Lecture 5 - Personality

Question 1

Barnum Effect

Answer 1

Our tendency to accept as valid any descriptions of our personality that are generally true of everyone

Question 2

Enneagram

Answer 2

Very flawed way to quiz personality traits but people follow it regardless because it is relatable.

• Not supported by scientific research

Question 3

Personality

Answer 3

The unique characteristics that account for enduring patterns of inner experience and outward behaviour.

• Personality is a construct - just like IQ needs to be operationalized

Question 4

Operationalize

Answer 4

Operationalize means defining a concept or construct in specific, measurable terms so that it can be observed, quantified, and studied empirically.

Question 5

Phrenology (Franz Gall, 1780)

Answer 5

Theory that claimed the shape and size of various areas of the skull could determine a person’s personality traits, intellectual capabilities, and even moral character.

Debunked: It was found that there is no connection between skull shape and personality or intelligence

Question 6

5 Main Perspectives That Emerged

Answer 6

1. Psychodynamic (Freud, Jung)
2. Humanistic
3. Trait
4. Biological
5. Interactionist

Question 7

Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory

Answer 7

Key Ideas:
* Behaviour is driven by the unconscious
* Events in childhood shape adult personality

Defense Mechanisms: Largely Unconscious Reactions that protect a person from unpleasant emotions (e.g. anxiety, guilt)

Ex. Repression, Denial, Excuse, Projection, Displacement, Sublimation, Regression (LEARN THESE MORE)

Criticisms:
* Inadequate Evidence
* Poor Scientific Methods
* Lack of predictive capacity
* Unclear Developmental Trajectory
* Creepy focus on sexuality and gender identity

Question 8

Repression

Answer 8

Keeping Unpleasant Memories or thoughts buried in the unconscious

Ex. Forgetting details of traumatic events

Question 9

Denial

Answer 9

Refusing to accept Unpleasant Reality

Ex. refusing to admit addiction

Question 10

Rationalization

Answer 10

Creating socially acceptable excuse to justify unacceptable behaviour

Ex. Justifying cheating on taxes because “everyone does it”

Question 11

Reaction Formation

Answer 11

Not acknowledging unacceptable impulses and over-emphasizing their opposite

Ex. Overpraising sibling’s accomplishment even though you resent their success

Question 12

Projection

Answer 12

Transferring one’s unacceptable qualities or impulses to others

Ex. Lieing to others, but accusing them of lying and spreading rumours

Question 13

Displacement

Answer 13

Diverting one’s impulses to a more acceptable target

Ex. Yelling at family members after bad day at work

Question 14

Sublimation

Answer 14

Channeling Socially Unacceptable Impulses into acceptable activities

Ex. Redirecting aggressive behaviour by becoming professional fighter

Question 15

Regression

Answer 15

Reverting to immature ways of responding

Ex. Throwing tantrum when frustrated

Question 16

Humanistic Theory: Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Answer 16

People are basically good and have an urge to grow
* personality comes from striving to meet needs

• Psychological Needs
• Safety & Security Needs
• Belongingness & Love Needs
• Esteem Needs
• Cognitive Needs
• Aesthetic Needs
• Need for Self-Actualization
• Realization of Potential

Question 17

Carl Rogers: Humanistic Theories

Answer 17

Believed Humans are fundamentally Positive and strive for self-actualization
* Emphasized importance of self-concept: A pattern of self-perception that remains consistent over time and can be used to characterize an individual

Carl Rogers Created Person-Centred Therapy: emphasization of the client’s capacity for self-healing and personal growth.

Question 18

Summary of Humanistic Theories

Answer 18

• Freud’s Psychoanalytic
• Carl Roger’s Humanistic

Strengths:
* Developed “self-concept”
* Optimistic Growth
* Influenced Counselling, Education, Child-Raising, etc.

Criticisms:
* Vague and Subjective concepts (difficult to operationalize)
* Unrealistic view of human nature (too optimistic)
* Reinforces individualism and self-centred values

Question 19

Trait Theories

Answer 19

Personality is composed of a limited amount of fundamental traits
* Traits Influence Behaviour

New Approach to Measuring Personality Empirically

Personality Inventory: A questionnaire designed to assess various aspects of personality

Gordon Allport: Lexical Hypothesis - Idea that our language contains the important ways in which people can differ

Hans Eysenck: Trait model of personality structure using factor analysis: Statistical Procedure that is conducted to identify groups of related items (factors) on a test

With Factor analysis found: “super factors” (order traits determined by genes)

1. Extraversion (sociable)
2. Neuroticism (worried)
3. Psychoticism (nasty)

Costa & McRae - Craeted 5-factor model:

1. Conscientiousness
2. Agreeableness
3. Neuroticism
4. Openness
5. Extraversion

Question 20

Interactionist

Answer 20

suggests that human behavior and development are shaped by both biological factors (nature) and environmental influences (nurture) through a dynamic interplay. This theory emphasizes that neither genetics nor environment alone fully determines behavior; instead, they interact with each other.

Question 21

Ocean 5 Traits Explained: Video

Answer 21

Trait Psychology:

Ocean 5 traits - present in every person in some degree

O.C.E.A.N

Openness - to experience - curious and like exploring new things (get out of their comfort zone)

Conscientiousness - pay more attention to detail (OCD). They rethink everything

Extroversion - more likely to respond positively to the stimuli in the outside world

Agreeableness - more willing to take action to make peace for others. Sacrifice desires for others.

Neuroticism (Emotionality) - More likely to feel heightened feelings of anxiety, depression, aggression.

6th trait - Honesty In Humility - more honest and humble. Less likely to be narcissistic, psychopathic

Question 22

Summary of Trait Theory

Answer 22

Strengths:
* Traits are relatively stable across situations and cultures
* Traits Predict Other Attributes and Behaviours
* Genetic Links have been demonstrated

Criticisms:
* Oversimplifies Personality
* Portrays Personality as Fixed rather than flexible/evolving

Question 23

Person-Situation Debate

Answer 23

Situationsim - A view of personality, which notes that in many social situations people respond in similar ways

I.e. The situation drives responses, not personality

B.F. Skinner (Behaviourism) - We recall actions because of past rewards

Interactionism - Emphasizes the relationship between a person’s underlying personality traits and the reinforcing aspects of situations in which people choose to put themselves

Reciprocal Determinism - Reciprocal Relationship exists among environment, behaviour, and internal mental events (Albert Bandura)

Factors:
* Behaviour
* Environmental
* Personal (Cognitive, Biological)

Question 24

Introduction to Personality Psychology: Video

Answer 24

Introduction to Personality Psychology

Personality Psychology: scientific study of those things about a person that are a consistent pattern of thoughts, feelings and behaviours that characterize a person throughout their lives.
Looks at the things that are stable in people’s lives and things that change.

Personality Psychology vs. Social Psychology:

Social psychologists look for causes of behaviour in a situation.

Personality Psychologists look for the causes of behaviour in a person