Vocab Part: 1

Question 1

Personality

Answer 1

An individual’s characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting.

Question 2

Free Association​

Answer 2

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.

Question 3

Psychoanalysis

Answer 3

Sigmund Freud’s theory of personality that attributes thoughts and actions to unconscious motives and conflicts; the techniques used in treating psychological disorders by seeking to expose and interpret unconscious tensions.

Question 4

Unconscious

Answer 4

According to Freud, a reservoir of mostly unacceptable thoughts, wishes, feelings, and memories. According to contemporary psychologists, information processing of which we are unaware.

Question 5

Id

Answer 5

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.

Question 6

Ego

Answer 6

The largely conscious, “executive” part of personality that, 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.

Question 7

Superego

Answer 7

The part of personality that, according to Freud, represents internalized ideals and provides standards for judgment (the conscience) and for future aspirations.

Question 8

Identification

Answer 8

The process by which, according to Freud, children incorporate their parents’ values into their developing superegos.

Question 9

Oedipus complex

Answer 9

According to Freud, a boy’s sexual desires toward his mother and feelings of jealousy and hatred for the rival father.

Question 10

Psychosexual Stages

Answer 10

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.

Question 11

Fixation

Answer 11

According to Freud, a lingering focus of pleasure-seeking energies at an earlier psychosexual stage, in which conflicts were unresolved.

Question 12

Defense Mechanisms

Answer 12

In psychoanalytic theory, the ego’s protective methods of reducing anxiety by unconsciously distorting reality.

Question 13

Repression

Answer 13

In psychoanalytic theory, the basic defense mechanism that banishes from consciousness anxiety-arousing thoughts, feelings, and memories.

Question 14

Psychodynamic Theories

Answer 14

Modern-day approaches that view personality with a focus on the unconscious and the importance of childhood experiences.

Question 15

Collective Unconscious

Answer 15

Carl Jung’s concept of a shared, inherited reservoir of memory traces from our species’ history.

Question 16

Projective Test

Answer 16

A personality test, such as the Rorschach, that provides ambiguous stimuli designed to trigger projection of one’s inner dynamics.

Question 17

Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)

Answer 17

A projective test in which people express their inner feelings and interests through the stories they make up about ambiguous scenes.

Question 18

Rorschach Inkblot Test

Answer 18

The most widely used projective test, a set of 10 inkblots, designed by Hermann Rorschach; seeks to identify people’s inner feelings by analyzing their interpretations of the blots.

Question 19

Humanistic Theories

Answer 19

View personality with a focus on the potential for healthy personal growth.

Question 20

Self-Actualization

Answer 20

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.

Question 21

Unconditional Positive Regard

Answer 21

A caring, accepting, nonjudgmental attitude, which Carl Rogers believed would help clients to develop self-awareness and self-acceptance.

Question 22

Self-Concept

Answer 22

All our thoughts and feelings about ourselves, in answer to the question, “Who am I?”

Question 23

Trait

Answer 23

A characteristic pattern of behavior or a disposition to feel and act, as assessed by self-report inventories and peer reports.

Question 24

Personality Inventory

Answer 24

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 traits.

Question 25

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)

Answer 25

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.

Question 26

Empirically Derived Test

Answer 26

A test (such as the MMPI) developed by testing a pool of items and then selecting those that discriminate between groups.

Question 27

Social-Cognitive Perspective

Answer 27

Views behavior as influenced by the interaction between people’s traits (including their thinking) and their social context.

Question 28

Behavioral Approach

Answer 28

In personality theory, this perspective focuses on the effects of learning on our personality development.

Question 29

Reciprocal Determinism

Answer 29

The interacting influences of behavior, internal cognition, and environment.

Question 30

Positive Psychology

Answer 30

The scientific study of human functioning, with the goals of discovering and promoting strengths and virtues that help individuals and communities to thrive.

Question 31

Self

Answer 31

In contemporary psychology, assumed to be the center of personality, the organizer of our thoughts, feelings, and actions.

Question 32

Spotlight Effect

Answer 32

Overestimating others’ noticing and evaluating our appearance, performance, and blunders (as if we presume a spot-light shines on us).

Question 33

Self-Esteem

Answer 33

One’s feelings of high or low self-worth.

Question 34

Self-Efficacy

Answer 34

One’s sense of competence and effectiveness.

Question 35

Self-Serving Bias

Answer 35

A readiness to perceive oneself favorably.

Question 36

Narcissism

Answer 36

Excessive self-love and self-absorption.

Question 37

Individualism

Answer 37

Giving priority to one’s own goals over group goals and defining one’s identity in terms of personal attributes rather than group identifications.

Question 38

Collectivism

Answer 38

Giving priority to the goals of one’s group (often one’s extended family or work group) and defining one’s identity accordingly.

Question 39

Terror-Management Theory

Answer 39

A theory of death-related anxiety; explores people’s emotional and behavioral responses to reminders of their impending death.