WEEK: 1 Ch: 1,2 (skip 1)

Question 1

Personality trait

Answer 1

differences between individuals to think , behave or feel in different situations for a period of time. (non-intellectual)

Question 2

trait

Answer 2

likelihood of someone showing a certain behavior. ( Peter is optimistic doesn’t mean Peter will always be optimistic, he is more likely to be optimistic)
-to be categorized as a trait, behaviors have to be shown across a variety of relevant situations.
-stable, yet still subject to change.
-Mental abilities, general beliefs attitudes and sexuality are not a part of trait.

Question 3

Do personality traits exist?

Answer 3

Mischel and other researchers found behaviors that were supposed to relate to the same underlying trait had weak correlations.

Question 4

Do personality traits exist? (2)

Answer 4

1-Hartshorne and May studied altruism with certain behaviours found weak correlation.
2-Rushton studied with multiple situations found moderate correlation.
3-Jackson & Paunonen divided 19 behaviours into 2 categories and found a high correlation.

Result: Based on a single behaviour it is hard to predict another one, but it is possible to predict how someone behaves on average in a number of different situations.

Question 5

How a person might behave in certain situations?

Answer 5

1-Depends on the environment
2-how does person perceives the situation?
3-People can select situations
4-People can evoke influences

Question 6

Acquiescence bias

Answer 6

Selecting the highest score all the time. (if the researcher asks a reverse question and the participant still responses high we can identify the bias.)

Question 7

Why do we use different scales when measuring traits?

Answer 7

In order to increase the reliability and validity.

Question 8

What are the 3 approaches to develop personality inventories?

Answer 8

1-Empirical
2-Factor analysis
3- rational strategy

Question 9

Empirical system

Answer 9

1- Based on observation, shows an empirical link between items and variables. ( If liking car item is related to punctuality include the item)
Advantage:
-Has evidence
Disadvantage:
-Sample is not a representation of the whole population.
-Some questions (more relevant ones) might be excluded.

Question 10

Factor analytical strategy

Answer 10

Measures which trait is measured by a factor (item) and which traits belong to each factor (item).
-To optimise it large variety of items should be included

Question 11

Rational strategy

Answer 11

-Based on theories and logical thinking.
-Researchers will deduce which variable might be significant and look for high correlations between those.
-RS chooses items based on how strongly they relate to each other.
-ES chooses items based on how strongly they relate to outside variables.
Disadvantage:
-Items are obvious in measuring the traits so participants can figure out and give the desirable answer.

Question 12

Comparison between strategies

Answer 12

RS is slightly more valid but they are all similar to each other.

Question 13

Which report is more accurate (observant-self)

Answer 13

Observant report is slightly more accurate however the best way is to combine them.

Question 14

Socially desirable answer

Answer 14

In order to measure the bias participants can take the test few times and check if the answer are similar.
-Still not perfect.

Question 15

What do personality psychologists study?

Answer 15

1-Human nature
2-Individual & Group variation (Nomothetic approach)
3-Individual uniqueness (Idiographic approach)

Question 16

Nomothetic approach

Answer 16

Establishing general laws, based on the study of large groups of people and the use of statistical techniques to analyse.

Question 17

Idiographic approach

Answer 17

Research that focuses on understanding the unique experiences of individuals.

Question 18

Trait activation

Answer 18

Your trait is activated in specific situations