Comprehensive Personality Psychology: Theories, Measures, and Biological Foundations

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77 Terms

1
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What is personality psychology?

The study of characteristics that describe and explain consistent patterns of feeling, thinking, and behaving.

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What does the term 'personality' imply?

It usually implies continuity or consistency in the individual.

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What are the two key aspects of individuality in personality?

Stability and coherent individual differences.

4
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What historical figure philosophized about basic human temperaments?

Hippocrates, as early as 400 B.C.

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What did Aristotle postulate about the brain?

He suggested that the brain is the seat of the rational mind.

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Who founded a controversial theory of personality in the early 1900s?

Sigmund Freud.

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What is the Trait-Dispositional Level of analysis?

It identifies consistencies in basic expressions of personality as stable characteristics.

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What does the Biological Level of analysis explore?

The biological bases of personality, including heredity, the brain, and evolution.

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What does the Psychodynamic-Motivational Level focus on?

The motivations, conflicts, and defenses, often unconscious, that underlie aspects of personality.

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What is analyzed in the Behavioral-Conditioning Level?

Specific behavior patterns that characterize individuals and the conditions regulating their occurrence.

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What does the Phenomenological-Humanistic Level emphasize?

The inner experiences of the person and their interpretation of the world.

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What does the Social Cognitive Level focus on?

Distinctive patterns of thoughts, expectations, beliefs, goals, values, emotional reactions, and self-regulatory efforts.

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How do the different levels of analysis contribute to understanding personality?

Each level provides concepts and strategies for seeking information about people and for changing maladaptive behavior.

14
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What are common applications of personality theories?

Addressing issues like depression, anxiety, impulse control, and poor health.

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What is the oldest method for studying personality?

Interviews.

16
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What are projective measures in personality assessment?

Techniques that present ambiguous stimuli to assessors, allowing for open-ended responses.

17
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What is remote behavior sampling?

A method where respondents record their thoughts, feelings, or behaviors at random times throughout the day.

18
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What does fMRI measure?

The magnetic fields created by functioning nerve cells in the brain.

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What does EEG measure?

The electrical activity in the brain, inferred from brain waves.

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What is the significance of correlation in personality research?

It indicates the relationship between variables, but does not imply causation.

21
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What is the range of correlation coefficients?

They can range from -1.00 to +1.00, indicating the strength and direction of a relationship.

22
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What is operationalization in research?

The process of translating constructs into observable and measurable terms.

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What is the purpose of memory tasks in personality studies?

To examine the types of mistakes people make in remembering.

24
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What is the role of naturalistic observation in personality research?

To observe behavior as it naturally occurs, often using one-way mirrors.

25
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What are some physiological measures used in personality assessment?

Includes measures like galvanic skin response, blood pressure changes, and muscular activity.

26
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What does the term 'external validity' refer to?

The extent to which findings from a study can be generalized to real-life situations.

27
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What is the significance of interrater reliability?

It measures the consistency of scores between different raters.

28
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What is the difference between reliability and validity in research?

Reliability refers to the consistency of a measure, while validity refers to the accuracy of a measure in assessing what it is intended to measure.

29
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What does temporal reliability indicate?

Temporal reliability indicates the consistency of test results when the same test is administered to the same group on two different occasions.

30
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What is internal consistency in research?

Internal consistency refers to the correlation between different parts of a single test or measure.

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What is the role of the experimental group in research?

The experimental group is the cohort that receives the manipulated condition in an experiment.

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What is the purpose of a control group in an experiment?

The control group is not subjected to the independent variable and serves as a baseline for comparison.

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Define independent variable (IV) in research.

The independent variable is the condition that is manipulated by the experimenter.

34
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Define dependent variable (DV) in research.

The dependent variable is the behavior or outcome that is measured in response to the independent variable.

35
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What is required by the APA regarding consent forms?

Participants must provide informed consent and cannot be placed in jeopardy without it.

36
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What must researchers do if deception is used in a study?

Participants must be fully debriefed after the experiment.

37
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What special protections are required for vulnerable subjects in research?

Additional protections are required for children, seriously disturbed mental patients, and prisoners.

38
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What is the significance of the Big Five personality traits?

The Big Five traits—openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism—are stable dimensions that can predict important life outcomes.

<p>The Big Five traits—openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism—are stable dimensions that can predict important life outcomes.</p>
39
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What are the four temperaments identified by Hippocrates?

Choleric (irritable), melancholic (depressed), sanguine (optimistic), and phlegmatic (calm, listless).

