PSYC1001: PERSONALITY

What is personality?

Personality refers to the distinctive and relatively enduring ways of thinking, feeling, and acting that characterize a person's responses to life situations.

What are the two main approaches to studying personality?

Idiographic (focus on individual cases) and nomothetic (focus on general laws and traits).

What does the term 'persona' refer to in personality psychology?

It refers to the mask or character that individuals present to the world, encompassing self and identity.

Why is understanding personality important?

It helps in understanding the whole person rather than just parts, integrating various psychological domains.

What is the 'person vs. situation' debate in personality psychology?

It examines whether behavior is primarily determined by stable internal personality traits or by situational factors.

What does 'nature vs. nurture' refer to?

Nature refers to genetic factors influencing personality, while nurture refers to environmental influences such as social and cultural factors.

What is the personality paradox?

It describes the observation that personality appears stable over time, yet behavior can vary significantly across different situations.

What is the primary goal of personality assessment methods?

To discover and understand the underlying characteristics and behaviors of individuals.

What is ethnocentrism in personality psychology?

It refers to the tendency to view one's own culture as the standard, questioning whether personality theories are universal or culturally specific.

What is the significance of the case of Anna O. in psychoanalysis?

It highlighted the role of suppressed emotions in psychological issues, leading to the development of techniques like free association.

What is repression in Freud's theory?

It is a defense mechanism that keeps traumatic memories out of conscious awareness.

What is the free association technique?

A method used in psychoanalysis to explore the unconscious by encouraging patients to speak freely about their thoughts and feelings.

What are defense mechanisms?

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

What is denial as a defense mechanism?

Refusing to accept uncomfortable realities or facts.

What is projection in the context of defense mechanisms?

Attributing one's own unacceptable thoughts or feelings to someone else.

What does reaction formation mean?

Behaving in a way that is opposite to one's true feelings.

What is sublimation as a defense mechanism?

Channeling unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable or productive activities.

What is the role of defense mechanisms in regulating emotions?

They help individuals manage anxiety and maintain psychological equilibrium by distorting reality.

How did Freud's view of psychological processes evolve?

He shifted focus from trauma to the internal thoughts and desires that individuals struggle to accept.

What is the psychodynamic theory of mind?

It posits that there is a dynamic interplay of forces in the mind, influencing behavior and experiences.

What is the importance of understanding normal personality functioning?

It aids in optimizing socialization and addressing universal psychological needs.

What is the historical perspective on personality as a determinant of behavior?

In the 1930s, personality was seen as the main determinant, but this view evolved to include situational influences.

What is the significance of the 1980s in personality psychology?

It marked a recognition of the interaction between person and situation in determining behavior.

What is the role of empirical methods in personality research?

To test theories through observational studies and data collection.

What does the term 'idiographic' refer to in personality research?

An approach that focuses on the in-depth study of individual cases.

What is 'nomothetic' research in personality psychology?

An approach that seeks to establish general laws and traits applicable to many individuals.

What are the three functional domains of personality according to Freud?

Id, Ego, and Superego

What does the Id represent in Freud's structural model of personality?

Biological drives and the foundation of our desires

What is the role of the Ego in Freud's model?

It represents the self and operates on the reality principle.

What does the Superego represent?

Conscience, morality, and the ideal self.

What is the pleasure principle in infancy?

The impulsive pursuit of immediate gratification of desires.

What is the reality principle associated with Ego development?

The understanding that some desires lead to punishment and must be controlled.

What is the significance of childhood in personality development?

It is crucial for the development of the Superego and socialization.

What are some criticisms of Freud's theory?

Negative view of humanity, outdated gender views, emphasis on the Id, subjective bias, and untestability.

What is the basis of Freud's interpretation of dreams?

Dreams are a reflection of unfulfilled desires and repressed wishes.

What does the activation-synthesis model propose about dreams?

Dreams occur due to chaotic brain activity during REM sleep and are considered meaningless.

What did the Minnesota Starvation Experiment reveal about dreams?

Participants became obsessed with food, dreaming about it due to extreme deprivation.

How does Freud explain nightmares?

Nightmares represent psychological conflict and repressed wishes becoming active during sleep.

What is the role of dopamine in dreaming?

Dopamine is linked to motivation and reward, influencing the frequency and vividness of dreams.

What is Neuropsychoanalysis?

A field that seeks to link psychoanalysis with neurosciences.

What is Watson's view on behaviorism?

Psychology should focus only on observable behavior, rejecting the study of the mind.

What is operant conditioning according to Skinner?

The idea that consequences of behavior shape personality.

What does Bandura's social-cognitive theory emphasize?

The interaction between the person, environment, and behavior.

What is reciprocal determinism?

The concept that personal factors, behavior, and environmental influences all interact and affect each other.

What are the three components of Bandura's self-system?

Self-observation, judgments, and self-reaction.

What is human agency according to Bandura?

The capacity to intentionally influence one's life circumstances.

What does the term 'motivationally neutral' refer to in dreams?

The idea that dreams are a result of random brain activity rather than meaningful content.

What is the significance of REM sleep in dreaming?

REM sleep is associated with vivid dreaming and brain activation similar to wakefulness.

What is the impact of anti-psychotics on dreaming?

They block dopamine, inhibiting dreaming while leaving REM sleep unaffected.

What is the main criticism of behaviorism?

It does not account for innate human nature and cognitive processes.

