Personality Traits, Assessment, and Theories in Psychology

Trait

stable characteristic that influences behavior.

Personality assessment

methods used to measure personality traits.

Psychoanalysis

Freud's approach focusing on unconscious conflicts.

Defense mechanisms

unconscious strategies the ego uses to reduce anxiety.

Projective tests

tests using ambiguous stimuli to reveal unconscious thoughts.

Rorschach/TAT

projective tests using inkblots (Rorschach) and story images (TAT).

Unconditional positive regard

accepting someone without judgment or conditions.

Self-concept

overall understanding of who you are.

Congruence

when your real self and ideal self match.

Trait theory

theory that personality is made of stable traits.

Factor analysis

statistical method that groups related traits together.

Personality inventory

standardized questionnaire measuring personality traits.

MMPI

personality test used to assess traits and psychological disorders.

Social-cognitive perspective

behavior results from interaction of thoughts, behavior, and environment.

Reciprocal determinism

behavior, cognition, and environment all influence each other.

Personal control

belief about how much control you have over outcomes.

Internal vs external locus

internal means you control outcomes, external means outside forces do.

Self-efficacy

belief in your ability to succeed in specific tasks.

Affiliation motivation

need to form and maintain social relationships.

Hunger

physiological signal that the body needs food.

Hypothalamus

brain region that regulates hunger, thirst, and body temperature.

Emotion/affect

subjective feeling state with physiological and behavioral components.

Physiological arousal

bodily activation like heart rate and sweating during emotion.

Cognitive appraisal/labeling

interpretation of a situation that determines emotion.

Facial feedback hypothesis

facial expressions can influence emotional experience.

Self-handicapping

creating obstacles or excuses to protect self-esteem if you fail.

Collective self-esteem

value you place on your social group memberships.

Social identity

sense of self based on group memberships.