B.1 Individual Differences

Question 1

B.1.1 Define the term Personality

Answer 1

Those relatively stable and enduring aspects of individuals which distinguish them from other people, making them unique but at the same time permit a comparison between individuals

Question 2

B.1.3 What is the interactionist approach to personality

Answer 2

combination of both inherent (built-in) personality traits and environmental factors. Interactionist theory proposes that personality is modified and behaviour is formed when genetically-inherited traits are triggered by an environmental circumstance

Question 3

B.1.4 Outline issues associated with the measurement of personality

Answer 3

Limit to:

• data collection (interviews, questionnaires, observing behaviour)
• validity and reliability issues
• ethical issues: confidentiality, use of results, predicting performance.

Question 4

B.1.5 Evaluate the issues in personality research and sports performance

Answer 4

Consider:

• athletes versus non-athletes
• personality and sports type
• predicting performance.

Refer to the positions adopted by the skeptical and credulous groups of psychologists.

Question 5

B.1.2 What is the social learning theory and personality

Answer 5

• personality is learned through our experiences, observing those around us and imitating their behavior.
• In direct contrast to trait theory, proposes that all behavior is learned.
• Learning occurs by way of environmental experiences and through the influence of other people.
• Personality is, therefore, not genetically programmed. Believe we learn how to act or react by observing others

Question 6

Trait Theories believes what?

Social learning theory believes what?

Interactionist theory believes what?

Answer 6

Trait Theory- Personalitiy is in our genes

Social Learning- Personaility comes from observing others

Interactionist Theory- Personality is both genetic and observation

Question 7

What does Demand Characteristic refer to?

Answer 7

refers to subtle cues during an experiment that make participants form an interpretation of the experiment’s purpose and unconsciously change their behavior accordingly

Question 8

Why are interviews and questionnaires not a valid way to measure someone personality?

Answer 8

When people go in an interview or fill out a questionnaire they tend to change their personality to fit accordingly.

Question 9

What is the difference between Informant data and Behavioral data?

Answer 9

Informant data- Judgements about a target individual’s general attributes by people who know him or her very well (so like an interview)

Behavioral data- Information that is carefully and systematically recorded from direct observation (so when you oboserve someone behaviors)

Question 10

Personality differences between team sport athletes and individual sports

Answer 10

Team Sport Athletes-

more dependent, extroverted, anxious

Individual Sport Athletes-

less imaginative, less anxiety

Question 11

What is Morgans mental health model and what did it show?

Answer 11

An evalutation of the US heavyweight rowing team using POMS that correctly picked 10 out the 16 finalist.

Findings-

• Recent controversy suggests it’s not possible to realistically select teams based on personality tests
• Can be used to work with, monitor and understand athletes

Question 12

What was schurr, Ashley, and Joys expirement and their findings?

Answer 12

Experiment-

2000 college males tested using Cattell’s personality inventory (16 factors), athletes and non-athletes

Findings-

no single personality profile was found that distinguished athletes from non-athletes

Question 13

In williams findings what did he learn?

Answer 13

He learned that there is no big personality difference between genders when it comes to high preformace athletes

Question 14

Explain the Issues in personality research and sports preformance of athletes and non-athletes.

Answer 14

Question 15

Describe the issues associated with the measurment of personality through questionnaires.

Answer 15

• not all questionnaries are vaild
• The context in which the questionnaries are used is important
• questionnaire administration could be in breach of confidentiality
• Athletes my fake or falsify response to conceal a precived weakness
• Use of results determine the effectivness rather than the test itself