exam #2 Flashcards
1
Q
goal of experimental designs
A
to develop and test a hypothesis about a relation between a personality trait and an outcome, and measure and control for potential third variable
2
Q
steps of design circle
A
observation-theory-hypothesis
3
Q
possible third variable models
A
-3rd v causes both
-3rd v overlaps with IV
-3rd v as mediator
4
Q
3rd variable causes both
A
leads to outcome of interest, but also the IV you are trying to manipulate
5
Q
3rd variable overlaps with IV
A
-due to a fourth variable
-4th v causes both 3rd v and IV and overlap, both lead to the outcome of interest
6
Q
3rd variable as a mediator
A
-IV may cause outcome of interest, but the IV may lead to the 3rd v, which leads to the outcome
7
Q
what is important to ensure when making a survey
A
-informed consent (that its for a project)
-anonymity
8
Q
how to theoretically use multiple regression analysis to determine if third variable is at play
A
-if you control for the 3rd v and the correlation is reduced to 0, you know the variance must be explained by the 3rd v
-if it remains constant when controlling for 3rd v, then it rules out 3rd v explanation
9
Q
how to interpret correlation matrix
A
-look at Pearson’s r
-sign shows direction of correlation
-size shows strength
10
Q
Belyayev’s tame foxes
A
-can you selectively breed tame foxes to get a dog-like animal?
(yes)
-tame foxes barked, wagged tails, had different coats and tails
-some foxes created were tamer than others
-still variation amongst them
11
Q
personality’s biological foundation (4 parts)
A
-natural selection: face challenges with certain behaviors, some beneficial others not
-genetic make-up
-brain processes and structures
-personality
12
Q
why are pet drugs and human drugs often the same
A
we all have a common ancestor
13
Q
how to test evolutionary theory
A
-fossil records
-DNA
-evolutionary tree to provide starting point for observations
-look for similarities and differences
14
Q
comparative psychology and other hominids
A
though other hominins are extinct, hominids (great apes), our primate cousins, are still around and may provide evidence
15
Q
bonobos
A
might be closer to humans than chimps
-show very similar behaviors to humans
16
Q
individual reproductive problems (3) and “personality” solutions
A
-protection: flight/ fight -> group living
-provision: hunger/ thirst -> cooperation
-procreation: sex drive -> sexual selection and competition
17
Q
sexual selection
A
characteristics in potential mates that attract others
18
Q
distal explanation
A
people used to reproduce just for selection, so that’s what drives all of our behaviors
19
Q
proximate explanation
A
usually different from evolutionary perspective, we do things bc love, etc, not just to find the best mate or have best reproductive success
20
Q
EEA (environment of evolutionary adaptedness)
A
-differences across primates/ humans arise due to envt changes
-ex: all primates take care of young -> shows evolutionary history
-many behaviors that were useful many years ago (ex hunter gatherer societies) may not be useful now
21
Q
Buss’ reproductive problems (6) and EEA
A
-intrasexual competition: ex: women competing with other women
-mate selection: we choose to mate with
-conception
-mate retention: monogamy -> we want to keep our mates with us and not someone else
-cooperation: helping others through joint action to get to shared goal
-caregiving
22
Q
Buss’ reproductive problems solutions examples
A
-intrasexual competition: aggression to outdo others, perseverance
-mate selection: being judgmental and careful of others
-conception: having a sex drive
-mate retention: jealousy
-cooperation: agreeableness, people pleasing, extraversion
-caregiving: empathy, compassion, tenderness, altruism
23
Q
why aren’t we all pretty much the same
A
random variation and individual differences
24
Q
types of contingencies
A
-differences associated with other differences: based on asymmetrical selection pressures (eg sex differences)
-differences associated with envt contingencies
-evolution can cause genes to be expressed in some situations
25
jealousy amongst the polyamorous
would rather have partner have sex with someone else than fall in love with them
26
sex and mate selection differences
differences tend to be small between sexes
27
link to advantageous personality
the genome
28
envt where high neuroticism is favorable
dangerous envt
29
envt where agreeableness is favorable
non-competitive envt
30
genes and traits
-all behavioral traits are heritable and genes matter more than household
-most important: how much of a gene is expressed
31
identical raised apart
-show evidence of heritability, but envts may still be similar and may not be a good predictor
32
G x E interactions
-genotype leads us to choose envts and behave in certain ways and elicit reactions from others
33
issues in behavioral genetics
-genome wide association studies tend to yield massively smaller estimates compared to what is expected in twin studies
-GWAS underestimates, twin study overestimates
34
caveats of heritability studies
-based on population
-not assumed to replicate across populations
-does not apply to individuals
-everything in the phenotype requires both a genetic foundation and envt "scaffolding"
