Personality Exam 2

The “I”

Relates to the existence of the self. Voice in your head, experiences your life, makes decisions for you. The self as a subject.

The “Me”

Your unique experience of the self. Can be observed and described; statements you make about yourself. The self as an object.

Self-regulation

Impulse control, motivates us toward goals

Information Processing

Self as a point of reference. Directs our attention towards meaningful aspects of the world. Helps us understand our abilities and traits. Distortion of reality to help protect our self-worth.

Spotlight effect

Overestimating others noticing and evaluating our appearance, performance, or mistakes.

Interpersonal Connections

To understand others, we call upon our own experiences.

Identity

Life story we tell about ourselves. Reminds us of where we fit in. Positions within families or social groups. Continuity to our self-understanding.

What is the self made of?

Self-concept, Self-knowledge, Self-esteem, Social self

Mental Models

Mental category of objects or ideas based on properties they share.

Prototype

Most typical instance of a particular concept

Script

A time-ordered sequence of actions or events

Relationship pattern

The patterns a person uses in interacting with others

Narrative Identity

We construct and maintain stories of our lives to provide them with a sense of unity and purpose

Self-concept

Knowledge and beliefs about yourself, including: self-descriptions, body, family members, objects, group memberships, possession

Individualistic Cultures

Western, focus on independence and autonomy. Self descriptions emphasize uniqueness and differences

Collectivist Cultures

Eastern, focus on interconnectedness and group harmony. Self-descriptions emphasize social relationships and roles.

Self-congruity theory

We compare brand’s “personality” with our own self-concept

Self-schemas

Organized mental collection of all of the ideas we hold about the self.

Possible selves

Versions of ourselves we could become

Ideal selves

Who you could be at your best

Ought self

Who you should be

Actual Self

Who you think you are

Feared self

Who you want to avoid becoming

Intelligence

Ability to learn from experience, solve problems, and use knowledge to adapt to new situations

General intelligence

A person’s mental capacity to solve problems that concern inner self and surrounding world. The capabilities include the ability to represent information relevant to specific topics and contexts accurately in memory to manipulate that information systematically

Broad intelligences

Which describe broad areas of mental ability

Fluid Intelligence

Deliberate and controlled mental operations to solve problems that cannot be performed automatically

Crystalized Intelligence

Knowledge of the culture that is incorporated by individuals through a process of acculturation

Eugenics

Idea that we can perfect the human race by allowing people with more “desirable” traits to reproduce while inhibiting the fertility of people deemed inferior

Motivation

A need or desire that energizes and directs behavior.

Self-Determination Theory 

Theory on the motivations behind the choices people make for their lives

Intrinsic motivation

You do it for yourself or on your own time

Extrinsic motivation

You do it for something or someone else

Personal strivings

Long-term goals that provide structure to a your life and organize your behaviors

Personality development

Change in personality over time

Temperament

Like a trait, but less
developed, reactive. Temperaments have biological basis but can and often do change

Heterotypic continuity

Behavioral and emotional tendencies persist throughout the lifespan, but are expressed differently

Attachment

Emotional bond between infant and caregiver(s)

Secure attachment

Stable, built on trust

Insecure attachment

Uncertain, may be anxious or avoidant

Cumulative continuity principle

Personality is stable across the lifespan and
stability tends to increase as we age