Personality Flashcards
Define personality
Characteristics/traits that influence behaviour
Define trait theory of personality
Personality is innate and enduring
Explain Eyesenck’s theory
Eyesenck believed that all individuals were either:
Introverted/extroverted,
stable/unstable (neurotic)
Describe type A and type B personalities
Type A is characterised by impatience, intolerance to high levels of stress.
Type B personalities have a relaxed, tolerant approach, with lower personal stress.
Characteristics of introverts and extroverts
Extroverts - loud, lack concentration, outgoing, sociable, easily aroused
Introverts - quiet, good at concentrating, doesn’t seek social situations, doesn’t seek arousal
Characteristics of stable/unstable (neurotic) personalities
Stable - predictable, controlled, doesn’t experience high stress, recovers quickly from stress
Unstable (neurotic) - unpredictable, experiences high stress, recovers less quickly from stress
Positives and negatives of trait theory (A+B)
Positives - evidence that personality is genetic, behaviour is predictable
Negatives - too simple - not everyone fits into A/B, doesn’t acknowledge environment.
What is social learning theory of personality
Personality is a product of environment
Personality is learned/acquired + therefore can be changed
According to social learning theory, how can personality be changed
- modelling, observation and copying
- reinforcement, approval/disapproval of peers
Social learning theory of personality positives and negatives
Positives - supported by the Bobo dolls experiment, evidence that personality is affected by environment
Negatives - too simplistic, doesn’t take into account traits
Describe interactionist theory of personality
The interactionist approach agrees that we do have certain traits which appear consistently, but on many other occasions our traits interact with environmental factors in a given situation and this in turn affects our personalities and behaviour.
