Exam 4 (CH 7, 8) Flashcards
**Outline (not simply list) the three assumptions universally shared by different trait theorists.
- People posses broad dispositions called traits. People are born with consistent likely moods of behaviors.
- There is a direct correspondence of performances of a trait to the processing of the trait, meaning if you respond with anxiety you have higher anxiety.
- Traits are hiericahail, the lowest level builds up to become a trait. Specific response. Habitual response. Trait level.
**What is meant by the notion of functional autonomy? Provide an original example
Functional autonomy is that people’s original extrinsic motivation can be changed into something else. For example, if the original desire to do well comes from parents it can translate to a desire to learn and a more intrinsic motivation.
**Outline the contrast between Allport’s idiographic approach and nomothetic approaches to research. What is the limitation of idiographic approaches in personality research? [SAQ]
Alport used an emphasis on the individuals which he would do an in-depth study of individuals as a way to understand people overall. Compared to a nomothetic approach which uses large numbers of people are described in terms of common personality traits. The issues is the lack of empirical evidence. And you can’t have a study of one and assume for all people.
**Briefly summarize the nature of the three super-factors in the Eysenck model?
Superfaactors PEN
Psychoticism: how agressive, lack of empathy; cold/anti-social. Measuring abnormalities
Extraversion: How social someone is
Neuroticism: How emotionally stable someone is.
Describe (not simply list) three criticisms of Eysenck’s theory.
- measures did not align with theory: his theory talked about the neural factors but not able to measure them.
- Eyesnckian theory underestimated the complexity of the brian. His view of the brain was too simple compared to its complex nature.
- Cognitive factors affect performance; his theories was inadequate for describing the differences between humans.
Briefly outline Eysenck’s arousal model of extraversion and introversion?
Introverts are more arousable, they experience more cortical arousal, of the world. Therefore it is easier for introverts to be over-aroused from social stimulation. On the other hand extraves5ts experience less cortical arousal l. and seek out social arousal.
What are ability, temperament, and dynamic traits?
In Cattell’s trait theory, these categories of traits capture the major aspects of personality.
What are cardinal traits?
Allport’s concept for a disposition that is so pervasive and outstanding in a person’s life that virtually every act is traceable to its influence.
What are central traits?
Allport’s concept for a disposition to behave in a particular way in a range of situations.
What is factor analysis?
A statistical method for analyzing correlations among a set of personality tests or test items in order to determine those variables or test responses that increase or decrease together. Used in the development of personality tests and of some trait theories (e.g., Cattell, Eysenck).
What is functional autonomy?
Allport’s concept that a motive may become independent of its origins; in particular, motives in adults may become independent of their earlier basis in tension reduction.
What is OT data?
In Cattell’s theory, objective test data or information about personality obtained from observing behavior in miniature situations.
What are secondary dispositions?
Allport’s concept for a disposition to behave in a particular way that is relevant to few situations.
What are source traits?
In Cattell’s theory, behaviors that vary together to form an independent dimension of personality, which is discovered through the use of factor analy
What is state?
Emotional and mood changes (e.g., anxiety, depression, fatigue) that Cattell suggested may influence the behavior of a person at a given time. The assessment of both traits and states is suggested to predict behavior.
What are super factors?
A higher-order or secondary factor representing a higher level of organization of traits than the initial factors derived from factor analysis.
What are surface traits?
In Cattell’s theory, behaviors that appear to be linked to one another but do not in fact increase and decrease together.
**What is the fundamental lexical hypothesis? What does this hypothesis imply about the relative influence of culture versus evolution on human personality?
The idea that people interact and observe one another, and discuss differences and people developed in references to those differences. It implies that evolutionary bio speaks on many words and differences that are most prominent should be universal since human survival is universal. However, culture has differences due to the use of social-cultural words for example HG vs manhattan.
**How does Eysenck’s superfactors relate to the Big Five?
His N and E is practically the exact same as Big Five and P is low conscientiousness and low agreeableness.
**Describe patterns of changes that occur over the life span for the Big Five.
Usually, C and A go up with age and E, O, and N go down.
**Describe the three key claims made by the authors of the Big 5 Theory, and an example for each of evidence that contradicts the claim.
- Traits are uninfluenced by the environment and unchanging. Contradiction, historically speaking evidence shows how peroanlity changes over cultural change. E.g anixity goes up
- Five factor model is universal. Contradiction, trait factors, and cotent of individual difference change across cultures.
- People posses factors which are “raw material” anageolous with bodily organs. No supportive evidence the issue is the reliance of large stats methods, no stats grounds each member of pop contains in his/her structure of brain.
**Contrast Eysenck’s “top down” approach to identifying the structure of personality with the bottom approach reflected in Gray’s Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory.. [Discussed as well in lecture]
Top-down with eyesnck takes the analysis came first and the biological mechanisms and causes second. Whereas RST is biological fundamental properties and behavioral systems first and related variations in measuring personality second.
**Briefly describe each of the three RST systems
- Behavioral approach system (BAS): Biological system that responds to pleasure and stimuli and desired stimuli call appetitive. Classical conditioning. E.g., seeing eat sign when hungry.
- Fight-Flight-Freeze System (FFFS): Responded to aversive stimuli, whether the animal fights freezes of flees.
- Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS): Combines the two which creates anxiety and being caution when getting food.
**Describe three major advantages of trait theory in relation to the five goals of personality theory.
- Rather than being subjective. Statistical analysis made it objective.
- Larger number of people across ages, wealth, and ethnicities
- Not just self-reports also observational reports.
