Personality

Question 1

Personality

Answer 1

> consistent pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting
Perspectives:
Trait, Psychoanalytic, Biological, Learning

Question 2

Trait Perspective

Answer 2

> consists of number of distinguishable characteristics
identification and measurement (personality tests)
use traits to predict behavior (probabilities)

Question 3

Allport and Odbert

Answer 3

> identified 18,000 words representing traits (too many)

>factor analysis (looked for groupings caused by same characteristic)

Question 4

*Five Factor Theory of Personality

Answer 4

> dimensions (not categories) from low to high
factors stable in adults over time, across situations
universal, provides insight into behavior
most widely accepted approach

Question 5

*The Big Five Factors

Answer 5

>conscientiousness
>agreeableness
>neuroticism
>openness
>extraversion

Question 6

Conscientiousness

Answer 6

> high: cautious, disciplined, organized

>low: unreliable, impulsive, disorganized

Question 7

Agreeableness

Answer 7

> high: compassionate, trusting, cooperative
low: rude, uncooperative, unsympathetic
earn higher salaries bc reject low starting salaries

Question 8

Neuroticism

Answer 8

> high: anxious, insecure, emotional

>low: calm, secure, unemotional

Question 9

Openness

Answer 9

> high: curious, creative, adventurous
low: conventional, closed minded, resistant to change
higher scores on educational/standards tests

Question 10

Extraversion

Answer 10

> high: talkative, optimistic, sociable

>low: reserved, quiet, conventional

Question 11

Assessing Traits

Answer 11

> personality inventories designed to gauge several traits at once
often use T/F or agree/disagree
no wrong answer

Question 12

Objective Tests

Answer 12

> ex. inventories, standardized tests

Question 13

MMPI

Answer 13

> Minnesota Multiphase Personalty Inventory
originally developed to identify emotional disorders
discriminated between diagnostic groups
standardized objective test

Question 14

MMPI Reading Results

Answer 14

> 10 diff scores
district pattern in people w/certain disorders
shows scores can change with therapy

Question 15

Premuzu and Furnham

Answer 15

> correlated Big Five personality traits w/academic performance
conscientious, stable, and introverted more likely to succeed in school

Question 16

Projective Tests

Answer 16

> test taker presented w/ambiguous stimuli and asked to explain
lack objective string criteria
interpretation by clinician (subjective)
older personality tests (ex. TAT, Rorschach)

Question 17

Rorschach Inkblot Test

Answer 17

> 10 inkblots

Question 18

Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)

Answer 18

> Murray invented

>people express feelings through stories tell about ambiguous scenes

Question 19

Projective Test Criticisms

Answer 19

> lacks reliability (consistency) and validity (predicting)

>diff interpretation of results and misdiagnose

Question 20

Evaluation of Trait Approach

Answer 20

> personality can be measured
traits are stable/predictable
does not explain origin of traits

Question 21

Anna O. and Freud

Answer 21

> hysteria, pain/paralysis in arm, anorexic, speech problems

>temp alleviate symptoms w/hypnosis (psych not phys problem)

Question 22

Freud’s Model of Mind Theory

Answer 22

> mind is like iceberg
conscious mind above water
unconscious mind below water (drives behavior)

Question 23

*Personality Structure

Answer 23

> childhood experience develops personality
based off many “disturbed patients”
includes id, ego, and super ego

Question 24

*The Id

Answer 24

> biological causes (present at birth)
unconscious
animalistic
Pleasure Principle

Question 25

*The Ego

Answer 25

>conscious >deals w/reality >mediates between ID and Superego >Freud: chariot rider vs. horse

Question 26

*Superego

Answer 26

>Guilt Principle (creates ideal self) | >tries to suppress Id

Question 27

Psychoanalytic Perspective

Answer 27

``` >1st comprehensive theory of personality >pioneer work on mental disorders >identified/described Defense Mechanisms ex. denial, projection (put problems on others) >tries to explain origin of personality ```

Question 28

Evaluating Psychoanalytic Perspective Part I

Answer 28

>lack of operational definitions (too subjective) >explains past events rather than making testable predictions >not enough emphasis on present >overemphasis on sex/aggression, ignores cultural influences

Question 29

Oral Fixation | Example of Poor Psychoanalytic Perspective

Answer 29

>pleasure through mouth (in kids, neg) >leads to smoking, drinking, sarcasm >not good predictor

Question 30

Evaluating Psychoanalytic Perspective Part II

Answer 30

``` >based on disturbed people >personality not fixed in childhood >underemphasized peer influence >much is untestable >most modern psych not guided by Freudian ideas ```

Question 31

Twin Studies Terms

Answer 31

>monozygotic - identical- 100% shared genes >dizygotic - fraternal - 50% shared genes (no more alike than siblings)

Question 32

Concordance Rate

Answer 32

>percent of twins sharing a trait

Question 33

Ruston Research

Answer 33

>reviewed 40 published studies of MZ and DZ twins (3,000 pairs) >result: inherit traits that put person at risk of certain behaviors (environment matters) >genetic predisposition- likely hood, not destiny

Question 34

The Big Five Traits

Answer 34

>50% inherited from parents | >50% environmental influences

Question 35

Change in Environment Study 1

Answer 35

>more time in therapy = more change in Big Five Traits

Question 36

Change in Environment Study 2

Answer 36

>Token Economy- comply w/therapy to receive tokens for rewards

Question 37

Police Officers and MMPI Results

Answer 37

>as scores worsen: | increase in neuroticism, anxiety, psych complaints, alcohol abuse (critical)

Question 38

Personality Overview

Answer 38

``` >The Big Five are stable/predictable >childhood experiences influence >genetics influence >environment shapes personality >learning/observation ```

Question 39

The Learning Approach | Behaviorism

Answer 39

``` >reinforcement >observational learning >environment/experience >personality change ex. little girl (shy - praise = reinforcement - stop reinforcement = not shy) ```

Question 40

Delay of Gratification

Answer 40

``` >work toward long-term goal >college students high on DOG >ex. candy now vs. massive candy in week kids observed adults make decision result: reflected what adults did ```

Question 41

Berman Experiment

Answer 41

``` >The Marshmallow Test >tracked 4 yr olds progress as aged >result (high self control) teens- high test scores, not druggies adults- low BMI, more $, less divorced ```