Chapter 12- Personality

Question 1

What is personality?

Answer 1

The unique characteristics that account for enduring patterns of inner experience and outward behaviour
-a collection of stable states and characteristics
-various from one individual to another

Question 2

Psychodynamic model

Answer 2

Share the same view: personality and behaviour is shaped by interacting, or dynamic, underlying forces

Question 3

What is conscious

Answer 3

the thoughts and feelings that we are aware of at any given moment

Question 4

What is preconscious

Answer 4

Holds thoughts, memories, and ideas that we aren’t consciously thinking about, but can be brought to consciousness if attended to

Question 5

What is unconscious

Answer 5

Unaware of this content and cannot become aware of it except in special circumstances

Question 6

Freud and psychoanalytic theory and other psychodynamic theories?

Answer 6

Share the same view- personality and behaviour is shaped by interacting, dynamic, underlying forces

Question 7

Freud clinical practice (seeing patients)

Answer 7

He decided that people are influenced by their unconscious

Question 8

Freud- developed psychoanalysis

Answer 8

Type of therapy based on his theory of discovering ones unconscious

Question 9

Freud-parent child relationship

Answer 9

How people feel about themselves and how they handle intimacy as adults

Question 10

I’d- basic instinctual drives

Answer 10

-Present at birth, largely unconscious
-Pleasure principle- try to. Seek pleasure and avoid pain

Question 11

Ego-rational thoughts

Answer 11

-Develops due to learning
-Reality principle- logical, rational , realistic part of the personality
-Must satisfy the drives of the id while complying with the constraints of the environment

Question 12

Superego-moral limits

Answer 12

-Develops during childhood
-We internalize, or unconsciously adopt, the values and norms of others. Our conscience leads us to feel guilt and anxiety

Question 13

Defence mechanisms

Answer 13

Unconscious tactics to protect us from anxiety and internal conflict by dealing with Id impulses

Question 14

Inadequate evidence

Answer 14

Small, limited sample ( cannot be directly tested by scientific methods lack of predictive power)

Question 15

Neo-Freudians

Answer 15

Believe that human functioning is shaped by interacting, dynamic, psychological forces.
Believe that childhood shapes personality
Believe that much of mental life is unconscious
Believe that we struggle with inner conflicts

Question 16

Alfred Adler

Answer 16

Social not sexual needs and conscious thoughts are critical in the development of personality
Feelings of inferiority motivate a quest fro superiority

Question 17

Carl Jung

Answer 17

-Personal unconscious ( formed through individual experiences)
-Collective unconscious (inherited memories shared by all humankind)
Archetypes- shared memories

Question 18

Abraham Maslow

Answer 18

Human are basically good and have an urge to grow and fulfill his/her potential
Personality arises from striving to meet needs
Hierarchy of needs
Self-actualization-need to fulfill our potential as humans
Believed much could be learned from studying healthy, well-adjusted people
Led to study of positive psychology-positive experiences and healthy mental functioning, peak experiences

Question 19

Carl Rogers

Answer 19

Client-cantered therapy-put aside conditions of worth developed during childhood
1) Humans are fundamentally positive and strive for self actual inaction
2) Self concept- consistent pattern of self-perception describing how we see ourselves, can be used to characterize an individual
3) Unconditional positive regard- acceptance without terms or conditions

Question 20

Personality traits

Answer 20

Tendencies to behave in certain ways that remain relatively constant across situations

Question 21

Trait theories

Answer 21

Gordon Allport- first trait theorist, beaded work on case studies
Hans Eysenck- used factor analysis to create super factors

Question 22

Five factor theory

Answer 22

An empirically derived trait theory that proposes five major trait categories:
-Openness to experience/ unimaginativeness
-Conscientiousness/ irresponsibility
-Extraversion/introversion
-Agreeableness/disagreeableness
-Neuroticism/ stability

Question 23

Evaluating trait theories

Answer 23

Strengths:
-Traits become increasing stable across adult years
-Relatively stable across many situations and cultures
-Traits predict other personal attributes and often other behaviours
-Appears to be a strong genetic contribution to personality traits
Criticisms:
-Oversimplify personality
-Portray personality as fixed rather than changing

Question 24

Openness scores

Answer 24

Low- practical, un-creative, incurious, conforming
High- imaginative, creative, curious, independent

