Introduction to Personality

Question 1

What are the three everyday definitions of personality?

Answer 1

• Charisma or charm e.g. she’s GOT a personality.
• Character or dominance e.g. a STRONG personality.
• Characteristics of an individual e.g. a LIKEABLE personality, a SHY personality etc.

Question 2

What kind of concept is personality?

Answer 2

Multifaceted

Question 3

Define “inner qualities” in the context of personality.

Answer 3

Essential features of a person that are at least partially hidden.

Question 4

Define “traits”.

Answer 4

Particular dispositions.

Question 5

Define “mechanisms”.

Answer 5

Mental operations.

Question 6

Define “affect behaviour” in the context of personality.

Answer 6

Aspects of a personality that affect what we do and provide a causal explanation for behaviour.

Question 7

Define “adaptive” in the context of personality.

Answer 7

Some traits are helpful, others are harmful.

Question 8

Define “relatively stable” in the context of personality.

Answer 8

Traits are consistent, personality takes time to grow and develop.

Question 9

Define “organised” in the context of personality.

Answer 9

A constellation of traits and mechanisms, non-random pattern.

Question 10

Define “uniquely defines” in the context of personality.

Answer 10

Everyone’s personality is unique, some aspects may be standardised though.

Question 11

Identify and explain the three different levels of analysis.

Answer 11

• Universal - characterise people in terms of facts that are always or generally true e.g. everyone has an Oedipus complex.
• Nomothetic - characterise people’s variations along shared dimensions e.g. Abbey is more attached to her mum than Emma is.
• Idiographic - characterise people’s variations uniquely from one another e.g. Abbey is uniquely x.

Question 12

Define “individual differences”.

Answer 12

Nomothetic analysis of variations between what people are like (personality) and what people can do (intelligence) in regards to their genetics and/or environment.

Question 13

Define “theories of personality”.

Answer 13

Systematic frameworks for understanding the structure, dynamics or development of personality.

Question 14

Identify and explain the four types of theory.

Answer 14

• Grand theories - classical theories that aim to give a complete and consistent account of something. More theory, less evidence. E.g. Freud.
• Piecemeal theories - contemporary theories that investigate a partial account of something. More evidence, less theory.
• Informal theories - found within popular psychology, more subjective, simple and easier to digest.
• Formal theories - found within scientific psychology, more objective, sophisticated and intellectually challenging.

Question 15

What are the four things a good theory will do?

Answer 15

Be organised, make interesting new predictions, be parsimonious (explain a lot within a little) and be testable.

Question 16

What are the eight key theories of personality and what is their main focus?

Answer 16

• Dispositional theory - traits and types.
• Psychodynamic - unconscious drives.
• Behavioural genetics - nature v nurture.
• Brain and physiology - personality within the organism.
• Evolution - heredity and adaptation.
• Learning - outer influences that shape us.
• Cognition - inner beliefs that shape us.
• Humanism - the whole person.