Personality

Question 1

Personality word origin

Answer 1

It is derived from the latin word persona which means a mask

Question 2

Def of personality by Norman Munn

Answer 2

Personality is a unique combination of individual’s physical structure, needs, interests, abilities and aptitudes

Question 3

Def of personality by gordon allport

Answer 3

Personality is the dynamic organisation within the individual of those pyschophysical systems that determines his unique adjustments to the environment

Question 4

Heredity

Answer 4

Heredity implies all those characteristics that an individual inherits from its parents. It affects the physical and mental makeup of a person. It may also influence the self-concept which in turn may influence the personality makeup of an individual

Question 5

Factors shaping personality

Answer 5

1. Heredity
2. Endocrine glands
3. Family
4. Peer group
5. School
6. Mass media
7. Culture

Question 6

Endocrine glands

Answer 6

Pituitary, thyroid, adrenal gonads, pancreas, etc
Oversecretion or undersecretion of hormones produced by various glands may adversely affect the personality.
Oversecretion of thyroxin by thyroid leads to nrevous tension, irritability, restlessness and emotional instability

Question 7

Family

Answer 7

Most important factors
elements related to family such as structure, socio-economic status, emotional, academic and cultural envirnoment, interactions between family members, child rearing practices etc have significant effects

Question 8

Peer group

Answer 8

Peer groups are a pervasive aspect of our social life. The peer group may influence personality in a positive or negative manner.
For eg: healthy habits by being in good company and unhealthy habits by being in bad company

Question 9

School

Answer 9

Plays an important role in personality development. elements related to school such as teaching-learning process, academic activities and co-curricular facilities provided, teachers’ rapport of students, school discipline and policies

Question 10

Mass media

Answer 10

Mass media is a source of entertainment, socialization, informal education, etc
Nowadays everyone spends a ot of time infront of screen. the type of media consumed may adverself affect an individual’s personality.
for eg:it may help an individual stay up to date about current affairswhich positively affects personality
Contrastingly, addiction may cause disconnection with the world, egocentrism, sleep derivation, insecurity, anti-social behaviour, obesity, loneliness, etc

Question 11

Culture

Answer 11

Every culture has its own set of values, beliefs, norms, etc influencing thoughts, feelings and behaviour patterns.
For eg: western culture is more individualistic and therefore an individual may put own needs above other while indian culture emphasizes collectivism and interdependence which may affect an individual’s personality

Question 12

Perspectives of studying personality

Answer 12

1. Psychoanalytic
2. Humanistic
3. Type
4. Trait
5. Social Cognitive

Question 13

Psychoanalytic perspective

Answer 13

This perspective emphasizes the role of early childhood experiences and unconscious mind in the development of personality

Question 14

Humanistic perspective

Answer 14

This perspectives assumes the importance of free will and psychological growth in the devlopment of personality of an individual

Question 15

Trait perspective

Answer 15

This perspective assumes that every individual possess specific traits in different quantities and so every individual has a unique personality

Question 16

Type perspective

Answer 16

This perspective assumes that every individual has a unique personality type based on his physique, temperament and mental characteristics

Question 17

Social Cognitive perspective

Answer 17

Emphasizes the importance of observational learning and cognitive processes in the development of an individual’s personality

Question 18

Carl Jung’s theory of personality

Answer 18

Based on type perspective.
Carl Jung, a Swiss psychologist, classified people on the basis of mental characteristics into introverts and extroverts
INTROVERTS
1. Look within themselves for stimulation
2. Shy and reserved
3. Prefer to work alone and avoid social contacts
Extroverts
1. Aroused by external stimulation
2. Social Outgoing, mix easily with others
3. Prefer jobs that bring them in contact with others

Question 19

Ambivert

Answer 19

An ambivert is someone who falls in the middle of the introvert and extrovert continuum. An ambivert individual has a blend of traits of introversion and extroversion

Question 20

Allport’s theory of personality

Answer 20

Allport’s theory of personality is one of the theories based on trait perspective of studying personality.
Gordon Alleport, an american psychologist, identified 18000 terms that could be used to describe personality.
A trait relatively enduring and consitent way of thinking, feeling and acting. That means it can be found in a individual over a period of time.
Based on these descriptions, he categorised three basic categories of traits
1. Cardinal
2. Central
3. Secondary

Question 21

Cardinal traits

Answer 21

It is a single trait that dominates an individual’s entire personality. It dominates and shapes personality for his whole life. The person starts to be known for that specific trait
eg: honesty in gandhi

Question 22

Central traits

Answer 22

These are general traits that build up our personality. Around 5 to 10 traits that best describe our personality. These are the building blocks of our personality.

