PERSONALITY - intro

Question 1

learning outcomes

Answer 1

-able to describe and remember different personality perspectives
-able to compare and contrast the different personality perspectives (analyse the theories a bit)
-able to evaluate the diff perspectives (make valued judgements eg is one better)

Question 2

why study personality

Answer 2

-need to distinguish intuitive knowledge from scientific knowledge
-we are personality theorists
-how do scientific theories differ from intuitive ones
-only field in psychology that studies the whole person
-personality theories have large impact on society

Question 3

what do personality theories help answer

Answer 3

-what are peoples characteristics
-how did they become that way
-why does a person behave the way he does

Question 4

conceptual issues in personality theory

Answer 4

-philosophical view of the person (2nd vid from intro)
-if behaviour is caused by and internal or external factors
-how consistent behaviour is overtime
-to what extent do aspects of personality occur outside of awareness
-to what extent do the past and the future influence our personality and our behaviour

Question 5

what kind of data do personality psychologists use

Answer 5

L - life data - grades, criminal record, marital status etc
O- Observation data (observing certain behaviour, parents teachers or friends filling our questionnaire’s about a person, specific behaviour or trait ratings based on behaviour
T- test data (standardised tests such as IQ , delay of gratification test
S- self report data (responses to questionaires , rating self on traits) -easiest acess to this

Question 6

ethics - some questions about what personality data

Answer 6

• what do you do with the data?
  -what if you think youve discovered a personality disorder
  -can you use them for hiring / firing decisions (will this label them)