Psych Exam 3 Notes - Theories of Personality

Flashcards covering key concepts and theories related to personality from the Psych Exam 3 notes.

Personality

An individual's characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting.

Psychoanalytic Theory

A theory founded by Sigmund Freud that emphasizes the importance of unconscious processes and childhood experiences in shaping personality.

The Id

The unconscious part of the mind that operates on the pleasure principle, seeking immediate gratification of needs.

Superego

The part of the mind that operates on the morality principle, representing societal rules and the moral compass.

Ego

The conscious part of the mind that operates on the reality principle, mediating between the Id and Superego.

Defense Mechanisms

Psychological strategies employed by the ego to manage conflict between the Id and Superego.

Repression

A defense mechanism that involves suppressing unwanted desires or memories.

Displacement

A defense mechanism where emotional energy is redirected from a threatening target to a safer one.

Rationalization

A defense mechanism involving a cognitive distortion to justify behaviors that may be considered wrong.

Humanism

A psychological perspective that emphasizes personal growth and the inherent goodness of people.

Hierarchy of Needs

A theory proposed by Maslow that outlines a sequence of human needs, from basic physiological needs to self-actualization.

Implicit Needs

Individual interests and purposes that motivate behavior after physiological and psychological needs are met.

Idiographic Approach

A method that focuses on understanding the individual as unique, rather than comparing individuals to groups.

Nomothetic Approach

A method that aims to identify common traits and patterns by comparing individuals against others.

Trait Theory

An approach that identifies and measures individual personality characteristics or traits.

The Big Five

A model that defines personality structure through five main traits: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.