Ch 1

What is the definition of personality?

Consistent behavior patterns and intrapersonal processes originating within the individual.

What are the two parts of personality?

1. personality is consistent

2. individual processes.

1. personality is consistent

• We can identify these consistent behaviour patterns across time and situations

  • E.g., we can expect someone who is outgoing to be outgoing tomorrow

• if personality exists and behavior is not just a reflection of whatever situation we find ourselves in, then we must expect some consistency in the way people act.

2. Intrapersonal processes.

• Include all the emotional, motivational, and cognitive processes that go on inside of us that affect how we act and feel

Six approaches to personality

1. Psychoanalytic

2. trait

3. biological

4. Humanistic

5. Behavioural/social learning

6. cognitive

What is the psychoanalytic approach to personality?

People's unconscious minds are largely responsible for important differences in their behavior styles.

Describe the trait approach to personality.

This approach identifies where a person might lie along a continuum of various personality characteristics.

What does the biological approach to personality focus on?

Inherited predispositions and physiological processes to explain individual differences in personality.

In the humanistic approach, what are identified as key causes of differences in personality?

Personal responsibility and feelings of self-acceptance.

What does the behavioral/social learning approach explain?

Consistent behavior patterns in terms of conditioning and expectations.

cognitive approach to peronality

Differences in the way people process information lead to variations in behavior.

How might the psychoanalytic approach explain aggression?

Aggression may stem from the unconscious death instinct and a desire to self-destruct, turned outward against others.

or when blocked from reaching our goals

What does the trait approach suggest about aggression?

Aggressive behavior is stable over time, and individuals characterized as aggressive in youth are likely to engage in aggression in adulthood.

biological approach to aggression

• Aggressive dispositions may be inherited, influenced by upbringing, evolutionary factors, or linked to neurotransmitters and hormones.

Humanistic approach to aggression

• Problems develop when something interferes with this natural growth process.

• Aggressive children often come from homes in which basic needs are not met adequately.

• If the child develops a poor self-image, he or she may strike out at others in frustration

Behavioural/social learning approach to aggression

• people learn to be aggressive the same way they learn other behaviours

• People also become aggressive from watching models

cognitive approach to aggression

Focuses on how aggressive individuals process information; environmental cues can trigger aggressive thoughts, leading to interpret more situations as threatening and respond to those perceived threats with violence

Psychoanalytic approach to depression

Depression is viewed as anger turned inward, stemming from unconscious feelings of anger and hostility that individuals internalize due to societal values discouraging the expression of such emotions.

Trait approach to depression

Focuses on identifying individuals prone to depression, suggesting that current emotional levels predict future emotions, with teens experiencing depression likely to face recurring episodes in adulthood.

How might the biological approach explain susceptibility to depression?

Some people may inherit a genetic susceptibility to depression.

What is a key factor in the humanistic approach to understanding depression?

Depression is linked to self-esteem and one's sense of self-worth.

• People who frequently suffer from depression are those who have failed to develop a good sense of their self worth

What contributes to depression under the behavioral/social learning approach?

A lack of positive reinforcers and exposure to uncontrollable aversive events contributing to feelings of helplessness.

According to the cognitive approach, what is a common thought pattern in depressed individuals?

They have negative thoughts about themselves and interpret events negatively.

• Using a depressive filter to interpret and process information

what characterizes individualistic cultures?

They emphasize individual needs and accomplishments, fostering a sense of independence and uniqueness.

What is a defining feature of collectivistic cultures?

They prioritize belonging to a larger group and value cooperation over competition.

• Satisfaction is obtained when the group does well rather than from individual accomplishments