Theories of Personality — Vocabulary Flashcards

30 vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the lecture notes on personality theories.

Personality

The set of psychological traits and mechanisms within the individual that is organized and relatively enduring and that influences his or her interactions with, and adaptations to, the environment.

Psychological traits

Characteristics that describe how people differ from each other; relatively enduring over time; consistent across situations.

Psychological mechanisms

Processes of personality through which conditions in which personality presents itself.

Grand theories of personality

Efforts to provide universal accounts of fundamental psychological processes and human nature (e.g., Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory).

Psychoanalytic Theory

A framework that seeks to explain universal human processes through unconscious motivations and early experiences.

Id

The part of personality that contains needs, drives, and desires; demands instant gratification.

Ego

The part of personality that deals with reality and mediates between the id and the superego.

Superego

The source of conscience; counteracts the socially undesirable impulses of the id.

Carl Jung

Analytic psychologist who proposed the personal and collective unconscious and archetypes.

Personal unconscious

Unconscious that contains an individual's memories and experiences.

Collective unconscious

Jung's storehouse of instincts, memories, and archetypes shared by humanity.

Archetypes

Universal, primordial images or patterns found in the collective unconscious.

Persona

Social mask; the public image or role that the individual presents.

Shadow

The dark, instinctual side of the psyche, analogous to Freud's id.

Anima/Animus

The masculine and feminine aspects within individuals.

Alfred Adler

Psychologist who emphasized overcoming feelings of inferiority and the influence of parenting on life style.

Inferiority complex

A pattern of striving to overcome perceived inadequacies.

Maslow

Humanistic psychologist who studied healthy, self-actualizing individuals.

Self-actualization

Realizing one’s talents and potential; growth toward fulfilling one's abilities.

Carl Rogers

Humanistic psychologist known for the self-theory and conditions for growth.

Genuineness

Openness and self-disclosure in relationships; part of Rogers's growth conditions.

Unconditional positive regard

Acceptance of a person without judgment, essential for growth.

Empathy

Being listened to and understood; accurate understanding of another's feelings.

Self-concept

The overall perception of oneself, including self-worth and congruence between ideal self and actual behavior.

Self-worth

One's own sense of value or self-esteem.

Congruence

Alignment between one’s ideal self and actual behavior (self-image).

Allport

Trait theorist who proposed three levels of traits: cardinal, central, and secondary.

Cardinal traits

Traits that dominate an individual’s life and define their reputation.

Central traits

Major characteristics used to describe a person.

Secondary traits

Attitude-related or situational traits appearing under specific circumstances.