Week 1 (indtroduction) Lecture 1 (approaches to studying individual differences)

Question 1

what is the difference between experimental and correlational approaches?

Answer 1

• The experimental approach attempts to understand reality by manipulating (under simplified conditions) variables between groups/treatments.
• The correlational approach attempts to understand reality by estimating the influence of variables under complex conditions between individuals.

Question 2

what approach does differential psychology take?

Answer 2

• it recognises that people do not fit into tidy boxes

- therefore it encourages us to think about continuums

Question 3

why is lots of research around mental health taking a categorical approach?

Answer 3

• A need for thresholds to determine when an individual meets the criteria for an intervention.
• A need to have a universally accepted criteria for “well” so that clinicians and researchers can
agree on what is a meaningful change in “symptoms”.
• Statistics: it can be easier to analyse data in categories than continua.

Question 4

why might we want to take a continuoum approach to mental health instead?

Answer 4

• we can look at the continuoum of positive mental health. Rather than the categories of mentally ill or not mentally ill, we can look at the continoum of average to very strong mental health
• rather than being limited to recovery or no recovery, we can look at improvements of those with mental illness, such as from severe to moderate
• the continuoum helps us recognise that the line to mark whether somebody has a mental health problem or not is arbitary

Question 5

what is the pathogenic perspective of mental health?

Answer 5

• approaching research into mental health by focusing on mental illness

Question 6

what is the salutogenic perspective of mental health?

Answer 6

• approaching research into mental health by looking at how to promote the mental health of the whole popuation, moving us towards thriving

Question 7

what is the difference between a state and a trait?

Answer 7

STATE

• temporary
• after the state passes you return to another condition

TRAIT
- stable and enduring characteristic and pattern of behaviour

Question 8

what is the CBT triangle?

Answer 8

thoughts

behaviour feelings

Question 9

how does Gordon Allport define personality?

Answer 9

“A dynamic organisation inside the person of psychophysical systems that create the person’s
characteristic patterns of behaviour, thoughts and feelings.”

Question 10

what are the important features of Allports definition of personality?

Answer 10

“A dynamic organisation inside the person of psychophysical systems that create the person’s
characteristic patterns of behaviour, thoughts and feelings.”

This definition makes several important points:
• Personality is not just an accumulation of bits and pieces, it has organisation
• Personality doesn’t just lie there, it is actively influencing processes
• Personality is a psychological concept, inextricably linked to the physical body – it has a
biological basis.
• Personality is a causal force – it helps determine how a person relates to the world
• Personality shows up in patterns, occurrences and consistencies.
• Personality is displayed in many different ways, in behaviours, thoughts and feelings.

Question 11

what are the 5 factors of the 5 factor personality model?

Answer 11

Extraversion
Agreeableness
Contentiousness
Neuroticism
Openness

Question 12

what are the 4 categories of the myers briggs personality types?

Answer 12

mind- intraversion or extraversion
energy- intuition or sensing
nature- thinking or feeling
tactics- judging or perceiving

Question 13

what does the agreeableness trait in the 5 factor model reflect?

Answer 13

• reflects how we interact with others
• high scorers tend to be trusting, friendly and cooperative
• low scorers tend to be more aggressive and less cooperative

Question 14

what does the contentiousness trait in the 5 factor model reflect?

Answer 14

• reflects how organised and persistent we are in pursuing our goals
• high scorers are methodical, well organised and dutiful
• low scores are less careful, less focussed and are more likely be distracted from tasks

Question 15

what does the neuroticism trait in the 5 factor model reflect?

Answer 15

• the tendency to experience negative thoughts and feelings
• high scores are prone to insecurity and emotional distress
• low scorers tend to be more relaxed, less emotional and less prone to distress

Question 16

what does the openness trait reflect in the 5 factor model?

Answer 16

• this trait reflects open-mindedness and interest in culture
• High scores tend to be imaginative, creative and seek out cultural and educational experiences
• Low scores are more down to earth, less interested in art and more imaginative in nature

Question 17

what does the energy factor of the myers briggs test reflect?

Answer 17

• intuition or sensing determines how we see the world and process information

SENSING (S)

• observant individuals who are highly pragmatic and down to earth
• They tend to have strong habits and focus on what is happening or what has already happened

INTUITION (N)

• very imaginative, openminded and curious
• they prefer novelty over stability, and focuss on hidden meanings and future posibility

Question 18

what does the nature factor of the myers briggs test reflect?

Answer 18

• thinking or feeling determines how we make decisions and cope with emotions

THINKING

• focus on objectivity and rationality, prioritising logic over emotions
• tend to hide their feelings and see efficiency as more important than cooperation

FEELING

• feeling individuals are sensitive and emotionally expressive
• they are more empathetic and less competitive than feeling types
• they focus on harmony and social cooperation

Question 19

what does the tactics factor of the myers briggs test reflect?

Answer 19

-judging or percieving reflects our approach to work, planning or decision making

JUDGING

• individuals are decisive, thorough and highly organised
• they value clarity, predictability and closure,
• prefer planning to spontanaety

PERCIEVING

• very good at improvising and spotting opportunitys
• flexible and relaxed nonconformist who prefer to keep their options open