Personality Intro

Question 1

According to PETERSON (1992) Personality is…..

Answer 1

Personality is a hypothetical construct with a number of fundamental attributes.

1) Its an integrated part of every individual
2)it is Psychological - i.e. non physical
3 can be functional or dysfunctional

Question 2

According to CHILD (1968) Personality is a ….

Answer 2

More or less stable set of internal factors that make up one person’s behaviour, consistent from one time to another, different from behaviour other people would manifest in a similar situation.

Question 3

what factors make us individual in our personalities

Answer 3

1) cog process
2) Attitudes
3) Motivation
4) Learning experiences

Question 4

What factors make us similar in our personalities?

Answer 4

1) Shared genes
2) shared environment
3) socialisation culture

Question 5

name the two types of personality research.

Answer 5

IDIOGRAPHIC - study of individuals - in depth, focus on specifics and unique characteristics

NOMOTHETIC - People in general - focus on LAWS

(from greek word NOMOS meaning LAW)

Question 6

2 Perspectives that guide research on personality.

Answer 6

Clinical Psychology - how we adapt to daily life, uses idiographic approach with emphasis on unconscious process and therapy.

Academic Psychology - uses Nomothetic approach. describes personality in terms of traits along which people can be compared. seeks to obtain VALID +RELIABLE measures of personality dimensions.