Flashcards on Structure Change & Stability of Personality

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from a lecture on personality structure, stability, and change, based on Prof. Stoeber's notes.

Factor Analysis (FA)

Data reduction technique that aims to determine the number and nature of underlying factors that explain a pattern of correlations between large numbers of variables.

Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA)

Aims to determine the number and nature of underlying factors that explain correlations between variables; generates hypotheses.

Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA)

Statistical technique for model testing; tests hypotheses.

Lexical Approach

The idea that the most important individual differences in human transactions will come to be encoded as single terms in some or all of the world’s languages.

Fundamental Lexical Hypothesis

Proposes that important personality traits are encoded in language.

16PF

Cattell's personality assessment comprising 16 factors/dimensions of personality.

Five-Factor Model (FFM)

A model of personality comprising Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness (OCEAN).

Neuroticism (N)

Assesses maladjustment versus emotional stability.

Extraversion (E)

Assesses quantity and intensity of interpersonal interaction, activity level, need for stimulation, and capacity for joy.

Openness to Experience (O)

Assesses proactive seeking and appreciation of experience for its own sake; toleration for and exploration of the unfamiliar.

Agreeableness (A)

Assesses the quality of one’s interpersonal orientation along a continuum from compassion to antagonism in thoughts, feelings, and actions.

Conscientiousness (C)

Assesses the individual’s degree of organization, persistence, and motivation in goal-directed behavior; contrasts dependable and fastidious people with those who are lackadaisical and sloppy.

Self-Oriented Perfectionism

A form of perfectionism directed towards oneself.

Other-Oriented Perfectionism

A form of perfectionism directed towards others.

Socially Prescribed Perfectionism

A form of perfectionism based on perceived expectations from others.

Mean Differences

How the average person changes across their lifespan.

Correlations between time points

How stable are differences between people in their levels of traits.

Cross-Sectional Studies

Studies that collect data at one time point with different individuals and are efficient but may reflect cohort effects.

Longitudinal Studies

Studies that collect data at different time points with the same persons and reflect changes across time but are difficult/expensive and may reflect historic effects.

Meta-analysis

Statistical technique for combining findings from independent research studies to see overall trends and analyze differences.

Five Factor Theory

Suggests humans have a genetic predisposition to develop in certain directions.

Social Investment Hypothesis

Investment in universal tasks of social living leads to normative experiences associated with increases in traits like social dominance, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and emotional stability.

HEXACO Model

An alternative to the Big Five. It includes Honesty-Humility, Emotionality, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, and Openness.

Temperament traits

Traits examined in infants and toddlers like activity level, irritability, fearfulness, positive emotions, attention span/persistence and soothability.