Chapter 12

Question 1

What is the definition of personality in psychology?

Answer 1

Personality refers to the unique characteristics that account for enduring patterns of inner experience and outward behavior.

Question 2

What are the three key components of personality according to Freud’s psychodynamic theory?

Answer 2

The three components are the id, ego, and superego.

Question 3

What is the pleasure principle, and which component of personality operates on it?

Answer 3

The pleasure principle is the drive to seek pleasure and avoid pain; it is associated with the id.

Question 4

Define Freud’s concept of the ‘unconscious’.

Answer 4

The unconscious holds memories or feelings that are repressed due to being unpleasant or anxiety-provoking.

Question 5

What is the role of the ego in Freud’s model of personality?

Answer 5

The ego operates on the reality principle, balancing the id’s drives with environmental constraints.

Question 6

What is the ‘superego’ in Freudian psychology?

Answer 6

The superego represents moral standards and develops through internalization of others’ values.

Question 7

Explain Freud’s concept of psychosexual stages.

Answer 7

Psychosexual stages are stages where the id’s pleasure-seeking tendencies focus on specific body areas; unresolved conflicts can lead to fixation.

Question 8

What is repression in the context of defense mechanisms?

Answer 8

Repression is a defense mechanism that keeps unpleasant thoughts buried in the unconscious.

Question 9

What is denial as a defense mechanism?

Answer 9

Denial is a defense mechanism where a person refuses to acknowledge an existing situation.

Question 10

What critique did Freud’s theories face regarding evidence?

Answer 10

Freud’s theories faced criticism for limited sample size and lack of scientific testability.

Question 11

Who is Alfred Adler and what is his view on personality development?

Answer 11

Adler believed social needs and conscious thoughts shape personality more than sexual needs.

Question 12

What is Carl Jung’s concept of the collective unconscious?

Answer 12

The collective unconscious includes inherited memories shared by all humankind, according to Jung.

Question 13

What does Karen Horney’s concept of ‘basic anxiety’ entail?

Answer 13

Basic anxiety is the feeling of isolation in children, potentially leading to later neuroses, according to Horney.

Question 14

Who is Abraham Maslow, and what is his contribution to personality theory?

Answer 14

Maslow proposed a hierarchy of needs, with self-actualization at the top as the drive to fulfill one’s potential.

Question 15

Define Carl Rogers’ concept of ‘self-actualization’.

Answer 15

Self-actualization is the need to realize one’s full potential, a key aspect of humanistic psychology.

Question 16

What is unconditional positive regard according to Carl Rogers?

Answer 16

Unconditional positive regard is acceptance without conditions, essential for healthy self-concept according to Rogers.

Question 17

What are personality traits?

Answer 17

Personality traits are tendencies to behave consistently across situations.

Question 18

Who is Gordon Allport, and what is his contribution to trait theory?

Answer 18

Allport was a pioneering trait theorist who used case studies to define individual personality traits.

Question 19

What are Eysenck’s three ‘superfactors’ of personality?

Answer 19

Eysenck proposed three ‘superfactors’: neuroticism, extraversion, and psychoticism.

Question 20

What are the five factors in the Five-Factor Model of personality?

Answer 20

The Five-Factor Model includes openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.

Question 21

What is the main criticism of trait theories?

Answer 21

Trait theories are criticized for oversimplifying personality and portraying it as unchanging.

Question 22

Define situationism in personality theory.

Answer 22

Situationism argues behavior is shaped more by situational factors than internal traits.

Question 23

What is interactionism in the context of personality?

Answer 23

Interactionism suggests behavior is a result of personality traits and situational choices.

Question 24

What is the purpose of personality inventories?

Answer 24

Personality inventories assess various personality aspects using structured questionnaires.

Question 25

What are projective tests, and give an example.

Answer 25

Projective tests use ambiguous stimuli to explore unconscious thoughts, like the Rorschach inkblot test.

Question 26

What role do genes play in personality development?

Answer 26

Genes contribute significantly to temperament and behavioral tendencies, especially in trait development.

Question 27

Describe the role of the amygdala in personality.

Answer 27

The amygdala is linked to emotionality, motivation, and processing negative stimuli like fear.

Question 28

What are some key gender differences in personality traits?

Answer 28

Women tend to be higher in social connectedness, while men score higher in individuality and autonomy.

Question 29

How do collectivist cultures impact personality traits?

Answer 29

Collectivist cultures prioritize group needs over individual needs, influencing traits like agreeableness.

Question 30

What personality traits are emphasized in individualist cultures?

Answer 30

Individualist cultures value traits like independence and achievement, often emphasizing extraversion.

Question 31

What are personality disorders and their four main features?

Answer 31

Personality disorders are enduring patterns causing distress; features include distorted thinking and impulsivity.

Question 32

Define borderline personality disorder.

Answer 32

Borderline personality disorder involves emotional instability, impulsivity, and risky behaviors.

Question 33

What are the characteristics of antisocial personality disorder?

Answer 33

Antisocial personality disorder is marked by a disregard for others, impulsivity, and possible criminal behavior.