Personality Flashcards
What are the different theories of personailty?
1)Trait theories of extroversion/introversion & stable/unstable
2)Type A &B
3)Social learning theories
4)Interactionist theory
What is extroversion?
A trait of a person who seeks social situations and likes excitement but lacks concentration
What is introversion?
A trait of a person who does not seek social situations and likes peace and quiet, but is good at concentrating
Can individuals have a bit of both personality trait?
Yes, but one is mainly dominant.
What does RAS stand for?
Reticular activating system
What is reticular activating system?
It can determine whether a person is inclined towards extroversion or introversion.
What are extroverts seen as through RAS?
It inhibits or REDUCES the effects of SENSORY STIMULI causing areas of the brain to experience LOW LEVELS OF AROUSAL, therefore SEEKING SOCIAL SITUATIONS.
What are introverts seen as through RAS?
It has HIGH LEVELS OF AROUSAL naturally occurring within there brains so tend to avoid EXTERNAL SITUATION.
Most likely to be SHY in social situations.
What is a stable personality trait?
Someone who is CONSTANT AND PREDICTABLE in their emotional behaviour.
Doesn’t experience HIGH LEVELS OF STRESS.
What is a Unstable personality trait?
Someone who is HIGHLY ANXIOUS and has UNPREDICTABLE and CHANGABLE emotions.
What is the narrow band approach?
It splits personality into type A and B
What is type A personality?
Characterized as impatient , intolerant and high levels of stress
STRONG DESIRE TO SUCCEED.
What is Type B personality?
Relaxed, tolerant approach, lower personal stress and LACKS DESIRE TO SUCCEED.
What is state anxiety?
Is felt in a particular situation.
What are the two sub categories of state personailty?
Somatic
Cognitive
What is Somatic state anxiety?
Bodies physiological state
What is Cognitive state anxiety?
Psychological worry
What are the strengths of Trait theory?
Explains how behaviour is predicted
Evidence shows personality is influenced by genetics.
What are the weaknesses of trait theory?
Doesn’t account for personality Changing in different environments
Identical twins don’t demonstrate same personality therefore its not all down to trait.
Not just genetic input that determines personality.
What is social learning theory?
We learn to deal with situations by observing others.
Does personality change according to the situation and the environment ?
Yes
Fill the gaps:
Behaviour is more likely to be …… if watching a ….. event and if that other is …………..
1.Copied
2.Live
3. Successful
Fill the gaps:
We …….. and …….. the behaviour and personality of …………… others.
1.observe
2.Copy
3.Significant
What are the strengths of social learning theory?
Explains why we often show the same personalities as our parents
Media influences our personality’s
