Chaper 1 : Evaluating Personality Theories Flashcards
What is a theory?
A set of abstract concepts that we make about a group of facts or events in order to explain them.
Why is personality hard to define?
Little common agreement on the term.
Everyday speech: public image.
Explain the two contemporary traditions
One stems from psychological laboratories and academic research,
- Other stems from psychoanalysis and clinical psychology.
What are the 5 basic philosophical issues theorists differ on?
- Freedom vs determinism
- Heredity vs environment
- Uniqueness vs universality
- Pro activity vs reactivity
- Optimism vs pessimism
Define “philosophical assumptions”
They suggest that things are not necessarily what they appear to be, based on a special epiphanic vision, which goes beyond us. They tend to be global, and implicit rather than explicit.
How are philosophical assumptions evaluated?
- Coherence
- Relevance
- Comprehensiveness
- Compellingness
Why does science have its base in philosophy?
Because the ordinary observation on which science relies depends on a certain paradigm that is established philosophically.
What are the simplest kinds of scientific statements?
Empirical, based directly on observation.
What does a scientific statement need to be open to?
Falsification: a scientist must indicate the conditions under which a statement might be proven false.
Should scientific statements be judged by their usefulness or by their truth?
Usefulness.
If scientists end up with more than one hypothesis, what criteria should they use?
They decide between the rival hypotheses if they have:
1) compatibility
2) predictive power
3) simplicity
What are the two major approaches to assessing personality?
Psychometric and projective techniques
What are the three major research approaches?
1) clinical approach
2) psychometric approach
3) experimental approach
What are the three major goals of psychotherapy?
1) scholarly
2) ethical
3) curative motives
How do we evaluate scholarly therapies?
On the basis of their contributions to the understanding of the self and human nature.
How do we evaluate ethical therapies?
In terms of the suitability of the climate they create for fostering change and life improvement.
Curative therapies should be evaluated:
On the basis of symptom remission and number of cures.
Why is it important to distinguish among different orientations of personality theories?
So that we can recognize each viewpoint and use appropriate methods to evaluate each theory.
What’s another word for introspective observation and who sought to reveal the basic elements and structure of the conscious mind?
Self examination. Wilhelm Wundt 1880.
Who enforced extrospective observation and what is it?
B.F Skinner emphasized not the study of the person but rather behavior. He looked outward instead of inward.
What’s the focus of Academic Psychology?
1) study of personality usually focused on uncovering general principles of personality through research methods such as correlations and experiments.
2) typically conducted in an academic setting
3) precursor: Wilhelm Wundt
What’s the emphasis of Clinical Practice?
1) study of personality primarily through research on individuals by way of methods such as case histories
2) typically conducted in a psychotherapeutic, or clinical, environment
3) precursor: Sigmund Freud
Explain Freedom vs Determinism
Individuals have control over their behaviors and understand the motives behind them. Others believe human behavior is determined by external forces.
How much does Josef like Monica?
A crazy amount.
Explain Heredity vs Environment
Have we inherited and inborn characteristics or does environment influence our behavior more?
Uniqueness vs universality
Are individuals unique and incomparable with others or are people basically very similar?
Pro activity vs reactivity
Proactive theorists view human beings as acting on their initiative rather than simply reacting.
Optimism vs pessimism
If an individual is motivated, can genuine changes be affected in personality? Some are more optimistic than others
Explain objective data
“I see a Person”, the position is I-it: the self is looking outward on the world as object.
Explain subjective data
“I see a person”
The position is I-me: the self is looking inward on its own experience as the object. Still empirical data, though, just as objective data.
What do Psychometric tests measure?
Measures personality characteristics by means of carefully designed questionnaires developed with theoretical and statistical techniques.
What is psychotherapy?
The effort to apply the findings of personality theory in ways that will assist individuals and meet human goals. Interested in healing people and understanding “normal” people and helping them to function more creatively.
What are the different hats personality theorists are wearing?
1) philosophy (making assumptions)
2) science (forming testable hypotheses)
3) art (application of what is known. Assessment, research, psychotherapy)
