1
Q
S-data
A
Self-report data given directly by the participant about their thoughts, feelings, or behaviours.
2
Q
I-data
A
Informant report from people who know the target personally.
3
Q
L-data
A
Life outcome data derived from records (employment, health, criminal history, etc.).
4
Q
B-data
A
Behavioural data based on direct observations.
5
Q
Natural B-data
A
Real-world observations of behaviour in daily life.
6
Q
Laboratory B-data
A
Controlled tasks designed to elicit behaviour in a lab.
7
Q
Reliability
A
Consistency of a measurement.
8
Q
Measurement Error
A
Random influences that reduce reliability.
9
Q
Generalizability
A
How well a result applies across people, populations, and contexts.
10
Q
Validity
A
The degree to which a test measures what it claims to measure.
11
Q
Projective Test
A
Assessment using ambiguous stimuli meant to reveal unconscious motives.
12
Q
Rorschach Test
A
Projective test using inkblots.
13
Q
TAT
A
Thematic Apperception Test; storytelling about ambiguous pictures.
14
Q
Objective Test
A
Standardized assessment scored consistently (e.g., MMPI).
15
Q
Factor Analysis
A
Statistical method that identifies clusters of related traits.
16
Q
Empirical Test Construction
A
Creating scales based on observed differences between groups.
17
Q
MMPI
A
Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory; empirically derived personality assessment.
18
Q
Q-Sort
A
A method for describing personality using forced-choice ranking of traits.
19
Q
Digital Footprints
A
Online behaviour patterns used to predict personality.
20
Q
Machine Learning Algorithms
A
Computational models that detect behavioural patterns to predict traits.
21
Q
Personality
A
Traits and mechanisms within individuals that are stable and influence interactions.
22
Q
Trait Approach
A
Approach focusing on stable individual differences in behaviour.
23
Q
Person–Situation Debate
A
Question of whether behaviour is driven more by traits or situations.
24
Q
Situationism
A
View that situations matter more than personality traits.
25
Interactionism
Traits and situations interact to predict behaviour.
26
Absolute Consistency
Behaviour staying exactly the same across situations.
27
Relative Consistency
Maintaining rank-order differences even if behaviour changes by situation.
28
Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
When expectations lead to behaviours that confirm those expectations.
29
Pygmalion Effect
Teacher expectations lead to improved student performance.
30
Self-Verification
People seek confirmation of their existing self-views.
31
Moderators of Accuracy
Factors that improve personality judgment accuracy (judge, target, trait, situation).
32
Realistic Accuracy Model (RAM)
Model stating that judgment accuracy requires relevance, availability, detection, and utilization.
33
Definitional Truth
A type of truth that is true by definition (e.g., “I am friendly”).
34
Causal Force
The idea that traits or beliefs cause behaviours (e.g., self-fulfilling).
35
Lexical Hypothesis
Idea that important personality traits are encoded in language.
36
Single-Trait Approach
Examines consequences of one specific trait.
37
Many-Trait Approach
Examines traits that predict one specific outcome.
38
Essential-Trait Approach
Seeks the smallest number of traits that describe personality.
39
Typological Approach
Categorizes people into personality types rather than traits.
40
California Q-Set
100-trait list used in many-trait studies.
41
Big Five
Trait model including Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Neuroticism.
42
Openness
Trait describing creativity, curiosity, and imagination.
43
Conscientiousness
Trait describing organization, self-discipline, and reliability.
44
Extraversion
Trait describing sociability, assertiveness, and energy.
45
Agreeableness
Trait describing warmth, trust, and cooperativeness.
46
Neuroticism
Trait describing emotional instability and negative affect.
47
Personality Stability
Consistency in personality traits over time.
48
Differential Stability
Rank-order stability across development.
49
Mean-Level Change
Average changes in traits as people age.
50
Absolute Stability
Trait levels remaining constant across time.
51
Homotypic Continuity
Same behaviour expressed across time in the same form.
52
Heterotypic Continuity
Traits expressed differently across life stages.
53
Maturity Principle
Traits like conscientiousness and agreeableness increase with age.
54
Cumulative Continuity Principle
Person–environment interactions stabilize personality across lifespan.
55
Cross-Sectional Design
Studying people of different ages at one time.
56
Longitudinal Design
Studying the same people repeatedly over time.
57
Social Clock
Cultural expectations for timing of life events.
58
Person–Environment Transactions
Processes where people shape and select environments matching their traits.
59
Active Transaction
Seeking environments that fit one's personality.
60
Reactive Transaction
People react differently to the same environment.
61
Evocative Transaction
Behaviours evoke certain responses from others.
62
Psychic Determinism
All psychological processes have a cause.
63
Primacy of the Unconscious
Unconscious processes drive most behaviour.
64
Id
The pleasure-seeking, instinctual part of the mind. Unconscious.
65
Ego
The rational decision-maker balancing id and superego. Consciousn and unconcious.
66
Superego
Internalized moral rules and values.
67
Topographic Model
Freud’s theory of conscious, preconscious, and unconscious levels.
68
Psychosexual Stages
Stages of childhood development where libido is focused on different areas.
69
Oral Stage
Stage focusing on dependency; fixation may cause dependency or mistrust.
70
Anal Stage
Stage focused on control; fixation may cause orderliness or messiness.
71
Phallic Stage
Stage involving gender identity and morality.
72
Latency Stage
Development focused on learning, friendships, and skills.
73
Genital Stage
Mature stage focused on balanced relationships and productivity.
74
Fixation
Unresolved conflict causing lifelong trait patterns.
75
Regression
Returning to earlier developmental stage under stress.
76
Defense Mechanism
Unconscious process reducing anxiety.
77
Denial
Refusing to accept reality.
78
Repression
Blocking unacceptable thoughts from awareness.
