Chapter 12: Personality Flashcards
personality
unique set of consistent behavioral traits, explains stability of behavior and differences among people in the same situations
personality trait
tendency to behave in a particular way in a variety of situations
neuroticism
worried, insecure, self-pitying
extraversion
sociable, fun-loving, affectionate
openness to experience
imaginative, variety, independent
agreeableness
softhearted, trusting, helpful
conscientiousness
well organized, careful, self-disciplined
psychodynamic theories
focus on unconscious mental forces
freud’s 3 divisions of personality
id: pleasure principle, biological urges
ego: reality principle, decisions
superego: moral component, social standards
conscious
what one is aware of
preconscious
just beneath surface of awareness, easily retrieved
unconscious
memories, thoughts and desires deep below the surface
defense mechanisms
largely unconscious reactions that protect a person from unpleasant emotions
rationalization
create excuse to justify unacceptable behavior
repression
burying distressing thoughts in the unconscious
projection
attributing one’s own thoughts feelings or motives to another
displacement
diverting feelings to another target
reaction formations
behaving in a way opposite of one’s feelings
regression
reversion to immature behavior
identifications
forming imaginary alliance with a person/group
sublimation
channel unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable or admirable behaviors, healthiest method
psychosexual stages
developmental periods with sexual focus that influence adult personality
oedipal complex
children develop sexual desires for opposite sex parent and hostility towards same sex parent
oral stage
1st year, breast to bottle
anal stage
potty training, could lead to sexual anxiety
phallic stage
oedipal complex, penis envy
latency stage
sexuality is latent, age 6-puberty, expanding social contacts
genital stage
puberty, sexual energy channeled towards other sex
personal unconscious
repressed or forgotten material
collective unconscious
latent memory traces inherited from people’s ancestral past
archetypes
emotionally charged images and thought forms that have universal meanings
striving for superiority
universal drive to adapt, improve oneself and master life’s challenges
reciprocal determinism
idea that mental events, external environmental events and overt behavior all influence eachother
observational learning
responding is influenced by observation of models
self-efficacy
ability to perform behaviors should lead to expected outcomes
humanism
perspectives, unique qualities of humans
self-concept
collection of beliefs about one’s own nature, qualities and typical behavior
self-actualization
need to fulfill one’s potential
terror management theory
explain why people need self-esteem, awareness of death
mortality salience
degree to which mortality is prominent in the mind
individualism
personal goals and identification ahead of group
collectivism
group goals and identification ahead of personal
projective tests
ask participants to respond to vague stimuli that may reveal personality traits