What is the Bobo doll study?

An experiment by Bandura demonstrating observational learning and aggression.

What is the 'royal road to the Unconscious'?

Freud's assertion that dreams reveal repressed wishes.

What does Freud mean by 'dreams are meaningful'?

Even bizarre dreams can be traced back to repressed wishes and desires.

What is the conflict between the Id and Superego?

The Id seeks immediate gratification while the Superego imposes moral constraints.

Who developed the social-cognitive theory?

Albert Bandura

What is the main focus of Bandura's social-cognitive theory?

The interaction between behavior, environment, and cognition.

Define self-efficacy.

An individual's belief in their ability to successfully perform a specific task or handle a particular situation.

What are the four sources of self-efficacy?

Enactive attainments, vicarious experience, verbal persuasion, and emotional arousal.

What is the CAPS model?

Cognitive-Affective Processing System, which emphasizes the interaction of cognitive and affective units in shaping personality.

What does the CAPS model suggest about behavior?

Behavior is shaped by both situational context and the individual's personality system.

What is the 'third force' in psychology?

Humanistic psychology, which emphasizes subjective experience and human potential.

Who is associated with the concept of the actualizing tendency?

Carl Rogers.

What is the actualizing tendency?

The directional trend in all organic and human life to grow, develop, and mature.

What is the difference between the real self and the ideal self?

The real self is who we are, while the ideal self is who we feel we should be.

What is conditional positive regard?

Acceptance by caregivers based on the child's behavior, leading to incongruence between real and ideal self.

What is unconditional positive regard?

Acceptance of the person regardless of their behavior, allowing for exploration of experiences and potentials.

What is the outcome of healthy socialization according to Rogers?

Development of a fully functioning person.

What are the key features of human agency according to Bandura?

Intentionality, self-regulation, self-reflectiveness, and forethought.

How does Bandura's theory differ from traditional behaviorism?

It incorporates cognitive processes and acknowledges the role of self-reflection and self-regulation.

What does the CAPS model address regarding personality?

It addresses both personality stability and behavioral variability across different situations.

What is the significance of self-efficacy in academic performance?

It is the strongest predictor of academic performance.

How can changing self-efficacy influence health behavior?

It promotes health behavior change and resilience against PTSD.

What is the role of emotions in Bandura's self-efficacy?

Emotional arousal can influence self-efficacy through feelings of anxiety, fear, or confidence.

What is the 'personality paradox'?

The observation that individuals exhibit both stability in personality traits and variability in behavior across different situations.

What is the purpose of therapy according to Rogers?

To reconnect individuals with their true being and help them become fully functioning persons.

What does Bandura mean by 'the capacity to exercise control over one's life'?

It refers to the essence of humanness and the ability to influence life circumstances.

What are the implications of Bandura's theory for understanding personality?

It emphasizes the importance of cognitive processes and social interactions in shaping personality.

What is the significance of the Bobo doll study in Bandura's research?

It demonstrated the role of observational learning in behavior acquisition.

What does the term 'idiographic' refer to in humanistic psychology?

The focus on the unique individual and their subjective experiences.

What is the first characteristic of a fully functioning person according to Rogers?

Openness to experience: a non-censoring/non-defensive attitude, receptive to both subjective and objective experiences.

Define existential living as per Rogers.

An increasing tendency to live fully in each moment; living in the present and engaging in a constant process of becoming.

What does organismic trusting refer to?

Trusting oneself and doing what feels right, rather than relying on others.

What is experiential freedom?

The subjective freedom of choice in each moment, free from pressures of 'shoulds'.

How does enhanced creativity manifest according to Rogers?

Through creative products in arts and sciences, and creative living that is non-habitual.

What is a major critique of Rogers' theory?

It is considered not scientifically rigorous enough and difficult to assess.

What is Maslow's basic point regarding the study of psychology?

We need to study psychologically healthy people to understand human nature, rather than focusing solely on psychopathology.

What is self-actualization according to Maslow?

The process of becoming everything that one is capable of becoming.

What must individuals achieve before self-actualization?

They must pass through various levels of needs, starting with deficiency needs.

What are metapathologies as described by Maslow?

Conditions such as depression, alienation, and cynicism that arise when self-actualization is not achieved.

List two characteristics of self-actualizers.

1. Efficient perception of reality; 2. More accepting of themselves and others.

What is the fourth force in psychology as proposed by Maslow?

Transpersonal psychology, which focuses on self-transcendence and spiritual development.

What is the hedonic approach to well-being?

It focuses on attaining pleasure and avoiding pain, emphasizing happiness and life satisfaction.

Define the eudaimonic approach to well-being.

It focuses on purpose and personal growth, assessing the degree to which a person is fully functioning.

What is the lexical hypothesis?

The idea that personality differences become encoded in language.

What are the three traits identified in Eysenck's PEN theory?

Introversion/extraversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism.

How does Eysenck define introversion?

As a tendency to be private, reserved, and sensitive, often feeling exhausted by groups.

What characterizes a person with high neuroticism?

They are more emotionally reactive, experiencing quick changes in mood, and may be tense or anxious.

What traits are associated with high psychoticism?

Aggressiveness, coldness, egocentrism, impulsivity, and antisocial behavior.

What does the Five Factor Model of personality include?

Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism (OCEAN).

How does culture influence personality traits according to the Five Factor Model?

Culture shapes the expression of traits but does not change the traits themselves.