Problem 6 Flashcards
Longitudinal research design
Is used to assess the personality trait levels of some group of persons on 2 or more occasions, often many year/decades apart
–> aim is to find the average level of a given trait across all members, then comparing those as observed at the different time periods
What are possible explanations for the changes in mean levels of personality characteristics across one’s life span ?
1. Biological processes of maturation
- being genetically inclined to show changes in levels of certain hormones/neurotransmitters which might influence personality characteristics
2. Important events/ changes in social roles might also have an influence on ones personality
3. Exposure to different ideas of different people
- Social investment hypothesis
Is personality stable across our entire lifespan ?
Yes and no, Personality is somewhat stable during adolescence + even more stable during adulthood
–> less stable during childhood + early adolescence as personality then undergoes some larger changes
Which major challenges do researchers encounter when trying to assess children personality development ?
- Obtaining an accurate personality description from them
* most can only describe themselves from the age of 10 - Self report inventories usually used, demand a level of reading comprehension that isn’t reached until adolescence
- Behaviors + situations which are usually observed cannot be observed in children
Which solution was developed to overcome the challenges researchers where facing when trying to assess the personality development of children?
A special version of the HEXACO-PI-R was developed, that was suitable for assessing personality in elementary school children
- included different dimensions that resembled the big 5
e. g.: activity level, irritability, fearfulness, positive emotions, attention span, soothability, rhythmicity
Are spouses similar in personality ?
No,
the personality of one spouse gives little clue as to what the personality of the other spouse is like (Correlation never higher than 0.25)
There are similarities between spouses on characteristics such as mental ability, religiosity, and political views.
Which personality traits indicate marital satisfaction?
An agreeable + emotionally stable person is more likely to be satisfied with his/her marriage
–> regardless of whether 2 people are similar or different in personality traits, what matters is their individual characteristics
Attachment styles
Refer to the ways in which people act, think, feel in the specific context of their romantic relationships
In wich way is personality related to attachment styles ?
Having low levels of both anxious + avoidant styles will lead to secure attachment style
Are friends similar in personality ?
Yes,
Friends only showed to be somewhat similar (r = 0.25) in the personality traits of :
a) Honesty-humility
b) Openness to experience
Friends usually perceive themselves to be more similar in the aspects of Honesty-humility + openness to experience than they really are.
Why is that ?
Perceived Similarity (r = 0.40) vs Actual Similarity (r = 0.25)
They often share the same values/views about how one ought to live + relate to other people
–> similar values are more likely to get along
How is personality related to substance use disorders?
Low conscientiousness + low emotional stability is related to substance abuse
–> high levels of self control are related to success in quitting
How is longevity, meaning longer life spans, related to personality ?
- Personality traits such as conscientiousness + social dependability were associated with it
* more dependable persons would be less likely to engage in health damaging behaviors - Cheerful + optimistic people are negatively correlated with longevity, because one is more likely to ignore diseases
How are heart diseases related to personality ?
Hostile people tend to create more stress for themselves by getting into conflicts with others. See Type A Behaviour Pattern.
–> they have greater physiological reactions to stress than others
e.g.: greater increases in blood pressure, hormones etc => Type A
How is academic +job performance related to personality ?
Individuals higher in conscientiousness levels tend to perform better
- as this trait comprises self discipline, organization etc*
- r = 0.25 between Conscientiousness & GPA
How is criminality related to personality ?
A persons likelihood to commit crimes depends on
- how much he/she fails to control impulses
- his/her levels of manipulativeness + selfishness
–> related to low conscientiousness + emotional stability
Which personality traits indicate how satisfied one is with ones life ?
Extraversion + emotional stability are indicators
- both represent a tendency to feel positive emotions
- we have a genetic influence on that
How does binge drinking affect the brain of adolescents ?
Brain maturation continues well into the 3 decade of life particularly in regards to PFC + hippocampus
–> results in increases risk-taking + impulsive behaviors
Blackout
Refers to a breakdown in the transfer of info from STM to LTM
–> hippocampus is particularly susceptible to alcohol
Mean level change
Refers to gains/losses in specific personality traits over a pre-specified period of time + age in the life course of a population of individuals
What are the mean level changes in personality development ?
