Personality

Question 1

Trait theories of personality

Answer 1

• personality traits are innate characteristics + relatively stable
• doesn’t believe that the situation or environment has any bearing on a persons behaviour
• behaviour is said to be consistent
• attempts to predict behaviour

Question 2

Type A characteristics

Answer 2

• highly competitive
• strong desire to succeed
• works fast
• likes to be in control
• prone to suffer stress

Question 3

Type B characteristics

Answer 3

• non-competitive
• unambiguous
• works more slowly
• does not enjoy being in control
• less prone to stress

Question 4

Stable and unstable personality traits

Answer 4

Stable

• doesn’t swing from one emotion to another
• consistent in emotional behaviour

Unstable

• highly anxious
• unpredictable emotions

Question 5

Extroversion vs introversion

Answer 5

Extroversion

• seeks social situations
• likes excitement
• lacks concentration

Introversion

• doesn’t seek social situations
• likes peace and quiet
• good at concentrating

Question 6

Social learning theory and personality

Answer 6

• not born with characteristics but instead we learn them from other people (especially those we hold in high esteem)
• behaviour changes depending on the situation therefore a products of our interaction with the environment
• personality is learnt through observing, modelling, imitating behaviour and through experiences

Question 7

Interactionist approach

Answer 7

• recognises that both the trait theory and the social learning theory both have a role in determining behaviour and personality
• offers a more realistic explanations of personality, explaining how different behaviours are produced in different situations
• suggests that we base behaviour on inherent traits that we then adapt to the situation we are in