35
order of bio psychological theories
-genes and DNA \/
-proteins
-brain structures, NTs, hormones
-thoughts and feelings
-personality
-behavior and effects on reproduction
-evolutionary processing can cause genes and DNA, and be caused by behavior, creating loop
36
the mind is what the brain does
studies of people w brain damage or of brain stimulation and of brain imaging suggest this
37
Hans Eysenck's theory
-extraversion-introversion: extraverts are chronically under stimulated, need to constantly expose themselves to stimulation, and reverse for introverts; cortical arousal thresholds
-neuroticism and sympathetic nervous system thresholds
38
Eysenck's complex
-unstable on top, stable on bottom
-introverted on left, extraverted on right
-traits lie in between these 4 quadrants
39
Gray's BIS and NT related
-behavioral inhibition system: conditioned avoidance; anxiety/ punishment sensitivity- serotonin (causes you to withdraw from stimuli that was previously punished)
40
localization and interconnectivity (circuits) of the brain
-heterogeneity of function
-vision is in all parts of the brain, not just one
-removing/ damaging one part still disrupts the process
41
Gray's BAS and NT related
-behavioral activation system: conditioned approach; pleasure seeking/ reward sensitivity -dopamine
42
Gray's fight/ flight/ freeze and NT related
-fight/flight/freeze: unconditioned avoidance; rage, panic - adrenaline, norepinephrine (something that's scary since birth, like loud noises)
43
Bem's exotic becomes erotic
-biological variables (genes, hormones)
-childhood temperament (aggression, activity level)
-sex-typical/ atypical activity and playmate preferences
-feeling different from opposite/ same sex peers
-physiological arousal to opposite/ same sex peers
-erotic attraction to opposite/ same sex peers
44
only remaining idea from Bem's exotic becomes erotic theory
suggested link between biology and SO
45
Freud and the unconscious
the way we are reflects other things internally
46
Freud and anxiety/ defense
humans are anxiety ridden and we try to do things to protect ourselves from feeling anxious
47
Freud and psychological determinism
Freudian slips represent unconscious feelings
48
Freud and importance of early childhood experience
causes lasting effects on adulthood and personality
49
sex and aggression
-two drives
-due to evolution, humans are animals and motivated by other animal-like things
-lasting effect: explain as much as possible with simple principle
50
id
-develops first
-animalistic, contains sex and aggression, pleasure principle, constantly trying to satisfy these drives
51
ego
between id and superego/ world, conscious, mediator, reality principle, understands reality
52
superego
conscience, moral sense, ideas of right and wrong
53
psychosexual stages and common themes
oral, anal, phallic, latency, genital
-child learning they don't always get what they want
54
defense mechanisms
repression, denial, displacement, projection, rationalization, reaction formation, sublimation
55
conflicts in oral, anal, phallic stages
oral: weaning, if mother too accommodating or strict, leaves lasting impact
anal: potty training
phallic: Oedipus complex
56
determinism and the unconscious
-behavior can often be traced back to unconscious
-not usually actually unconscious because people repress them
-we have limited introspective access to our own minds
57
dynamism: psychodynamics and early childhood development (4 parts)
motives take you in two different directions
-attachment and trust: want protection to primary caregiver, but also trust
-attachment and exploration
-control and mastery
-self-esteem: we're mortal, can't always be great
58
psychodynamics: anxiety and defense mechanisms (4 parts)
-attachment and trust: avoidance (try to deny need for love)
-attachment and exploration: symbolic substitution (have comfort idem or mechanism to soothe ourselves)
-control and mastery: illusory control (we think we have more control over our lives than we actually do); fantasy play (use imagination to make it seem like we have control)
-self-esteem: self serving bias (denial)
59
common theme of ego psych, object relations, humanism, existentialism
love and close relationships, autonomy/ identity/ self-esteem, meaning (what the world means to us)
60
ego psychology
-making sense of the self in relation to the world
-ex: who am I, where did I come from
-struggling to understand these questions=anxiety
61
Erik Erikson
-we carry conflicts from childhood through personality later in life
62
Erikson's psychosocial stages general
-sense of trust
-autonomy, self efficacy
-sense of identity
-all go into self esteem and self worth
63
Erikson's psychosocial stages specific and significant relations
-trust v mistrust - mother
-autonomy v shame and doubt - parents/ body
-initiative v guilt - family/ aspirations
-industry v inferiority - neighborhood and school
-ego-identity v role-confusion - peer groups, role models
-intimacy v isolation - partners and friends
-generativity v self absorption - household, workmates
-integrity v despair - humankind or "my kind"
64
motivational approach of ego psych
based on self esteem and narcissism
