42 Trait Theories, Social-Cognitive Theories, and the Self Flashcards
Which technique would psychologists use to assess whether a cluster of characteristics that includes ambition, determination, persistence, and self-reliance reflects a single personality trait?
factor analysis
During a phone call to the Psychic Network, Mark was told that “you often worry about things much more than you admit, even to your best friends.” Mark’s amazement at the psychic’s apparent understanding of his personality best illustrates
the Barnum effect
One of the Big Five personality factors is
agreeableness
Sarah’s optimism is both a contributor to and a product of her successful career accomplishments. This best illustrates
reciprocal determinism
Marcy believes that the outcome of athletic contests depends so much on luck that it hardly pays to put any effort into her own athletic training. Her belief most clearly illustrates
an external locus of control
Although she is intelligent and a good athlete, Abigail believes that her low grades in school and losing the quarter-mile race are reflections of her own intellectual and athletic incompetence. Her conclusion best illustrates
a pessimistic attributional style
When Vanessa noticed that she was wearing mismatched socks, she overestimated the extent to which others would also notice. Her reaction best illustrates
the spotlight effect
Around the world, people describe others’ personality traits in terms that are consistent with a set of factors called
the Big Five
The stability of personality during adulthood best illustrates the value of
trait theories
We can better predict drivers’ behavior at traffic lights from knowing the color of the lights than from knowing the drivers’ personalities. This best illustrates the importance of
situational influences.
The social-cognitive perspective highlights the interaction of personal traits with our environment, a process that Albert Bandura called
reciprocal determinism.
After experiencing prolonged and seemingly inescapable physical abuse from her husband, Kayla became increasingly depressed and hopelessly resigned to her suffering. Her reaction best illustrates
learned helplessness
Card players who attribute their wins to their own skill and their losses to bad luck best illustrate
self-serving bias
Students perceive themselves as less likely than the average classmate to develop drinking problems or drop out of school. This best illustrates
unrealistic optimism
