Chapter 1 - Introduction and Theories of Personality Psychology

Question 1

Defining Personality

Answer 1

Psychological systems contributing to individual’s patterns of experience and behaviour

Every individual in certain respects…
Like all others – human universals
Like some others – individual differences
Like no other – individual uniqueness

Dispositions – what people tend to do
Inner mental life – interplay of thoughts and emotions

Question 2

Origins of the Concept of Personality

Answer 2

Renaissance humanism
Humans = center of life
Individualization and power of the individual

18th century Europe Enlightenment and America
Importance of the individual – respect, rights, responsibility
Understand and predict the individual
Decide own fate

19th century
Individualism
Concerns with… irrationality, emotions, unconscious mind
Measurement (tests)

**People lose self importance with #’s

Question 3

Origins of Personality as Systematic Inquiry

Answer 3

American Universities
Measurement of certain aspects of personality

Personality = academic psychology
Threatened to go back to introspection
Analysis of self

Gordon Alport
Idiographic – individual
Nomothetic – general rules

Question 4

History of Personality Psychology

Answer 4

Development of general theories
Psychoanalysis and early dissenters
Trait theory

Risk of behaviorism and humanistic alternatives

Personality constructs and individual differences
Personal construct theory
Social-cognitive constructs
Early object relations theory

Social-cognitive theories and trait vs. situation controversy

Renewal and revitalization
Modern studies and theories

Question 5

Purpose of Personality Theories

Answer 5

How personality came about
Structure – units of analysis
Process – psychological activity
Growth and development
Genetic vs. environmental determinants

Identify/observe constructs

Suggestions of research procedures

Applications

Explanations to psychopathology

Question 6

Functions of Scientific Theory

Answer 6

Organize information

Provide knowledge and understanding

Guide research

**Theories built on the knowledge they produce

Question 7

Theories should be…

Answer 7

Testable – falsifiable

Comprehensive

Systematic and useful – yield valuable applications

Question 8

Types of Data

Answer 8

L-data – life history
From self

O-data – observation
From others

T-data – behaviours
Systematically collected

S-data – self-disclosure
Questionnaire-based

Brain data – biological and neuropsychological underpinnings of personality

Question 9

Fixed vs. Flexible Measures

Answer 9

Fixed measured – procedures exactly same for all participants
Nomothetic

Flexible – procedures where participants allowed to answer differently
Idiographic