Personality Psychology Review

A set of flashcards covering key concepts and vocabulary from the lecture on personality psychology, focusing on psychoanalytic theory, genetics, and the five-factor model.

Psychoanalytic Theory

A theory of personality developed by Sigmund Freud that emphasizes the influence of the unconscious mind and childhood experiences on behavior.

ID

The part of the mind that operates on the pleasure principle, seeking immediate gratification of desires and needs.

Ego

The rational part of the mind that operates on the reality principle, mediating between the desires of the id and the realities of the outside world.

Superego

The ethical component of the personality that provides the moral standards by which the ego operates.

Libido

The sexual energy or drive that Freud believed was the driving force of life.

Psychosexual Stages

Freud's five developmental stages (oral, anal, phallic, latency, genital) that he believed were critical in forming personality.

Oedipus Complex

A child's feelings of desire for their opposite-sex parent and jealousy toward their same-sex parent.

Defense Mechanisms

Unconscious strategies used to reduce anxiety and protect the ego from distress.

Sublimation

A defense mechanism that involves channeling socially unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable behavior.

Genetics

The study of heredity and the variation of inherited characteristics, which play a significant role in personality.

Twins Studies

Research studies that involve comparing identical (MZ) and fraternal (DZ) twins to examine the influence of genetics and environment on personality.

Five Factor Model

A model of personality that describes five broad dimensions: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extroversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism.