Introduction to Personality Psychology

Flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture on Personality Psychology.

Personality

The set of psychological traits and mechanisms within the individual that is organized and relatively enduring, influencing interactions and adaptations to the environment.

State Anxiety

Unpleasant emotional arousal in face of threats or dangers.

Trait Anxiety

The tendency to respond with state anxiety in anticipation of threats or dangers.

Nomothetic Approach

A research approach that recognizes differences between people and typically uses statistical methods.

Idiographic Approach

Research focusing on one individual, typically using qualitative methods.

Dispositional Domain

Focuses on the number and nature of traits and links to all domains, emphasizing how people differ.

Biological Domain

Views people as biological systems that form the foundation for personality.

Intrapsychic Domain

Emphasizes mental mechanisms of personality that operate outside of consciousness.

Cognitive-Experiential Domain

Involves cognition and subjective experiences, such as thoughts and feelings.

Social-Cultural Domain

Suggests that personality is influenced by social and cultural contexts.

Adjustment Domain

Pertains to how people cope, adapt, and adjust to changes and life events.

Theory Evaluation

The process of assessing theories based on compatibility, comprehensiveness, heuristic value, testability, and parsimony.