Personality Psychology Overview

These flashcards cover key concepts in personality psychology, its definitions, influencing factors, and fields of work for personality psychologists.

Personality Psychology

The study of patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and the psychological mechanisms behind them, aiming to understand how and why people differ.

Definition of Personality

Patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, plus the psychological mechanisms behind them.

Personality Traits

Well-validated characteristics that predict a wide range of outcomes, including academic achievement and relationship satisfaction.

Fields where Personality Psychologists Work

Universities, research institutes, CIA & FBI, advertising firms, consulting companies, state and federal agencies.

Factors Influencing Personality

Culture, neighborhood, school, parents, peers, gender, coping mechanisms, learned responses, hormones, neurotransmitters, and genetics.

Individual Uniqueness

What makes a person unique and different from all others.

Human Nature

Assumptions and propositions about what people are like in general.

Individual Differences

How and why people differ from one another.