Test #1 Prep

Question 1

Psychologist’s view of personality

Answer 1

Personality denotes the psychological dimensions on which people differ (eg. introversion, extraversion). These traits must be relatively consistent over different times and situations. They are usually distributed along a continuum.

Question 1

Units of personality

Answer 1

Not just a single habit or behaviour, but sets of behaviours that cohere to produce a detectable, recognizable pattern. These units reflect a predisposition to respond to a set of stimuli in a functionally equivalent way.

Question 2

Larsen and Buss’ definition of personality

Answer 2

Personality is the set of psychology traits and
mechanisms within the individual that are
organized and relatively enduring and that
influence his/her interactions with, and
adaptations to, the intrapsychic, physical, and
social environments.

Question 2

Mechanisms

Answer 2

Mechanisms have an input or trigger (cue, situation), a decision or process (an appraisal), and an output (behaviour or decision).

Question 3

Goal of personality psychology

Answer 3

Idiographic and nomothetic descriptions of the “person” and people.

Question 4

Idiographic approach

Answer 4

Every person is unique! (Case studies)

Question 5

Nomothetic approach

Answer 5

General laws apply to most, if not all people (what makes people Narcissistic?)

Question 6

McAdams’ 3 Levels of Personality

Answer 6

1. Traits (shy, dominant, narcissistic)
2. Personal concerns (motives, goals, coping styles)
3. Identity (life story, meaning and purpose in one’s life)

Question 7

Evocations

Answer 7

Reactions we produce in others

Question 8

Manipulations

Answer 8

Reactions we intend and attempt to produce in others

Question 9

Adaptations

Answer 9

Central feature of personality. Accomplishing goals, coping and adjusting.

Question 10

Intraphysic environment

Answer 10

Within the mind

Question 11

3 Levels of Analysis

Answer 11

General human nature, group differences, individual differences

Question 12

Six Domains of Personality Psychology

Answer 12

Intraphysical, evolutionary, biological, cognitive-experiential, adjustment, social/cultural, dispositional

Question 13

Four types of data

Answer 13

Self-report, observation, test, life outcome

Question 14

Self-report questionnaires

Answer 14

Items should cover the full range of a trait (ie: measuring moodiness, sensitivity for neuroticism), diff. highs from lows (and switch it up) avoid biases like soc. desirability, yea-saying, etc

Question 15

Validity

Answer 15

Extent to which a test/indicator measures what it’s supposed to measure

Question 16

Reliability

Answer 16

Degree to which a test/indicator represents “true” level of trait being measured, ergo- repeatability

Question 17

Face validity

Answer 17

Consensus that test measures what it’s meant to measure

Question 18

Convergent validity

Answer 18

Correlation with test scores in other important concept.

Question 19

Predictive validity

Answer 19

Accurate prediction of outcome

Question 20

Discriminant validity

Answer 20

Degree to which data is distinct from other opposite concepts (from which they should be distinct)

Question 21

Construct validity

Answer 21

How well does the task represent the concept?

Question 22

Types of validity

Answer 22

Construct, convergent, discriminant, predictive, face

Question 23

Low repeatability means

Answer 23

Too much error of measurement (random)

Question 24

Generalizability

Answer 24

Extent to which a test remains valid in different cultural contexts

Question 25

Self-monitors

Answer 25

Social chameleons

Question 26

Five factor model

Answer 26

Organizational functioning, OCEAN, often criticized in favour of HEXACO

Question 27

TIPI

Answer 27

Test for FF model

Question 28

Common criticisms of MBTI

Answer 28

This or that, dimensions don’t contain opposites, no predictive validity

Question 29

Machiavellianism

Answer 29

Based on the Prince by NM, flattery, deceit, cunning

Question 30

Causes of personality change

Answer 30

Changing roles, increase in C and O, age

Question 31

Post-traumatic growth

Question 32

Intentional change

Question 33

H in Hexaco

Answer 33

Honesty

Question 34

Psychopathy

Answer 34

A disorder OR psychological trait- low empathy, thrill seeking, fearless, superficially charming

Question 35

Act frequency approach

Answer 35

Traits are categories of acts

Question 36

Lexical approach

Answer 36

All important individual differences have become encoded within the natural language

Question 37

Statistical approach

Answer 37

Use of factor analysis

Question 38

Factor analysis

Answer 38

Groups of traits that covary (cohabitate) but not with other traits

Question 39

Theoretical analysis

Answer 39

Theory guides analysis

Question 40

Three assumptions of trait psychology

Answer 40

-Stability over time
-Consistency
-Meaningful individual differences

Question 41

Aggregations

Answer 41

Adding up observations

Question 42

Barnum statements

Answer 42

Statements that could apply to anyone

Question 43

Trait psychology

Answer 43

Study of traits, heavy reliance on self-report