Chapter 1

Question 1

A pattern of relatively permanent traits that are unique characteristics that give consistency to an individual’s persona.

Answer 1

Personality

Question 2

Individual differences in behavior but may be unique, common to some group, or shared by the entire species.

Answer 2

Traits

Question 3

Unique qualities of an individual: temperament, physique, intelligence and etc.

Answer 3

Characteristics

Question 4

Related assumptions that allows scientists to create hypotheses. A useful tool to employ observations.

Answer 4

Theory

Question 5

Love of wisdom. Deals with morality: what ought to be or what should be.

Answer 5

Philosophy

Question 6

Studies the nature of knowledge and the pursuit of it.

Answer 6

Epistemology

Question 7

Thought without practice or experimentation, merely an armchair action.

Answer 7

Speculation

Question 8

Branch of study concerned with observation and classification of data and with the verification of general laws through hypotheses testing.

Answer 8

Science

Question 9

Educated guess or prediction specific enought for validity testing with the scientific method.

Answer 9

Hypothesis

Question 10

What makes a Theory useful?

Answer 10

1. Ability to generate research
2. Falsifiability
3. Ability to organize data
4. Ability to guide action
5. Internal consistency
6. Parsimony

Question 11

Dimensions for a Concept of Humanity

Answer 11

1. Determinism vs Free Choice
2. Pessimism vs Optimism
3. Causality vs Teleology
4. Conscious vs Unconscious Determinants of Behavior
5. Biological vs Social Influences
6. Uniqueness vs Similarities

Question 12

Perspectives in Theories of Personality

Answer 12

1. Psychodynamics Theories
2. Dispositional Theories
3. Biological-Evolutionary Theories
4. Humanistic-Existential Theories
5. Learning-Social Cognitive Theories

Question 13

What makes a Theory useful: Generates Research

Answer 13

A useful theory has the ability to stimulate and guide further research. Descriptive research (measurement, labeling, categorization) and Hypothesis Testing (experimentation to add value to the theory)

Question 14

What makes a Theory useful: Is Falsifiable

Answer 14

A theory must be falsifiable which means it can be proven and debated against.

Question 15

What makes a Theory useful: Organizes Data

Answer 15

Research data is meaningless if disorganized and undefined.

Question 16

What makes a Theory useful: Guides Action

Answer 16

With the findings gathered from the research, practitioners (people who can make us of the particular research) can benefit from it by applying the theory in practice.

Question 17

What makes a Theory useful: Internally Consistent

Answer 17

A theory should only be limited to its scope and is consistent with its own ideas and explanations.

Question 18

What makes a Theory useful: Is Parsimonius

Answer 18

A theory that is correct and simple to understand is preferred.

Question 19

Operation Definition

Answer 19

Defines units in terms of observable events or behaviors that can be measured.

Question 20

Determinism vs Free Choice

Answer 20

Are behaviors determined by uncontrollable factors or are humans free to choose whatever?

Question 21

Pessimism vs Optimisim

Answer 21

Humanity is deemed to live a miserable life or can Humanity change and be happy?

Question 22

Causality vs Teleology

Answer 22

Is behavior caused by past experiences or is behavior instigated by future goals?

Question 23

Conscious vs Unconscious

Answer 23

Are we we aware of our actions?

Question 24

Biological vs Social Influences on Personality

Answer 24

Biology vs Society

Question 25

Uniqueness vs Similarities

Answer 25

Should the study of personality be focused on our uniqueness or our similarity?

Question 26

Reliability

Answer 26

The consistency of an instrument to yield similar/consistent results

Question 27

Validity

Answer 27

To what degree an instrument measures what it is supposed to measure. (Effectiveness of the instrument)