Unit 4 4.4 and 4.5 Notes

Psychodynamic Theory

Personality comprises conscious and unconscious beliefs and thoughts.

Defense Mechanisms

Psychological strategies used to cope with reality and maintain self-image.

Denial

Refusal to accept reality, blocking the event and associated emotions.

Displacement

Redirecting emotional response from one situation to another.

Projection

Attributing one's feelings or responses to another person.

Rationalization

Justifying extreme actions by making them seem acceptable.

Regression

Reverting to earlier behaviors in response to stress.

Sublimation

Channeling unacceptable impulses into acceptable actions.

Repression

Blocking negative thoughts and feelings from consciousness.

Self-Actualization

The fulfillment of one’s potential and the desire for personal growth.

Ego

Regulates emotional impulses and mediates between the id and superego.

Superego

Represents an individual’s ideals, values, and moral standards.

ID

The source of basic needs and desires, seeking pleasure and immediate gratification.

Projective Tests

Personality tests that allow open, unrestricted responses.

Objective Personality Tests

Tests with a limited set of responses and specific information.

Humanistic Theory

Focuses on the inherent goodness of people and their growth potential.

Positive Regard

Support and acceptance received from others.

Unconditional Positive Regard

Acceptance without any conditions or requirements.

Conditional Positive Regard

Acceptance given only when certain conditions are met.

Self Concept

How a person perceives and describes themselves.

Self-esteem

A person's positive or negative perception of their self-worth.

Self-Actualizing Tendency

The innate drive to improve and realize one’s full potential.

Self Transcendence

Going beyond self-interest to benefit a larger cause.

Q-Sort Technique

A method for assessing self-concept by sorting statements.

Congruence

Alignment between an individual’s ideal self and actual self.

Incongruence

The mismatch between an individual’s ideal self and actual self.

Social Cognitive Theory

Views personality as a result of personal factors, behavior, and environment.

Reciprocal Determinism

Cycle of interaction between personal, environmental, and behavioral factors.

Self-Efficacy

Belief in one’s ability to complete a task or achieve goals.

Trait Theories

Focus on enduring traits that form a person's personality.

Enduring Characteristics

Stable traits that predict behaviors and emotional responses.

OCEAN Model

The five major personality traits: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Neuroticism.

Openness

Refers to imagination, creativity, and curiosity.

Conscientiousness

Denotes organization, dependability, and goal-oriented behavior.

Extraversion

Refers to sociability, enthusiasm, and assertiveness.

Agreeableness

Involves trustworthiness, altruism, and kindness.

Neuroticism

Tendency to experience emotional instability and anxiety.

Personality Inventory

Questionnaire measuring levels of the Big Five traits.

Factor Analysis

Statistical method for identifying related traits or questions.

Likert Scale

A scale allowing participants to express agreement or disagreement.