Unit 12: Personality Flashcards

Question

What we believe about the Psychoanalytic Theory today:

Answer 1

-There is an unconscious mind. Most psychologists buy into the idea of defense mechanisms (with the possible exception of repression). -Many buy into the idea of the id, ego, and superego.

Answer 2

1.) Personality develops throughout life and is not fixed in childhood like Freud thought. 2.) Freud looked too much at the family and not enough at peers (friends) on development. 3.)Freud thought that your gender identity was fully formed at age 5 or 6, that may not be so. 4.) Freud’s dream theories are often criticized. 5.) Freud is criticized for overstressing the importance of sexual motivation on decision-making and problems.

Answer 3

Freud is often criticized for what he got wrong, but he is revered in the Psychological community for his insight (whether right or wrong) and new way of thinking. An example is Terror Management Theory where thinking about your own death provokes defense mechanism: -Aggression toward rivals -Heighten self esteem for yourself -More religious -Etc.

Answer 4

Unlike Freud, who viewed the personality as negative, Humanistic Psychologists Maslow and Rogers viewed the personality as a positive thing.

Answer 5

Maslow is best known for saying that the goal of your life is to reach the top of his pyramid and be the best person you could possibly be, known as Self-Actualization. He even hypothesized that there may be a higher level called Self Transcendence where you strive above even your own potential.

Answer 6

Carl Rogers believed that to be the best, you must accept others no matter what they do to you, this is known as Unconditional Positive Regard.

Answer 7

Rogers also stated that people had two selves. The “ideal self”, which was who they wanted to be. And the “real self”, which was who they actually were. If the two were close the person felt great about themselves, if they weren’t, they’d feel depressed/angry.

Answer 8

1.) Many psychologists use the Humanistic Perspective today. 2.)One big criticism is that its ideas lack scientific proof. 3.)It’s too selfish, often just focuses on individuals’ needs. 4.)Is it too naive? Are people negative by nature?

Answer 9

Your personality isn’t one thing, it’s made up of many personality traits. This perspective was created by Gordon Allport. Examples of Traits: Honest Dependable Moody Impulsive

Answer 10

Cattell used factor analysis to determine that your personality was made up of 16 traits, which he called the 16PF (Personality Factors).

Answer 11

Hans and Sybil Eysenck suggested that personality could be reduced down to two polar dimensions, extraversion-introversion and emotional stability-instability.

Answer 12

Personality inventories are questionnaires (often with true-false or agree-disagree items) designed to gauge a wide range of feelings and behaviors assessing several traits at once.

Answer 13

The most widely used personality test today. It was previously used just to diagnose mental disorders, now it is used on everyone. The MMPI was developed by empirically testing a pool of items and then selecting those that discriminated between diagnostic groups.

Answer 14

Personality test, used today, that only gives results that are positive.

Answer 15

These tests are empirically derived. Which means questions are picked that can differentiate between groups.

Answer 16

1. Conscientiousness: How organized, careful, and disciplined you are. 2. Agreeableness: How willing you are to cooperate or go along with others. 3. Neuroticism (Opposite is Emotional Stability: How often you show negative emotions 4. Openness: How willing you are to try new experiences or go out of your comfort zone. 5. Extraversion: How loud and outgoing you are -These traits are stable into adulthood, but can change. -50% Nature, 50% Nurture -These traits exist in every culture around the world -These traits can help predict people’s behavior in situations

Answer 17

Trait Psychologists pay too much attention to who someone is, and not enough attention to the situation they’ve been placed in.

Answer 18

Perspective that combines thinking and your situation in helping to shape your personality. Albert Bandura was one of the founding members of this perspective.

Answer 19

Three factors: behavior, cognition, and environment, each affect each other in a continual cycle.

Answer 20

Social-cognitive psychologists emphasize our sense of personal control, whether we control the environment or the environment controls us.

Answer 21

You believe you have control over your own future/destiny.

Answer 22

You believe your future or destiny is out of your control.

Answer 23

When unable to avoid repeated adverse events an animal or human learns helplessness.

Answer 24

Looking at the same event/situation positively

Answer 25

Looking at the same event/situation negatively

Answer 26

Critics say that social-cognitive psychologists pay too much attention to the situation, and not enough attention on who the person

Answer 27

The self is the center of your personality, the organizer of your thoughts, feelings, and actions.

Answer 28

We overestimate how much people notice us, or care what we do.

Answer 29

It is easier to recall something if you are directly involved in the memory.

Answer 30

High Self-Esteem created by putting others down.

Answer 31

High Self-Esteem that is less fragile because it is not created at the expense of others.

Answer 32

A belief in yourself and your abilities.

Unit 12: Personality Flashcards

(56 cards)