EXAM 2: PERSONALITY PSYCHOLOGY

CHAPTERS 6,7,8 NOT 5

personality over time

is relatively stable, with individuals maintaining their distinct patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving throughout their lives.

rank-order consistency in personality

refers to the tendency for individuals to maintain their differences from others of the same age over time.

evidence for personality stability over time

Studies show a correlation of r = .60–.90 over a 10-year span, indicating significant stability.

childhood personality affect adult outcomes

childhood traits can predict adult behavior and life outcomes.

personality disorders as stable as personality traits

No, personality disorders are generally not as stable as personality traits.

temperament in relation to personality

is considered the early form of personality in infants, primarily determined by genetics.

heterotypic continuity

refers to how fundamental temperamental tendencies change with age, while the underlying temperament and personality remain consistent.

physical factors contributing to personality stability

sex, height, and attractiveness influence the experiences individuals have, which remain consistent throughout life.

environmental factors that impact personality

socioeconomic status, urban versus rural living, and family size, affect how individuals feel, think, and behave

early adverse experiences that affect individuals

have long-lasting consequences that persist for many years.

the impact emotional abuse has on relationships

abuse, such as parental rejection, makes it more difficult for individuals to form healthy relationships.

examples of adverse early experiences

Growing up in poverty, experiencing maltreatment, and facing emotional abuse.

early adverse experiences that affect stress responses

Individuals who faced early adversity may have stronger reactions to daily stress.

link between adverse childhood experiences and negative outcomes

Studies on adopted Romanian orphans provide evidence of the connection between early adverse experiences and unfavorable long-term outcomes.

parents creating positive outcomes for their children

promote positive development and good outcomes.

role parental education plays in child outcomes

Highly educated parents are linked to better outcomes for their children, leading to traits like openness, extroversion, and emotional stability in adulthood.

childhood family environment affecting self-esteem

A supportive childhood environment, characterized by cognitive stimulation and higher parental SES, is beneficial for children's self-esteem.

factors that contribute to positive childhood development

Engagement in cognitively stimulating activities and having a father present in the home contribute to better developmental outcomes.

person-environment transactions

refer to how individuals respond to, seek out, and create environments that align with their personality traits.

active aspect of person-environment transactions

involves people seeking out environments that are compatible with their personality and avoiding those that are not.

the reactive aspect of person-environment transactions

means that individuals respond differently to the same situation based on their personality traits.

individuals evoke changes in their environments

how individuals can change situations based on their personality traits, influencing their surroundings.

the consistency of personality across different life stages

is .31 across childhood, .54 during college years, and .74 between ages 50 and 70.

the cumulative continuity principle

states that personality traits are relatively stable across the lifespan and become more stable as individuals mature.

factors that contribute to psychological maturity

includes self-control, interpersonal sensitivity, and emotional stability.

psychological maturity trending globally

People around the world are becoming more psychologically mature and stable over time.

environments change with age

tend to become more stable as individuals age, contributing to overall personality stability.

older people differ from younger people in terms of personality

Older people can differ from younger people on average in personality traits.

personality development

refers to the change in the mean level of a personality trait over time.

stability and development in personality occur simultaneously

Yes, rank-order stability (stability) and mean-level change (development) can occur at the same time

cross-sectional studies

a type of observational study where data is collected at a single point in time.

the Big Five personality traits and age

people at different ages show different mean levels of the Big Five personality traits.

agreeableness, openness, and conscientiousness change between

ages 10 and 20 average scores on these traits dip during the transition from childhood to adolescence and then recover as individuals approach age 20.

personality change across the lifespan, and trait levels measured

Personality continues to change across the lifespan, on average. Trait levels are shown in terms of T-scores, which have a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of 10.

cohort effects

refer to differences among people of different ages due to the distinct environments in which they grew up.

cohort effects contribute to research findings

age differences observed in cross-sectional studies.

influences of personality according to cohort effects

Aspects of personality can be affected by the historical period in which one lives.

longitudinal studies

involve repeatedly measuring the same people, typically from the same age group, over the years.

personality traits that increase over time in longitudinal studies

more socially dominant, agreeable, conscientious, and emotionally stable

traits that decrease according to longitudinal studies

honesty/humility, self-esteem (up to age 50), and risk-taking

principle that is consistent with the findings of longitudinal studies?

align with the maturity principle.

a limitation mentioned in longitudinal studies

The La Dolce Vita effect is a limitation noted in some longitudinal research.

the "La Dolce Vita" effect

experience a decline in personality stability or maturity during periods of indulgence, pleasure-seeking, or lifestyle changes, often associated with a carefree or hedonistic lifestyle

DeYoung et al. (2021) suggestion about the causes of personality

the proximal causes of personality are biological, located in the brain, which generates behavior and experience

environments influence personality

by influencing the brain, leading to lasting changes in behavior and experience.

applications in understanding the brain and personality

helps cure or alleviate mental illness and improve quality of life.

neurotransmitters

chemicals that allow neurons (cells in the nervous system) to communicate and affect one another.

hormones

chemicals that regulate several body functions, including mood and stress response.

role of dopamine in the brain

allows the brain to control body movements and respond to rewards, influencing tendencies to approach appealing objects and people.

behaviors and traits associated with dopamine

related to sociability, general activity level, novelty seeking, approach behavior, and learning.

dopamines connection to mental health

have a possible relation to bipolar disorder and impulsivity, with concepts of hyperdopaminergia and hypodopaminergia

dopamine activates

the behavioral activation system (BAS) and reinforces the motivation to seek rewards.

role serotonin plays in behavior

helps control behavioral impulses, fear, and anxiety, lowering anger, oversensitivity, and excessive worrying.

the way serotonin agonists affects fear and anxiety

by decreasing the amygdala's reaction to threatening stimuli.

selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) used for

help reduce neuroticism, including symptoms of depression and anxiety, by lessening the severity of negative emotions.

