Individual Differences

Question 1

What do the big five factors of personality describe

Answer 1

the main dimensions of personality—specifically: 
Openness to experience
Conscientiousness
Extraversion
Agreeableness
Neuroticism (emotional instability)

Question 2

Describe the genetic influences on the big five

Answer 2

Identical and non-identical fraternal twins measured on personality dimensions
Results suggest that personality differences in the population are approximately 25 -50% genetically determined

Question 3

What is openness in the big 5 factors of personality

Answer 3

Appreciation for art, emotion, adventure, unusual ideas, imagination, curiosity and variety of experience

Question 4

What is conscientsciousness in the big 5 factors of personality

Answer 4

tendency to show self-discipline, act dutifully and aim for achievement, planned

Question 5

What is extraversion in the big 5 factors of personality

Answer 5

energy, positive emotions and tendency to seek stimulation and the company of others

Question 6

What is agreeableness in the big 5 factors of personality

Answer 6

tendency to be compassionate and cooperate rather than suspicious and antagonistic

Question 7

What is neuroticism/stability in the big 5 factors of personality

Answer 7

tendency to experience unpleasant emotions easily e.g. anger, anxiety, depression or vulnerability – sometimes called emotional instability

Question 8

Out of the 5 big personality traits, which are most associated with positive health outcomes

Answer 8

Conscientsciousness most strongly

Neuroticism

Question 9

Describe conscientiousness’ role in health outcomes

Answer 9

Longevity: adds 7.5 years to lifespan
Less likely to engage in harmful behaviours, more likely to engage in healthy behaviours
Medical engagement and adherence: more frequent contact and careful compliance

Question 10

Describe neuroticism’s role in health outcomes

Answer 10

Increased reporting of somatic symptoms e.g. pain
Higher rates of mental health disorders
Higher mortality rates e.g. in cardiovascular disease
Health behaviour:
Higher rates of healthcare usage
Less adherence to healthy behaviours
Higher rate of health harming behaviours

Question 11

What are the 2 subtypes of intelligence that Cattel and Horn (1971, 1985) broke down Spearman’s ‘g’ into

Answer 11

Crystallised intelligence

Fluid intelligence

Question 12

What is the definition of crystallised intelligence and what are the changes with age

Answer 12

The ability to apply previously acquired knowledge to current problems

Commonly improves

Question 13

What is the definition of fluid intelligence and what are the changes with age

Answer 13

The ability to deal with novel problem-solving situations for which personal experience does not provide a solution

Pattern of decline

Question 14

What is empathising

Answer 14

being able to infer the thoughts and feelings of others and having an appropriate emotional reaction

Question 15

What is systemising

Answer 15

the drive to analyse or construct any kind of system i.e. identifying the rules that a govern a system, in order to predict how that system will behave

Question 16

Describe the sex differences in Baron Cohen’s Empathizing/Systematizing theory

Answer 16

Fmales are more emotional and less systematising

Males are less emotional and more systematising

Question 17

Describe the effect of autism/asperger’s in Baron Cohen’s Empathizing/Systematizing theory

Answer 17

Autism/Asperger’s has sometimes been considered as an extremely male brain (less emotional and more systematising)