Personality

Question 1

What is personality?

Answer 1

Relatively enduring patterns of individual behaviour, ways of thinking and feeling –used to establish individual differences.

Question 2

Nature v Nurture?

Answer 2

o More than half personality genetic

o Traits found to have the strongest genetic influence include leadership, obedience to authority and traditionalism

Question 3

Personality Theories and what are they?

Answer 3

TheyHaveItPrettyBad
• Trait Theory – understand individuals by breaking down behavior patterns into observable traits
• Humanistic Theory – emphasizes individual growth and improvement
• Integrative Approach – describes personality as a composite of an individual’s psychological processes
• Psychodynamic Theory – emphasizes the unconscious determinants of behavior
• Behavioral Theory – Emphasizes nature, or learning based on associations of reward and punishment

Question 4

What is temperament? Including such found in infancy?

Answer 4

o A general tendency to feel or act in a certain way – has been found to have a strong genetic basis
o If infants show such tendencies, the suggestion is that temperament must be biological since the environment has not yet had a chance to influence behaviour

Question 5

Shyness in infants?

Answer 5

o 15-20% of newborns (as young as 6 weeks) show distress (crying, etc.) when presented with new situations or strange objects or faces. i.e are shy when older

Question 6

Personality change:

Answer 6

• Phineas Gage
o Alzheimer’s disease – evidence that personality changes are first signs of early autism
o Prozac – Antidepressant increases serotonin → when taken without depression can cause personality changes

Question 7

Big five personality factors?

Answer 7

close minded ......... open
disorganized ....... conscientious
introverted ..... extraverted
Disagreeable ......... agreeable
Calm ........... nervous