Personality Flashcards
Consistency
the stability of a person’s behavior over time and across situations
Distinctiveness
the behavioral differences among people reacting to the same situation
Psychodynamic theories
Assumption that behavior is dynamic interaction between conscious and unconscious mind
Humanistic approach
Focus on inner capacities for growth and self-fulfillment
Trait theories
Examine characteristic patterns of behavior
Social-cognitive theories
Explore interaction between traits and social context
MMPI-2-RF
Well-researched clinical questionnaire used to assess personality and psychological problems
The Barnum Effect/Forer Effect
A cognitive bias that occurs when individuals believe that generic personality descriptions and statements apply to themselves
Projective tests
assessments made up of ambiguous stimuli that can be perceived and responded to in many different ways
Traits
habitual ways of behaving, thinking, and feeling.
Id
[present at birth] Operates on pleasure principle; unconsciously strives to satisfy basic drives to survive, reproduce, and aggress
Ego
Operates on reality principle; seeks to realistically gratify id’s impulses to bring long-term pleasure; contains perceptions, thoughts, judgments and memories [moderator/referee]
Superego
[last system of personality to develop] Focuses on ideal behavior; strives for perfections; acts as moral conscience
Defense Mechanisms
Psychological strategies that are unconsciously used to protect a person from anxiety arising from unacceptable thoughts or feelings.
Repression
Removing painful experiences and unacceptable impulses from the conscious mind
Rationalization
[Blame]
Supplying a reasonable sounding explanation for unacceptable feelings and behavior to conceal (mostly from oneself) one’s underlying motives or feelings
Reaction formation
Unconsciously replacing threatening inner wishes and fantasies with an exaggerated version of their opposite
Projection
Attributing one’s threatening feelings, motives, or impulses to another person or group
Regression
Reverting to immature behavior or or earlier stage of development, to deal with an internal conflict or perceived threat
Displacement
Shifting unacceptable wishes or drives to a neutral or less threatening alternative
Identification
Dealing with feelings of stress and anxiety by unconsciously taking on the characteristics of another person who seems more powerful or better able to cope
Sublimation
Channeling unacceptable sexual or aggressive drives into socially acceptable and culturally enhancing activities
Humanistic psychology
Psychological approach that emphasizes personal growth, resilience, and the achievement of human potential.
Individual Psychology
Alfred Adler: All human behavior is goal oriented and motivated by striving for superiority
Collective unconscious
A storehouse of latent memory traces inherited from a person’s ancestral past