79
Projection
Attributing one's own thoughts to others.
80
Rationalization
Creating acceptable explanations for unacceptable impulses.
81
Reaction Formation
Behaving opposite to one's true feelings.
82
Displacement
Redirecting impulses toward a less threatening target.
83
Sublimation
Channeling impulses into productive activities.
84
Object Relations Theory
How early relationships shape internal models of others.
85
Introject
Internalized representation of a caregiver.
86
The Self
Person’s understanding and experience of their identity.
87
“I”
The experiencing, acting self.
88
“Me”
The observed, known self.
89
Declarative Self
Explicit self-knowledge (traits, beliefs).
90
Procedural Self
Implicit patterns of behaviour and relationship styles.
91
Self-Esteem
Overall self-evaluation.
92
Self-Discrepancy Theory
Actual–ideal discrepancy → depression; actual–ought → anxiety.
93
Social Comparison
Comparing oneself to others.
94
Possible Selves
Representations of who you could become.
95
Really-Real Self
One’s most authentic sense of identity.
96
Phenomenology
Subjective experience as the core of personality.
97
Personal Constructs
Individualized frameworks for interpreting the world.
98
Constructive Alternativism
Idea that people choose among multiple interpretations of events.
99
Optimistic Humanism
Humanistic theory emphasizing growth and self-actualization.
100
Self-Actualization
Fulfilling one's highest potential.
101
Hierarchy of Needs
Maslow’s model of motivation.
102
Fully Functioning Person
Rogers’ concept of psychologically healthy individual.
103
Positive Psychology
Scientific study of strengths and well-being.
104
Virtues
Culturally valued moral strengths.
105
Flow
State of optimal experience where challenge meets ability.
106
Awe
Emotion tied to vastness and need for cognitive accommodation.
107
Subjective Well-Being
Overall evaluation of happiness.
108
Hedonic Well-Being
Focus on pleasure and minimized pain.
109
Eudaimonic Well-Being
Focus on meaning and purpose.
110
Psychological Richness
Life filled with diverse, novel experiences.
111
Set Point
Baseline level of happiness mostly due to genetics.
112
Intentional Activities
Actions people take to increase wellbeing.
113
Culture
Shared behaviours, beliefs, and values in a group.
114
Individualism
Focus on autonomy, individuality, personal goals.
115
Collectivism
Focus on harmony, relationships, group goals.
116
Tight Cultures
Strict norms; low tolerance for deviance.
117
Loose Cultures
Weak norms; high tolerance for variation.
118
Reference Group Effect
People rate themselves relative to cultural norms.
119
Bicultural Identity Integration
How harmoniously people combine two cultural identities.
120
Ecological Factors
Environmental influences like climate or population density.
121
Selective Migration
People move to places that fit their personalities.
122
Behavioural Genetics
Study of genetic basis of behaviour.
123
Heritability
Proportion of trait variation due to genetics within a population.
124
Shared Environment
Environmental influences shared by family members.
125
Nonshared Environment
Experiences unique to individuals.
126
G×E Interaction
Genetic sensitivity to environmental conditions.
127
Evolutionary Psychology
Study of traits shaped by adaptive pressures.
128
Adaptation
Characteristic that improves survival or reproduction.
129
Polygenic Traits
Traits influenced by many genes.
130
Humorism
Ancient theory linking bodily fluids to personality.
131
Phrenology
Discredited theory linking skull shape to traits.
132
EEG
Brain imaging measuring electrical activity.
133
MEG
Technique measuring magnetic fields from neural activity.
134
PET
Brain imaging tracking metabolic activity via radioactive tracers.
135
fMRI
Imaging measuring blood flow changes related to neural activity.
136
Frontal Lobe
Area responsible for self-control and planning.
137
Amygdala
Region involved in emotion and threat detection.
138
Phineas Gage
Famous case linking frontal lobe damage to personality change.
139
Charles Whitman
Mass murderer with amygdala tumor influencing behaviour.
140
Dopamine
Neurotransmitter tied to exploration and reward sensitivity.
141
Serotonin
Neurotransmitter associated with emotional stability.
142
Alcohol
Drug that increases extraversion and decreases conscientiousness.
143
Cannabis
Drug altering openness and internal experiences.
144
LSD/Psychedelics
Drugs altering perception and increasing openness.
145
MDMA
Drug increasing empathy and sociability.
146
Health Behaviour Model
Personality → behaviours → health outcomes.
147
Conscientiousness (Health)
Primary predictor of long-term health.
148
Optimism
Expectation of positive outcomes.
149
Self-Efficacy
Belief in one’s ability to accomplish goals.
150
Sense of Purpose
Feeling life has direction and significance.
151
Sense of Coherence
Belief that life is comprehensible and manageable.
152
Deal-Maker Traits
Traits increasing relationship satisfaction (warmth, trustworthiness).
153
Deal-Breaker Traits
Traits that reduce relationship satisfaction (instability, untrustworthiness).
154
Similarity–Attraction Effect
People prefer partners with similar traits.
155
Homogamy
Tendency to partner with similar individuals.
156
Proactive Personality
Trait predicting job success and career progress.
157
Person–Job Fit
Match between personality and occupational demands.
158
Holland’s Occupational Themes
Model linking personality types to work environments.
159
WEIRD Samples
Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic samples overused in research.
160
Intersectionality
How overlapping social identities shape experiences.
161
Africa Long Life Study (ALLS)
Research initiative addressing lack of global diversity.
162
Animal Personality
Consistent behavioural differences across animals.
163
Temporal Stability
Consistency of behaviour across time in animals.
164
Contextual Consistency
Similarity of behaviour across situations.
165
Dog Personality Questionnaire (DPQ)
Measure assessing personality traits in dogs.
PSYC 305
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