Theories of Personality Exam 4 Study Guide QUESTIONS

Flashcards covering personality theories including humanistic perspective, cognitive perspective and self-regulation.

What are the major themes of the humanistic perspective of personality?

Self-actualization 

Free Will and Autonomy

Congruence

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Uniqueness and subjective experience

Positive Regard

Focus on growth and personal develpment

Existential responsibility

Optimistic view of human nature

Organismic valuing process

What does it mean to have a phenomenological (a view that emphasizes the importance of your own personal experiences) view of personality?

To understand and interpret personality based on how a person experiences the world from their own unique perspective

What is involved in the process of self-actualization? 

Self-actualization involves meeting basic needs, receiving unconditional positive regard, achieving autonomy, and developing creativity and personal connections, often marked by peak experiences.

What is the difference between conditional and unconditional positive regard?

Conditional positive regard- affection only if certain conditions are met

Unconditional positive regard- affection given only without specific conditions

How do conditions of worth limit self-actualization?

Conditions of worth significantly impact self-actualization, as choosing behaviors, values, or goals to gain acceptance from others

What needs must be satisfied to achieve self-determination?

Autonomy, competence, and relatedness

What types of motivation influence our behavior?

Extrinsic and intrinsic

What does it mean to strive for self-concordance (or congruence)?

To strive for self-concordance, or congruence, means working toward alignment between your goals, actions, and your true self—your values, interests, and authentic identity

Is there evidence that free will exists?

No but it is a controversial issue

How do self-handicapping and stereotype threat behaviors help people cope with expectations of poor performance?

People use defense mechanisms like denial, rationalization, and distortion to reduce anxiety from self-image conflicts and stay comfortable.

How do self-handicapping and stereotype threat behaviors help people cope with expectations of poor performance? 

Self-handicapping and stereotype threat help people cope with the expectations of poor performance by protecting their self-esteem. 

What are the five levels of Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of motives (or needs) and what goals are associated with each?

Physiological- necessary for survival

Safety and physical security- necessary for survival but less demanding

Love and belongingness- companionship, affection, and acceptance from others

Esteem- mastery, power, and a sense of appreciation from others

Self-actualization- reaching your full potential

What are some characteristics of frequent self-actualizers?

Efficient of perception of reality

Accepting of self and others

Mental spontaneity and appreciation for life

Problem-centered (consider important problems)

What happens during peak experiences?

Moment of intense self-actualization

Connection with surroundings

Experiencing the world as fully as possible

Flow is complete immersion in activity

What are some principles of existential psychology? 

Existential psychology focuses on mortality and the anxiety it causes, the concept of Dasein (being-in-the-world), the responsibility to create meaning, the emptiness from losing values, terror management in response to death awareness, and the emphasis on free will and personal choice.

According to terror management theory, how do people cope with the knowledge of their own mortality?

People respond to the terror by trying to live meaningful lives

What are some humanistic approaches to assessment? 

Humanistic assessment includes interviews for subjective experience, the Q-sort for self-evaluation, the Personal Orientation Inventory for self-actualization, and measures of self-determination and control based on behavior and motivation.

What are some problems with a humanistic approach to assessment?

Humanistic assessment faces issues like lack of precision, difficulty testing theories, limited comparability, an overly optimistic view of human nature, problems with universal self-actualization, internal disagreements, and challenges to scientific credibility.

How would humanistic psychologists explain behavior problems? 

Humanistic psychologists explain behavior problems as disruptions in self-actualization due to incongruity, defense mechanisms, conditions of worth, controlled behavior, and existential issues.

What therapy is associated with humanistic psychology and what techniques are used in this form of therapy?

Client-centered therapy is associated with humanistic psychology. The techniques used are the client taking responsibility for their improvement, facilitating the intrinsic tendency for actualization, removing conditions of worth, and the therapist displays empathy and unconditional positive regard

What are some strengths and weaknesses of the humanistic perspective of personality?

Strengths:

Intuitively accessible approach to personality

Optimistic view of human nature

Provides a strategy for enriching life

Weaknesses:

Lack of precision

Difficulty in testing theories

Optimistic view is arbitrary and naive

Criticisms of the implications of total self-actualization in everyone

Mismatch in tone between existentialists and humanists

Disagreement about the concept of free will

What are some assumptions of the cognitive perspective of personality?

It rests on the assumption that people integrate and organize bits of information and that life involves many decisions, most of which occur outside of conscious awareness.

How do schemas organize information?

Acting as mental frameworks that help people quickly interpret, categorize, and respond to new experiences based on past knowledge.

