Chapter 11- Personality Flashcards
(35 cards)
an individual’s characteristic pattern thinking, feeling, and acting
personality
view of personality with a focus on the unconscious and the importance of childhood experiences
psychodynamic theories
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
psychoanalysis
according to Freud, a reservoir of mostly unacceptable thoughts, wishes, feelings, and memories. According to contemporary psychologists, information processing of which we are unaware
unconscious
in psychoanalysis, a method of exploring the unconscious in which the person relaxes and says whatever comes to mind, no matter how unimportant or embarrassing
free association
a reservoir of unconscious psychic energy that, according to Freud, strives to satisfy basic sexual and aggressive drives. It operates on the pleasure principle, demanding immediate gratification
id
the largely conscious, “executive” part of personality that, according to Freud, balances the demands of the id, superego, and reality. It operates on the reality principles, satisfying the id’s desires in ways that will realistically bring pleasure rather than pain.
ego
the part of personality that, according to Freud, represents internalized ideals and provides standards for judgment (the conscience) and for future goals
superego
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
psychosexual stages
according to Freud, a boy’s sexual desires toward his mother and feelings of jealousy and hatred for the rival father
Oedipus complex
the process by which, according to Freud, children incorporate their parents’ values into their developing superegos
identification
according to Freud, a lingering focus of pleasure-seeking energies at an earlier psychosexual stage, in which conflicts were unresolved
fixation
in psychoanalytic theory, the ego’s protective methods of reducing anxiety by unconsciously distorting reality
defense mechanism
in psychoanalytic theory, the basic defense mechanism that banishes from consciousness the thoughts, feelings and memories that arouse anxiety
repression
a personality test, such as the Rorschach, that provides an unclear image designed to trigger projection of the test-taker’s unconscious thoughts or feelings
projective test
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
Rorschach inkblot test
Maslow’s pyramid of human needs; at the base are physiological needs that must be satisfied before higher-level safety needs, and then psychological needs become active
hierarchy of needs
according to Maslow, the psychological need that arises after basic physical and psychological needs are met and self-esteem is achieved; the motivation to fulfill our potential
self-actualization
according to Maslow, the striving for identity, meaning, and purpose beyond the self
self-transcendence
according to Rogers, an attitude of total acceptance toward another person
unconditional positive regard
all our thoughts and feelings about ourselves, in answer to the question, “who am I?”
Self-concept
a characteristic pattern of behavior or a tendency to feel act in a certain way, as assessed by self-reports on a personality test
trait
a cluster of behavior tendencies that occur together
factor
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.
Minnesota Multiphasic personality inventory (MMPI)