65
better than average effect
tend to rate self as better than others
66
self serving bias
-attribute success to self and failures to others
-weaknesses=temporary, strengths=permanent
67
self handicapping
so that we have an excuse when failure occurs
68
self evaluation maintenance
people constantly looking to others to find ways they're better
69
self esteem contingencies
people base self esteem on things they know they're already good at
70
narcissism and self esteem maintenance
-does much more of normal maintenance than average person
-ego feeding in overdrive
-self centeredness, entitlement, exploitation, grandiosity
-feedback seeking, hyper-defensiveness from anxiety of ego being threatened -> narcissistic rage
71
Delia dynamic analysis
-has strong motivation to be loved and care for others
-father is source of love if she cares for him, even though he's abusive
-learns that she gets love from men and her sexuality
-identity and self regard come from this and caregiving
-husband's abuse leads to conflict: stay v protect the children
-has to abandon love or care, either diminishes self esteem
-compensates for feelings of worthlessness with self reliance
-reverts to sexuality in end, but with a man she has complete control over
72
object relations
-relationship of self and others
-"object"=person
-relations based on mental images of objects
-based on experiences, positive or negative, that leave lasting impact on someone's life
-mental images carried forward and transferred to new people and situations
-patient displaces feelings of patients toward therapist/ other things
73
attachment theory: Bowlby
-attachment system: innate behavioral (control) system
-babies want to maintain proximity to parents
-little ones want to be w big ones, big ones want to be w little
-proximity, security (psychological mechanism
-protection (evolutionary function)
-deprived kids are either clingy or affection less/ distant (no desire to form relationships)
74
attachment system equipment
-reflexes: rooting, sucking, crying, clinging -> later: crawling, whining, etc
-cognitions: evaluation of envt and monitoring of caregiver- caregiver leave = cry
-emotions: distress motivates proximity- seeking, good feelings reward it
75
attachment system
-is caregiver near, attentive, responsive?
-yes -> felt security, love, confidence, leads to playful, less inhibited, smiling, etc
-no -> separation distress and anxiety -> is proximity seeking a viable option?
-yes -> attachment Bx are activated to some degree, ranging from simple visual monitoring to intense clinging
-no -> inhibit emotional expression and attachment Bx
76
attachment: Ainsworth strange situation
-is baby able to explore and feel confident enough in others protection
(video)
77
Ainsworth's attachment styles: secure
-easily engaged in exploration in caregiver's presence
-not unduly wary of stranger
-under stress, they signal needs
-actively seek proximity and contact, but tolerate absence
-negative emotion does not interfere with renewed exploration and shared positive affect w caregiver
-comforted by mom when she returns
78
Ainsworth's attachment styles: anxious-ambivalent
-impoverished exploration
-mere presence not reassuring
-mixed reactions toward caregiver
-wary of stranger
-when mother returns, they're not comforted
79
Ainsworth's attachment styles: anxious-avoidant
-engage in exploration with minimal emotion
-parent and stranger treated similarly
-avoids eye contact/ ignores parent
-cry little or not at all
-at home: act more like anxious-ambivalent
80
caregiver influences on attachment styles
-secure: sensitive and responsive
-anxious-ambivalent: inconsistent
-anxious-avoidant: rejecting
81
internal working models
-schemas/ cognitive maps that represent experiences, knowledge of self and others, create expectations for future interactions
-constantly changing in response to feedback
82
internal working models of different attachment styles
-secure: positive self, positive other
-anx-amb: uncertainty, never sure if mother will return, etc
-anx-avo: other is unavailable
83
how do attachment styles affect other areas of personality and functioning
-secure: more sociable, confident, competent
-in adolescence and early adulthood, peers, and eventually romantic partners become attachment figures
-attachment style is modified
84
how do dif attachment styles characterize romantic relationships
-secure: more happy, friendly, trusting, less fear of closeness
-anxious-ambivalent: more emotional extremes, jealousy, obsession, sexual attraction, love at first sight
-anxious-avoidant: more fear of closeness; less acceptance, jealousy, or emotional extremes
85
what does high anxiety indicate
hyperactivation of attachment system
86
parts of humanism
-phenomenology (what it is to be a person)
-choice (what we choose to do)
-growth (ways we try to maximize potential as we develop)
87
ideas of humanism
-to understand the person, you must understand their motives and perceptions
-need conscious and unconscious
88
hostile attribution bias
tendency to think others have hostile attitude towards you
-causes anxiety, hostility, etc
89
conditions of worth
how people get their self esteem and what parts of them have value
90