1. Most change occurs between the ages of 20-40/young adulthood
- BUT: it continues to change, even in old age
2. Time has a positive effect on personality-trait change
- people become more confident, warm, mature over time
Cause-Correction hypothesis
Changes demonstrated in psychological outcomes (e.g. depression) are the result of changes in the trait component and not the state component of personality
–> changes are enduring and have real consequences for clinical outcomes
Selection effect
Personality predicts the occurrence of several major life events
Socialization effect
Personality changes occur as the result of experiencing major life events
Which personality traits influence parental behaviour?
Parents that are high in Openness to experience + extraversion tend to be more nurturing + less restrictive in their parenting styles
Type A vs Type B personality
Type A personality person is hostile, impatient and competitive
–> Type B behavioral patterns will indicate the opposite
Primary vs Secondary Psychopaths
- Primary psychopaths will be rational when engaging in criminal behavior, thus will be less likely to be caught
- Secondary psychopaths will be more impulsive when engaging in criminal behavior, thus easily caught
State-artifact theory
Any changes that we see in personality trait changes are a result of therapy
–> emphasis on the state were in
Rank order consistency
Our relative placement in personality traits remains stable
What are the requirements to change our personality ?
- Being aware of the expectations of our social roles
- Being able + willing to change our personality
Normative life transitions
Refer are life transitions that are expactble + predictable based on biological, psychological or social norms
–> life changes that everyone goes through
Transactional paradigm
Suggests that personality development is likely to occur in the context of normative life transitions that offer clear info about how to adapt
–> high importance of transparent role demands
Dynamic equilibrium model
Suggests that people differ in their set points and only change temporarily to then return back to their set point
–> the set point is the typical level of each personality trait
5 factor theory of personality
States that personality traits are only biologically determined
Paradoxical theory of personality coherence
States that personality is stable when a major life experience occurs
Occupational domain
Once adapted to a specific role demand at ones work place, these specific demands will lead to diverse personality changes
Social domain
Changes in social networks are usually accompanied by major life events and thus can impact personality development
Health domain
The onset of disease will always result in declines in most of the big 5 traits
Neo-Socioanalytical model
States that personality changes can occur at any age (plasticity principle) resulting in individual change due to social role investment (social investment principle), notably for personality change it must be a role the subject is not “ready for” but willing to change for.
Non-normative life transitions
Refer to life transitions that affect everyone differently
–> things that affect an individuals life but not the lives of other people in the same way
Cross-Sectional Study
Trait level of many people of various ages are measured. Average trait levels for two of a different age are compared
Cohort/Generational Effects
Difference between those of different ages could be attributed to generational divides, such as the environment during development
Historical effects
Difference between people’s level of a trait on different measurement occasions (During a Longitudinal Study) may be due to environmental conditions these people were experiencing between these occasions.
Social Roles/Investment Hypothesis
People are expected by others to become more responsible and stable as they get older, especially as tey progress through young adulthood.
Long-Term Romantic Relationships can affect trait levels.
Stability of Traits During Childhood
Changes tend to be gradual
Measurements were taken at ages 2, 3, 6, 8, & 15 years old. Each interval correlated >0.50 with its adjacents, however total correlation from start to end was only about 0.20 for all factors
Aggressiveness in Childhood
Those who were aggressive during childhood tended to be aggressive into adulthood, more likely to be arrested, depressed, drink excessively, etc.
Mechanisms for the Neo-Socioanalytic Model
- Role Contingency Mechanisms: Directly reinforcing/punishing personality traits so the subject meets expectations
- Role Expectation & Demand Mechanism: Communicating which personality traits are more/less adaptive
Effects of Life Events on Personality
- Anticipation Effects: Personality changes before X event
- Selection Effects: Differences in the likelihood of to experience specific life events
- Socialization Effects: Changes due to life experience
La Dolce Vita Effect
People’s levels of Conscientiousness lower after retirement
