Personality 2B

Question 1

What are the two key features of ‘personality’?

Answer 1

Consistency: Stability over time and across situations
Distinctiveness: Different reactions to the same situation

Question 2

Define personality

Answer 2

Unique pattern of enduring thoughts, feelings and actions that define a person

Question 3

Describe ‘personality type’

Answer 3

• When a person possesses a certain characteristic in a broader sense i.e. she is a leader type, but she is not a socialiser
• Qualitative differences between people
• Most people don’t fit neatly into one type but are unique mixes of different types

Question 4

Describe ‘personality trait’

Answer 4

• Generally referring to a single specific characteristic of a person
• How much of a certain characteristic a person has
• Quantitive differences among people

E.g. I’m kind of extraverted vs. i’m really extroverted

Question 5

What is the effect called where people evaluate their personality traits by comparing themselves to local norms rather than international norms?

Answer 5

The reference-group effect

Question 6

According to Hans Eysenck’s trait theory what are the two main trait dimensions?

Answer 6

Introversion - Extraversion
Relates to one’s typical arousal level

Emotionality - Stability
Relates to sensitivity to stress

Question 7

What is the learning style that occurs without awareness that learning is happening?

Answer 7

Implicit learning

Question 8

What is an ‘implicit theory’?

Answer 8

Beliefs that individuals hold regarding the nature of being human
Also called ‘lay theories’

Question 9

What are the two implicit theories of self and personality identified by Carol Dweck?

Answer 9

Incremental theory
Entity theory

Question 10

What is ‘incremental theory’, what mindset is it and how it responds to failure

Answer 10

Aka: Growth mindset
- Belief that abilities and traits are malleable and can change
- Responds to failure by focusing on efforts to improve

Question 11

What is ‘entity theory’, what mindset is it and how it responds to failure

Answer 11

Aka: Fixed mindset
- Belief that abilities and traits that reflect an individual are largely fixed and resistant to change
- Responds to failure by blaming their own innate lack of ability

Question 12

What theory establishes early in life and influences adult romantic relationships and how to cope with threats?

Answer 12

Attachment Theory

First formulated by John Bowlby

Question 13

Secure, anxious and avoidant are three styles of what theory?
What styles are known as insecure?

Answer 13

Attachment Theory
Anxious and avoidant are known as insecure attachment styles