Chapter 1: Personality Theory in Context Flashcards
What are dispositional traits called?
Personality
What are mental abilities called?
Intelligence
Personality is a multifaceted concept, comprised of:
- I
- T
- M
- A
- R
- O
- U
Personality is a multifaceted concept, comprised of:
- Inner qualities.
- Traits.
- Mechanisms/behaviours.
- Adaptive ways.
- Relatively stable over time.
- Organised.
- Unique to the individual.
What are ‘inner qualities’?
Essential features of a person that are least partly latent and hidden.
What are ‘traits’?
Particular dispositions.
What are ‘mechanisms’?
Particular mental operations.
How does personality affect behaviour?
Personality impacts what we do, and can provide causal explanation of manifest behaviour.
How is personality adaptive?
Some traits help us or others, whereas, others hurt or hinder us.
What do we mean when we say personality is relatively stable?
Traits imply consistency, as personality evolves slowly.
What do we mean when we say personality is ‘organised’?
Personality is a constellation of traits and mechanisms, meaning it is a non-random pattern.
In what way is personality unique to the individual?
Every constellation of traits and mechanisms is different, but we can find some standard traits and mechanisms.
What are the three levels of personality analysis?
1.
2.
3.
Hint: UNI
What are the three levels of personality analysis?
- Universal
- Nomothetic
- Idiographic
What does the universal level of personality analysis refer to?
Overall claims about someone.
What does the nomothetic level of personality analysis refer to?
Lawful claims about someone.
What does the idiographic level of personality analysis refer to?
Description of one.
How is the universal level of personality analysis used to describe someone’s personality?
By characterising people in terms of always true, or generally true facts.
How is the nomothetic level of personality analysis used to describe someone’s personality?
By characterising variations between people along shared dimensions.
How is the idiographic level of personality analysis used to describe someone’s personality?
By characterising variations between people using unique dimensions.