Psychology of Personality

Flashcards reviewing key concepts about personality, including theories, definitions, and perspectives.

Personality

The unique characteristics that account for enduring patterns of inner experience and outward behaviour.

Freud's Id

The personality element representing basic instinctual drives such as those related to eating, sleeping, sex, and comfort.

Ego

According to psychoanalytic theory, the personality element that helps satisfy the drives of the id while complying with the constraints placed on behaviour by the environment.

Superego

According to psychoanalytic theory, the personality element in charge of determining which impulses are acceptable to express openly and which are unacceptable.

Psychosexual stages

According to psychoanalytic theory, stages in the development of personality influenced primarily by sexuality and aggression.

Self-actualization

The need of humans to fulfill their full and special potential; the highest level of need in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.

Trait

A stable characteristic or quality that a person shows in most situations.

Five-factor model (FFM)

A personality trait model that proposes five major trait categories: agreeableness, extroversion, neuroticism, conscientiousness, and openness to experience.

Situationism

A view of personality which notes that in many social situations, people respond similarly, meaning the situation drives their response rather than their personality.

Interactionism

A view emphasizing the relationship between a person’s underlying personality traits and the reinforcing aspects of the situations in which they choose to put themselves.

Personality disorder

An inflexible pattern of inner experience and outward behaviour that causes distress or difficulty with daily functioning.

Antisocial personality disorder

A personality disorder characterized by extreme and callous disregard for the feelings and rights of others.

Borderline personality disorder

A personality disorder characterized by severe instability in emotions and self-concept and high levels of volatility.

Defense mechanisms

Unconscious tactics employed by the ego to protect the individual from anxiety.

Cultural differences in personality

Variations in personality traits based on cultural values, with individualist cultures emphasizing autonomy, and collectivist cultures emphasizing community.

Gender differences in personality

Variations that exist in personality traits across genders, often influenced by societal and cultural norms.