Chapter 12 Flashcards
Personality
An individual’s characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting
Psychodynamic theories
View personality with a focus on the unconscious and the importance of childhood experiences
Psychoanalysis
Freud’s theory of personality that attributes thoughts and actions to unconscious motives and conflicts; the techniques used in treating psychological disorders by seeking to expose and interpret unconscious tensions
Unconscious
According to Freud, a reservoir of mostly unacceptable thoughts, wishes, feelings, and memories. According to contemporary psychologists, information processing of which we are unaware
Free association
In psychoanalysis, a method of exploring the unconscious in which the person relaxes and says whatever comes to mind, no matter how trivial or embarrassing
id
A reservoir of unconscious psychic energy that, according to Freud, strives to satisfy basic sexual and aggressive drives. The id operates on the pleasure principle, demanding immediate gratification
Ego
The largely conscious, “executive” part of personality that, according to Freud, mediates among the demands of the id, superego, and reality. The ego operates on the reality principle, satisfying the id’s desires in ways that will realistically bring pleasure rather than pain
Superego
The part of personality that, according to Freud, represents internalized ideals & provides standards for judgement (the conscious) & for future aspirations
Psychosexual stages
The childhood stages of development (oral, anal, phallic, latency, genital) during which, according to Freud, the id’s pleasure seeking energies focus on distinct erogenous zones
Oedipus complex
According to Freud, a boy’s sexual desires toward his mother and feelings of jealousy and hatred for the rival father
Identification
The process by which, according to Freud, children incorporate their parents’ values into their developing superegos
Fixation
According to Freud, a lingering focus of pleasure-seeking energies at an earlier psychosexual stage, in which conflicts were unresolved
Freud’s Psychosexual stages
1) Oral (0-18 months) Pleasure centers on the mouth- sucking, biting, chewing
2) Anal (18-36 months) Pleasure focuses on bowel and bladder elimination; coping with demands for control
3) Phallic (3-6 years) Pleasure zone is the genitals; coping with incestuous sexual feelings
4) Latency (6- puberty) A phase of dormant sexual feelings
5) Genital (puberty on) Maturation of sexual interests
Defense mechanisms
In psychoanalytic theory, the ego’s protective methods of reducing anxiety by unconsciously distorting reality
Repression
In psychoanalytic theory, the basic defense mechanism that banishes from consciousness anxiety-arousing thoughts, feelings, and memories
According to Freud’s ideas about the three part personality structure, the 1) _______ operates on the reality principle and tries to balance demands in a way that produces long-term pleasure rather than pain; the 2)________ operates on the pleasure principle and seeks immediate gratification; and the 3)________ represents the voice of our internalized ideals (our conscience)
1) Ego
2) id
3) Superego
In the psychoanalytic view, conflicts unresolved during the first three psychosexual stages may lead to ______ at their stage
Fixation
Freud believed that our defense mechanisms operate _______ and defend us against ________
Unconsciously; anxiety
Collective unconscious
Carl Jung’s concept of a shared, inherited reservoir of memory traces from our species’ history
Projective test
A personality test, such as the Rorschach, that provides ambiguous stimuli designed to trigger projection of one’s inner dynamics
The most widely used projective test, a set of 10 inkblots,, designed by Hermann Rorschach; seeks to identify people’s inner feelings by analyzing their interpretations of the blots
Rorschach inkblot test
Humanistic theories
View personality with a focus on the potential for healthy personal growth
Self-actualization
According to Maslow, one of the ultimate psychological needs that arises after basic physical and psychological needs are met and self-esteem is achieved; the motivation to fulfill one’s potential
Unconditioned positive regard
According to Rogers, an attitude of total acceptance toward another person
What are three values that Freud’s work in psychoanalytic theory has contributed? What are three ways in which Freud’s work has been criticized?
Freud first drew attention to (1) the importance of childhood experiences, (2) the existence of the unconscious mind, and (3) our self-protective defense mechanisms. Freud’s work has been criticized as (1) not scientifically testable- drawing on after-the-fact explanations, (2) focusing too much on sexual conflicts in childhood, and (3) based upon the idea of repression, which has not been supported by modern research
Which elements of traditional psychoanalysis do modern-day psychodynamic theorists and therapists retain, and which elements have they mostly left behind?
Today’s psychodynamic theories still rely on the interviewing techniques that Freud used, & they still tend to focus on childhood experiences and attachments, unresolved conflicts, and unconscious influences. However, they are not likely to dwell on fixation at any psychosexual stage, or the idea that resolution of sexual issues is the basis of our personality
Self-concept
All our thoughts and feelings about ourselves, in answer to the question, “who am I?”
Trait
A characteristic pattern of behavior or a disposition to feel & act, as assessed by self report inventories and peer reports
How did humanistic psychology provide a fresh perspective?
This movement sought to turn psychology’s attention away from drives and conflicts and toward our growth potential, with a focus on the way healthy people strive for self-determination and self-realization, which was in contrast to Freudian theory and strict behaviorism
What does it mean to be empathic? How about self-actualized? Which humanistic psychologists used these terms?
To be empathic is to share and mirror another person’s feelings. Carl Rogers believed that people nurture growth in others by being empathic. Abraham Maslow proposed that self-actualization, the motivation to fulfill one’s potential, is one of the ultimate psychological needs (the other is self-transcendence)
Which two primary dimensions did Hans and Sybil Eysenck propose for describing personality variation?
