Personality Vocab Terms

Ego Defense Mechanisms

Protective methods of reducing anxiety by unconsciously distorting reality.

Denial

A defense mechanism that refuses to accept reality.

Displacement

Taking an impulse/emotion and placing it on another, safer object.

Projection

Attributing one's own feelings to another person or group.

Rationalization

Justifying an urge/action with logical but inaccurate reasoning.

Reaction Formation

Manifesting the opposite of an urge.

Regression

Acting like an earlier stage of development when impulses cannot be accepted.

Repression

Pushing urges that cannot be accepted into the unconscious.

Sublimation

Channeling unconscious energy into pro-social behaviors.

Unconditional Regard

A caring, accepting attitude that helps develop self-awareness and self-acceptance.

Self-Actualization

The realization of one's potential, moving from basic to self-actualizing needs.

Reciprocal Determinism

The idea that an individual influences and is influenced by their environment.

Big Five Trait Theory

Personality is based on a continuum of 5 traits: Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, Neuroticism, Openness, Extraversion.

Conscientiousness

Reflects responsibility, organization, hard work, and adherence to norms.

Agreeableness

Reflects compassion, kindness, and caring for others.

Neuroticism-Emotional Stability

Measures emotional stability and the tendency to experience negative emotions.

Openness

Refers to being open-minded to new ideas or experiences.

Extraversion

Traits of energy, positive emotions, sociability, and the tendency to seek stimulation.

Factor Analysis

A statistical method to describe variability among observed variables in terms of fewer unobserved variables.

Drive-Reduction Theory

Indicates that physiological needs create an aroused state leading to behaviors that satisfy that need.

Arousal Theory

Suggests there is an optimal level of arousal for maximizing performance.

Yerkes-Dodson Law

Proposes peak performance occurs at intermediate levels of arousal.

Self-Determination Theory

Humans have three basic psychological needs—autonomy, competence, relatedness.

Intrinsic Motivation

Motivation from an internal source, such as personal pride.

Extrinsic Motivation

Motivation from an external source, like a paycheck.

Instincts

Inborn patterns of behavior in response to stimuli.

Lewin’s Motivational Conflict Theory

Individuals resolve conflicts categorized as approach-approach, avoidance-avoidance, or approach-avoidance.

Approach-Approach conflict resolution

When both choices have positive aspects.

Approach-Avoidance conflict resolution

When choices have both good and bad aspects.

Avoidance-Avoidance conflict resolution

When all choices are negative.

Sensation-Seeking Theory

The tendency to engage in thrilling activities to increase stimulation.

Hormones

Chemical substances that regulate the activity of cells or organs.

External Factors

Cues associated with motivational forces.

Broaden-and-Build Theory of Emotion

Positive emotions broaden thought-action repertoires, building enduring personal resources.

Universality of Emotions

Assumes emotions are innate and universally experienced.

Display Rules

Norms for emotional expression that vary across cultures.

Elicitors

Facial emotional expressions activate similar responses to emotional stimuli.