Psychodynamic, Humanistic, Social-Cognitive & Trait Theories of Personality

Vocabulary flashcards covering major terms and concepts from the lecture on psychodynamic, humanistic, social-cognitive and trait theories of personality.

Psychodynamic Theory

Personality approach, rooted in Freud, emphasizing unconscious processes and early childhood experiences.

Unconscious Mind

Reservoir of thoughts, memories and desires outside awareness that influence behavior.

Id

Primitive, instinctual part of personality driven by libido and aggression.

Ego

Reality-oriented part of personality that mediates between id, superego and external world.

Superego

Internalized moral standards that judge the id’s impulses and guide the ego.

Ego Defense Mechanisms

Automatic, unconscious tactics the ego uses to reduce anxiety from id-superego conflict.

Denial

Refusing to acknowledge a painful reality (e.g., ignoring a serious diagnosis).

Displacement

Redirecting emotions from a threatening target to a safer one (e.g., yelling at a pet).

Projection

Attributing one’s unacceptable feelings to others (e.g., accusing another of anger).

Rationalization

Justifying unacceptable behavior with seemingly logical reasons (e.g., “the test was unfair”).

Reaction Formation

Behaving opposite to true feelings to reduce anxiety (e.g., being overly kind to disliked person).

Regression

Reverting to childlike behaviors under stress (e.g., adult temper tantrum).

Repression

Pushing distressing thoughts or memories into the unconscious (e.g., forgetting trauma).

Sublimation

Channeling unacceptable impulses into socially valued activities (e.g., sports for aggression).

Projective Tests

Assessments using ambiguous stimuli to reveal unconscious conflicts and motives.

Rorschach Inkblot Test

Projective test where subjects interpret inkblots; responses reflect unconscious processes.

Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)

Projective test where subjects create stories about pictures, revealing motives and conflicts.

Draw-a-Person Test

Projective technique; a person’s drawing is analyzed for emotional or psychological insights.

Humanistic Theory

Rogers & Maslow’s view emphasizing free will, personal growth and inherent goodness.

Unconditional Positive Regard

Non-judgmental acceptance that fosters self-worth in Rogers’ person-centered therapy.

Self-Actualization

Maslow’s top need: realizing one’s full potential through authentic, creative living.

Social-Cognitive Theory

Bandura’s perspective stressing interaction of behavior, personal factors and environment.

Reciprocal Determinism

Dynamic interplay where behavior, personal factors and environment mutually influence each other.

Self-Concept

Individual’s perception and knowledge of themselves; central to personality development.

Self-Efficacy

Bandura’s term for belief in one’s ability to succeed in specific tasks.

Self-Esteem

Overall evaluation of one’s worth; high levels link to positive self-concept.

Trait Theory

Approach focusing on identification and measurement of stable personality characteristics.

Personality Trait

Enduring pattern of thought, feeling and behavior consistent across situations.

Big Five (OCEAN)

Five broad trait dimensions: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Neuroticism.

Openness to Experience

Trait reflecting imagination, curiosity and willingness to try new things.

Conscientiousness

Trait describing organization, responsibility and dependability.

Extraversion

Trait involving sociability, assertiveness and high energy.

Agreeableness

Trait characterized by compassion, cooperation and trust.

Neuroticism (Emotional Stability)

Trait reflecting tendency toward anxiety and mood swings (high) vs. calmness (low).

Personality Inventory

Standardized questionnaire measuring traits via self-report.

NEO Personality Inventory

Widely used self-report measure assessing the Big Five traits.

Factor Analysis

Statistical technique that identifies clusters of related traits to uncover key personality dimensions.