ap psych - unit 7 (personality mods)

koch 22-23

behavioral approach

in personality theory, this perspective focuses on the effects of learning on our personality development

collectivism

giving priority to the goals of one’s group (often one’s extended family or work group) and defining one’s identity accordingly

Collective unconscious

carl jungs concept of a shared, inherited, reservoir of memory traces from our species’ history

Defense mechanisms

in psychoanalytic theory, the ego’s protective methods of reducing anxiety by unconsciously distorting reality 

empirically derived test

 a test (such as the mmpi) developed by testing a pool of items and then selecting those that discriminate between groups

emotional disorders (still considered its most appropriate use), this test is now used for many other screening purposes 

Ego

the largely conscious, “executive” part of personality that, according to freud, mediates among the demands of the id, superego, and reality. the ego operates on the reality principle, satisfying the id’s desires in ways that will realistically bring pleasure rather than pain

Free association

 in psychoanalysis, a method of exploring the unconscious in which the person relaxes and says whatever comes to mind, no matter how trivial or embarrassing

Fixation

according to freud, a lingering focus of pleasure-seeking energies at an earlier psychosexual stage, in which conflicts were unresolved 

False consensus effect

the tendency to overestimate the extent to which others share our beliefs and our behaviors

humanistic theories

view personality with a focus on the potential for healthy personal growth

individualism

giving priority to one’s own goals over group goals and defining one’s identity in term of personal attributes rather than group identifications

Identification

the process by which, according to freud, children incorporate their parents’ values into their developing superego’s

Id

a reservoir of unconscious psychic energy that, according to freud, strives to satisfy basic sexual and aggressive drives. the id operates on the pleasure principle, demanding immediate gratification 

Minnesota Multiphasic

(mmpi) the most widely researched and clinically used of all personality tests. originally developed to identify emotional disorders (still considered its most appropriate use), this test is now used for many other screening purposes

narcissism

excessive self-love and self-absorption

Oedipus complex

according to freud, a boy’s sexual desires towards his mother and feelings of jealousy and hatred for the rival father

Personality

an individual’s characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting

Psychoanalysis

* (1) sigmund freud’s theory of personality that attributes thoughts and actions to unconscious motive sand conflicts; the techniques used in treating psychological disorders by seeking to expose and interpret unconscious tensions. (2) freud’s therapeutic technique. freud believed
* the patients free associations, resistances, dreams, and transferences - and the therapist’s interpretations of them - released previously repressed feelings, allowing the patient to gain self-insight

personality inventory

a questionnaire (often with true-false or agree-disagree items) on which people respond to items designed to gauge a wide range of feelings and behaviors; used to assess selected personality traits

Psychosexual stages

the childhood stages of development (oral, anal, phallic, latency, genital) during which, according to freud, the id’s pleasure-seeking energies focus on distinct erogenous zones 

positive psychology

the scientific study of human functioning, with the goals of discovering and promoting strengths and virtues that help individuals and communities to thrive

Psychodynamic theories

modern-day approaches that view personality with a focus on the unconscious and the importance of childhood experiences

Projective test

a personality test, such as the rorschach, that provides ambiguous stimuli designed to trigger projection of one's inner dynamics 

reciprocal determinism

the interacting influences of behavior, internal cognition, and environment

Repression

in psychoanalytic theory, the basic defense mechanism that banishes from consciousness anxiety-arousing thoughts, feelings, and memories

Rorschach inkblot test

the most widely used projective test, a set of 10 inkblots, designed by hermann rorschach; seeks to identify people’s inner feelings buy analyzing their interpretations of the blots 

self-efficacy

one’s sense of competence and effectiveness

self

in contemporary psychology, assumed to be the center of personality, the organizer of our thoughts, feelings, and actions 

spotlight effect

overestimating others’ noticing and evaluating our appearance, performance, and blunders (as if we presume a spotlight shines on us) 

self-esteem

one’s feelings of high or low self-worth

Superego

the part of personality that, according to freud, represents internalized ideals and provides standards for judgment (the conscious) and for future aspirations

social-cognitive perspective

views behavior as influenced by the interaction people’s traits (including their thinking) and their social context

self-actualization

according to maslow, one of the ultimate psychological needs that arises after basic physical and psychological needs are met and self-esteem is achieved; the motivation to fulfill one’s potential

trait

 a characteristic pattern of behavior or a disposition to feel and act, as assessed by self-report inventories and peer reports

Thematic Apperception Test

(tat) a projective test in which people express their inner feelings and interests through the stories they make up about ambiguous scenes 

Terror-management theory

a theory of death-related anxiety; explores people’s emotional and behavioral responses to reminders of their impending death

unconditional positive regard

a caring, accepting, nonjudgmental attitude which carl rogers believed would help clients to develop self-awareness and self-acceptance 

Unconscious

according to freud, a reservoir of mostly unacceptable thoughts, wishes, feelings, and memories. according to contemporary psychologists, information processing of which we are unaware

self-concept - all our thoughts and feelings about ourselves, in answer to the question “who am I”

Sigmund Freud

aka the father of modern psychology and psychoanalysis. believed that the unconscious is what made us who we are. theories included psychosexual development, and that there were different parts of the mind. also believed in the unconscious being revealed by dreams, free association, and hypnosis

Paul Costa

worked with robert mccrae, together they worked on the personality model

Alfred Adler

a neo freudian. was focused primarily on parenting styles. he also thought lots about the inferiority complex

Carl Rogers

humanistic psychologist, focused on the theory of self concept. developed on client-centered therapy, using the unconditional positive regard.

Albert Bandura

conducted the bobo doll experiment which  helped explain the social learning theory.

Karen Horney

neo-freudian, worked to understand neurosis. also studied how children could overcome the oedipus complex.

Robert McCrae

worked with paul costa, together they worked on the personality model

Martin Seligman

theorized about learned helplessness. 

Carl Jung

neo freudian who agreed with freuds personal unconscious, as well as tacking on the collective unconscious. also studied the persona.