Flashcards for PSY 4331.001 Exam 2

Dispositional Trait Approach

Enduring characteristics or tendencies that influence how a person typically thinks, feels, or behaves.

The Big Five personality traits

Extraversion, Neuroticism, Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, Openness.

Extraversion

A personality trait characterized by being sociable, outgoing, and energetic.

Components of Extraversion

Enthusiasm (gregariousness, positive emotions) and Assertiveness (activity, assertiveness).

Neuroticism

A tendency to experience negative emotions like anxiety, sadness, or mood swings.

Conscientiousness

Being responsible, organized, detail-oriented, and reliable.

Agreeableness

Being cooperative, warm, and friendly.

Openness

A personality trait characterized by creativity, imagination, and openness to new experiences.

Freud’s three parts of personality

Id (pleasure-driven), Ego (reality-driven), Superego (morality-driven).

Freud’s two main drives

Life Instinct (Eros) and Death Instinct (Thanatos).

Ego's function

To negotiate reality and satisfy the Id's demands without negative consequences.

Denial

A defense mechanism that involves pushing out uncomfortable thoughts or feelings.

Repression

A defense mechanism that removes conscious awareness of unpleasant thoughts.

Projection

A defense mechanism that attributes one's undesirable impulses to others.

Sublimation

Redirecting energy into socially acceptable activities as a defense mechanism.

Reaction Formation

Acting in the opposite way of an unwanted impulse, as a defense mechanism.

Oral Stage

Conflict centers around weaning; fixation can lead to dependence or cynicism.

Anal Stage

Conflict involves toilet training; fixation can lead to neatness or messiness.

Phallic Stage

Conflict revolves around the Oedipus/Electra complex; resolution fosters gender identity.

Latency Period

A stage where sexual energy is sublimated into non-sexual activities.

Genital Stage

Integration of past conflicts into mature adulthood leading to stable relationships.

Classical Conditioning

Learning through associations between stimuli, such as Pavlov’s dogs.

Operant Conditioning

Learning through consequences that shape behavior based on reinforcement or punishment.

Positive Reinforcement

Adding a desirable stimulus to increase behavior.

Negative Reinforcement

Removing an undesirable stimulus to increase behavior.

Positive Punishment

Adding an undesirable stimulus to reduce behavior.

Negative Punishment

Removing a desirable stimulus to reduce behavior.

Bobo Doll Experiment

An experiment showing children imitating aggressive behavior after observing adults.

Vicarious Learning

Learning that occurs by observing the consequences others experience.

Reciprocal Determinism

A concept where behavior, environment, and cognition influence each other continuously.

Self-Efficacy

An individual's belief in their ability to achieve specific goals.

Behaviorism view on personality

Personality is the sum of all learned behaviors shaped through reinforcement and punishment.

B.F. Skinner's contribution

Developed operant conditioning and emphasized reinforcement schedules.

Skinner’s Reinforcement Schedules

Fixed Ratio, Variable Ratio, Fixed Interval, Variable Interval for shaping behavior.

Key difference between Classical and Operant Conditioning

Classical involves involuntary behaviors while Operant involves voluntary behaviors shaped by consequences.

Humanistic Psychology

A perspective emphasizing individual potential, self-growth, and personal fulfillment.

Key principles of Humanistic Psychology

Holism, Self-Awareness, Free Will and Responsibility, Purpose and Meaning.

Carl Rogers' Person-Centered Theory

Emphasizes self-concept, congruence, and unconditional positive regard.

Self-Actualization

The inherent tendency to develop potential and strive for personal growth.

Congruence in Rogers' Theory

Alignment of self-concept with experiences promoting emotional well-being.

Unconditional Positive Regard

Complete acceptance regardless of actions, essential for self-acceptance.

Client-Centered Therapy

Therapeutic approach where the therapist provides empathy and unconditional positive regard.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

A motivational theory with five levels: Physiological, Safety, Love/Belonging, Esteem, Self-Actualization.

Personality Stability

Consistency of personality traits over time.

Rank-Order Consistency

Maintenance of one’s relative position within a group over time.

Mean-Level Stability

Stability of the average level of a trait over time.

Heterotypic Continuity

Different manifestations of traits at various life stages while maintaining consistency.

Life events influencing personality change

Travel, Marriage/Partnerships, Trauma or Major Upheaval.

Person-Situation Debate

Debate on whether personality traits or situational factors are more influential in behavior.

Walter Mischel’s stance

Argued personality traits are not strong predictors of behavior, influenced by situations.

Mischel's evidence

Highlighted weak correlations between personality traits and behaviors.

Personality Psychologists' response

Refuted Mischel, emphasizing meaningful correlations and behavior predictions.

Interactionism in Personality Psychology

Behavior shaped by the interplay of personality traits and situational factors.

Three mechanisms of Interactionism

Selection, Manipulation, Evocation.

Strong vs. Weak Situations

Strong situations minimize personality differences; weak situations allow personality traits to influence behavior.

Role of Aggregation in Personality Research

Measuring personality traits across multiple situations to reveal stable patterns.

Social-Cognitive Theory's role

Emphasizes interactions between cognitive processes, environment, and behavior in personality development.