Personality research and person vs. situation interactions Flashcards
cross sectional study
data recorded once
longitudinal study
Data recorded multiple times
Track changes in personality over time
Experimental studies
Manipulation
Establish cause and effect
meta analysis
Summarizes multiple studies
Typical personality studies - broad personality constructs
Extraversion
Neuroticism
Mood or anxiety disorders
Academic performance
Health behaviours
Typical personality studies - specific personality constructs
Alcohol use or smoking
Family history of alcohol problems
Genetics
Environment
Explain MRI
Measure activation of certain areas of the brain
Measure volume/size of an area of the brain
what are alpha frequencies
Wavelength picked up through EEG
Assess cortical activation
Can be displayed as “heatmaps”
evidence of personality being “hardwired”
- Evidence of amygdala linked to extraversion - volume matter
what is the amygdala responsible for
Processes emotional stimuli
Negative emotions
Fear
Disgust
Anger
What did Walter Mischel suggest about personality
- Personality is not always a reliable predictor of behaviour
- personality captures “average” behaviour
- Our behaviour usually depends on the environment we are in
when does personality override a situation
when in reference to strongly held beliefs
when does a situation override personality
Overwhelming situation
Groupthink, group polarization