What are some qualities of schemas?

Schemas organize information, guide perception, and vary in complexity, influencing how we interpret and respond to the world.

How might schemas affect attention to, encoding of, and memory for information?

Schemas guide attention to confirming information, structure new data for easier encoding, and influence memory by favoring schema-consistent details, potentially causing biased recollections.

What are some ways that memory is organized?

Memories form networks organized in nodes

How might schemas contribute to personality?

Schemas contribute to personality by shaping how we process information, form expectations, and behave, with self-schemas adding emotional depth and influencing consistency.

What is the difference between entity and incremental mindsets?

Entity- (fixed mindset) something you have more of or less of, but which can’t really change

Incremental- (growth mindset) believes that abilities can be developed through experience

What types of attributions can people make about events and how do those attributions affect their behavior, thoughts, and feelings?

Internal (personal) (affects: Blaming oneself) 

External (situational) (affects: Blaming outside factors)

Stability (stable vs. unstable) (affect: Seeing the cause as unchanging)

How is the activation of memories related to the concept of priming?

Memory activation influences priming by triggering related thoughts and behaviors, both consciously and subliminally.

How is the connectionist view of mental organization different from other views?

The connectionist view differs by using networks of activation for cognition, while other views, like symbolic models, process representations sequentially.

What dual processes are thought to be involved in cognition and what are the advantages of these two different processes?

Cognition involves the rational system (slow, logical, conscious) for complex tasks and the experiential system (fast, intuitive, nonconscious) for quick decisions.

What is the difference between explicit and implicit knowledge?

Explicit knowledge- accessible on demand

Implicit knowledge- not accessible on demand

What five cognitive-social learning person variables did Walter Mischel say influence personality?

Competencies (the skills that develop over life)

Encoding strategies and personal constructs 

Expectancies

Subjective values

Self-regulatory systems and plans

How might the cognitive-affective processing system contribute to personality?

CAPS shows how emotions shape our thinking and behavior through "if...then" patterns based on how we react to different situations.

What are some cognitive approaches to assessment?

Cognitive assessment looks at how people think, feel, and behave using methods like think-aloud, experience sampling, and self-monitoring.

How can cognitive deficits result in behavior problems?

Cognitive deficits, like attention problems and negative thinking, can lead to behavior issues by distorting perceptions and reinforcing bad behaviors.

What types of thought processes are associated with depression?

Depression involves negative thoughts about self, world, and future, plus distortions like overgeneralizing, catastrophizing, and jumping to conclusions.

What type of therapy is associated with the cognitive perspective and how does this therapy promote behavior change?

Cognitive therapy changes behavior by fixing negative thoughts, helping people feel and act better.

What are some strengths and weaknesses of the cognitive perspective of personality?

Strengths: Schemas guide behavior

Weaknesses: disorganized theory and thinking problems.

How do psychologists who study self-regulation view personality?

Psychologists who study self-regulation see personality as a dynamic system where behavior is guided by goals, feedback loops, and both automatic and rational processes.

What factors influence one’s intentions?

Intentions are influenced by personal attitudes, subjective norms, and situational factors.

How do goals and goal-setting influence behavior?

Goals shape behavior by giving direction and energy, with specific, challenging goals improving performance, and implementation intentions helping with task completion.

How do goal intentions differ from implementation intentions?

Goal intentions are about the desired outcome, while implementation intentions specify the actions to achieve it.

How do deliberative and implemental mindsets differ?

Deliberative mindsets focus on deciding if a goal is worth pursuing, while implemental mindsets focus on taking action after committing to the goal.

How does feedback control influence self-regulatory behavior?

Feedback control influences self-regulation by constantly adjusting behavior to align with goals through self-awareness, mental contrasting, and continuous progress monitoring.

What levels make up the hierarchical organization of goals?

The hierarchical organization of goals includes system concepts (ideal self), principles (values), programs (action plans), and strategies (specific behaviors).

How might the organization of goals influence behavior?

Goal organization influences behavior by guiding how people shift focus between abstract and concrete goals, resolve conflicts, and link higher-level goals to concrete actions.

How are emotions related to self-regulation?

Emotions guide self-regulation by signaling when to adjust priorities, providing feedback, and influencing persistence or disengagement.

How do expectancies influence one’s effort toward goals?

Expectancies influence effort by determining whether a person persists or disengages, with positive expectancies driving continued effort and negative ones causing disengagement.

How might self-regulation and goals be assessed?

