CHAPTER 13 PERSONALITY (1)

Sigmund Freud

The founder of psychoanalysis, known for his theories of the unconscious mind and the mechanisms of human personality.

Psychoanalytic Theory

A psychological theory that emphasizes unconscious motives and conflicts as well as early childhood experiences.

Id

The component of personality that contains our primal instincts and basic drives, such as sex and aggression.

Ego

The rational part of the personality that mediates between the desires of the id and the realities of the world.

Superego

The part of the personality that represents morality and social standards; it provides guidelines for making judgments.

Defense Mechanisms

Unconscious psychological strategies used to cope with anxiety and maintain self-esteem.

Denial

A defense mechanism characterized by refusing to accept reality or facts, thereby avoiding uncomfortable feelings.

Regression

A defense mechanism in which an individual reverts to an earlier stage of development in response to stress.

Oedipus Complex

A Freudian theory proposing that a boy feels desire for his mother and jealousy toward his father.

Electra Complex

A term used to describe a girl's competition with her mother for her father's affection.

Phallic Stage

The third stage of psychosexual development in which the genitalia become the focus of concern and pleasure.

Unfalsifiability

A property of a theory that means it cannot be proven wrong; a critique of Freud's theories.

Big Five Traits

Five broad dimensions to describe human personality: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Neuroticism.

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)

A widely used standardized psychometric test of personality and psychopathology.

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)

A personality assessment tool that classifies people into 16 different personality types.

Rorschach Inkblot Test

A psychological test consisting of inkblots to assess personality and emotional functioning.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

A mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

A disorder characterized by unwanted and intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions).

Exposure Therapy

A psychological treatment that involves exposing patients to the source of their fear under controlled conditions.

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood, anxiety, and happiness.

Bipolar Disorder

A mental health condition characterized by extreme mood swings that include emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression).

Psychopathic Personality Disorder

A personality disorder marked by a lack of empathy, remorse, and social responsibility.

Dissociative Identity Disorder

A condition where a person has two or more distinct identities or personality states.

Schizophrenia

A severe mental disorder characterized by delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized thinking.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

A psychotherapeutic approach that addresses dysfunctional emotions, behaviors, and cognitive processes.

Learned Helplessness

A cognitive phenomenon in which individuals who feel unable to control their environment give up trying to change it.

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

A medical treatment for severe depression that involves electrically induced seizures.

Circadian Rhythm

The physical, mental, and behavioral changes following a 24-hour cycle, responding primarily to light and darkness.

Cognitive Triad

In cognitive psychology, it refers to the negative beliefs people hold about themselves, their world, and their future.

Phobia

An irrational and intense fear of a specific object or situation that leads to avoidance.

Anxiety Disorder

A mental health disorder characterized by significant feelings of anxiety and fear.

Chlorpromazine

An antipsychotic medication used to treat schizophrenia and other severe mental disorders.

Deinstitutionalization

The process of reducing the population of mental hospitals by releasing patients into community settings.

DSM

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, a classification guide for mental health disorders.

Manic Episode

A period of abnormally elevated mood and increased activity, often a characteristic of bipolar disorder.