intro to personality

Question 1

given the broad definition of personality, what are the 3 different levels of analysis? (Kluckholn & Murray, 1948)

Answer 1

1) human nature (universality) - what features similar across all members of our species?

2) individual & group differences

3) individual uniqueness - idiosyncratic differences, narrative identity approach

Question 2

what level of analysis does a narrative identity approach use?

Answer 2

individual uniqueness - how individuals interact with their environment

Question 3

what are the 4 domains of knowledge?

Answer 3

1) biological domain
2) intrapsychic domain
3) cognitive social learning domain
4) personality domain

Question 4

biological domain

Answer 4

how we are different/similar on basis of biological systems (genetics, evolution, neuromarkers)

Question 5

intrapsychic domain

Answer 5

focus on how internal cog processes shape who we are (attention, perception)

Question 6

cognitive-social learning domain

Answer 6

how we learn associations in our environment which shape how we interact

Question 7

personality trait domain

Answer 7

inclusive approach, doesn’t just study one element of an individual, more narrow definition of personality, learns from history of psychology

Question 8

according to the psychoanalytic approach, what is human behaviour motivated by?

Answer 8

innate instincts:

• drive for life (pleasure)
• drive for destruction (aggression)
• based on Darwin’s theory of natural selection

Question 9

what are instincts?

Answer 9

universal and primal

Question 10

what does a weak ego and overactive id lead to?

Answer 10

impulsive and reckless behaviour

Question 11

what does an overdeveloped superego lead to?

Answer 11

perfectionist

Question 12

what is the definition of social-cognitive learning?

Answer 12

focus on the cognitive and social processes that shape the different outcomes individuals respond to in their environments

Question 13

what is self efficacy (Bandura, 2001)

Answer 13

the extent to which people believe they can exercise control over events in their lives

Question 14

what is self-efficacy enhanced by?

Answer 14

1) mastery of experiences (successful past)

2) vicarious experiences (observation of a peer of equal competence succeed)

3) social persuasion (encouragement from credible person & behaviour is within ones skill set)

Question 15

what are the 5 ways to evaluate the biological underpinnings of traits?

Answer 15

1) physiological substrate

2) hereditary or genetic contribution

3) similar traits in non-humans (primates)

4) cross cultural evidence (universal)

5) temporal stability

Question 16

what is the structure of a personality trait?

Answer 16

1) domain
2) facets
3) behaviour