Chapter 12

Question 1

what is personality?

Answer 1

• an individual’s unique collection of stable, consistent behavioural traits that influence their choices and actions
• varies from one individual to another

Question 2

what is Freud’s psychodynamic perspective?

Answer 2

Freud psychodynamic theory focuses on:
- unconscious determinants of behaviour
- constant interplay of unconscious forces (things outside of their awareness) that often conflict with one another explain why they behave a certain way

Question 3

what is the structure of personality?

Answer 3

Id, Ego, and Superego

Question 4

what is Id?

Answer 4

• at the unconscious level (well below surface of awareness)
• innermost core of personality (at birth)
• operates according to the ‘pleasure principle’

Question 5

what is Ego?

Answer 5

• at the conscious level (contact with outside world)
• operates according to the ‘reality principle’

Question 6

what is superego?

Answer 6

• moral aspect of personality

Question 7

what are the 8 defence mechanisms used by the ego?

Answer 7

repression, sublimation, denial, displacement, identification, projection, rationalization, reaction formation

Question 8

repression

Answer 8

thoughts and wishes remain in the unconscious

Question 9

sublimation

Answer 9

channeling negative, unacceptable impulses into positive, socially desirable behaviour

Question 10

denial

Answer 10

refusal to acknowledge the situation

Question 11

displacement

Answer 11

finding a “safe” target

Question 12

identification

Answer 12

unconsciously assuming the characteristics of a more powerful person in order to feel better about oneself

Question 13

projection

Answer 13

projecting undesirable impulses (feelings or emotions) onto someone else

Question 14

rationalization

Answer 14

coming up with reasonable explanations for unacceptable feelings or behaviours to hide true motives

Question 15

reaction formation

Answer 15

when people express an exaggerated opposite of their true feelings associated with the unacceptable impulse

Question 16

what are the 5 psychosexual stages of personality?

Answer 16

• oral stage (0-2 years)
• anal stage (2-3 years)
• phallic stage (3-6 years)
• latency stage (7 years - puberty)
• genital stage (puberty onwards)

Question 17

what occurs in the oral stage (1)?

Answer 17

• weaning
  fixation: self indulgence, dependency

Question 18

what occurs in anal stage (2)?

Answer 18

• toilet training
  fixation: compulsive cleanliness and rigid rules or messy and dominant

Question 19

what occurs in phallic stage (3)?

Answer 19

• move from sexual attachment to opposite sex-parent to identification with same-sex parent
  fixation: promiscuous, immature sexual attachments

Question 20

what occurs in latency stage (4)?

Answer 20

• period of dormant sexuality

Question 21

what occurs in genital stage (5)?

Answer 21

• formation of social and sexual relationship

Question 22

what is the hierarchy of needs?

Answer 22

physiological –> safety –> love/belonging –> esteem/accomplishment –> self actualization

Question 23

what did Abraham Maslow say about the humanistic perspective?

Answer 23

• focuses on the hierarchy of needs, and self actualization
• studied healthy, well adjusted people

Question 24

what did Carl Rogers say about the humanistic perspective?

Answer 24

• self concept
• unconditional positive regard
• client-centered therapy

Question 25

what is a personality trait?

Answer 25

describes an individual's characteristic patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviours

Question 26

what is the trait perspective?

Answer 26

considers an individual's personality and the number of traits they have

Question 27

what did Hays Eysenck do?

Answer 27

identified 3 superfactors or traits that can vary from high to low

Question 28

psychoticism

Answer 28

High = impulsive, socially deviant Low = self controlled, disciplined

Question 29

what is the 5 factor model?

Answer 29

openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, neuroticism

Question 30

openness

Answer 30

High = creative, artistic, imaginative, curious Low = conventional, down to earth

Question 31

conscientiousness

Answer 31

High = ambitious, organized, reliable Low = unreliable, lazy, casual, spontaneous

Question 32

extraversion

Answer 32

High = social, enjoy high levels of stimulation Low = reserved, enjoy low levels of stimulation

Question 33

agreeableness

Answer 33

High = good-natured, trusting, supportive Low = rude, uncooperative, hostile, competitive

Question 34

neuroticism

Answer 34

High = worried, insecure, anxiety-prone Low = tranquil, secure, emotionally stable

Question 35

what is situationism?

Answer 35

the view that an individual's interaction with the environment and situational factors is the primary determinants of behaviour rather than personal characteristics and other internal factors

Question 36

what is interactionism?

Answer 36

the view that behaviour is a result of the interaction between inner traits and the situation

Question 37

what are the 2 approaches to personality assessments?

Answer 37

rational and empirical

Question 38

what is the rational approach?

Answer 38

- based on theoretical conception of the trait (relevant to the trait) - NEO-PI- R (evaluates traits comprising 3 of the 5 super factors: neuroticism, extraversion, openness)

Question 39

what is the empirical approach?

Answer 39

- based on responses by ‘normals’ and psychiatric patients = items answered differently by both groups - MMPI-2

Question 40

what is a projective test?

Answer 40

personality assessment in which the participant interprets ambiguous stimuli as way to reveal unconscious content

Question 41

what are the 2 main types of projective tests?

Answer 41

- Rorschach Inkblot Test = shown inkblot and have to say what it looks like - Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) = shown scene and have to create a story

Question 42

what are the gender differences in personality?

Answer 42

Women tend to: - Assess other’s emotions more accurately - Score higher on social and connectedness traits Mend tend to: - Exhibit more individuality and autonomy - Show more physical aggression

Question 43

what are the personality findings from family studies?

Answer 43

- identical twins raised together are more alike than fraternal twins raised apart - identical twins raised together aren’t more alike than identical twins raised apart - adoptive siblings raised together aren’t more alike than two random people raised apart

Question 44

what do collectivist cultures say about personality?

Answer 44

- it isn’t socially acceptable to say positive things about yourself - consider the needs of group over the individual - score higher on measures on agreeableness - value harmony in interpersonal relationships - describe self as part of a group

Question 45

what do individualistic cultures say about personality?

Answer 45

- value individual achievement and independence - score higher on measures of extraversion and openness - value privacy - describe self using personal traits