Personality Definitions

Question 1

True or false: There is no consensual definition on personality

Answer 1

True

Question 2

What are the seven groups of different personality definitions?

Answer 2

1. Bio-physical
2. Bio-social
3. Omnibus
4. Integrative
5. Adjustment
6. Uniqueness
7. Essence of person

Question 3

What is bio-physical? Which personality category does it fall under?

Answer 3

1. Direct and indirect biological influence on your behavior/personality. (Ex: direct = gene that causes aggression; indirect = gene that influences you to do something)
2. It falls under bio-psychology

Question 4

What is bio-social? Which personality category does it fall under?

Answer 4

1. Your personality is a result of your social interactions/groups
2. Social psychology

Question 5

What is omnibus? What are the big five? Which personality category does it fall under?

Answer 5

1. Consistency; shared human traits
2. Openness, conscientious, extroversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism
3. Personality-trait psychology

Question 6

What is integrative? Which personality category does it fall under?

Answer 6

1. Your personality is a result of how you perceive the world; information misinterpretation (stimulus –> organism –> response. Ex: Elizabeth Loftus shows class a video of car accident; each student writes their own eyewitness report; each report is a little different)
2. Cognitive psychology

Question 7

What is adjustment? Which personality category does it fall under?

Answer 7

1. Evolution gives you your personality traits; Darwinian push
2. Evolutionary

Question 8

What is uniqueness? Which personality category does it fall under?

Answer 8

1. What distinguishes us from others

2. Humanist

Question 9

What is essence of person? Which personality category does it fall under?

Answer 9

1. Core traits in individual

2. Personality interaction

Question 10

What should a good definition of personality include?

Answer 10

1. Traits: enduring behavior patterns
2. Structure: pieces that form personality - “map”
3. Tendency: motivation

Question 11

What definition did Maddi come up with?

Answer 11

“Personality is the stable set of characteristics [traits] and tendencies [motivations] that determine differences and commonalities in the behavior of people… that have continuity in time and may not be understood by biological or social pressures of the moment.”