Lec 1 Flashcards
(19 cards)
What does MBTI stand for?
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
=> popular convo topic in PREDICTING social relationships and work performance
social networking
MBTI is a personality assessment tool that classifies people into different personality types.
What are the four dichotomies of the MBTI?
- I – Introversion (Extroversion)
- N – Intuition (Sensing)
- F – Feeling (Thinking)
- J – Judging (Perceiving)
Each dichotomy represents a spectrum of personality traits.
What are some common layman theories of personality? What about folk theories
- Color preference (blue or red?)
- Pet preference (dogs or cats?)
- Physiognomy / Phrenology / Bodily physique (rejected later on)
=> simplified / common sense interpretations
Folk theory:
- eg blood type theory => Blood O is universal, therefore are less selfish
- concrete predictions to test empirically
- based on personal experiences, may not be scientific
These theories often lack scientific backing but are commonly held beliefs.
What is the aim of personality psychologists?
- Derive universal principles (so is applicable)
- Explain individual differences (how we act differently)
- Derive falsifiable hypotheses (all theories are false, come up with better ones)
- Predict life outcomes (eg life achievements)
- Put theory into practice (eg clinical settings)
These aims help in understanding and applying personality theories.
What does the term ‘reductionism’ refer to in personality psychology? (This is a view / perspective )
Reducing personality into more basic structures for better understanding (of the personality)
This approach is common in scientific disciplines.
Personality processes
to understand behavior in people
- motivation dynamics (tension reduction - push/pull coerced or intrinsic)
- unconscious forces or conscious contemplation
- gene expression (biochemical reactions => personality outcomes)
- learning history (acquiring personality)
Growth and development
questions environmental
- fixed pattern of personality development?
- we choose enviro which changes our genetic expression?
- genes or enviro. more of an influence?
- enviro: peers (birth order), social class
List different units of analysis in personality psychology.
- Genes
- Brain structure (network of neurons)
- Personality types (traditional)
- Personality traits (dimensions, continuum of scores)
- Self-concepts
- Cognitive processes (how u think influences personality)
- Psychic energy
Each unit provides a different perspective on personality.
What are the key questions addressed by personality theories?
- What is a person?
- What is freedom?
- Are people free?
- Can machines be autonomous?
- What kind of personality do we desire? (construct - construct us, is it still useful?)
These questions explore the essence and implications of personality.
True or False: Personality can be predicted with high accuracy.
False
At least in this moment. We are quite inaccurate. Cannot reduce phenomena into basic units like the natural sciences. Even DNA personality because there are gaps between the genes / proteins and our character
Psychologists are less accurate in predicting human behavior compared to physical sciences.
What is the difference between nomothetic and idiographic approaches?
- Nomothetic: Standardized methods for population (five factor model)
- Idiographic: Flexible methods for unique individuals (interview)
Both approaches have their respective strengths in research.
Define psychometric reliability.
The consistency of a test’s results across time and situations. It is consistent every time.
=> estimated by correlations eg inter-rater reliability
Reliable tests yield similar results under consistent conditions.
What is psychometric validity?
The extent to which a test measures what it is intended to measure
=> true score aligns with underlying construct
Validity ensures that the test reflects the underlying construct.
What does the classical test theory formula X = T + E represent?
X - observed score (what people wrote)
T - true score (theoretically score without errors)
E - random error term, mean of 0
Note: a perfect test would have no variance due to measurable error
The aim is to estimate the true score by accounting for error
This formula illustrates how observed scores are influenced by true scores and errors.
What are the four criticisms of the MBTI mentioned in the lecture?
- Statistical structure issues (should be distinctly bimodal, but is normal distribution somewhere in between 2 extremes)
- Lack of reliability (responses vary over time)
- Lack of validity (limited by reliability)
- Intuitive appeal and the Barnum Effect
Each criticism highlights limitations in the MBTI’s design and application.
Fill in the blank: A good test should be both _______ and _______.
[reliable] pre-requisite and [valid]
These are properties for a good test. A test can be reliable but invalid => true score fails to reveal the underlying construct (ten toes and IQ of 10)
Reliability and validity are essential for effective psychological assessments.
What is the ‘Barnum Effect’ in personality assessments?
The tendency for vague descriptions to be perceived as accurate by individuals
This effect can lead people to believe in the validity of personality assessments that are not scientifically rigorous.
What are the components of the ‘LOTS’ data approach in personality research?
- L-data: Life history records
- O-data: Observer data
- T-data: Test data
- S-data: Self-report data
These components provide a comprehensive view of an individual’s personality.
True or False: A reliable test can be invalid.
True
Reliability does not guarantee that a test measures what it claims to measure.
