Key Concepts in Personality Psychology

Five-Factor Model of Personality (Big Five)

Includes openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, neuroticism—traits that explain an individual's personality.

Displacement

Redirecting emotions or impulses from the original target to a less threatening one.

Self-Efficacy

Belief in one's ability to succeed in specific situations.

Projection

Attributing one's own unacceptable feelings to someone else.

The Big Five Personality Factors

Based on trait psychology, describing personality via broad dimensions.

Agreeableness

Involves being cooperative, compassionate, and empathetic toward others.

Projective Tests

Use ambiguous stimuli to reveal hidden thoughts and feelings.

Case Study

An in-depth analysis of a single person used to study rare situations.

Personality Inventory

A self-report questionnaire assessing various personality traits.

Neuroticism

Characterized by emotional instability and frequent anxiety.

Reciprocal Determinism

Proposed by Bandura, suggesting that behavior, cognition, and environmental factors influence each other.

Humanistic Perspective

Emphasizes self-actualization and personal growth.

Unconditional Positive Regard

Acceptance and support of a person regardless of their actions.

Denial

A defense mechanism refusing to acknowledge reality.

Locus of Control

Belief in control over life events—internal (personal influence) vs. external (outside forces).

Collectivism

Emphasizes group goals over individual desires.

Repression

A defense mechanism where distressing memories are unconsciously blocked.

Real vs. Ideal Self

Unhappiness arises from the mismatch between a person's ideal self and real self.

Correlations

Examine relationships between variables; a positive correlation indicates an increase in one correlates with an increase in another.

Research Methods

Longitudinal design tests the same participants over time.

Brain Functions

Different brain regions handle specific functions; injury can have severe consequences.

Psychoactive Drugs

Substances affecting the nervous system; stimulants heighten alertness; depressants slow function.

Cognitive Processing

Top-down processing uses existing knowledge for understanding.

Vestibular Sense

The cerebellum maintains balance through the vestibular system.

Attention and Distractions

Selective attention allows focus on specific stimuli.

Learning and Behavior

Negative reinforcement strengthens behavior by removing unpleasant stimuli.

Test Development and Validity

Ensuring psychological tests measure intended constructs.

Psychological Theories

Reciprocal determinism explains the dynamic interaction between behavior, cognition, and environment.

Cognitive Dissonance

Individuals strive to resolve discomfort from conflicting beliefs.

Aptitude Tests

Designed to predict performance in specific areas, assessing inherent potential.

Humanistic vs. Behaviorist Perspectives

Humanists focus on personal growth and agency; behaviorists emphasize external stimuli shaping behavior.