LPI Topic 1 Flashcards
Personality
“Dynamic organisation, inside the person, of psychophysical systems that create the person’s characteristic patterns of behaviour, thoughts and feelings.” – Allport (1961)
Why Study Personality?
- Explains individual differences in behaviour, thought, and emotion.
- Helps in clinical psychology, job recruitment, education, and therapy.
Personality Tests
- Used to measure traits that are stable over time.
- Examples: Big Five Inventory (BFI), Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ), Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI).
Psychoanalytic Approach (Freud)
Focuses on the unconscious mind, childhood experiences, and internal conflicts.
Strengths & Weaknesses
+ Highlights early experiences’ impact.
- Difficult to test scientifically.
Key Components of the Psychoanalytical Approach
- Id (Instincts, pleasure-seeking).
- Ego (Reality, balances Id & Superego).
- Superego (Morality, conscience).
- Psychosexual Stages
1️⃣ Oral (0-1) – Dependency, oral fixation.
2️⃣ Anal (1-3) – Control, orderliness.
3️⃣ Phallic (3-6) – Oedipus/Electra complex.
4️⃣ Latency (6-12) – Social development.
5️⃣ Genital (12+) – Adult relationships.
Defence Mechanisms
- Repression – Blocking painful memories.
- Denial – Refusing to accept reality.
- Projection – Attributing thoughts to others.
Trait Approach (Allport, Cattell, Eysenck, Costa & McCrae)
Identifies stable personality traits that can be measured.
Strengths & Weaknesses
+ Empirical, measurable personality traits.
- Descriptive, not explanatory.
Allport’s Trait Theory
- Cardinal Traits – Dominant personality traits (e.g., altruism in Mother Teresa).
- Central Traits – General traits influencing behaviour.
- secondary Traits – Situation-specific traits.
Cattell’s 16 Personality Factors
Used factor analysis to group traits into 16 key dimensions.
Eysenck’s Model
Three main traits:
1️⃣ Extraversion-Introversion – Social/outgoing vs. reserved.
2️⃣ Neuroticism-Stability – Emotional reactivity.
3️⃣ Psychoticism – Aggressiveness, impulsivity.
Five-Factor Model (Big Five – Costa & McCrae)
1️⃣ Openness – Creativity, curiosity.
2️⃣ Conscientiousness – Organisation, dependability.
3️⃣ Extraversion – Sociability, assertiveness.
4️⃣ Agreeableness – Kindness, cooperation.
5️⃣ Neuroticism – Anxiety, emotional instability.
Biological Approach (Eysenck & Gray)
Personality is influenced by genetics, neurobiology, and physiology.
Strengths & Weaknesses
+ Supported by scientific research (brain scans, genetics).
- Ignores environmental influences.
Eysenck’s Arousal Theory
- Introverts: High baseline arousal, avoid overstimulation.
- Extraverts: Low baseline arousal, seek stimulation.
Extraversion = reticular activation system
Neuroticism = Limbic system and stress response
Gray’s Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (RST)
1️⃣ BAS (Behavioural Activation System) – Linked to reward-seeking.
2️⃣ BIS (Behavioural Inhibition System) – Linked to avoidance & anxiety.
3️⃣ FFF System – Fight, flight, or freeze in response to threats.
Twin Studies & Genetic Influence
- Heritability of personality is around 40-50%.
- Supported by twin and adoption studies.
Comparing the Three Approaches
Evaluating Models of Personality
1️⃣ Scientific Validity – Can it be tested?
2️⃣ Predictive Power – Can it predict real-world behaviour?
3️⃣ Comprehensiveness – Does it cover all aspects of personality?
4️⃣ Falsifiability – Can it be proven false?
5️⃣ Practical Application – Is it useful in daily life?
Application to Models
Psychoanalytic: ✅ Insightful, ❌ Hard to test.
Trait: ✅ Predicts behaviour, ❌ Does not explain causes.
Biological: ✅ Genetic basis, ❌ Ignores environment.
Personality Measures & Predicting Outcomes
- Big Five Inventory (BFI) – Measures five major traits.
- Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) – Measures extraversion, neuroticism, psychoticism.
- Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) – Used for clinical diagnosis.
- MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) – Used in workplaces (but lacks reliability).
How Personality Predicts Behaviour
1️⃣ Occupational Settings – Predicts job performance.
2️⃣ Clinical Psychology – Diagnosing personality disorders.
3️⃣ Education – Understanding learning styles.
4️⃣ Marketing & Consumer Behaviour – Personalised advertising.
