Unit 7A: Personality

free association

A psychoanalytic technique where patients express the first thoughts that come to their mind without filtering.

psychoanalysis

A concept suggesting that unconscious motivations and conflicts affect personality.

unconscious

The part of the mind where unacceptable thoughts, wishes, feelings, and memories are stored.

id

The part of the unconscious personality that seeks immediate gratification through pleasure.

ego

The conscious personality that mediates conflicts between the superego and the id, operating on the reality principle.

Reality Principle

The principle that satisfies the id’s desires in realistic ways.

superego

The part of the personality that pushes for perfection, focusing on morals, and develops around ages 4 or 5.

oedipus complex

A psychoanalytic theory that describes boys having sexual feelings for their mother and hatred towards their father.

identification

The process by which children incorporate their parents’ values into their own superegos.

fixation

A phenomenon where a person becomes fixated on pleasurable experiences from an earlier psychosexual stage, often due to overindulgence or deprivation.

defense mechanism

The strategies used by the ego to defend against anxiety.

repression

A defense mechanism where traumatic memories or experiences are forgotten or repressed.

reaction formation

A defense mechanism where true feelings are expressed as their opposites.

projection

The act of attributing one’s own unacceptable desires onto others.

displacement

A defense mechanism involving redirecting emotions, such as anger, to safer outlets.

sublimation

Channeling unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable activities.

rationalization

Providing acceptable explanations for actions that are not aligned with true reasons.

regression

The act of reverting to an earlier psychosexual stage to cope with stress.

Thematic Apperception Test

A projective psychological test where feelings are expressed through interpretation of pictures.

Rorschach inkblot test

A psychological test that identifies inner feelings based on how individuals perceive inkblots.

Big 5 Personality

A model describing personality through the traits: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism.

Openness

A trait characterized by creativity and a willingness to try new things.

Conscientiousness

A trait representing discipline and self-control.

Extraversion

A trait that indicates a person's preference for social interaction and assertiveness.

Agreeableness

A trait reflecting open-mindedness and the tendency to be liked by others.

Neuroticism

A trait that describes emotional stability and the tendency to experience negative emotions.

unconditional positive regard

An attitude of total acceptance toward another person, regardless of what they say or do.

self-actualizing tendency

The innate drive for personal growth and fulfillment.

real self vs. Ideal self

The contrast between who a person truly is and who they aspire to be.

external locus of control

The belief that outside forces, rather than personal choices, determine one's fate.

internal locus of control

The belief that one's own actions significantly impact their life experiences.

learned helplessness

A condition resulting from repeated failure to assert control, leading to a passive acceptance of circumstances.

Self-concept

An individual's perception of themselves, including beliefs, opinions, and feelings.

reciprocal determinism

The theory that behavior, environment, and personal factors all influence each other in a continuous loop.

Self-serving bias

The tendency to attribute positive events to one's own character, but attribute negative events to external factors.

social cognitive perspective

A theoretical perspective that emphasizes the importance of social influence and mental processes in behavior.