<p>Choleric (irritable), melancholic (depressed), sanguine (optimistic), and phlegmatic (calm, listless).</p>
40
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What distinguishes introverts from extraverts?

Introverts tend to be shy and prefer solitude, while extraverts are sociable and outgoing.

41
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What characterizes Type A personalities?

Type A personalities are competitive, aggressive, and have a heightened sense of time urgency.

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What is the main assumption of trait theories?

Traits are inferred from behavior, quantifiable, and stable across situations.

43
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Who are the three main trait theorists mentioned?

Gordon Allport, Raymond B. Cattell, and Hans J. Eysenck.

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What is the difference between surface traits and source traits according to Cattell?

Surface traits are observable behaviors, while source traits are underlying characteristics that drive behavior.

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What are the dimensions of personality according to Eysenck?

Eysenck identified introversion-extraversion and emotional stability (neuroticism) as major dimensions of personality.

46
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What is the significance of the 'multiple-act criterion' in personality assessment?

It aggregates multiple behaviors relevant to a trait to increase the reliability of personality inventories.

47
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What is the psycholexical approach in personality psychology?

It examines how well everyday language terms describe traits and personalities.

48
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How do the Big Five traits relate to life outcomes?

Certain traits predict outcomes such as academic achievement, longevity, and interpersonal attitudes.

49
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What is the fundamental attribution error?

The tendency to attribute behavior to personality traits rather than situational factors.

50
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What is the personality paradox?

The observation that people expect consistency in behavior across situations, but actual behavior shows variability.

51
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What does situationism suggest about personality?

Situationism posits that situational factors are more influential than personality traits in determining behavior.

52
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What are state and trait anxiety?

State anxiety refers to temporary feelings of anxiety, while trait anxiety refers to a stable tendency to experience anxiety.

53
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What are signatures of personality?

Consistent behaviors exhibited by individuals across distinct situations.

54
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What is Type 1 consistency in behavior?

Average overall levels of behavioral tendencies, such as average aggressiveness.

55
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What is Type 2 consistency in behavior?

If...then... signatures of personality, indicating specific responses to situations.

56
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What does interactionism suggest about behavior?

Behavior is a product of dynamic interactions between personality and situations.

57
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What is the triple typology in personality?

A categorization of types of people, behavior, and situations.

58
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How do individuals perceive their behavioral consistency?

Those who see themselves as highly consistent have more stable if...then... behavior signatures.

59
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What is the biological level of personality?

It explores the genetic basis of personality traits and behaviors.

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What is DNA?

Deoxyribonucleic acid, made up of nucleotides, which encodes genetic information.

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What are alleles?

Different forms of a gene that can exist at a specific locus on a chromosome.

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What is genetic polymorphism?

Common genetic variations observed in at least 1% of the population.

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What is the role of behavior genetics?

Investigates the influence of genetics and environment on behavior and personality.

64
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What is the difference between MZ and DZ twins?

MZ twins share 100% of their DNA, while DZ twins share about 50%.

65
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What are temperaments?

Traits visible in early childhood influenced by genetic and environmental factors.

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What does GxE research investigate?

The interaction between genetic and environmental factors on behavior and personality.

67
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What is the significance of the serotonin transporter gene in depression?

Certain polymorphisms interact with stressful life events to influence depression risk.

68
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What is the Ascending Reticular Activation System (ARAS)?

A brain system that regulates attention, arousal, and sleep-wake cycles.

69
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How do extraverts and introverts differ in arousal levels?

Extraverts require more stimulation to activate ARAS, while introverts become overstimulated easily.

70
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What is the Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS)?

A neurological system that causes individuals to withdraw from undesirable stimuli.

71
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What is the Behavioral Activation System (BAS)?

A system that directs individuals toward desirable goals or incentives.

72
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What is sensation-seeking?

The tendency to seek out varied, novel, complex, and intense experiences.

73
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What is the Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS)?

An assessment tool measuring sensation-seeking traits, including thrill-seeking and boredom susceptibility.

74
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How does Monoamine Oxidase (MAO) relate to neurotransmitters?

MAO regulates neurotransmitter levels by breaking them down after use.

75
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What is the relationship between stress and hippocampus size?

Sustained stress can decrease hippocampus size, affecting memory and learning.

76
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What is the impact of genetic factors on environmental exposure?

Certain genetic factors may predispose individuals to seek out specific environments.

77
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What is the optimal level of arousal (OLA)?

The arousal level most appropriate for performing tasks effectively.