Personalities and Attitudes

Question 1

Define personality:

Answer 1

The patterns of thoughts and feelings and the way in which we interact with our environment and other people that make us a unique person.

Question 2

Define anxiety:

Answer 2

A negative emotional state that is closely associated with arousal. It is experiencing apprehension and being aware of high arousal linked to our fears and worries.

Question 3

Define State Anxiety:

Answer 3

Anxiety that is felt in a particular situation (also known as ‘A state’).

There are two types of state anxiety: somatic and cognitive.

Question 4

What is Somatic anxiety?

Answer 4

The body’s response to state anxiety. E.g. tension, increase in heart rate, sweating, shaking

Question 5

What is cognitive anxiety?

Answer 5

The brains response to state anxiety.

AKA - psychological worry over the situation

Question 6

What are Characteristics of a type A personality?

Answer 6

• impatience
• intolerance
• high levels of stress

Question 7

What are characteristics of a type B personality?

Answer 7

Have a relaxed, tolerant approach, with lower levels of personal stress.

Question 8

What is a situation that might cause state anxiety?

Answer 8

A penalty in football

Question 9

Define stable personality trait:

Answer 9

A personality characteristic of someone who does not swing from one emotion to another, but is usually constant in there emotional behaviour.

Question 10

Define unstable personality trait:

Sometimes known as Neurotic personality trait.

Answer 10

A personality characteristic of someone who is highly anxious and has unpredictable emotions.

Question 11

What is extroversion?

Answer 11

A personality characteristic or trait of a person who seeks social situations and likes excitement but lacks concentration.

Question 12

What is introversion?

Answer 12

A personality characteristic or trait of a person who does not seek social situations and likes peace and quiet, but is good at concentrating.

Question 13

What is an example of a person displaying both introversion and extroversion?

Answer 13

an individual my exhibit behaviour that is sometimes extroverted and sometimes introverted but may predominantly tend to be extroverted.

Team players have been shown to be more anxious and extroverted but can lack the sensitivity and imagination associated with individual sports performers.

This type of conclusion should be viewed with caution as there too many intervening variables present, which makes the link between personality type and performance difficult.

Question 14

What does RAS stand for?

Answer 14

Reticular Activating System

Question 15

What does the RAS do?

Answer 15

• It can determine whether a person is inclined towards extroversion or introversion.
• Maintains arousal levels
• Enhances or inhibits sensory information

Question 16

How does the RAS affect extroverts?

Answer 16

Extroverts tend to inhibit intensity of stimuli - so they seek out high arousal situations.

Question 17

How does the RAS affect introverts?

Answer 17

Introverts tend to increase the intensity of stimuli - so they seek out low arousal situations.

Question 18

What are introverts arousal levels like?

Answer 18

Introverts have high levels of arousal naturally occurring within their brains, so tend to avoid external stimulation.

Therefore, introverts are likely to be shy or avoid social situations.

Question 19

What are extroverts arousal levels like?

Answer 19

Extroverts have low levels of arousal naturally occurring in their brains so need more external stimulation to feel the same amount of arousal as an introvert.

Question 20

How does social learning affect personality?

Answer 20

Some psychologists think that a person’s personality changes with the situation and the environment (including the behaviour of other people).

This would explain why we are significant others and would also explain why twins that were separated for a significant amount of time have very different personalities.

Question 21

What does the social learning theory show us when taking personality into consideration?

Answer 21

This theory shows that our personalities are shaped by those around us and that we are more likely to adopt the personality of role models that we come into contact with.