Development of Personality - Key Terms

Question 1

Define personality

Answer 1

made up of the thought, feelings and behaviours that make an individual unique

Question 2

Define temperament

Answer 2

the genetic compound (inherited part) of personality

Question 3

Define monozygotic twins

Answer 3

developed from one fertilised egg (identical)

Question 4

Define dizygotic twins

Answer 4

developed from two separately fertilised eggs (non-identical or fraternal)

Question 5

Define type theory

Answer 5

personality types are thought to be inherited. they can be described using related traits

Question 6

Define extroversion

Answer 6

personality type that describes people who look to the outside world for entertainment

Question 7

Define introversion

Answer 7

personality type that describes people who are content with their own company

Question 8

Define neuroticism

Answer 8

personality type that describes people who are highly emotional and show a quick, intense reaction to fear

Question 9

Define personality scales

Answer 9

ways of measuring personality using yes/no questions

Question 10

Define EPI

Answer 10

scale used to measure extroversion-introversion and neuroticism-stability made of yes/no questions. two dimensions are not related so a person can be identified as neurotic introvert, neurotic extrovert, stable introvert or stable extrovert

Question 11

Define EPQ

Answer 11

scale also used to measure introversion, extroversion and neuroticism but new added dimension, psychoticism. again, these 3 dimensions are unrelated

Question 12

Define psychoticism

Answer 12

3rd dimension identified by Eysenck. people who score high on this dimension are hostile, aggressive, insensitive and cruel

Question 13

Define APD

Answer 13

Antisocial Personality Disorder; condition where the individual doesn’t use socially acceptable behaviours or considers the rights of others

Question 14

Define DSM-IV-TR

Answer 14

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; lists different mental disorders and criteria for diagnosing them

Question 15

Define amygdala
(include definition, where it's found, functions, link to APD)

Answer 15

part of the brain involved in emotion located in the limbic system in the temporal lobe or the brain. it’s functions involve memory and emotion, especially fear. it’s responsible for learning from negative consequences of our actions and also responds to fearful and sad facial expressions of others, so we usually learn to avoid behaviours that upset others. it’s believed the amygdala is impaired in people with APD and as a result, they don’t learn to avoid behaviours that harm others and sadness and fear of others don’t affect them

Question 16

Define socioeconomic factors

Answer 16

social and financial issues that can affect an individual

Question 17

Define grey matter (cerebral cortex)

Answer 17

outer layer of the brain which is the most complex and intricate part of the brain. language, sensory perception, movement, speech etc are all controlled by areas in the cortex

Question 18

Define prefrontal cortex

include definition, where it’s found, what it controls and link to APD

Answer 18

the very front of the brain, situated in the frontal lobe, which is involved in social and moral behaviour and controls aggression. personality, planning ahead and displaying appropriate behaviour are all abilities associated with the prefrontal cortex. people with APD have been known to have a smaller prefrontal cortex.