SU4 - Personality Psychology

Question 1

Define Personality

Answer 1

Psychological qualities that continually defines a person’s behaviour across different situations and time.

Question 2

Four Theories of Personality.

Answer 2

Traits
Psychodynamic
Humanistic
Social-Cognitive

Question 3

What is Traits Theory/Dispositional Theory?
3 T-s

Answer 3

Describe people based on:
Temperament
Traits
Type

Traits - Measures and describes personality traits
Temperament - Biological foundation influencing trait development
Type - Categorizing people into distinct groups

Question 4

What is the Five Factor Theory?

Answer 4

Describes five broad dimensions of personality traits.

Question 5

What are the 5 broad dimensions used in Big 5?

Answer 5

Extraversion
Agreeableness
Conscientiousness
Neuroticism
Openess to Experience

Question 6

Describe Extraversion

Answer 6

How outgoing and sociable a person is.

Question 7

Describe Agreeableness

Answer 7

How cooperative and compassionate a person is.

Question 8

Describe Conscientiousness

Answer 8

Being organized, responsible, and goal-oriented.

Question 9

Describe Neuroticism

Answer 9

Tendency to experience negative emotions, such as anxiety, sadness, and anger.

Question 10

Describe Openess to Experience

Answer 10

Willingness to try new things, their imagination, and their intellectual curiosity.

Question 11

Pros of Traits Theory

Answer 11

Structured: Clear personality framework.
Predictive: Forecasts behavior/outcomes.

Question 12

Cons of Traits Theory

Answer 12

Lacks explanation: Doesn’t explain root cause of traits.
Self-fulfilling Prophecy: Risk of stereotyping.
Static: Doesn’t account for change.

Question 13

Define Psychodynamic Theory
What about Behaviour?

Answer 13

Behaviour is driven by unconsious motive and personal motivation.

Question 14

Describe the Ego, SuperEgo and ID.

Answer 14

Id:
* “The Want-It-Now” part.
* Basic desires, no rules.

Ego:
* “The Reality Check” part.
* Balances wants with what’s possible.

Superego:
* “The Moral Guide” part.
* Internal rules and conscience.

Id says “Do it!”
Superego says “Don’t!”
Ego tries to find a middle ground.

Question 15

Describe Conscious, Preconscious, Unconscious.

Answer 15

Conscious: What you’re thinking now.
Preconscious: What you can think of.
Unconscious: What you don’t know you know.

Question 16

Ego Defence Mechanism:
Repression

Answer 16

“Forgetting” something really upsetting.

Question 17

Ego Defence Mechanism:
Denial

Answer 17

Pretending something didn’t happen, even though it did.

Question 18

Ego Defence Mechanism:
Projection

Answer 18

Blaming someone else for your own bad feelings.

Question 19

Ego Defence Mechanism:
Displacement

Answer 19

Taking your anger out on someone or something safe, instead of the real problem.

Question 20

Ego Defence Mechanism:
Regression

Answer 20

Acting like a kid again when you’re stressed.

Question 21

Ego Defence Mechanism:
Rationalisation

Answer 21

Making up excuses to justify your bad behavior.

Question 22

Ego Defence Mechanism:
Sublimation

Answer 22

Turning bad impulses into good, productive things (like painting when angry).

Question 23

Ego Defence Mechanism:
Reaction Formation

Answer 23

Acting the complete opposite of how you feel, to hide how you feel.

Question 24

Jung’s Collective Unconsious.

Breakdown to 3.

Answer 24

Personal Unconscious: Instincts
Collective Unconscious: Common experience and symbols shared across people
Archetype: Image of collective unconscious (Mother = Caring)

Question 25

Horney's Neurotic Needs

Answer 25

**Behavior or coping strategies that people develop when they feel insecure, anxious, or unsafe** **Neurotic needs:** * Towards Others * Against Others * Away from Others

Question 26

Pros of Psychodynamic Theory

Answer 26

* Awareness of **unconscious mind**. * Focus on why certain personality traits are developed.

Question 27

Cons of Psychodynamic Theory

Answer 27

* Difficult to prove **scientifically**. * Suspicious evidence gathering: **Biased, manupulative**.

Question 28

Define Humanistic Theories

Answer 28

Psychological approach that focuses on the positive side of human nature — like **growth**, potential, and self-awareness.

Question 29

Humanistic Theories believe that mental disorders are due to unhealthy ____ ?

Answer 29

Situations

Question 30

Self Actualisers are ____ personalities by satisfying self actualising needs.

Answer 30

Healthy

Question 31

Self Actualisers are ____ & ____ but know their limits.

Answer 31

Free & Spontaneous

Question 32

Explain Carl Roger's Fully Functioning Person

Answer 32

Self-concept is positive and congruent (same) with reality. Self-perception is honest and aligned with their real experiences, not distorted by trying to meet others’ expectations. i.e.: other's perception is aligned with perception of self.

Question 33

Experiences are driven by ____ field. Negative experience hurts ____ .

Answer 33

Phenomenal; Self-Esteem

Question 34

Name 2 Positive Regards

Answer 34

Conditional, Unconditional ## Footnote Conditional and unconditional love.

Question 35

Describe Conditions of Worth.

Answer 35

Criteria that affections will be given.

Question 36

Pros of Humanism Theories.

Answer 36

* Importance of self and mental health. * Why certain traits are developed.

Question 37

Define Socio-Cognitive Theories

Answer 37

Social environment influences cognition and personality.

Question 38

Cons of Humanism Theories.

Answer 38

* Don't explain self-actualisation is natural or nurtured. * Overemphasis on SELF. * Don't explain why some don't seek self-actualisation.

Question 39

Steps in Learning from Observation

Answer 39

* **Watch** others * **Accquire** information * **Identify** and perform behaviours * **Develop** clear sense of own identity

Question 40

What 3 factors can influence and change one another in Reciprocal Determinism?

Answer 40

Cognism, Behaviour, Environment.

Question 41

What are the 2 Locus of Control? Give an Example too.

Answer 41

Internal and External. ## Footnote Leave it to me or Leave it to Fate

Question 42

Family Systems Theory emphasises on?

Answer 42

**Interaction** within peer group/family.

Question 43

Pros of Socio-Cognitive Theories.

Answer 43

* Focuses on observable, measurable outcomes. * Emphasise on external influences on personalities.

Question 44

Cons of Socio-Cognitive Theories.

Answer 44

* Downplay emotion and unconcious process. * Not comprehensive in explaining personalities. * Don't explain genetic variation in people.