Unit 10: Personality

personality

an individual’s characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting

free association

in psychoanalysis, a method of exploring the unconscious in which the person relaxes and says whatever comes to mind, no matter how trivial or embarrassing

psychoanalysis

Freud’s theory of personality that attributes thoughts and actions to unconscious motives and conflicts; the techniques used in treating psychological disorders by seeking to expose and interpret unconscious tensions

unconscious

according to Freud, a reservoir or mostly unacceptable thoughts, wishes, feelings, and memories; according to contemporary psychologists, information processing of which we are unaware

id

a reservoir of unconscious psychic energy that, according to Freud, strives to satisfy basic sexual and aggressive drives; operates on the pleasure principle, demanding immediate gratification

ego

the largely conscious executive part of the personality that, according to Freud, mediates among the demands of the id,superego, and reality; operates on the reality principle, satisfying the id’s desires in ways that will realistically bring pleasure rather than pain

superego

the part of personality that, according to Freud, represents internalized ideals and provides standards for judgments (the conscience) and for future aspirations

psychosexual stages

the childhood stages of development (oral, anal, phallic, latency, genital) during which, according to Freud, the id’s pleasure-seeking energies focus on distinct erogenous zones

Oedipus Complex

according to Freud, a boy’s sexual desires toward his mother and feelings of jealousy and hatred for the father

fixation

according to Freud, a lingering focus on pleasure-seeking energies at an earlier psychosexual stage, in which conflicts are unresolved

defense mechanisms

in psychoanalytic theory, the ego’s protective methods of reducing anxiety by unconsciously distorting reality

types of defense mechanisms

denial, sublimation, projection, rationalization, displacement, regression

repression

in psychoanalytic theory, the basic defense mechanism that banishes from consciousness anxiety-rousing thoughts, feelings, and memories

collective unconscious

Carl Jung’s concept of a shaved, inherited reservoir or memory traces from our species’ history

projective test

a personality test that provides ambiguous stimuli designed to trigger projection of one’s inner dynamics

Thematic Apperception Test

a projective test in which people express their inner feelings and interests through the stories they make up about ambiguous scenes

Rorschach Inkblot Test

the most widely used projective tests; a set of ten inkblots seeks to identify people’s inner feelings by analyzing their interpretation of the blots

humanistic theories

view personality with a focus on the potential for healthy personal growth

self-actualization

according to Maslow, one of the ultimate psychological needs that arises after basic physical and psychological needs are met and self-esteem is achieved; the motivation to fulfill one’s potential

unconditional positive regard

an attitude of total acceptance towards another person

self-concept

all our thoughts and feelings about ourselves; “who am I?”

positive psychology

the scientific study of optimal human functioning; aims to discover and promote strengths and virtues that enable individuals and communities to thrive

trait theory

a characteristic pattern of pattern or a disposition to feel and act, as assessed by self-report inventories and peer reports

personality inventory

a questionnaire (often with true-false or agree-disagree items) on which people respond to items designed to gauge a wide range of feelings and behaviors; used to assess selected personality traits

social-cognitive perspective

views behavior as influenced by the interaction between people’s traits (including their thinking) and their social context

behavioral approach

in personality theory, this perspective focuses on the effects of learning on our personality development

reciprocal determinism

the interacting influences of behavior, internal cognition, and environment

self

in contemporary psychology, assumed to be the center of personality, the organizer of our thoughts, feelings, and actions

spotlight effeect

overestimating others’ noticing and evaluating our appearance, performance, and blunders

self-esteem

one’s feelings of high or low self-worth

self-efficacy

one’s sense of competence and effectiveness

self-serving bias

a readiness to perceive oneself favorably

narcissism

excessive self-love and self-absorption

individualism

giving priority to one’s own goals over group goals, and defining one’s identity in terms of personal attributes rather than group identifications

collectivism

giving priority to the goals of one’s group and defining one’s identity accordingly

Sigmund Freud

psychologist who conceptualized id, superego, ego; unconscious; psychoanalysis; psychosexual stages; fixation; defense mechanisms; repression

Alfred Adler

psychologist who conceptualized individual psychology, superiority complexes

Karen Horney

psychologist who conceptualized impact of social and cultural factors on personality development; basic anxiety; moving towards, away, and against people

Carl Jung

psychologist who conceptualized collective unconscious

Abraham Maslow

psychologist who conceptualized self-actualization

Carl Rogers

psychologist who conceptualized unconditional positive regard, self-concept, person-centered perspective

Albert Bandura

psychologist who conceptualized social-cognitive perspective