Week 2 - Individual differences in traits

Question 1

According to Kenrick & Funder, 1988, what are personality traits?

Answer 1

the generally consistent elements of thought, behavior and affect displayed by an organism across contexts.

Question 2

According to DeYoung, 2010, there is sufficient evidence to claim that personality traits may have what?

Answer 2

biological drivers.

Question 3

What is the lexical approach?

Answer 3

The dominant approach to trait identification, concerned with the words people use to describe themselves and what those words mean.

Question 4

According to DeYoung (2013) “Conscientiousness” from the big 5 can be seen through an MRI to be based on…

Answer 4

volume in lateral prefrontal cortex (planning of behaviour).

Question 5

According to DeYoung (2013) “Agreeableness” from the big 5 can be seen through an MRI to be based on…

Answer 5

various regions associated with social information.

Question 6

According to DeYoung (2013) “Neuroticism” from the big 5 can be seen through an MRI to be based on…

Answer 6

limbic system and punishment and effect.

Question 7

According to DeYoung (2013) “openness” from the big 5 can be seen through an MRI to be based on…

Answer 7

no associations were found

Question 8

According to DeYoung (2013) “extraversion” from the big 5 can be seen through an MRI to be based on…

Answer 8

medial orbitofrontal cortex (reward information).

Question 9

Why did McAdams (1955) argue against personality tests?

Answer 9

They make psychologists out of lay people – forced objective observers of what is a unique phenomenological experience.

Question 10

How does realism view lexical models?

Answer 10

There’s good evidence of biology affecting many of these models. However, lexical approaches should be more informed by biology rather than from words.

Question 11

How does pragmatism view lexical models?

Answer 11

Lexical approaches often offer insight to seeking behaviours and preferred environments, but lexical approaches are often top-down and measurement of personality needs to be beyond person>environment.

Question 12

How do instrumentalists feel about lexical models?

Answer 12

The Big Five does predict stuff so it’s doing something, We could easy develop our measures differently though

Question 13

How do the constructivists feel about lexical models?

Answer 13

The lexical trait approach might offer a surface understanding of a person, but only the surface, the humanity is missing, the hopes, dreams, roles, and positions are missing.

Question 14

What is factor analysis?

Answer 14

A statistical analysis of similarities in data.

Question 15

What does the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire focus on?

Answer 15

core emotional responses as base processes:

positive emotionality, negative emotionality, constraint, and absorption.

Question 16

what is positive emotionality and negative emotionality?

Answer 16

positive emotionality is seeking behaviours and negative emotionality is avoidance and emotive behaviours.

Question 17

Overall how do realists feel about the big five?

Answer 17

Overall: Realists can say that the Big Five level of hierarchy can explain brain structure/function but may not reflect genetics – despite the traits being heritable.