Chapter 16: Personality

Question 1

What do personality traits reflect?

Answer 1

Personality traits reflect basic dimensions on which people differ.

Question 2

What is an important feature of personality traits?

Answer 2

They reflect continuous distributions rather than distinct personality types.

Question 3

What are the three criteria that characterize personality traits?

Answer 3

1) consistency
2) stability
3) Individual differences

Question 4

Describe the criteria of consistency when relating to personality traits.

Answer 4

To have a personality trait, individuals must be somewhat consistent across situations in their behaviours related to the trait. (talkative at home, talkative at work)

Question 5

Describe the criteria of stability when relating to personality traits.

Answer 5

Individuals with a trait are somewhat stable over time in behaviours related to the trait. (talkative at 30, will still be talkative at 40)

Question 6

Describe the criteria of individual differences when relating to personality traits.

Answer 6

People differ from one another on behaviours related to the trait. (differences in talkativeness)

Question 7

What does the lexical hypothesis state?

Answer 7

All important personality characteristics should be reflected in the language that we use to describe other people. (used descriptive words from the dictionary to see which ones ‘went together’)

Question 8

What are the five major traits in the Five-Factor Model?

Answer 8

Openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.

Question 9

Define openness. What are the behaviours of low scorers? Of high scorers?

Answer 9

The tendency to appreciate new art, ideas, values, feelings, and behaviours.
Low scorers prefer not to be exposed to alternative moral systems; narrow interests; not analytical.
High scorers are curious, imaginative, and untraditional.

Question 10

Define conscientiousness. What are the behaviours of low scorers? Of high scorers?

Answer 10

The tendency to be careful, on-time for appointments, to follow rules, and to be hardworking.
Low scorers prefer spur-of-the-moment action; unreliable; hedonistic; careless; lax.
High scorers are organized; neat; persevering; punctual; self-disciplining.

Question 11

Define extraversion. What are the behaviours of low scorers? Of high scorers?

Answer 11

The tendency to be talkative, sociable, and to enjoy others; the tendency to have a dominant style.
Low scorers are sober, aloof, unenthusiastic.
High scorers like being the life of the party; active, optimistic, fun-loving, affectionate.

Question 12

Define agreeableness. What are the behaviours of low scorers? Of high scorers?

Answer 12

The tendency to agree and go along with others rather than to assert one’s own opinions and choices.
Low scorers quickly and confidently assert their own rights; irritable; manipulative; uncooperative; rude.
High scorers are good natured; forgiving; gullible; helpful.

Question 13

Define neuroticism. What are the behaviours of low scorers? Of high scorers?

Answer 13

The tendency to frequently experience negative emotions such as anger, worry, and sadness, as well as being interpersonally sensitive.
Low scorers are calm, don’t get irritated by small annoyances, unemotional, hardy, secure, self-satisfied.
High scorers constantly worry about little things; insecure, feeling inadequate.

Question 14

What is the 6th dimension of personality included in the HEXACO Model? What are the behaviours of people high in this trait? Low?

Answer 14

The 6th dimension is Honesty-Humility.
People high in this trait are sincere, fair, and modest.
people low in this trait are manipulative, narcissistic, and self-centred.

Question 15

What is the person-situation debate?

Answer 15

A debate that states that people are not always consistent in their behaviour across situations; behaviour is affected by certain situations.

Question 16

Describe objective tests.

Answer 16

Objective tests involve administering a standard set of items, each of which is answered using a limited set of response options. Responses to these items are the scored in a standardized, predetermined way.

Question 17

What are the two basic types of objective tests?

Answer 17

Self-report measures and informant ratings.

Question 18

Describe self-report measures. What are some limitations of this method?

Answer 18

This test asks people to describe themselves. The items in self-report measures may include single words, short phrases, or complete sentences.
Limitations include high-stakes testing, self-enhancement bias, and the reference group effect.

Question 19

Describe informant ratings. What are some limitations of this method?

Answer 19

This test asks people to describe the personality characteristics of someone they know well. It includes single words, short phrases, or complete sentences.
Limitations include the sibling contrast effect, the letter of recommendation effect, and the honeymoon effect (when applied to newlyweds)

Question 20

What is the projective hypothesis?

Answer 20

The hypothesis states that if a person is asked to describe or interpret ambiguous stimuli, their responses will be influenced by non-conscious needs, feelings, and experiences.

Question 21

What assumption are implicit tests based on?

Answer 21

The assumption that people form automatic or implicit associations between certain concepts based on their previous experience and behaviour.