Chapter #9: Personality Flashcards
Trait
any distinguishable, relatively enduring way in which one individual differs from others
Trait Theories
theories of personality that assume little change occurs across adulthood
Five-Factor Model
a model of dispitional traits with the dimensions, there are 5
What are the 5 dispositional traits of the Five Factor Model?
- Neuroticism
- Extraversion
- Openness to Experience
- Agreeableness
- Consciouentiousness
Neuroticism
characterized by anxiety, hostility, self-consioucness, depression, impulsiveness, and vulnerability
* High = nervous, high strung, tense, worried
* Low = opposite of that
Extraversion
characterized by 3 interpersonal traits (Warmth, Gregariousness, and Assertiveness) and 3 temperamental traits (Activity, Excitement Seeking, and Positive Emotions)
* relates to occupational interest and values
Openness to Experience
6 different areas:
* Fantasy - vivid imagination & active dream life
* Aesthetics - appreciationof art and beauty
* Action - people exhibit a willingnes to try something
* Ideas & Values - admitting what may be right for one person, may not be right for everyone
Agreeableness
Easy to work with, altruistic, patient, modest, straight-forward, sensitive
Conscientiousness
indicates high hardworking, ambitious, energetic
* strong desire to make something of themselves
What happens to dispositional traits across adulthood?
Older adults in their 70s to 80s were shown to have more stable traits
Personality Adjustment
involves developmental changes in term of their adaptive value and functionality
* eg. functioning effectively within society and how personality contributes to everyday life running smoothly
Personality Growth
ideal & states
* e.g. increased self-transcendance, widsom, and integrity
Ego Development
the fundamental changes in the ways our thoughts, values, morals, and goals are organized
* transitions from one stage to another
* depends on both internal and external changes to which a person may adapt
Triggering Stimulus, Expectancy, States/State Expressions, and Reactions (TESSERA) Model
describes a process in which long-term personality development is the product of repeated-short term, situational processes
* short-term proces repreat and create a feedback loop
* in turn can result in personality and behavior change overtime
Jung’s Theory of Personality
emphasizes that each aspect of a person’s identity/personality must be in balance with all others
* Asserts 2 orientations of the Ego
* External Experience –> Extraversion
* Inner World of Subjective Experiences –> Intraversion
Introversion-Extraversion Distinction
young adults tend to be more extraverted than older adults
* with increasing age, need for balance prompts focus inwards, increasing introversion
Feminine/Masculine Aspects of Personality
young adults acts more in accordance with gender stereotypes
* as we grow older, people begin to let out supressed parts of their personality
Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development
stated personality is determined by the interaction between an inner maturational plan and external societal demands
Epigentic Principle
the notion that development is guided by an underlying plan in which certain issues have their own particular times of importance
* sequence of stgaes in Erikson’s stages
* To achieve integrity, a person must come to terms with the choices and events that made his or her life unique
Clarifications/Expansions of Erikson’s Theory: Logan (1986) Cyclic Approach
Pointed out the theory can be considered a cycle
* First establish trust, and then establish a relationship
* Theme of our need for achievement and to be recognized
* Understanding ourselves as worthwhile and whole in old age
Clarifications/Expansions of Erikson’s Theory: Slater (2003) Generativity vs. Stagnation
Pride and Embarassment, Responsibility and Ambivalence, Career Productivity and Inadequacy
Clarifications/Experiences of Erikson’s Theory: Patterson (2012) Incarnation vs Impudence
“resolved through experimental sexuality, temporal, and spatial social, and intimate relationships. Interdependence and dependnece, helplessness, and relativist/absolutist ideological”
Mid-Life Crisis
the facing of one’s own age and mortality; look at oneself and hope to attain a much better understanding of who they are
McAdam’s Life-Story Model
argues that a person’s sense of identity cannot be understood using the language of dispositional traits or personal concerns
* Identity - based on a story of how the person came into being, where the person has been, where they are going
Lifespan Construct
a person’s unified sense of the past, present, and future
* Scenario - consisting of expectations about the future that are often tied to achieving specific outcome by a particular age
Identity Accomodation
self evaluation and considering alternatives
Identity Assimilation
self justification, defensive, rigidity, and lack of insight
McAdams & Pal’s Framework
1a. Triats - dispositions/characteristics
1b. States - act with traits to create short term changes in emotions, mood, hunger etc.
2a. Personal Concerns - things important to people
2b. Self-Regulatory Processes - sefl-efficacy, outcome expectancy, primary/secondary control
3a. Life Narrative - integrative aspects of personality pulling things together to given an identity
3b. Cognitive Processes - act jointly with narratives of what one remembers, descriptions of longing, how people have changed or aligned themselves with new realities
1950s Cross-Sectional Study on the Five Factor Model Found
Personality is stable for 30+ years
correlation = .68-.85 over 12 years
Neuroticism
Lower with age for women
Anxiery & Hostility –> gives rise to fear and anger
Self-consciousness & depression»_space;> emotions of shame and sorrow
Impulsiveness & vulnerability lead to poor self-regulatory behaviors and little stress management
HEXACO Model
applied the lexical approach to language around the world, revealed a 6th factor called Honesty-Humility
The Dark Tetrad
includes ranges of personality traits, behaviors that violate social norms, and invariant across sex
1. Machiavellianism
2. Narcissim
3. Primary Psychopathy
4. Everyday Sadism
Machiavellianism
manipulation, power, strategic planning, and deceit
Narcissism
grandiose, entitled exploited, need for power
Personal Concerns
what people want or do not want, when and how they plan to get it, and how they interact in personal relationships
Identiy vs. Role Confusion
Adolescence
Strength: Fidelity = being authentic
Peer groups and outgroups model of leadership
Intimacy vs. Isolation
Emerging adulthood
Strength: Love
Partners in friendships, sex competition, cooperation
Generativity vs. Stagnation
Mid-life
Strength: Care
Divided labors and shared household
Integrity vs. Despair
Strength: Widsom
Humankind, “my kind”
Marcia’s Identiy Status Interview
Crisis and commitment intersect, 4 statuses
1. Diffused
2. Foreclosed
3. Mortorium
4. Identiy Achieved
Diffused Identity Status
No Exploration, No Committment
* carefree difussed and undifferentiated, unsuccesful at articulating goals/committment
Foreclosed Identiy Status
No Exploration, Yes Committment
* closed-minded, rigid, higher self-esteem
Mortatorium Identiy Status
Yes Exploration, No Committment
* open, curious, but anxious, depressed
Identity Achieved Status
Yes Exploration, Yes Committment
* balanced, mature, and thoughtful
MAMA Cycles
oscilation between Moriatorium and Achievement
* once you have explored, there is no going back and the only choice you have is to committ or not
Midlifers show higher generative committment
Generative parents»_space;> closer to youth, have kids who are happier, prosocial
* stability from 40s to 60s
* teach, volunteer, do not profit work
Older adults are satisfed, coherent, and find purpose in life-review
- Don’t well on lost opportunities
- Balance thoughts of death with legacy through children, grand children, and great grandchildren
Mcadams & Whitbourne’s Life-Story Model
our internalized narrative helps create the self; reconstructed past and perceived future