SSRIs make you

negative emotions less severe.

serotonin in organizing behavior

helps people organize their behavior and get work done, contributing to conscientiousness.

serotonin its affect on relationships with others

helps people get along with others, supporting agreeableness.

ways serotonin can influence emotional responses

helps avoid mood swings and emotional overreactions to life events, which is linked to lower neuroticism.

the roles of epinephrine and norepinephrine in the body

released in response to stress to create the fight-or-flight response.

ways females respond differently to stress compared to males

the tend-and-befriend response, calming others down and promoting teamwork to deal with the threat.

the role oxytocin plays in stress responses

promotes nurturant and sociable behaviors, relaxation, and reduces fear, increasing attachment between mothers and children.

the difference in testosterone levels between males and females

present in both males and females, but males have about 10 times higher concentration than females.

ways testosterone is related to behaviors in males

higher testosterone levels are associated with aggression, behavioral control problems, criminal behaviors (e.g., assault, drug use), and traits like avoidance, dominance, and loneliness.

high testosterone always lead to aggression in men

false, men with high testosterone are not always aggressive.

ways testosterone is related to behaviors in females

higher testosterone levels are associated with higher sociability, impulsivity, lack of inhibition, and lack of conformity.

testosterone only a cause of behavior

No, testosterone it can also be an effect.

ways sexual activity affect testosterone

activity may increase testosterone levels, but it does not decrease testosterone.

example of testosterone's relationship with behavior

direction of causality between testosterone and behavior is unclear.

example, testosterone levels increased among fans of a winning soccer (football) team and decreased among fans of a losing team

cortisol released in response to

stress (both physical and psychological) to help prepare the body for action.

the effects of high cortisol levels

related to severe stress, anxiety, and depression.

the effects of low cortisol levels

post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and sensation seeking, which involves impulsivity and not following societal rules

the two metatraits of the Big Five

Stability and Plasticity.

the Stability metatrait includes

emotional stability, conscientiousness, and agreeableness. It describes the ability to control impulses and regulate emotions

the Plasticity metatrait includes

extraversion and openness. It focuses on the exploration of opportunities and experiences.

neurotransmitter is linked to

Plasticity and plasticity is linked to dopamine.

the two facets that Openness can be divided into

Intellect and Openness.

the facet "Intellect" in Openness refers to

being interested in abstract thought and theoretical speculations.

the facet "Openness" refers to

responding to aesthetic stimuli, including art, music, natural beauty, and even private fantasies.

the key structure for planning and self-restraint in the brain

frontal cortex.

the role the insula plays in conscientiousness

involved in generating potentially distracting impulses.

When the prefrontal cortex successfully overcomes distractions, people may display

self-control and pursue planned goals.

the connection between extraversion and dopamine

Extraverts respond more strongly to dopamine, meaning they enjoy rewards more and are highly motivated to seek them out.

the dopaminergic system stimulates the release of

endorphins.

the release of endorphins leads to

produces pleasure and a strong dopamine-mediated motivation to repeat the behavior, which can result in addiction.

the two brain processes important for Agreeableness

Mentalizing and Empathy.

Mentalizing in the context of Agreeableness

the ability to understand what other people are thinking.

empathy in the context of Agreeableness

the ability to understand other people’s feelings.

brain structure most associated with neuroticism

The amygdala.

the amygdala plays in neuroticism

a key role in processing emotions, especially negative ones such as anger and fear.

the amygdala response in shy people

becomes highly active when they are shown pictures of people they don't know.

the anxiety disorders associated with an active amygdala

Panic attacks and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

happens when the amygdala is aroused by the perception of threat or danger

It causes cortisol to be released into the bloodstream.

the long-term effects of elevated cortisol levels due to amygdala arousal

Increased risk of diabetes and heart disease, declines in mental health, especially higher levels of anxiety and depression.

stressful events

raise cortisol levels, which can increase tendencies toward anxiety and depression.

ways research on the brain and chemicals affected personality

aided the development of therapeutic drugs, helping people deal with anxiety, depression, and more severe kinds of psychopathology

the relationship between the brain and environment work

in both directions: biological processes are as often the effects of behaviors or experiences as they are the causes.

example of how biological processes are influenced by the environment

A stressful environment can raise cortisol levels, and feeling depressed or anxious can also raise cortisol, which may result in a smaller brain.

evolutionary psychology suggest that the

patterns of behavior in our personalities may have originated in ways that promoted survival and reproduction.

ways behavioral genetics relates to personality

addresses how individual differences in personality are passed from parent to child and shared by biological relatives.