PSYCH 105 12 Humanistic and Bio Perspectives

Humanistic Approach

A psychological perspective that emphasizes the role of the conscious mind, creativity, and self-actualization in understanding human behavior.

Self Actualization

The realization of one's potential, self-fulfillment, and seeking personal growth.

Dunning Kruger Effect

A cognitive bias where individuals with low ability at a task overestimate their ability.

Self Consistency

The degree of match among various components of one's self-concept.

Congruence

The alignment between self-concept and actual experience.

Incongruence

The inconsistency between self-concept and actual experience.

Threat in self-concept

Occurs when there is a mismatch between one's experience and self-concept, leading to anxiety.

Self Verification

The motivation to confirm one's self-concept, often leading individuals to recall or seek consistent information.

Self Enhancement

A tendency to maintain a positive self-image, contributing to psychological well-being.

Positive Regard

An innate need for love and acceptance from others.

Unconditional Positive Regard

Acceptance and love independent of behavior.

Conditional Positive Regard

Acceptance and love dependent on specific behaviors.

Maslow’s Self Actualization Theory

A theory proposing that self-actualization is the ultimate goal derived from fulfilling deficiency needs and growth needs.

Deficiency Needs

Basic requirements vital for human survival, such as food, water, and social security.

Growth Needs

Motivations that push individuals to develop their potential.

Five Factor Model

A model in personality psychology that outlines five broad dimensions: Extraversion, Neuroticism, Openness to Experience, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness.

Extraversion

A personality trait characterized by sociability, enthusiasm, and a preference for social interaction.

Neuroticism

A personality trait associated with emotional instability and moodiness.

Openness to Experience

A personality trait reflecting the degree of intellectual curiosity, creativity, and a preference for novelty.

Agreeableness

A personality trait that involves being compassionate and cooperative towards others.

Conscientiousness

A personality trait characterized by organization, dependability, and discipline.

Eysenck’s Theory

A theory suggesting that personality is structured around three high-order traits: Extraversion, Neuroticism (Stability), and Psychoticism (Self-Control).

Cattell's Sixteen Personality Factors

A framework that identifies 16 traits representing the dimensions of personality.

Behavioural Genetics

The study of genetic and environmental influences on behaviors, particularly through twin studies.

Concordance Rate

The degree to which a trait or characteristic found in one twin is also found in the other twin.

Extroversion vs Introversion

A personality distinction where extroverts seek external stimulation and introverts may have overactive brains and seek to minimize stimulation.

Novelty Seeking

A trait related to the pursuit of new experiences and high levels of dopamine release.

Neurological Perspective

The study of how physiological factors and brain activities determine personality traits.

Testosterone

A male sex hormone linked to traits such as dominance, aggression, and risk-taking behaviors.

Serotonin

An inhibitory neurotransmitter; low levels are associated with increased thrill-seeking behaviors.

Ascending Reticular Activating System

A system regulating arousal and filtering sensory information that may affect introversion and extroversion tendencies.

Stability of Personality Traits

The observation that certain traits remain stable over time while some can change due to various factors.

Evolutionary Perspective

A view that accounts for personality differences based on evolutionary advantages that enhance survival.

Hostile Type A Personality

A personality type characterized by hostility, aggression, and impatience.

Self Monitoring

The ability to adjust behavior based on social cues versus internal beliefs.

Strengths of Biological Perspectives

Highlight the role of biological influences in shaping personality and provide empirical support.

Limitations of Biological Perspectives

Challenges in explaining how biological processes correlate with specific personality expressions.

Psychoticism

A trait characterized by certain behaviors that can indicate unpredictability or novelty-seeking.

Emotional Stability

A trait related to how consistently a person experiences emotions and reacts to stress.

Relaxed vs Tense

One of the traits in Cattell's Sixteen Personality Factors indicating emotional reactivity.

Submissive vs Dominant

A dynamic indicating the degree of assertiveness or passivity in personality traits.

Expedient vs Conscientious

A measure of how immediate gratification is prioritized over long-term planning.

Self-Pitying vs Self-Satisfied

A personality trait that indicates a tendency towards negative self-perception versus contentment.

Helpful vs Uncooperative

A trait reflecting the inclination towards assisting others compared to being antagonistic.

Neuroticism-Stability Continuum

The spectrum measuring emotional stability against emotional instability.

Function of the Brain's Filtering System

Acts to regulate the arousal of the brain by filtering irrelevant sensory information.

Personality Change

The potential for personality traits to evolve through cognitive processes and learning experiences.