

What personality trait is serotonin linked to?

A

Low serotonin linked to impulsivity and aggression (neuroticism?)

18
Q

What is a personality disorder?

A

An inflexible pattern of inner experience and outward behavior that causes distress or difficulty with daily functioning.

19
Q

What are the four key features of a personality disorder (symptoms)?

A
  1. Rigid, extreme, and distorted thinking patterns (thoughts)
  2. Problematic emotional response patterns (feelings)
  3. Impulse control problems (behavior)
  4. Significant interpersonal problems (behaviour)
20
Q

What is the prevalence of personality disorders?

A

9-13% population

21
Q

Are personality disorders hard/easy to treat?

22
Q

What are the four personality disorders you need to know?

A
  • Borderline personality disorder
  • Histrionic personality disorder
  • Narcissistic personality disorder
  • Antisocial personality disorder
23
Q

Describe borderline personality disorder.

A

Severe instability of mood and self-concept, impulsive and self-destructive.
May engage in impulsive, dangerous activities (self-mutilation, indiscriminate sexual behavior, etc.)

24
Q

Describe histrionic personality disorder.

A

Extreme attention-seeking behaviour.

25
Q

Describe narcissistic personality disorder.

A

Self-absorbed and self-inflated behaviour.

26
Q

Describe antisocial personality disorder.

A

Shows a callous disregard for others (deceit and exploitation). No remorse for wrongdoing towards anyone. Potentially aggressive and ruthless (serial killer) or a charming deceiver (con artist) or both.

27
Q

Give an example of someone with antisocial personality disorder.

28
Q

What do PET scans show in brain scans of murderers

A
  • 41 murderers
  • Reduced activity in frontal lobes
  • 11% less frontal lobe tissue

Psychology 1001 (8 decks)

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