psych final personality

Ego Defense Mechanisms

Psychoanalytic methods of reducing anxiety by unconsciously distorting reality.

Denial

A defense mechanism that refuses to accept reality.

Displacement

Redirecting unacceptable impulses or emotions onto a safer, substitute target.

Projection

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

Rationalization

Justifying unacceptable behavior with logical but inaccurate reasoning.

Reaction Formation

Manifesting the exact opposite of an unacceptable impulse or urge.

Regression

Retreating to an earlier stage of development when facing unacceptable impulses.

Repression

Pushing unacceptable urges and thoughts down into the unconscious mind.

Sublimation

Channeling unacceptable unconscious energy into socially productive and acceptable behaviors.

Unconditional Regard

Carl Rogers' concept of a caring, accepting, and nonjudgmental attitude toward clients.

Self-Actualization

Maslow's term for realizing one's full potential, at the top of the hierarchy.

Reciprocal Determinism

The mutual influence between an individual's behavior, internal cognition, and the environment.

Big Five Trait Theory

A personality theory based on a continuum of five core traits (CANOE).

Conscientiousness

Tendency to be organized, responsible, hard-working, goal-directed, and rule-abiding.

Agreeableness

Personality trait reflecting compassion, kindness, and caring for other people.

Neuroticism-Emotional Stability

Dimension measuring emotional stability and the tendency to experience negative emotions.

Openness

Personality trait reflecting how open-minded one is to new ideas and experiences.

Extraversion

Trait reflecting sociability, assertiveness, positive emotions, and seeking stimulation in others' company.

Factor Analysis

Statistical method identifying clusters of observed variables to describe personality traits.