personality

Personality

A person's unique, fairly consistent pattern of feeling, behaving, and thinking.

Cognitive Processes

The ways in which thought and perception influence personality.

Subjective Experience

Individual perceptions and interpretations of one’s experiences.

Biological Factors

Genetic and physiological influences on personality traits.

Unconscious Motivation

Influences from unconscious desires and fears.

Learning Influence

The impact of learned behaviors and experiences on personality development.

Id

Represents inborn biological drives; obeys the pleasure principle, seeking immediate gratification.

Ego

Directs the expression of biological drives in socially acceptable manners; follows the reality principle.

Superego

Serves as the moral guide, incorporating societal values and norms.

Defense Mechanisms

Distortions of reality that allow individuals to escape from feelings of anxiety.

Regression

Reversion to immature coping behaviors that previously reduced anxiety.

Rationalization

Justifying inappropriate behavior with acceptable reasons.

Displacement

Redirecting emotions from a threatening object to a less threatening one.

Projection

Attributing one’s own undesirable feelings to others.

Reaction Formation

Behaving in the opposite manner to one's actual feelings.

Sublimation

Channeling unacceptable impulses into socially accepted activities.

Individual Psychology

A theory introduced by Alfred Adler emphasizing the unique motivations of individuals.

Inferiority Complex

A psychological condition driving individuals to seek superiority when feeling inferior.

Social Interest

Striving focus on societal contributions as a healthy way to overcome inferiority.

Personal Unconscious

Contains repressed memories unique to the individual, according to Jung's theory.

Collective Unconscious

Shared unconscious mind among all humans, filled with ancestral archetypes.

Archetypes

Fundamental symbols and imagery that influence humanity’s dreams, art, and cultural expressions.

Extraversion

A personality orientation characterized by outgoingness and sociability.

Introversion

A personality orientation characterized by inward focus and social withdrawal.

Basic Anxiety

Emotional and physical dependence leads to insecurity in childhood, as per Horney's theory.

Basic Hostility

Children suppress anger to gain parental love according to Horney.

Moving Towards Others

A coping style that seeks approval and acceptance from others.

Moving Against Others

A coping style that uses aggression or conflict in relationships.

Moving Away from Others

A coping style characterized by withdrawal from relationships.

The Rorschach Test

A projective test where individuals interpret inkblots to uncover unconscious thoughts.

Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)

A projective test consisting of ambiguous images where participants narrate stories.

Reciprocal Determinism

The interdependence of behavior, environmental factors, and personal traits.

Self-Efficacy

The belief in one’s own ability to perform actions needed for anticipated outcomes.

Collective Efficacy

The shared belief that a group can achieve desired outcomes through collaborative effort.

Cognitive-Behavioral Assessment of Personality

Evaluations that include experience-sampling and locus of control measures.

Internal Locus of Control

The belief that outcomes result from one's own actions.

External Locus of Control

The belief that outcomes are influenced by outside forces.

Self-Actualization Theory

Maslow's concept defining self-actualization as a person’s inherent tendency to fulfill their potential.

Q-Sort Method

A method designed to measure congruence between actual self and ideal self.

Behavioral-Genetic Research

Research demonstrating the heritability of personality traits.

Heritability Estimate for Big Five Traits

Approximately 0.5, indicating a genetic basis for these personality dimensions.

Temperaments

Stable traits that significantly influence personality development.

Jerome Kagan's Research

Identified children as highly reactive, nonreactive, or intermediate in temperament.

Reactive Infants

Infants showing high physiological reactions to stress.

Nonreactive Infants

Infants displaying low physiological responses to stress.