Ch 1: Introduction to Personality Theory

Question 1

persona

Answer 1

• latin
• theatrical mask worn by Roman actors to project a role or false appearance
• originating (root) word for personality

Question 2

personality

Answer 2

• pattern of relatively permanent traits and unique characteristics that give both consistency and individuality to a person’s behaviour
• psychologists differ as to the meaning/definition/view of personality
• each personal has an unique personality

Question 3

traits

Answer 3

• contribute to individual differences in behaviour, consistency of behaviour over time and stability of behaviour across situations
• traits may be unique, common to some group or shared by an entire species but their pattern is different in each individual

Question 4

characteristics

Answer 4

• unique qualities of an individual

- include attributes such as, temperament, physique and intellegence

Question 5

scientific theory

Answer 5

a set of related assumptions that allows scientists to use logical deductive reasoning to formulate testable hypotheses

• set (more than one) of assumptions (not proven fact but accepted as if they were true), all related to each other
• logical deductive reasoning (used by research to formulate hypotheses), must be stated (theory) with sufficient precision and logical consistency to permit clearly stated hypothese
• must be testable (if-then statements)

Question 6

philosophy

Answer 6

• means love of wisdom
• philosophers pursue wisdom through thinking and reasoning
• not scientists
• deals with what ought to be and should be (theory does not)

Question 7

epistemology

Answer 7

• branch of philosophy
• nature of knowledge
• theory most related to this branch of philosophy
• tool used by scientists in pursuit of knowledge

Question 8

speculation

Answer 8

-theories rely on this, closely tied to empirically gathered data and science

Question 9

science

• definition
• how are theories related to science

Answer 9

• branch of study concerned with observation and classification of data and with the verification of general laws through testing of hypotheses
• theories useful tools employed by scientists to meaning and organization to observations
• theories provide fertile ground for producing testable hypothesis
• theories essential to advancement of science

Question 10

hypothesis

• definition
• how related to theories

Answer 10

• educated guess or prediction specific enough for its validity to be tested through the use of scientific method
• single comprehensive theory capable of generating thousands of hypotheses
• hypothesis more specific than theories

Question 11

taxonomy

• definition
• how related to theories

Answer 11

• classification of things according to their natural relationships
• essential to development of a science
• taxonomies can evolve into theories when they begin to generate testable hypotheses to explain research findings

Question 12

Why are there different theories?

Answer 12

• gathering data objective but once gathered decisions as to what data are collected and how data is interpreted are personal ones
• theories are not immutable laws; they are built not on proven facts but on assumptions that are subject to individual interpretation
• observation coloured by observers frame of reference, may be many diverse theories

Question 13

psychology of science

Answer 13

• sub discipline of psychology has begun to look at personal traits of scientists
• studies both science and behaviour of scientists
• investigates impact of an individual scientist’s psychological processes and personal characteristics on the development of his/her scientific theories and research

Question 14

science as process vs science as product

Answer 14

-the scientific process may be influenced by the personal characteristics of a scientist but the ultimate usefulness of the scientific product is and must be evaluated independently of the process

Question 15

What makes a theory useful?

Answer 15

1. Generates research: both descriptive and hypothesis testing
2. Falsifiable: must generate research than can either confirm or disconfirm its major tenets
3. Organizes and explains data into some intelligible framework
4. Guides action: that is, it provides the practitioner with a road map for making day-to-day decisions
5. Is internally consistent : relies on operational definitions that define concepts in terms of specific operations
6. Is parsimonious, or simple.

• Look more are summary notes for detailed explanation of each point
• look at diagram in notes

Question 16

operational definition

Answer 16

-defines units in terms of observable events or behaviours that can be measured

Question 17

parsimony

Answer 17

-law that when two theories are equal (ability to generate research, be falsifiable, give meaning to data, guide action and be self consistent) the simpler one is preferred

Question 18

Dimension for a concept of humanity

• personality theorists
• six dimensions

Answer 18

• personality theories differ on basic issues concerning the nature of humanity
• each theory reflects authors assumptions about humanity
• use six dimensions as framework for comparing these conceptions

1. determinism versus free choice
   - Are peoples behaviour determined by forces over which they have no control or can people choose what they wish to be
2. pessimism versus optimism
   - Are people doomed to be miserable or can they change and grow to be healthy and happy
   - usually determinism usually pessimistic and free choice usually optimistic
3. causality versus teleology
   - causality: holds that behaviour is a function of past experiences
   - teleology: is explanation of behaviour in terms of future goals or purposes
4. conscious versus unconscious determinants of behaviour
   - Are people aware of what and why they are doing somethings or do unconscious forces impinge on them and rive them to act without awareness of underlying forces
5. biological versus social influences on personality
   - heredity vs environment
6. uniqueness versus similarities among people.
   - Is the salient feature of people their individuality or is it their common characteristics?
   - Should study of personality focus on traits that make people alike or different

Question 19

Research in Personality Theory

Answer 19

-Personality theories, like other theories, are based on systematic research that allows for the prediction of events (so they are consistent and accurate). In researching human behavior, personality theorists often use various measuring procedures (assessment techniques such as personality inventories), which must be both reliable and valid.

Question 20

reliability

Answer 20

Reliability refers to a measuring instrument’s consistency (extent to which it yields consistent results) and includes test-retest reliability and internal consistency.

Question 21

validity

Answer 21

Validity refers to the accuracy or truthfulness of test (degree which instrument measures what it is supposed to measure) and includes predictive validity and construct validity.

• construct validity: the extent to which an instrument measures some hypothetical construct (important types: convergent, divergent and discriminant)
• predictive validity: extent that s test predicts some future behaviour