3006PSY Module 8

personality

traits and characteristics unique to an individual and relatively stable across time

personality assessment

measures and evaluations of psychological traits, states, values, interests, attributes, worldviews, acculturation, humour, cognitive and behavioural styles, and other characteristics

traits

distinguishable, enduring ways people differ from one another

personality types

constellations of traits similar in pattern to an identified category of personality within some taxonomy

type A personality

characteristiced by competitiveness, restlessness, impatience, strong need for achievement and dominance

type B personality

characterised by a mellow and laid back disposition

state

transitory experiences of a personality trait that are relatively temporary

self-report data / s-data

explores the self-concept and self-concept differentiations

self-concept

the attitudes, beliefs, opinions, and related thoughts to the self

self-concept differentiation

the degree to which someone has different self-concepts in different roles

informant report data / i-data

used to explore self-concepts / differentiations from alternate perspectives

b-data

data collected via assessing behaviour in natural settings

frame of reference test

eg how many times in the past week have you x

q-sort technique

ppt sort a group of statements from most to least representative of themselves

semantic differentiation response format

ppt place themseles along a continuum of 2 different responses to a given statement

ambiguous stimuli response format

ppt asked to give some kind of response to an ambiguous stimuli (eg inkblot / hands test)

nomothetic traits

traits that are universal - everyone possesses these along some continuum

idiographic traits

traits unique to the individual that not everyone possesses

normative score

comparing the score of the individual to the scores of others

ipsative score

comparing the score of the individual to their own previous scores

criterion

a standard on which a judgement / decision is made

criterion group

a reference group of test-takers who possess some characteristic and whose responses serve as a standard to include/discard items from the final version of a scale

empirical criterion keying

the process of using criterion groups to develop test items

content / content-oriented approach

emphasises logic and reasoning to which content is covered by items on a personality test

theory approach

where a theory is the basis of some measure

data reduction methods

using computer analysis to identify overarching factors to cluster items to (eg factor analysis)

aspects of EFA

a data-driven approach where the latent structure is unknown (eg OCEAN)

aspects of CFA

a theory-driven approach that tests the meaningfulness of variables and their indicators (eg Eysenck 3 factor structure of personality)

NEO-PI-R

neuroticism, extraversion, and openess to experience personality inventory - revised

MMPI

minnestota multiphasic personality inventory

L scale / lie scale

a subtest of the MMIP that examines honesty

F scale / frequency scale

a subtest of the MMIP that includes items not often endorsed by non-psychiatric populations to identify how serious the examinee takes the test

K-scale / correction scale

a subtest of the MMIP that examines defensiveness and social desirability

harris-longies subscales

subtests of the MMIP that examine internal consistency

acculturation

the ongoing process by which an individuals thoughts, behaviours, values, worldview, and identity develop in relation to the thinking, behaviour, customs, and values of a particular culture

instrumental values

guiding principles that help the individual attain some objective

terminal values

guiding principles and modes of behaviour that act as the endpoint objective