Chapter 5 Flashcards
Define personality
Personality refers to the unique set of traits, behaviors, thoughts, and emotions that characterize an individual. It shapes how people interact with others and respond to various situations, forming a consistent pattern over time.
Psychodynamic perspective of personality
The psychodynamic perspective, rooted in Freud’s theories, emphasizes the influence of unconscious motives and early childhood experiences on personality development. It suggests that behavior is driven by internal conflicts, often between primal desires and societal expectations.
Trait perspective of personality
The trait perspective posits that personality is made up of enduring traits that can be measured and quantified. It focuses on identifying and describing individual differences in behavior, typically using various models to categorize traits.
Freuds theory of personality development
Freud proposed that personality develops through a series of stages during childhood, each characterized by different conflicts centered on erogenous zones. Successful navigation of these stages leads to a healthy personality, while unresolved conflicts can result in fixation.
ID
Id: The primitive part of the mind that operates on the pleasure principle, seeking immediate gratification.
EGO
Ego: The rational part that operates on the reality principle, mediating between the desires of the id and the demands of the external world.
Super ego
Superego: The moral component that internalizes societal values and norms, often in conflict with the id.
Reality principle
Reality Principle: The guiding principle of the ego that seeks to satisfy the id’s desires in realistic and socially acceptable ways.
Defense mechanisms
Defense Mechanisms: Psychological strategies used by the ego to protect itself from anxiety arising from conflicts between the id and superego.
Five defence mechanisms
Repression: Unconsciously blocking unacceptable thoughts or memories.
Denial: Refusing to accept reality or facts.
Projection: Attributing one’s own unacceptable feelings to others.
Rationalization: Offering logical explanations for irrational behavior.
Displacement: Redirecting emotions to a safer target.
Freuds stages of psychosexual development
Oral Stage (0-1 year): Pleasure centers on the mouth.
Anal Stage (1-3 years): Pleasure focuses on bowel and bladder control.
Phallic Stage (3-6 years): Focus on the genitals; Oedipus/Electra complex.
Latency Stage (6-puberty): Sexual feelings are dormant.
Genital Stage (puberty onward): Maturation of sexual interests.
Define fixation
Fixation occurs when an individual becomes stuck in one of the psychosexual stages, leading to behaviors and personality traits associated with that stage in adulthood.
Andrew’s and Bonita’s 4 major offender types
Noncriminals: Low risk, no criminal behavior.
Low-level Offenders: Minor offenses; may have low self-control.
Moderate Offenders: More serious offenses; impulsive behavior.
High-level Offenders: Engaged in serious and persistent crime; often show traits like antisocial personality.
Hydraulic model of aggression
This model suggests that aggression builds up within an individual like pressure in a hydraulic system and must be released, often through frustration or provocation.
Define catharsis
Catharsis refers to the process of releasing and thereby providing relief from strong or repressed emotions, often linked to the idea of expressing aggression to reduce tension.
Bowlbys theory of attachment
Bowlby posited that early attachments between a child and caregiver are crucial for psychological development, influencing emotional bonds and relationships later in life.
Explain the strange situation
The Strange Situation is a structured observational study designed by Mary Ainsworth to assess attachment styles in infants by observing their reactions to separations and reunions with caregivers.
Four infant attachment styles
Secure: Comfortable with intimacy; seeks closeness.
Avoidant: Uncomfortable with closeness; avoids emotional connection.
Ambivalent: Anxious and uncertain; seeks closeness but also resists it.
Disorganized: Lacks a clear attachment strategy; often shows confused behaviors.
Internal working models
These are mental representations of self and others formed in childhood through attachment experiences. They guide expectations and interactions in relationships throughout life.
Four adult attachment styles
Secure: Trusting and stable relationships.
Anxious-preoccupied: High anxiety about relationships, often overly dependent.
Dismissive-avoidant: Values independence, often emotionally distant.
Fearful-avoidant: Desires closeness but fears it, leading to ambivalence.
Attachment nd criminal behaviour
Research indicates that insecure attachment styles can correlate with higher instances of criminal behavior due to difficulties in forming stable relationships and managing emotions.
Cardinal, central, and secondary traits
Cardinal Traits: Dominant traits that define a person’s personality.
Central Traits: General characteristics that form the basis of personality.
Secondary Traits: Specific traits that are situational and less consistent.
Five factor model of personality
Also known as the Big Five, this model includes:
Openness: Creativity and willingness to try new things.
Conscientiousness: Organization and dependability.
Extraversion: Sociability and assertiveness.
Agreeableness: Compassion and cooperativeness.
Neuroticism: Emotional instability and anxiety.
Eysencks theory of criminal personality
Eysenck proposed that personality traits, particularly extraversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism, are linked to criminal behavior, suggesting that certain traits predispose individuals to criminality.