Carl Rogers' self actualization
all organisms have tendency to maximize innate potential and everyone's inherit potential is different
91
Carl Rogers' unconditional positive regard
people need to be told they're good no matter what, and this gives them ability to thrive
92
Maslow's motivation hierarchy
-bottom: physiological (ex: food, water)
-safety (ex: security of body, job)
-love/ belonging (ex: friendship, family)
-esteem (ex: confidence, achievement)
-self-actualization (ex: morality, creativity)
93
self-determination theory
-3 main needs we need to fulfill
-autonomy: agency, ability to control own fate
-competence: we can master things, achieve goals
-relatedness: relate to other people
94
positive psychology
-Barbara Fredrickson: broaden and build theory of positive emotion (positive emotion gives us what we need to succeed)
-mindfulness and meditation: ways we can train ourselves to think and minimize negative emotions and consciously determine own fate
95
existentialism
-we are aware of own existence and that it will end
-humans' ability to ponder the meaning and purpose of life causes existential anxiety
-personality reflects individualized solutions to existential problems
96
big brain theory
=self awareness, not always good
-allows us to self regulate and see if we're living up to our goals
97
existential paradox
humans have self-consciousness, but in the end are mortal
98
terror management theory
-evolution leads to defensive instincts and big brain/ self awareness, which enhance survival/ reproduction
-both of these things lead to awareness of mortality/ potential for terror, which leads to stress, terror, insanity, reduced fitness
-OR both of these things lead to security with addition of security providing mechanisms, leading to enhanced fitness
99
how does cultural worldview control terror
-shared conception of reality
-imbues life w meaning, order, permanence, standards of value
-promise of literal and/ or symbolic immorality to those who meet prescribed standards of value
100
how does self esteem control terror
-ways people behave in order to be good members of society
-belief that one is living up to those standards of value
101
evidence for TMT
mortality salience hypothesis and anxiety buffer hypothesis
102
mortality salience hypothesis
reminding people of death should cause them to immerse into world views to feel better
103
anxiety buffer hypothesis
-self esteem acts as buffer from mental health issues
-challenging world views makes people feel more anxious about mortality
104
Mikulincer integration of attachment and terror management
-people turn to close/ attachment relationships for security, gives us sense of calm, protection
-mortality salience leads to activation of attachment system
-secure attachment -> lower defenses/ death thoughts
-separation/ conflict thoughts -> more death thoughts
105
what does TMT predict
-psych threats will cause defenses
-psych defenses will protect against the emotional impact of threats
-what we do in life bolsters our sense of security and protect against anxiety
106
contemporary existentialism and "solutions"
-more things than death that give people anxiety
-ex: isolation, identity, freedom, meaning
-personality solutions: self-esteem, worldviews, close relationships
107
positives of attachment theory
-evolved instinctive motives influence conscious and unconscious experience of being a developing organism
-thwarting or satisfaction of motives influence working model of self and other, which are reflected in our traits
-our developing personalities reflect growth and defense to expand ourselves
108
larger heritability =
smaller environmentality (effect of envt on variance in group)
109
controversy over genetics
-might be misused (ex eugenics)
-too different from behaviorism
110
selection breeding studies cannot
be ethically conducted on humans
111
why are family studies problematic
genetic and envt factors are confused
112
problems with twin studies
-assumption of equal envts (identical not treated any more alike than fraternal)
-assumption of representativeness (twins are just like non-twins)
113
problems with adoption studies
non random placement of adopted-away children into families
114
what gives us more confidence in methodical studies
if twin studies and adoption studies converge
115
examples of "heritable" things
-personality variables and big 5
-drinking, smoking, attitudes, occupational preferences, sometimes SO
116
percent of influence of envt and heritability on personality
envt: 50-70%
heritability: 30-50%
117
non shared variety
different experiences that siblings have even though they're in the same family
118
three types of genotypes
active, reactive, passive
119
ways to view physiological measures
-personality traits: is the physiological symptom correlated w a trait?
-physiological events contributing to the personality trait (ex: biological underpinnings)
120
characteristics of adaptations
-solve specific adaptive problems
-numerous, correspond to many problems
-functional
121
how to discriminate between real and false memories
corroboration: find someone who can support the subject's version of the event
122
two ego psychologists
Erik Erikson and Karen Horney
