cognitive foundations of personality

Question 1

why is “cognitive” involved with personality

Answer 1

how we think is a part of who we are

Question 2

what is Locus of Control (LoC)

Answer 2

beliefs about the causes of outcomes in life

-people vary in the extent to which they believe an outcome depends on their own behavior v. environment

Question 3

what does LoC exist on

Answer 3

continuum from internal to external

• internal: believe themselves make things happen, person is affecting the environment
• external: believe that things happen to them, environment is affecting the person (luck, fate, etc)

Question 4

how was LoC proposed

Answer 4

that it is a learned trait

-based on life experiences

Question 5

explain Rotter’s internal-external Locus of Control scale

Answer 5

measures someone on the continuum of LoC

• statements, internal LoC people tend to agree with some and external LoC tend to agree with others
• participants are presented with paired opposite statements (1 internal and 1 external), have to indicate which one you agree with more and these results characterize LoC

Question 6

is there just one LoC scale or many

Answer 6

there exist LoC scales for different aspects of life

health, relationships, parenting, substance abuse, etc

Question 7

LoC research on action

Answer 7

internals tend to take more action (make things happen) than externals

Question 8

LoC research on academics

Answer 8

internals tend to do better academically (study more, get better grades)

Question 9

LoC research on planning

Answer 9

internals tend to be better at planning and goal attainment (finish college faster)

Question 10

LoC research on responsibility

Answer 10

internals tend to assume more personal responsibility and hold others as more personally responsible for actions
ex. internal LoC support death penalty more than external

Question 11

LoC research on work behaviors

Answer 11

internals tend to be more productive at work, receive promotions, and have job satisfaction

Question 12

LoC research on physical health

Answer 12

internals tend to have better physical health outcomes (less likely to have heart disease, may be due to behaviors less likely to lead to heart disease)
-also less likely to engage in safety risking behaviors: more likely to wear seat belts, more success in quitting smoking and more likely to use birth control

Question 13

LoC research on mental health

Answer 13

internals tend to have better mental health (less likely to have anxiety and depression)

Question 14

so, research on types of LoC?

Answer 14

having internal LoC tends to be more beneficial

Question 15

explain the method of LoC and social behavior study

Answer 15

examined the influence of LoC on reaction to strangers during social interaction

method: 98 male undergrads and assessed their LoC, were assigned to a dyad (interacting with a stranger), told to wait in waiting room for the real study (participant and stranger interact here, unstructured social interaction)
- both people were participants

Question 16

explain IVs and DVs in LoC and social behavior study

Answer 16

IV: type of dyad

1) pairing internal LoC with internal
2) external LoC and external
3) internal LoC and external

DV: interaction behavior

1) looked at # of verbalizations
2) mutual eye contact

Question 17

what were the results of LoC and social behavior study

Answer 17

• verbalizations: E and E dyads tended to have far more verbalizations with each other than other dyads
• eye contact: E and E dyads engaged in the most mutual gazing compared to the other two dyads

Question 18

explain the results of LoC and social behavior study

Answer 18

part of external LoC is seeing others as responsible for what happens to you
-implication for social interaction: if other people make things happen it is in your best interest to figure something out about other person (so talk to and look at them)

makes sense externals pay more attention to social situation than internals

Question 19

what is true because LoC is learned

Answer 19

culture can play a role

Question 20

explain the two different kinds of cultures

Answer 20

collectivist: the group is more important than individual (cooperation), Eastern countries (Japan) are collectivist and more likely to have external LoC
individualist: individual is more important than group (independence), US and western countries are individualist and they are more likely to have internal LoC

Question 21

explain LoC in individualist cultures

Answer 21

the tendency to exert control over one’s life is consistent with independence and self reliance (these norms are celebrated)

Question 22

what are people in individualist cultures vulnerable to

Answer 22

illusion of control: phenomenon where people believe they have control even in situations they do not
-can influence gambling behavior

Question 23

explain LoC in collectivist cultures

Answer 23

society values interdependence and harmony, members of culture are socialized to adjust surroundings rather than try to change them

Question 24

explain research surrounding external LoC in collectivist cultures

Answer 24

greater acceptance of external LoC may not imply they believe they have less control over life or that they experience psychological distress
-we do not see these relationships in collectivist societies

suggests people in collectivist societies may still perceive they are in control by adapting to their environment

Question 25

are there different ways to be in control

Answer 25

the meaning of control varies depending on cultural norms/values, so yes

Question 26

what did researchers propose surrounding internal LoC

Answer 26

two different ways internal LoC can manifest itself (primary and seconday)

Question 27

general strategy of primary control

Answer 27

influence existing realities

Question 28

typical targets for causal influence for primary control

Answer 28

other people, objects, environmental circumstances, status or standing relative to others, behavior problems

Question 29

overall intent for primary control

Answer 29

enhance reward (or reduce punishment) by influencing realities to fit self

Question 30

general strategy of secondary control

Answer 30

accomodate to existing realities

Question 31

typical targets for causal influence for secondary control

Answer 31

self’s expectations, wishes, goals, perceptions, attitudes, interpretations, attributions

Question 32

overall intent for secondary control and example

Answer 32

enhance reward (or reduce punishments) by influencing psychological impact of realities on self

ex. “i try to think if it were not for the shelter in place, I would not be able to spend this much time with my son

Question 33

how to primary and secondary control react

Answer 33

primary secondary ratio

Question 34

what is primary/secondary ratio

Answer 34

rather than opting for one form of self control or another, people tend to establish a ratio (the extent to which they interpret things with primary vs. secondary control)

• ratio is influenced by culture
• people in collectivist cultures have greater proportion of ratio as secondary control, individualist cultures have greater proportion of ratio in primary control

Question 35

how is secondary control shown in Eastern religions (Buddhism and Hinduism)

Answer 35

these religions emphasize mindfulness (has been around for centuries)

Question 36

what is mindfulness and how is it an example of secondary control

Answer 36

mindfulness is bringing attention to whatever is happening in the moment

• notice it without judgement or desire
• excellent example of secondary control, not trying to control environment but change reaction to it
• mindfulness is associated with mental health outcomes

Question 37

is internal LoC always good

Answer 37

no, it is not always good to think you can change things when you actually cannot

Question 38

what is the serenity prayer

Answer 38

not trying to change things you cannot change

Question 39

what does research show about the bad side of internal LoC

Answer 39

• people who are in situations where they cannot control what’s happening, they are better off with secondary LoC (ex. functional limitations, chronic health conditions, death of a loved one)
• disadvantageous for people in these situations to have a primary internal LoC (led to anxiety, secondary is more beneficial)