W1 - The Person, the Situation, and Behaviour

Question 1

What is the main focus of differential psychology?

Answer 1

The study of observable differences between individuals in their psychological determinants, such as personality and abilities.

Question 2

How does differential psychology measure and understand individual differences?

Answer 2

By focusing on how and why people differ and developing methods to measure these differences, such as assessments of intelligence, personality, and interests.

Question 3

Define intelligence within differential psychology.

Answer 3

The ability to reason, plan, solve problems, think abstractly, and learn quickly from experience.

Question 4

What does personality reflect in differential psychology?

Answer 4

The dynamic organization of psychophysical systems that influence an individual’s adjustment to the environment.

Question 5

How are interests defined in differential psychology, and what do they indicate?

Answer 5

Preferences for choices, activities, or behaviors, often in vocational contexts, showing what a person is likely to do.

Question 6

What are the three core areas of focus in differential psychology?

Answer 6

Intelligence (cognitive capacity), personality (behavioral tendencies), and interests (preferences and inclinations).

Question 7

How does differential psychology contribute to understanding human behavior?

Answer 7

By linking individual differences to aspects like personality, mental health, and motivation.

Question 8

What is social psychology, and what does it study?

Answer 8

The scientific study of how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the real or imagined presence of others.

Question 9

How does social psychology differ in focus from differential psychology?

Answer 9

Social psychology examines behavior in social contexts, while differential psychology studies stable individual differences.

Question 10

What are the levels of analysis in social psychology compared to sociology and personality psychology?

Answer 10

Social psychology studies individuals in social contexts, sociology examines societal structures, and personality psychology focuses on stable individual traits.

Question 11

What is the primary difference in methodologies between social and differential psychology?

Answer 11

Social psychology relies on experimental methods in social contexts, while differential psychology uses correlational and longitudinal designs.

Question 12

Define the person versus situation debate.

Answer 12

A debate over whether behavior is primarily influenced by stable personality traits or external situational factors.

Question 13

What does situationism propose about behavior?

Answer 13

It emphasizes that situational factors play the dominant role in shaping behavior.

Question 14

How does interactionism address the person versus situation debate?

Answer 14

By suggesting that personality traits and situational factors interact dynamically to influence behavior.

Question 15

What is Lewin’s equation, and how does it relate to interactionism?

Answer 15

Lewin’s equation (B = f(P, S)) describes behavior as a function of the person and the situation.

Question 16

What is situational selection in dynamic interactionism?

Answer 16

The process where individuals choose environments aligning with their personality traits.

Question 17

Explain situational evocation in interactionism.

Answer 17

When an individual’s traits or actions influence the dynamics of a situation.

Question 18

How does situational construal impact behavior?

Answer 18

Behavior is influenced by how individuals interpret a situation, not just its objective attributes.

Question 19

What is the fundamental attribution error, and why is it significant?

Answer 19

The tendency to overestimate dispositional causes while underestimating situational influences.

Question 20

How did the Milgram experiment demonstrate situationism?

Answer 20

By showing that social context can strongly influence behavior, often overriding personal traits.

Question 21

How do additive and interactive models of interactionism differ?

Answer 21

Additive models suggest independent contributions of personality and situations, while interactive models emphasize their combined effects.

Question 22

What is trait activation theory?

Answer 22

A framework proposing that personality traits are expressed in response to specific situational cues.

Question 23

How do contextualized personality traits improve predictions?

Answer 23

By framing traits within specific scenarios, providing stronger and more accurate outcome predictions.

Question 24

Describe the situation construal model.

Answer 24

It illustrates how personality and situational attributes interact through individual perceptions, mediating effects on behavior.

Question 25

How does whole trait theory integrate social and personality psychology?

Answer 25

By combining stable traits with situational adaptations to explain consistent yet flexible behavior.

Question 26

Why is the replication crisis important in psychology?

Answer 26

It has challenged the reliability of findings, leading to methodological improvements.

Question 27

What evidence challenges the situationist perspective?

Answer 27

Research showing traits influence patterns of behavior, even if single behaviors are unpredictable.

Question 28

How does interactionism explain employment-resistant personalities?

Answer 28

Traits like low conscientiousness interact with welfare incentives, showing a dynamic relationship.

Question 29

Give an example of the person-situation interaction in voting behavior.

Answer 29

Narcissism influences voting patterns, while the salience of identity modifies this behavior.

Question 30

Summarize the interplay between personality and social contexts in understanding behavior.

Answer 30

Behavior arises from the dynamic interplay between personality traits and situational influences.