AP Psych - 4.4 Terms MATCH Game Review

Personality

an individual's characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting

ex// a person who is generally outgoing and loves meeting new people os exhibitng an extroverted personality

Psychodynamic Theory

a psychological perspective that emphasizes unconscious psychological processes and childhood experiences

ex// unresolved childhood conflicts could influence adult behavior

Psychoanalysis

Freud's theory of personality that attributes thoughts and actions to unconscious motives and conflicts; the techniques used in treating psychological disorders by seeking to expose and interpret unconscious tensions

ex// a patient talks freely about their thoughts and feelings in therapy to uncover unconscious conflicts in psychoanalysis

Free Association

technique in which clients express themselves without censorship of any sort

ex// in therapy person might say, "I feel anxious about my job, and now I'm thinking about my childhood dog," revealing underlying thoughts

Id

the primitive, instinctual part of personality that operates on the pleasure principle

ex// the __ might make a person feel like eating an entire cake, even if they know it's unhealthy

Ego

the rational part of personality that mediates between the id and superego, operating on the reality principle

ex// helps you decide to have one slice of cake instead of the whole thing, balancing desire and practicality

Superego

the moral component of personality that represents internalized societal and parental standard's

ex// make you feel guilty for wanting to eat a whole cake, as it values moderation and discipline

Defense Mechanisms

unconscious strategies the ego uses to reduce anxiety by distorting reality

ex// denial, repression, and projection (& etc.) that help manage internal conflicts

Denial

a defense mechanism where a person refuses to accept reality or facts

ex// after being told they are sick, someone might deny the diagnosis and insist they're perfectly fine

Displacement

a defense mechanism where emotions are redirected from a threatening target to a safer one

ex// after a stressful day at work, a person might yell at their partner instead of their boss

Projection

a defense mechanism where one attributes their own unacceptable thoughts or feelings to others

ex// a person who is angry at their friend might accuse the friend of being angry with them

Rationalization

a defense mechanism where one justifies or explains away unacceptable behavior or feelings

ex// someone who fails a test might say, "the test was unfair" rather than acknowledging they didn't study enough

Reaction Formation

a defense mechanism where one expresses the opposite of their true feelings

ex// a person who feels insecure might act overly confident to mask their self-doubt

Regression

a defense mechanism where one reverts to behaviors characteristic of an earlier stage of development

ex// an adult might start sucking their thumb when faced with a stressful situation, as they did as a child

Repression

a defense mechanism where disturbing thoughts are pushed into the unconscious mind

ex// a person who experienced trauma might have no memory of the event, as the mind represses the painful memories

Sublimation

a defense mechanism where socially unacceptable impulses are channeled into socially acceptable actions

ex// a person with aggressive tendencies might take up boxing pr another competitive sport to channel their anger

Projective Tests

personality tests that use ambiguous stimuli to reveal unconscious thoughts and feelings

ex// a person might be shown an abstract image and asked what they see, revealing their inner thoughts

Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)

a projective test where individuals create stories about ambiguous scenes to reveal their inner thoughts and feelings

ex// a person might see a picture of two people talking and explain it in a way that reflects their own fears or desires

Rorschach Inkblot Test

a projective test using inkblots assess personality and emotional functioning

ex// a person may interpret a blot as a butterfly, while another might see a bat, revealing differences in personality or perception

Preconscious

Information that is not currently in awareness but can be easily retrieved

ex//you can easily recall your friend's phone number when asked, thought it wasn't in your right mind at that moment

Unconscious

a reservoir of thoughts, memories, and desires that are outside conscious awareness but influence behavior

ex// a person might not be aware of their deep-seated fear of abandonment but act defensively in relationships because of it

Collective Unconscious

Carl Jung's concept of shared, inherited reservoir of memory traces from our species' history

ex// archetypes, like the "hero" or "shadow" are part of the collective unconscious, affecting myths, dreams, and cultural symbols

Humanistic Psychology

a psychological perspective that emphasizes human potential, free will, and self-actualization

ex// believe that people are motivated by a desire for self-improvement and fulfillment

Unconditional Positive Regard

a concept in humanistic psychology where one is accepted and supported without judgment

ex// a therapist who listens without judgment and accepts the client as they are is showing _________

Self-Actualizing Tendency

the innate drive to realize and fulfill one's potential and capabilities

ex// a person who works toward achieving their creative or career goals is demonstrating the _________