Introversion-extraversion and emotional stability-instability
Personality inventory
A questionnaire (often with true-false or agree-disagree items) on which people respond to items designed to gauge a wide range of feelings and behaviors; used to assess selected personality traits
The most widely researched & clinically used of all personality tests. Originally developed to identify emotional disorders (still considered its most appropriate use), this test is now used for many other screening purposes
Minnesota Multiphasic Personality inventory (MMPI)
Empirically derived test
A test (such as the MMPI) developed by testing a pool of items and then selecting those that discriminate between groups
What are the big 5 personality factors, and why are they scientifically useful?
The Big Five personality factors are conscientiousness, agreeableness, neuroticism (emotional stability vs. instability), openness, and extraversion (CANOE). These factors may be objectively measured, & research suggests that these factors are relatively stable across the life span & apply to all cultures in which they have been studies
How well do personality test scores predict our behavior? Explain.
Our scores on personality tests predict our average behavior across many situations much better than they predict our specific behavior in any given situation
Social-cognitive perspective
Views behavior as influenced by the interaction between people’s traits (including their thinking) & their social context
Reciprocal determinism
The interacting influences of behavior, internal cognition, and environment
Albert Bandura proposed the _____-_____ perspective on personality, which emphasizes the interaction of people with their environment. To describe the interacting influences of behavior, thoughts, and environment, he used the term _________ _________.
Social-cognitive; reciprocal determinism
Self
In contemporary psychology, assumed to be the center of personality, the organizer of our thoughts, feelings, and actions
Spotlight effect
Overestimating others’ noticing & evaluating our appearance, performance, and blunders (as if we presume a spotlight shines on us)
Self-esteem
One’s feelings of high or low self-worth
Self-efficacy
One’s sense of competence & effectiveness
According to the social-cognitive perspective, what is the best way to predict a person’s future behavior?
Examine the person’s past behavior patterns in similar situations
Self-serving bias
A readiness to perceive oneself favorably
Narcissism
Excessive self-love & self-absorption
Individualism
Giving priority to one’s own goals over group goals & defining one’s identity in terms of personal attributes rather than group identificaitons
Collectivism
Giving priority to the goals of one’s group (often one’s extended family or work group) & defining one’s identity accordingly
The tendency to accept responsibility for success & blame circumstances or bad luck for failures is called ____-____ _____. The tendency to overestimate other’s attention to & evaluation of our appearance, performance, and blunders is called the ______ ______.
Self-serving bias; spotlight effect
_______ self-esteem correlates with aggressive and antisocial behavior. ______ self-esteem is a healthier self-image that allows us to focus beyond ourselves & enjoy a higher quality of life
Defensive; secure
How do individuals & collectivists cultures differ?
Individualists give priority to personal goals & tend to define their identity in terms of their own personal attributes. Collectivists give priority to group goals over individual goals and tend to define their identity in terms of group identifications
Freud believed that we may block painful or unacceptable thoughts, wishes, feelings, or memories from consciousness through an unconscious process called?
Repression
According to Freud’s view of personality structure, the “executive” system, the _______, seeks to gratify the impulses of the ________ in more acceptable ways
ego; id
Freud proposed that the development of the “voice of conscience” is related to the _______, which internalizes ideals & provides standards for judgments
Superego
According to the psychoanalytic view of development, we all pass through a series of psychosexual stages, including the oral, anal, and phallic stages. Conflicts unresolved at any of these stages may lead to?
Fixation at that stage
Freud believed that defense mechanisms are unconscious attempts to distort or disguise reality, all in an effort to reduce our _______.
Anxiety
_______ tests ask test-takers to respond to an ambiguous stimulus, for example, by describing it or telling a story about it/
Projective
In general, neo-Freudians such as Adler & Horney accepted many of Freud’s views but placed more emphasis than he did on?
Social interactions
Modern day psychodynamic theorists & therapists agree with Freud about
The existence of unconscious mental processes
Which of the following is NOT part of the contemporary view of the unconscious?
Repressed memories of anxiety-provoking events
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs proposes that we must satisfy basic physiological & safety needs before we seek ultimate psychological needs, such as self-actualization. Maslow based his ideas on?
His study of healthy creative people
How might Freud & Rogers differ in their explanation of how the environment influences the development of a criminal?
Freud might argue that the criminal may have lacked the proper guidance as a child for developing a strong superego, allowing the id free rein. Rogers might assert that the criminal was raised in an environment lacking genuineness, acceptance, (unconditional positive regard), & empathy, which inhibited psychological growth & led to a negative self-concept
The total acceptance Rogers advocated as part of a growth-promoting environment is called ______ ______ ______.
Unconditional positive regard
The _______ theory of personality focuses on describing characteristic behavior patterns, such as agreeableness or extraversion
Trait
One famous personality inventory is the?
MMPI
Which of the following is NOT one of the Big Five personality factors?
Anxiety
Our scores on personality tests best predict?
Our average behavior across many situations
The social-cognitive perspective proposes our personality is shaped by a process called reciprocal determinism, as personal factors, environmental factors, & behaviors interact. An example of an environmental factor is?
The presence of books in a home
Critics say that ______-______ personality theory is very sensitive to an individual’s interactions with particular situations, but that it gives too little attention to the person’s enduring traits
Social-cognitive
Researchers have found that low self-esteem tends to be linked with life problems. How should this link be interpreted?
The answer isn’t clear because the link is correlational & does not indicate cause and effect
A fortune cookie advises,”Love yourself and happiness will follow.” Is this good advise?
Yes, if that self-love is of the secure type. Secure self-esteem promotes a focus beyond the self and a higher quality of life. Excessive self-love may promote artificially high or defensive self-esteem, which may lead to unhappiness if negative external feedback triggers anger or aggression.
Individualist cultures tend to value ______; collectivist culture tend to value ________.
Independence; interdependence