Question 25

Conscientiousness scores

Answer 25

Low- disorganized, careless, lazy, late
High- organized, careful, disciplined, punctual

Question 26

Extraversion scores

Answer 26

Low- retiring, passive, sober, reserved
High- sociable, active, fun-long, affectionate

Question 27

Agreeableness scores

Answer 27

Low- ruthless, suspicious, critical, uncooperative
High- soft-hearted, trusting, lenient, helpful

Question 28

Neuroticism scores

Answer 28

Low- calm, unemotional, secure, self-satisfied
High- anxious, emotional, insecure, self-pitying

Question 29

Projective tests ( personality assessment)

Answer 29

Use ambiguous stimulation to access a person’s unconscious

Question 30

Rorschach inkblot test (personality assessment)

Answer 30

Ambiguous shapes intended to force participants to project meaning. Responses thought to indicate underlying personality characteristics of conflicts— Low validity

Question 31

Thematic Apperception test TAT ( personality assessment)

Answer 31

Participants create stories describing ambiguous black and white drawings. Systematic scoring, but not consistently used—Low validity

Question 32

Personality inventories( personality assessment)

Answer 32

Paper-and -pencil questionnaires designed to assess various aspects of personality

Question 33

Socially desirable responding( personality assessment)

Answer 33

Tailoring answers on personality inventories to create a good impression

Question 34

Minnesota multiphasic personality inventory 2 MMPI-2( personality assessment0

Answer 34

Useful in assessing abnormal personality characteristics. Validity items to account for socially desirable responding

Question 35

NEO personality inventory NEO-PI-R-3 (personality assessment)

Answer 35

Doesn’t evaluate abnormal personality characteristics. Evaluates traits comprising three of five factors

Question 36

Gillian- gender differences

Answer 36

Men are higher on
individuality and autonomy.
Women are higher on social and connectedness traits

Question 37

Hyde- gender differences

Answer 37

There are differences in levels of aggression, motor, performance and sexuality

Question 38

Collectivist cultures

Answer 38

i. Consider the needs of the group over that of the individual.
ii. Score higher on measures of agreeableness
iii. Value harmony in interpersonal relationships
iv. Describe self as part of a group

Question 39

Individualist cultures

Answer 39

i. Value individual achievement and independence
ii. Score higher on measures of extraversion and openness
iii. Value privacy
iv. Describe self using a personal trait

Question 40

Personality disorder

Answer 40

An inflexible patterns of inner experience and outward behaviour that causes distress or difficulty with daily functioning

Question 41

Paranoid marked by odd or eccentric behaviour

Answer 41

Exaggerated suspicion and distrust of others; assumption that others’ motives are hostile, highly guarded and emotionally withdrawn

Question 42

Schizoid marked by odd or eccentric behaviour

Answer 42

Detachment from social relationships, flat emotional expression, cold or indifferent to others

Question 43

Schizotypal marked by odd or eccentric behaviour

Answer 43

Behaviour that is odd or peculiar, unusual cognitive or perceptual experiences, acute discomfort with close relationships

Question 44

Antisocial in old dramatic or emotional behaviour

Answer 44

Extreme disregard for others; relationships are dishonest, deceitful and exploitive, typically impulsive and reckless

Question 45

Borderline involve dramatic or emotional behaviour

Answer 45

Severe instability in emotion and self concept, impulsive and self destructive behaviour

Question 46

Histrionic involve dramatic or emotional behaviour

Answer 46

Excessive need to be noticed and be the centre of attention, emotions shallow and changeable; engagement with others superficial

Question 47

Narcissistic involve dramatic or emotional behaviour

Answer 47

Characterized by high degree of self-interest and self importance, callous attitude toward others

Question 48

Avoidant-high levels of fear and anxiety

Answer 48

Extreme feelings of inadequacy, avoidance of social activities, inhibited personal relationships, hypersensitive to criticism

Question 49

Dependent- high levels of fear and anxiety

Answer 49

Excessive need to be cared for by others, clinging and submissive behaviour, difficulty making decisions

Question 50

Obsessive compulsive- high levels of fear and anxiety

Answer 50

Preoccupied with perfectionism and control at the expense of flexibility or enjoyment, excessive devotion to work and productivity