Psychology Chapter 13: Personality Flashcards
psychodynamic theories
view personality with a focus on the unconscious and the importance of childhood experiences
free association
in psychoanalysis, a method of exploring the unconscious in which the person relaxes and says whatever comes to mind, no matter how trivial or embarrassing
psychoanalysis
Freud’s theory of personality that attributes thoughts and actions to unconscious motives and conflicts; the techniques in treating psychological disorders by seeking to expose and interpret unconscious tensions
id
a reservoir of unconscious psychic energy that, according to Freud, strives to satisfy basic sexual and aggressive drives. The id operates on the pleasure principle, demanding immediate gratification
ego
the largely conscious, “executive” part of personality, according to Freud, mediates among the demands of the id, superego, and reality. The ego operates on the reality principle, satisfying the id’s desires in ways that will realistically bring pleasure rather than pain
superego
the part of personality that according to Freud, represents internalized ideals and provides standards for judgement (the conscience) and for future aspirations
psychosexual stages
the childhood stages of development (oral, anal, phallic, latency, genital) during which, according to Freud, the id’s pleasure seeking energies focus on distinct erogenous zones
Oedipus complex
according to Freud, a boy’s sexual desires toward his mother and feelings of jealousy and hatred for the rival father
identification
the process by which, according to Freud children incorporate their parents’ values into their developing superegos
fixation
according to Freud, a lingering focus of pleasure-seeking energies at an earlier psychosexual stage, in which conflicts were unresolved
defense mechanisms
in psychoanalytic theory, the basic defense mechanisms that banishes anxiety-arousing thoughts, feelings, and memories from conciousness
collective unconcious
Carl Jung’s concept of a shared, inherited reservoir of memory traces from our species’ history
projective test
a personality test, such as the Roeschach, that provides ambiguous stimuli designed to trigger projection of one’s inner dynamics
Rorschach inkblot test
the most widely used projective test, a set of 19 inkblots, designed by Hermann Rorschach; seeks to identify people’s inner feelings by analyzing their interpretations of the blots
terror-management theory
a theory that explores people’s emotional and behavioral response to reminds of their impending death
humanistic theories
view personality with a focus on the potential for healthy personal growth
self-actualization
according to Maslow, one of the ultimate psychological needs that arises after basic physical and psychological needs are met and self-esteem is achieved; the motivation to fulfill one’s potential
self-concept
all our thoughts and feelings about ourselves, in answer to “who am I?”
unconditional positive regard
according to Rogers, an attitude of total acceptance toward another person
trait
a characteristic pattern of behavior or a disposition to feel and act, as assessed by self-report inventories and peer report
personality inventory
a questionnaire (often with true-false or agree-disagree items) on which people respond to items designed to gauge a wide range of feelings and behaviors; used to assess selected personality trait
Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)
the most widely researched and clinically used of all personality tests. Originally developed to identify emotional disorders (still considered its most appropriate use), this test is now used for many other screening purposes
empirically derived test
a test (such as the MMPI) developed by testing a pool of items and then selecting those that discriminate between groups
social-cognitive perspective
views behavior as influenced by the interaction between people’s traits (including their thinking) and their social context
reciprocal determinism
the interacting influences of behavior, internal cognition and environment
personal control
the extent to which we perceive control over our environment
external locus of control
the perception that chance or outside forces beyond our personal control determine our fate
internal locus of control
the perception that you control your own fate
self-control
the ability the control impulses and delay short-term gratification for greater long term rewards
learned helplessness
the hopelessness and passive resignation an animal or human learns when unable to avoid repeated aversive effetcs
