Chapter 1: Personality Theories

Question 1

Personality

Answer 1

Someone’s public image

Question 2

Theory

Answer 2

Set of abstract concepts developed about a group of facts or events in order to explain them

Question 3

Theory of Personality

Answer 3

An organized system of beliefs that helps us to understand human nature

Question 4

Wilhelm Wundt

Answer 4

Established first psychological laboratory at the University of Leipzig in Germany to explore the experience of consciousness; combined measurement with introspective observation

Question 5

John Watson

Answer 5

Father of American behaviorism; suggested that the psychologist should act as if mental processes do not exist and should concentrate on overt behavior

Question 6

Introspective Observation

Answer 6

Self-examination

Question 7

Extrospective Observation

Answer 7

Looking outward

Question 8

Study of Personality

Answer 8

Heir of two different approaches: academic psychology and clinical practice

Question 9

Macro Theories of Personality

Answer 9

Seek to be global and which emphasize comprehension of the whole person

Question 10

Micro Theories of Personality

Answer 10

Resulted from specific research focused on limited aspects of human behavior; can be narrowly focused

Question 11

Philosophical Assumptions

Answer 11

Influence the way we perceive the world and theorize about it

Question 12

Philosophy

Answer 12

Love or pursuit of wisdom

Question 13

Basic Philosophical Assumptions of Personality Theories

Answer 13

Determinism Vs Free Choice
Pessimism Vs Optimism
Causality Vs Teleology
Conscious Vs Unconscious Determinants of Behavior
Biological Vs Social Influences on Personality
Uniqueness Vs Similarities

Question 14

Determinism Vs Free Choice

Answer 14

Are people’s behaviors determined by forces over which they have no control? Or can people choose to be what they wish to be? Can people be partially free and partially determined at the same time?

Question 15

Pessimism Vs Optimism

Answer 15

Are people doomed to live miserable, conflicted, and troubled lives, or can they change and grow into psychologically healthy, happy, fully functioning human beings? Determinism = Pessimistic
Free Choice = Optimistic

Question 16

Causality Vs Teleology

Answer 16

Causality holds that behavior is a function of past experiences
Teleology is an explanation of behavior in therms of future goals or purposes

Question 17

Conscious Vs Unconscious Determinants of Behavior

Answer 17

Are people ordinarily aware of what they are doing and why they are doing it? Or do unconscious forces impringe on them and drive them to act without awareness of these underlying forces?

Question 18

Biological Vs Social Influences on Personality

Answer 18

Are people mostly creatures of biology? Or are their personalities shaped largely by their social relationships? Are personal characteristics more the result of heredity or are they environmentally determined?

Question 19

Uniqueness Vs Similarities

Answer 19

Is the salient feature of epople their individuality or is it their common characteristics? Should the study of personality concentrate on those traits that make people alike, or should it look at those traits that make people different?

Question 20

What makes theories useful?

Answer 20

Being falsifiable, organizes data, guides action, is internally consistent, is parsimonious