personality

Question 1

what is the definition of personality?

Answer 1

those relatively stable, permanent characteristics that are unique to an individual and influence the way they think, feel and behave

Question 2

what is the definition of a trait?

Answer 2

a personality characteristic that endures over time and across different situations

Question 3

what are the assumptions of trait theories?

Answer 3

• stable and thus predictable over time
• stable across situations
• personality consists of different traits and you have more or less of each
• some traits are more closely interrelated

Question 4

what were mccrae and costa’s big five?

Answer 4

openness to experience
conscientiousness
extraversion
agreeableness
neuroticism

Question 5

what are the limitations of mccrae and costa?

Answer 5

• mask individual differences
• doesnt accept that it changes situationally
• no causes
• subjective

Question 6

what are the strengths of mccrae and costa?

Answer 6

• increasing evidence
• environmental and hereditary causes
• prevalent in non western cultures

Question 7

what are the assumptions of humanistic theories?

Answer 7

that all people are born good and are striving to each their full potential

Question 8

according to carl rogers, what are the three factors that influence self actualisation?

Answer 8

• the way others treat them
• the way they view themselves
• how they deal with negative influences

Question 9

what is self concept?

Answer 9

perceptions and beliefs people have about themselves. built up over time through interactions and the environment

Question 10

what is a well adjusted person?

Answer 10

someone whose self image, ideal self and true self are congruent

Question 11

what were maslows five needs?

Answer 11

physiological, safety, love and belonging, esteem and self actualisation

Question 12

what were the strengths of humanistic theory?

Answer 12

• positive
• looks at all qualities of an individual
• complete picture of development

Question 13

what are the limitations of humanistic theory?

Answer 13

• romantic and simple
• focus on self fulfilment
• doesnt recognise evil
• difficult to generalise to minorities
• methodological flaws
• people can move up without meeting lower needs

Question 14

what is social cognitive theory?

Answer 14

learning by observation and modelling and is a way to acquire social skills and many non-social behaviours

Question 15

what is reciprocal determinism?

Answer 15

we not only watch the actions of others, we watch the consequences of those actions, the rules and standards that apply to behaviour in specific situations and the ways in which people regulate their own behaviour.

Question 16

what is self efficacy?

Answer 16

the degree to which one is sure of their own ability and capability to manage and to be effective in meeting the demands of particular situations.

Question 17

what are the principles of bandura’s social learning theory?

Answer 17

People learn by observing others behaviour
Cognition plays an important role in learning
The same set of stimuli may provoke the same responses
The world and a person’s behaviour are interlinked
Personality is an interaction between three factors
People have control over their actions

Question 18

what does mischel’s social cognitive theory suggest?

Answer 18

personality results from a two way interaction between a person’s characteristics and the environment

Question 19

what are personality signatures?

Answer 19

consistency in traits can be found in distinctive but stable patterns of if then situations
emphasises the importance of physical, social, and environmental forces in shaping behaviour

Question 20

what is self regulation?

Answer 20

the ability to set and work towards goals

Question 21

what are the variables to predict behaviour?

Answer 21

competencies, cognitive strategies, expectancies, subject values and self regulatory systems

Question 22

what are the two needs of a child according to maslow?

Answer 22

unconditional positive regard and self worth