General Psychology Module 8

Personality:

Your unique and enduring pattern of thoughts and behaviors.

Id:

Is completely unconscious. We are completely unaware of it and cannot access it on our own. Seeks immediate gratification, or satisfaction, of basic needs such as food or sex. Inherited at birth and it is particularly evident in guiding the behavior of children before other elements of personality learn to “check” basic impulses.

Ego:

Has preconscious and conscious elements. Much of what the ego does occurs in conscious awareness, it is the rational aspect of our minds.

What are preconscious thoughts?

Thoughts that we are not aware that we have, but they are accessible to us if we try to reach them. (that is, they are before-consciousness.)

Superego:

Operates much like a conscience. It is your internal idea of all the things you should or shouldn’t be doing. In all three regions: unconscious, preconscious and conscious. Its task is to keep the id under control while taking into account morals and values that you have learned.

Neurosis:

Psychological distress within socially acceptable limits.

What did Karen Horney do?

Developed a theory of neurosis which included three main tendencies that people may have:

Moving toward people.

Moving against people.

Moving away from people.

Temperament:

Refers to an early form of personality that is evident in childhood. Is the child an easy, difficult, or slow to warm up (takes awhile to adjust) baby?

Traits:

Are characteristics of adult personality, and they are assumed to be stable qualities that reside within the individual. Central traits are your primary qualities, while secondary traits are not as noticeable or key to you. Secondary traits may only become apparent in certain situations.

Ideographic View:

States that each person has a unique personality. Thus, all traits do not exist in everyone.

Nomothetic View:

States that traits are universal; everyone to some extent, has greater or lesser amounts of traits.

Big 5 Theory of Personality:

This theory states that there are five traits observed in humans around the globe. While the words for these traits may differ, cross-cultural research does not support the Big 5 theory’s validity across countries as different as Canada, etc. Each trait is arranged on a continuum so that individuals may be at either end of in the middle of the range.

What are the Big 5 theory’s five traits?

1. Openness to experience (or curiosity) versus closed-mindedness.

2. Conscientiousness (or responsibility) versus irresponsibility.

3. Extroversion versus introversion.

4. 4. Agreeableness (or warmth) versus coldness.

5. Neuroticism (or emotionality) versus emotional stability.

Person-situation controversy:

Acknowledges that the situation or environment is a very important influence on how an individual manifests personality. According to this view, personality may not be as stable as some theorists think.

What is the MMPI?

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. It was originally designed to identify mental disturbance. However, today it is the most widely used test of personality and psychopathology (study of mental disorders). This test measures things such as depression, masculinity/femininity and paranoia.

What is NEO-PI?

Measures the Big Five traits.

What is MBTI?

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator which is based on Jung’s ideas of a balance of opposing traits. This test is widely used in business and other settings.

Rorschach Inkblot test:

Famous performance-based test in which individuals are shown 10 cards with 10 symmetrical inkblots printed on them. Individuals explain what they see in the inkblots and what characteristics of the inkblots they focused on to perceive what they saw. Scoring on this test requires an extensive scoring system based on a manual.

TAT:

Thematic Apperception Test is a projective test that consists of 30 images. Individuals are given a subset of the images and need to come up with stories about what they see. The idea behind this and other projective tests is that the individual’s answers will reveal underlying (subconscious) emotions and motives.

Circadian Rhythm:

Literally “about a day” is the term referring to the physiological patterns that approximate a 24 hour period (our rhythms typically range between 24 to 28 cycles). Regulates consciousness, hung, body temperature and metabolism.

What region of the hypothalamus keeps your circadian rhythms on track?

Suprachiasmatic nucleus.

What is the storyline of a dream called?

Manifest content.

What is latent content?

The therapist interprets the symbolic meaning inherent in the dream.

Hypnosis:

Based on the Greek word hypnos. It is characterized by deep relaxation and heightened suggestibility. Whether is is an entirely different state of mind is up for debate.

Meditation:

Includes various techniques that require you to focus attention and control your body, is a similar state of altered consciousness. In meditation the mind does not become highly suggestible.

Drug Induced State:

A final altered state of mind. Drugs have various effects on consciousness, and they work by affecting the brain’s neurotransmitters.

Hallucinogens:

Alter awareness of the environment and ourselves. They create hallucinations, which can include visual, auditory, and other sensory hallucinations.

Opiates/narcotics:

Very addictive drugs that provide pain relief and a sense of well-being.

Depressants:

Slow down mental and physical activity.

Stimulants:

Arouse the central nervous system and increase activity of neurotransmitters at the synapses.