Chapter 9 Personality

Question 1

Where does the word “Personality” come from?

Answer 1

The greek word “persona” that means character presented in a play

Question 2

How do you define Personality?

Answer 2

Usually by “terms of traits,” a persons usual way of behaving

Question 3

People can show different personality “states,” mean level changes, and rank order consistency, what do these all mean?

Answer 3

States = someone can be shy aroud a certain person and extroverted around another

Mean level changes = example, measuring extraversion and bringing them back 5 years later to see if there is a change

Rank-order consistency = ranking people;e from least to most extraverted, then doing the same 5 years later to see if theres change in the ranking

Question 4

What are the “Big 5” personalities

Answer 4

Introverted/Extraverted
Open to new experiences/Closed minded
Conscientious/Disorganized
Agreeable/Disagreeable
Neuroticism/Emotional Stability

Question 5

Costa and McCrae’s research revealed the notion that personality is “set like plaster,”at age 30, why might they have gotten these results?

Answer 5

Because back then people would be married and have kids at that age but things are changing now

Question 6

What is the Maturity Principle?

Answer 6

Individuals following the developmental trend of increased agreeableness, emotional stability, conscientiousness, and decreased neuroticism
Older adults who’s personalities change in this way are healthier, have better relationships, live longer, have better mental health, etc.

Question 7

Describe the rank order consistency of personality trains across the lifespan

Answer 7

Theres less rank order consistency in the younger ages, but over time it becomes more similar

Question 8

What leads to a decreased risk of mortality, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, and more?

Answer 8

Conscientiousness, taking better care of your health

Question 9

What leads to an increased risk of substance abuse, obesity, smoking, lung disease, high blood pressure, depression, and Alzheimers

Answer 9

Neuroticism

Question 10

There is little evidence that shows type A personality (being competitive and work driven) leads to what?

Answer 10

Coronary Artery Disease

Question 11

What did Sigmund Freud believe about personality?

Answer 11

That our personality and behaviour come from conflicts between the three aspects of unconscious mind (id, ego, superego) and is completely shaped by adolescence and doesn’t change

Question 12

What did Sigmund Freud believe about defence mechanisms

Answer 12

That defence mechanisms help us manage the anxiety from underlying sexual and/or aggressive impulses

Question 13

What concepts about personality did Carl Jung develop?

Answer 13

Developed the concepts of extraversion and introversion, and the feminine and masculine aspects of personality

Question 14

Carl Jung broke from Freud in 1912 because of what?

Answer 14

he posted a publication called “the psychology of unconscious” and was the first theorist to posit that personality can change in adulthood, which went against Freuds views

Question 15

Erikson developed stages of psychosocial development, what are the last 3?

Answer 15

Intimacy vs Isolation (21-39, all about yourself, eg.I need to find a partner)

Generativity vs stagnation (40-60, starting to think about others ex. future generations)

Integrity vs Despair (65+ years, thinking about your life ex. did I do good or bad)

People might experience a psychosocial issue at an age other than what’s shown

Question 16

Research suggests that higher levels of generatively are associated with more meaningful and satisfactory relationships, Its positively associated with all big five traits except for which one?

Answer 16

Neuroticism

Question 17

What is the Socioemotional Selectivity Theory?

Answer 17

People focus on informational rewards and knowledge early on in life, but the they sense time running out, they focus more on emotional rewards and relationships

Question 18

What is the “Possible selves theory”

Answer 18

Views about ourselves guide choices and pursuits of future obligations, they want to become the future self they hope to be not their feared future self. Older adults may lower expectations in order to feel more satisfied with what they achieve

Question 19

Whats the difference between Problem and Emotion focused coping

Answer 19

Problem focused coping: attempts to change a situation (eg.coming to class because you failed the last test)

Emotion focused coping: attempting to change appraisal (40% is still better than 0)

Older adults cope better with stress

Question 20

What is the “Life Narratives Theory?”

Answer 20

Life stories dont reflect personality alone, they are important parts of personality along with other parts like goals and values

Question 21

What are the 3 stages of Adult Development according to Levinson

Answer 21

Early Adult transition - 17-22, big changes in life structure like new job, moving for school

Midlife transition - 40-45, midlife crisis

Late adult transition - 60-65, also big transitions

Question 22

Not everyone goes through a Midlife Crisis, what is a better name for it?

Answer 22

Midlife Correction

Question 23

What are 3 critiques of the Midlife Crisis?

Answer 23

Age isn’t a marker of development (chronological age doesn’t relate to personality)

Levinson book was highly objective (only studied himself and his colleagues)

The “findings” were never replicated