Question 23

Secondary traits

Answer 23

These traits only appear in certaain situations and therefore have narrow effect. They have a very minor role in determining the personality of an individual because they are situational.

Question 24

Big five factor model of personality

Answer 24

Based on trait perspective.
Robert McCrae and Paul Costa (1987) developed a theory of personality explaining the five major factors.
According to them, personality traits are considered as basic tendencies that are rooted in biology and that interact with external factors including culture in shaping the skills, habits, tastes, and values of a individual.

Question 25

Openess to experience

Answer 25

Openness to experience is a trait related to appreciation of art, unusual ideas, adventures, imagination, curiosity, emotion and variety of experiences. People who are open to experience are creative and imaginative whereas those who are not are non-creative and lack aesthetic sense

Question 26

Conscientiousness

Answer 26

Conscientiousness is a trait showing tendency to display self-discipline. It is a way in which people regulate, control and direct their impulses. People who have high conscientiousness are more organized, responsible, dependable and hardworking whereas those who have low are unorganized, less respondible, spontaneous and careless

Question 27

Extroversion

Answer 27

Extroversion is a trait characterised by breadth of activities and energy creation from external means. More- sociable, assertive, outgoing, enthusiatic, talkative, open-minded and courageous Less- close minded, shy, alone and less involved

Question 28

Agreeableness

Answer 28

Ability of getting along with others and concern for social harmony. High- kind, loving, caring, co-operative, friendly Less- uncooperative, jealous, hostile and argumentative

Question 29

Neuroticism

Answer 29

Tendency to experience negative emotions such as anger, sadness, anxiety, or depression High- fearful, anxious, depressed, irritable, impulsive, angry and unstable Less- balanced, calm and stable

Question 30

Methods of Measurement of personality

Answer 30

1. Behavioural analysis 3. Self-report inventories 4. Projective methods

Question 31

Behavioural analysis

Answer 31

Techniques such as interviews and observation help in assessing personality. 1. Interview -Most common method - a process in which an interviewer tries to collect information about the personality of an individual by asking them various questions - The factors like time taken, gestures, postures, body movements, etc are taken into account

Question 32

Types of interviews

Answer 32

1. Structured Total number of questions to be asked, their sequence, etc are predetermined. No questions are added or deleted. Used by industrial psychologists 2. Unstructured Total number of questions, their sequence, are not predetermined. Depending on the responses, questions can be added or deleted on the spot. Used by clinical, counselling, health, sports psychologists, etc

Question 33

Observation

Answer 33

Very useful if used by trained psychologist and with clear objectives and guidelines. Naturalistic, laboratory, participant, non-participant observations, etc are types

Question 34

Self-report inventories

Answer 34

In them , an individual provides information of their own personality by reponding to questions set in a particular inventory. EG- Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), 16 personality factors by cattell, Myers-Briggs type indicator, high school personality inverntory (HSPQ)

Question 35

Projective methods

Answer 35

Emerged from psychoanalytic school of thought. They are intended to uncover feelings, desires and conflicts that are hidden at the unconscious level. In this method, a person responds freely to unstructured and ambiguous materials. While responding, the individual projects their own personality to the material revealing personal conflicts, motivations, coping styles, etc.

Question 36

Rorschach's ink blot test

Answer 36

Developed by Hermann Rorschach in 1921. It akes use of ten irregular inkblots standing against a white background. Each inkblot is shown in a fixed number of ways and the subjects are required to describe it. Analysis requires skilled and trained examiner

Question 37

Thematic Apperception test

Answer 37

Developed by Morgan and Murray in 1935 It requires the individual to look at a picture and interpret it's story.

Question 38

Sentence completion test

Answer 38

Incomplete sentences are given and they are asked to complete them