Allport (E2)

Question 1

What class did Allport first teach?

Answer 1

Personality Psychology

Question 2

What were his basic tenants?

Answer 2

1. Psychology should focus on psychologically healthy people
2. Emphasis should be on consciousness and rationality
3. Emphasis should be on present, not past

Question 3

How did Allport define personality?

Answer 3

Dynamic organization of those psychophysiological systems within a person that determine his/her unique adjustments to their environment
- Each person is unique
- Idiographic: about the individual

Question 4

What are traits?

Answer 4

1. Stable and pervasive ind differences
2. Not present at birth but developed over time from maturation and learning

Question 5

Common vs. Individual Trait

Answer 5

Common: All people may be compared on this dimension; common to all people
Individual: Not possessed by all people; could be possessed by just one person

Question 6

What is a cardinal trait?

Answer 6

Single trait that determines all behavior
ie. Einsteins intelligience

Question 7

What is a central trait?

Answer 7

Frequently evidenced in behavior
ie. extroversion

Question 8

What is a secondary trait?

Answer 8

Very circumscribed
ie. athletic

Question 9

4 methods of inferring traits

Answer 9

1. Language; use of dictionary
2. Behavior
3. Personal Documents
4. Personality Measurement

Question 10

Method of inferring trait: language; use of dictionary

Answer 10

• Psych should being with the “wisdom of common experience”
• 4.5% of words may be classified as traits

Question 11

Method of inferring trait: Behavior

Answer 11

• Behavior infers traits/interests
• Also confers energy level

Question 11

Main method used to infer someones traits?

Answer 11

Questionnaires
- used to study the individual

Question 12

What’s the Marlowe Crowne questionnaire tell us?

Answer 12

How well you feel the need to present yourself

Question 12

Method of inferring trait: Personal documents

Answer 12

The coding of letters, diaries, public statements, etc

Question 13

What’s the Cook Medley Hostility Scale tell us?

Answer 13

Focus on hostility, mistrust, and overall aggression of a person
- slightly also measured type A personalities

Question 14

Stage theory: Bodily sense

Answer 14

Age: Infancy
- Figuring out what are your body parts?S

Question 15

Stage theory: Self-identity

Answer 15

Age: 1,2 - 4,5
- Understanding self as separate person
- Recognizing themselves by name

Question 16

Stage theory: Ego enhancement

Answer 16

Age: 2,3 - ??
- Self esteem through achievement (as well as humiliation and selfishness)

Question 17

Stage theory: Ego extension

Answer 17

Age: 3,4 - ??
- Person possessions

Question 18

Stage theory: Self image

Answer 18

Age: 4,6 - ??
- Understand abilities, status, and roles
- future aspirations
- Aware of acting in “good” or “bad” manner

Question 19

Stage theory: Rational agent

Answer 19

Age: 6 - 12
- Learning problem solving and practical skills

Question 20

Stage theory: Propriate Striving

Answer 20

Age: Adolescence
- Planning for future
- Setting long term goals

Question 21

Stage theory: The knower

Answer 21

Age: Adulthood
- Integration of other stage theory aspects
- “possessions” become valued interests and causes
- “Unity” is characteristic of mature, adult personalities

Question 22

Qualities of normal, mature adult (6 of them)

Answer 22

1. Extensions of the Sense of Self
2. Warm Human Interaction
3. Emotional Security
4. Realistic Perception, Skills, and Assignments
5. Self-Objectification: Insight and Humor
6. Unifying Philosophy of Life

Question 23

What is unitas multiplex

Answer 23

Integration of diverse elements of the personality including: interests, traits, and biological predispositions

• Urged psychologists to study the individual as a whole

Question 24

Why are people so consistent?

Answer 24

Proprium: All the ways in which people project themselves into the future (a sense of self)
- pursuing future goals lead to consistent behavior