Principles of Psychology – Exam 3 Study Outline

These flashcards cover key concepts from personality psychology, Freudian theory, psychotic disorders, anxiety disorders, treatments, mood disorders, subjective well-being, and social psychology.

Personality

Relatively stable patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Traits

Distinguishing characteristics that influence behavior.

Big Five Traits

Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Neuroticism, Openness to experience.

Conscious mind

Thoughts and feelings we are aware of.

Preconscious

Memories and knowledge we can access.

Unconscious

Hidden drives, impulses, and repressed memories.

Id

Pleasure principle; seeks immediate gratification.

Ego

Reality principle; balances id and superego.

Superego

Moral conscience shaped by social rules.

Libido

Psychic energy that drives behavior.

Oral stage

Pleasure centered in mouth (birth–18 months).

Anal stage

Focus on bowel/bladder control (18 months–3 years).

Defense Mechanisms

Psychological strategies to cope with reality and maintain self-image.

Rationalization

Creating logical excuses for behavior.

Denial

Refusing to accept reality.

Projection

Attributing your own unacceptable thoughts to others.

Displacement

Redirecting emotions to a safer target.

Reaction formation

Behaving opposite to true feelings.

Regression

Returning to earlier behaviors.

Sublimation

Channeling impulses into acceptable actions.

Repression

Pushing distressing memories out of awareness.

Schizophrenia

Severe disorder affecting thought, perception, emotion, and behavior.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Persistent and excessive worry.

OCD

Intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions).

PTSD

Disorder after experiencing or witnessing traumatic events.

Psychopharmacology

Medications that affect neurotransmitters.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Changing negative thinking patterns.

Clinical depression

Persistent sadness and loss of interest.

Bipolar disorder

Cycles between depression and mania.

Prejudice

Negative attitudes toward a group.

Fundamental attribution error

Overestimating personality causes and underestimating situational causes.

Stereotype threat

Fear of confirming a negative stereotype.