Key Concepts in Psychology and Personality Development

alleles

Different versions of a gene that influence inherited traits.

epigenetics

The study of how environmental factors influence gene expression without altering DNA.

personality trait

A consistent pattern of thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

monozygotic twins

Identical twins from a single fertilized egg, sharing 100% of their DNA.

dizygotic twins

Fraternal twins from two separate eggs, sharing about 50% of their DNA.

heritability coefficient

A statistic measuring the genetic influence on trait variation within a population.

behavioral genetics

The study of genetic and environmental influences on behavior.

genome-wide association studies (GWAS)

Research approach that identifies genetic variants linked to traits by analyzing entire genomes.

psychic determinism

The idea that unconscious forces and past experiences determine thoughts and behaviors.

Freud's psychosexual stages of development

Oral, anal, phallic, latency, and genital stages that shape personality.

id

The primitive part of personality driven by instinctual desires.

ego

The rational part of personality balancing the id and superego.

superego

The moral conscience incorporating societal values.

compromise formation

The ego's way of resolving conflicts between the id and superego by creating a balanced response.

libido

The life force or sexual energy driving behavior.

Thanatos

The death instinct that drives aggression and destruction.

fixation

Unresolved conflicts in a psychosexual stage leading to personality issues.

regression

Reverting to earlier behaviors under stress.

condensation (in Freudian theory)

The merging of multiple ideas or emotions into one symbol in dreams.

symbolism (in Freudian theory)

The use of objects or events to represent unconscious desires.

ego psychology

A focus on conscious aspects of personality development and adaptation.

archetypes

Universal symbols or themes in the collective unconscious.

persona

The social mask a person presents to the world.

object relations theory

A psychological perspective that examines how early relationships shape personality.

Erikson's psychosocial stages of development

Eight stages of life, each involving a psychological conflict (e.g., trust vs. mistrust, identity vs. role confusion).

Back

The study of conscious experiences from a first-person perspective.

construal

A person's unique interpretation of their experiences.

introspection

The process of examining one's own thoughts and feelings.

existentialism

A philosophy emphasizing free will, meaning, and personal responsibility.

Umwelt

The biological and physical experiences of life.

Mitwelt

The world of social relationships and interactions.

Eigenwelt

The inner, personal experiences of self-reflection.

thrown-ness

The concept of being 'thrown' into life without choosing one's circumstances.

angst

Existential anxiety arising from freedom and uncertainty.

nirvana (in psychological terms)

A state of inner peace and liberation from suffering.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

A five-level model of human motivation: physiological, safety, love/belonging, esteem, and self-actualization.

cross-cultural psychology

The study of how cultural factors shape behavior and personality.

enculturation

The process of learning one's native culture.

acculturation

The process of adapting to a new culture while maintaining aspects of one's original culture.

etics and emics

Etics refer to universal cultural traits, while emics are culture-specific traits.

deconstructionism

A perspective that challenges absolute meanings and interpretations in psychology and culture.

outgroup homogeneity bias

The tendency to see members of an outgroup as more similar to each other than they really are.

areas of the brain implicated in personality

Frontal cortex (decision-making), amygdala (emotion), hippocampus (memory), etc.

different types of imaging techniques

Anatomical (structural): MRI, CT scans (show brain structure). Functional: fMRI, PET scans, EEG (show brain activity).

pros and cons of different imaging techniques

MRI: High detail but expensive. fMRI: Shows activity but lower resolution than MRI. EEG: Fast results but lacks depth resolution.

difference between anatomy and biochemistry in personality research

Anatomy studies brain structure, while biochemistry studies neurotransmitters and hormones.

difference between plasticity and stability in personality

Plasticity: Personality changes over time. Stability: Traits remain consistent.

evolutionary psychology vs. behavioral genetics

Evolutionary psychology studies traits shaped by survival and reproduction. Behavioral genetics studies genetic vs. environmental influences.