self and personality psych

Self Psychology

The study of how we perceive the world, people, and events.

Personality Psychology

Focuses on how we describe and establish the actual qualities of the self and the ability of others to provide accurate accounts of their thoughts, emotions, and behavior.

Self-schema

An integrated set of beliefs, memories, and generalizations about ourselves.

Working Self-Concept

Immediate experience of the self in the here and now, accessed for particular situations.

Self-Esteem

The affective aspect of the self, based on perception of others' judgment and beliefs about oneself.

Sociometer Theory

The idea that self-esteem acts as a monitor of perceived social acceptance or rejection.

Better-Than-Average Effect

Overestimation of one's quality and abilities relative to others, along with unrealistic optimism.

Social Comparisons

Evaluating oneself against others to form self-perceptions.

Downward Comparisons

Comparing oneself to another person who is less successful on a given dimension.

Upward Comparisons

Comparing oneself to another person who is more successful on a given dimension.

Personality

An individual's traits and characteristics that are relatively stable over time and across circumstances.

Person/Situation Debate

A discussion regarding the influence of personality versus situational factors on behavior.

Situationism

The theory that situations significantly influence behavior.

Psychodynamic Theory

Sigmund Freud's theory that unconscious forces determine behavior.

Pleasure Principle

The instinct to seek pleasure and avoid pain, associated with the ID.

Reality Principle

The governing principle for satisfying the wishes of the ID according to the demands of the external world.

ID, Ego, Superego

The three structures of personality in psychodynamic theory.

Denial

A defense mechanism involving refusing to acknowledge a source of anxiety.

Repression

A defense mechanism involving excluding a source of anxiety from awareness.

Projection

A defense mechanism attributing unacceptable qualities of the self to someone else.

Reaction Formation

Ward off uncomfortable thoughts by overemphasizing their opposites.

Rationalization

Creating a seemingly logical excuse for behavior that might otherwise be shameful.

Displacement

Shifting emotional attention from one object to another, easier target.

Sublimation

Channeling socially unacceptable impulses into constructive behavior.

Rorschach Inkblot Test

A projective measure assessing unconscious processes through interpretation of ambiguous stimuli.

Humanistic Approaches

Personality theories focusing on personal growth and self-actualization.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

A theory that categorizes human needs into deficiency and growth needs.

Big Five Personality Traits

Five core traits: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, neuroticism.

Self-Report Measures

Personality tests using questionnaires to reveal traits and behaviors.

Observational Methods

Assessing personality through observations from acquaintances and one's behaviors.

Social Cognitive Approaches

Personality studies focusing on how thoughts shape personality and how environments affect individuals.

Expectancy Theory

The proposition that behaviors are affected by expectations for reinforcement.

Reciprocal Determinism

Bandura's concept explaining personality as the interaction of environment, personal factors, and behavior.

Electronically Activated Record (EAR)

A device used to unobtrusively track real-world interactions and auditory information.

Personality and Biology

Exploring how genes and environment interact to produce personality traits.

Novelty Seeking

A personality trait linked to a gene associated with dopamine levels.

Cross-Cultural Findings

Research on personality changes with age that are independent of environmental influences.

Major Life Events

Significant occurrences that can lead to changes in personality.

Narcissism

An exaggerated focus on the self characterized by feelings of entitlement and grandiosity.

Self-Actualization

The process of fulfilling one's potential and seeking self-understanding.

Self-Serving Bias

The tendency to attribute successes to oneself and failures to external factors.

Cognitive Dissonance

The mental discomfort experienced when holding two conflicting beliefs.

Conscientiousness

A Big Five personality trait characterized by being organized and dependable.

Extraversion

A Big Five personality trait marked by sociability and enthusiasm.

Agreeableness

A Big Five personality trait associated with trust and cooperation.

Neuroticism

A Big Five personality trait involving emotional instability and negative emotionality.