Chapter 11 and 12

Personality

An individual's unique or distinctive set of consistent behavioral traits.

Trait

A tendency to behave in a certain way, also referred to as behavioral disposition.

The Big 5 Traits

Five fundamental traits that sum up someone's personality based on high or low scores in each trait.

Extroversion

A trait characterized by being talkative and affectionate (high scorer) or quiet and reserved (low scorer).

Agreeableness

A trait characterized by being trusting and soft-hearted (high scorer) or suspicious and critical (low scorer).

Conscientiousness

A trait characterized by being hard-working and organized (high scorer) or lazy and disorganized (low scorer).

Neuroticism/Anxiousness

A trait characterized by being worried and self-conscious (high scorer) or calm and even-tempered (low scorer).

Openness to Experience

A trait characterized by being creative and curious (high scorer) or down-to-earth and conventional (low scorer).

Psychodynamic Perspectives

Focus on the unconscious and early childhood experiences as key drivers of behavior.

Id

The selfish and instinctive part of personality that drives primary instincts such as sex and aggression.

Superego

The aspect of personality that represents moral standards and ideals learned from society.

Ego

The negotiator between the Id and Superego that helps balance primal impulses and societal rules.

Defense Mechanisms

Coping strategies that the ego uses to protect itself from anxiety.

Repression

The defense mechanism where one intentionally forgets unpleasant experiences.

Projection

The defense mechanism of attributing one's own feelings or unwanted thoughts onto someone else.

Displacement

The defense mechanism of redirecting emotions toward a safer target.

Regression

The defense mechanism where one reverts to earlier stages of development in response to stress.

Denial

The defense mechanism of refusing to accept reality or truth.

Oedipal Complex

The child's desire for the opposite-sex parent and rivalry with the same-sex parent.

Self-Actualization

The process of realizing and fulfilling one's potential and capabilities.

Abraham Maslow

Psychologist known for creating the Hierarchy of Needs and the concept of self-actualization.

Carl Rogers

Psychologist who developed Person-Centered Theory and emphasized self-concept and unconditional positive regard.

Self-Concept

The perception and evaluation of oneself that is central to personality.

Congruence

The harmony between self-concept and reality.

Unconditional Positive Regard

Acceptance and support of a person regardless of what they say or do.

Heredity

The genetic transmission of traits from parents to offspring.

Conditionability

The extent to which an individual can be conditioned to respond to stimuli due to genetic factors.

Self-Report Test

An assessment tool where subjects answer questions about themselves.

Projective Test

An assessment tool where subjects interpret ambiguous stimuli, like images.

Group Polarization

The tendency for group discussion to enhance the group's dominant point of view.

Social Loafing

The phenomenon where individuals put forth less effort when working in a group compared to when working alone.

Bystander Effect

The social phenomenon where individuals are less likely to offer help to a victim when other people are present.

Fundamental Attribution Error

The tendency to overestimate the impact of personal traits and underestimate situational factors in others' behavior.

Cognitive Dissonance

A psychological state of discomfort arising from holding two conflicting beliefs or attitudes.

Elaboration Likelihood Model

A theory of persuasion that delineates between central and peripheral routes to attitude change.

Collective Unconscious

Carl Jung's theory that suggests all humans share a set of universal memories and ideas.

Operant Conditioning

A method of learning that occurs through rewards and punishments for behavior.

Self-Efficacy

An individual's belief in their ability to succeed in specific situations.

Behavioral Perspective

The psychological approach that focuses on observable behaviors and the environment's influence.

Humanistic Psychology

The psychological approach that emphasizes personal growth and the concept of self-actualization.

Alfred Adler

Psychologist known for his theory on the striving for superiority and the influence of birth order on behavior.