Self-regulation is assessed through traits like self-consciousness, action identification, and self-control, while goals are evaluated through methods like possible selves and personal strivings assessments.

How can problems with goal-setting result in behavior problems?

Problems with goal-setting—like conflict, vague plans, or poor self-control—can lead to stress, avoidance, and unhealthy behavior.

How would therapy be approached from a self-regulation perspective? 

Therapy helps clients set better goals, break negative patterns, build healthier habits, and use feedback to guide behavior and progress

What are some strengths and weaknesses of the self-regulation perspective of personality?

Strengths: 

Explains dynamic behavior across situations

Links goals and thoughts to actions
Useful for therapy, education, and behavior change
Offers a process-focused alternative to static trait theories

Weakness:

Doesn’t explain who controls the self (homunculus problem)
Overlooks free will and human agency
Focuses on maintaining stability, not growth or creativity
Doesn’t fully explain where goal differences come from

Self-actualization

The process of meeting basic needs, receiving unconditional positive regard, achieving autonomy, and developing creativity and personal connections, often marked by peak experiences.

Free Will and Autonomy

The ability to make choices and decisions independently.

Congruence

Working toward alignment between your goals, actions, and your true self—your values, interests, and authentic identity.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

A five-level model of human needs, from basic physiological needs to self-actualization.

Uniqueness and subjective experience

The emphasis on individual perspectives and personal experiences.

Positive Regard

Acceptance and support given to a person regardless of their actions.

Focus on growth and personal development

The emphasis on improving oneself and achieving personal goals.

Existential responsibility

The obligation to create meaning in one's life.

Optimistic view of human nature

The belief that humans are inherently good and capable of growth.

Organismic valuing process

The internal process of evaluating experiences based on their contribution to personal growth.

Phenomenological view of personality

Understanding and interpreting personality based on how a person experiences the world from their own unique perspective.

Conditions of worth

The limitations imposed on self-actualization by seeking acceptance through certain behaviors, values, or goals.

Self-determination needs

The needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness that must be satisfied to achieve self-determination.

Types of motivation

Extrinsic motivation (driven by external rewards) and intrinsic motivation (driven by internal satisfaction).

Self-concordance

Striving for alignment between goals, actions, and one's true self.

Evidence of free will

No definitive evidence exists, but it remains a controversial issue.

Defense against incongruence anxiety

People defend against the perception of incongruence to avoid anxiety.

Self-handicapping

A strategy to cope with expectations of poor performance by protecting self-esteem.

Stereotype threat

A phenomenon where individuals underperform due to the fear of confirming negative stereotypes.

Levels of Maslow's hierarchy of motives

Physiological, Safety and physical security, Love and belongingness, Esteem, Self-actualization.

Characteristics of self-actualizers

Efficient perception of reality, acceptance of self and others, mental spontaneity, problem-centered.

Peak experiences

Moments of intense self-actualization and connection with surroundings.

Principles of existential psychology

Focuses on mortality, anxiety, Dasein, meaning creation, emptiness from losing values, and free will.

Terror management theory

People cope with the knowledge of their own mortality by striving to live meaningful lives.

Humanistic psychology

Explains behavior problems as disruptions in self-actualization due to incongruity, defense mechanisms, conditions of worth, controlled behavior, and existential issues.

Client-centered therapy

Associated with humanistic psychology; techniques include the client taking responsibility for their improvement, facilitating the intrinsic tendency for actualization, removing conditions of worth, and the therapist displaying empathy and unconditional positive regard.

Schemas

Act as mental frameworks that help people quickly interpret, categorize, and respond to new experiences based on past knowledge.

Entity mindset

A fixed mindset; something you have more of or less of, but which can't really change.

Incremental mindset

A growth mindset; believes that abilities can be developed through experience.

Priming

Memory activation influences priming by triggering related thoughts and behaviors, both consciously and subliminally.

Explicit knowledge

Accessible on demand.

Implicit knowledge

Not accessible on demand.

Cognitive-affective processing system (CAPS)

Shows how emotions shape our thinking and behavior through 'if...then' patterns based on how we react to different situations.

Cognitive therapy

Changes behavior by fixing negative thoughts, helping people feel and act better.

Self-regulation view of personality

Seen as a dynamic system where behavior is guided by goals, feedback loops, and both automatic and rational processes.

Goal intentions

the desired outcome

implementation intentions

specify the actions to achieve it.

Deliberative

Focus on deciding if a goal is worth pursuing

Hierarchical organization of goals

Includes system concepts (ideal self), principles (values), programs (action plans), and strategies (specific behaviors).