Chapter 12 Flashcards
what is personality?
- an individual’s unique collection of stable, consistent behavioural traits that influence their choices and actions
- varies from one individual to another
what is Freud’s psychodynamic perspective?
Freud psychodynamic theory focuses on:
- unconscious determinants of behaviour
- constant interplay of unconscious forces (things outside of their awareness) that often conflict with one another explain why they behave a certain way
what is the structure of personality?
Id, Ego, and Superego
what is Id?
- at the unconscious level (well below surface of awareness)
- innermost core of personality (at birth)
- operates according to the ‘pleasure principle’
what is Ego?
- at the conscious level (contact with outside world)
- operates according to the ‘reality principle’
what is superego?
- moral aspect of personality
what are the 8 defence mechanisms used by the ego?
repression, sublimation, denial, displacement, identification, projection, rationalization, reaction formation
repression
thoughts and wishes remain in the unconscious
sublimation
channeling negative, unacceptable impulses into positive, socially desirable behaviour
denial
refusal to acknowledge the situation
displacement
finding a “safe” target
identification
unconsciously assuming the characteristics of a more powerful person in order to feel better about oneself
projection
projecting undesirable impulses (feelings or emotions) onto someone else
rationalization
coming up with reasonable explanations for unacceptable feelings or behaviours to hide true motives
reaction formation
when people express an exaggerated opposite of their true feelings associated with the unacceptable impulse
what are the 5 psychosexual stages of personality?
- oral stage (0-2 years)
- anal stage (2-3 years)
- phallic stage (3-6 years)
- latency stage (7 years - puberty)
- genital stage (puberty onwards)
what occurs in the oral stage (1)?
- weaning
fixation: self indulgence, dependency
what occurs in anal stage (2)?
- toilet training
fixation: compulsive cleanliness and rigid rules or messy and dominant
what occurs in phallic stage (3)?
- move from sexual attachment to opposite sex-parent to identification with same-sex parent
fixation: promiscuous, immature sexual attachments
what occurs in latency stage (4)?
- period of dormant sexuality
what occurs in genital stage (5)?
- formation of social and sexual relationship
what is the hierarchy of needs?
physiological –> safety –> love/belonging –> esteem/accomplishment –> self actualization
what did Abraham Maslow say about the humanistic perspective?
- focuses on the hierarchy of needs, and self actualization
- studied healthy, well adjusted people
what did Carl Rogers say about the humanistic perspective?
- self concept
- unconditional positive regard
- client-centered therapy
what is a personality trait?
describes an individual’s characteristic patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviours
what is the trait perspective?
considers an individual’s personality and the number of traits they have
what did Hays Eysenck do?
identified 3 superfactors or traits that can vary from high to low
psychoticism
High = impulsive, socially deviant
Low = self controlled, disciplined
what is the 5 factor model?
openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, neuroticism
openness
High = creative, artistic, imaginative, curious
Low = conventional, down to earth
conscientiousness
High = ambitious, organized, reliable
Low = unreliable, lazy, casual, spontaneous
extraversion
High = social, enjoy high levels of stimulation
Low = reserved, enjoy low levels of stimulation
agreeableness
High = good-natured, trusting, supportive
Low = rude, uncooperative, hostile, competitive
neuroticism
High = worried, insecure, anxiety-prone
Low = tranquil, secure, emotionally stable
what is situationism?
the view that an individual’s interaction with the environment and situational factors is the primary determinants of behaviour rather than personal characteristics and other internal factors
what is interactionism?
the view that behaviour is a result of the interaction between inner traits and the situation
what are the 2 approaches to personality assessments?
rational and empirical
what is the rational approach?
- based on theoretical conception of the trait (relevant to the trait)
- NEO-PI- R (evaluates traits comprising 3 of the 5 super factors: neuroticism, extraversion, openness)
what is the empirical approach?
- based on responses by ‘normals’ and psychiatric patients = items answered differently by both groups
- MMPI-2
what is a projective test?
personality assessment in which the participant interprets ambiguous stimuli as way to reveal unconscious content
what are the 2 main types of projective tests?
- Rorschach Inkblot Test = shown inkblot and have to say what it looks like
- Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) = shown scene and have to create a story
what are the gender differences in personality?
Women tend to:
- Assess other’s emotions more accurately
- Score higher on social and connectedness traits
Mend tend to:
- Exhibit more individuality and autonomy
- Show more physical aggression
what are the personality findings from family studies?
- identical twins raised together are more alike than fraternal twins raised apart
- identical twins raised together aren’t more alike than identical twins raised apart
- adoptive siblings raised together aren’t more alike than two random people raised apart
what do collectivist cultures say about personality?
- it isn’t socially acceptable to say positive things about yourself
- consider the needs of group over the individual
- score higher on measures on agreeableness
- value harmony in interpersonal relationships
- describe self as part of a group
what do individualistic cultures say about personality?
- value individual achievement and independence
- score higher on measures of extraversion and openness
- value privacy
- describe self using personal traits
