Personality

Question 1

What is personality?

Answer 1

Reasonably stable patterns of behaviour including thought and emotions, that distinguish people from one another.

Mischel (1986)

Question 2

Where do personality traits come from? (Name 5)

Answer 2

• Behaviourist approach
• Biological approach
• Humanistic approach
• psychoanalytic approach
• Cognitive approach

Question 3

What is the behaviourist approach?

Answer 3

Environmental influences on personality development. Associations made from past experiences.

Question 4

What is a biological approach?

Answer 4

Nature / genetic factors e.g. the criminal mind. Are boys more aggressive than girls?

Question 5

What is the humanistic approach?

Answer 5

Emphasises subjective experiences, self determination and human potential for growth. Self concept, ideal self and self esteem.

Question 6

What is psychoanalytic approach?

Answer 6

Childhood experiences, life stages, and repression.

Question 7

What is the cognitive approach?

Answer 7

The ways in which we process information based on our past experiences to make sense of the world.

Question 8

What are ‘The Big Five’ ?

Answer 8

• Extraversion ——-> Introversion
• Agreeable ——-> Disagreeable
• Conscientious ——-> Irresponsible
• Emotional stability ——-> Emotional instability
• Open to experience ——> Closed to experience