Flashcards for Chapter 11: Personality

Flashcard 1:

• Term: Personality

• Definition: An individual's unique set of consistent behavioral traits.

Flashcard 2:

• Term: Personality Traits

• Definition: Durable dispositions to behave in particular ways across various situations.

Flashcard 3:

• Term: Psychodynamic Theories

• Definition: Theories that emphasize unconscious mental forces and early childhood experiences.

Flashcard 4:

• Term: Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory

• Definition: Suggests that behavior results from internal conflicts among the id, ego, and superego.

Flashcard 5:

• Term: Defense Mechanisms

• Definition: Unconscious strategies to reduce anxiety, such as repression and projection.

Flashcard 6:

• Term: Behavioral Theories

• Definition: Theories that suggest personality is shaped by environmental influences and learning.

Flashcard 7:

• Term: Skinner's Operant Conditioning

• Definition: The theory that behavior is determined by reinforcement and punishment.

Flashcard 8:

• Term: Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory

• Definition: Emphasizes observational learning and self-efficacy.

Flashcard 9:

• Term: Humanistic Theories

• Definition: Theories that focus on individual growth and self-actualization.

Flashcard 10:

• Term: Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

• Definition: A theory that suggests individuals are motivated by a series of hierarchical needs, culminating in self-actualization.

Flashcard 11:

• Term: Rogers' Person-Centered Theory

• Definition: Emphasizes the importance of unconditional positive regard in personal development.

Flashcard 12:

• Term: Big Five Personality Traits

• Definition: A model proposing that personality is composed of five broad dimensions:

  • Extraversion: Sociability and enthusiasm.

  • Neuroticism: Emotional instability and anxiety.

  • Openness to Experience: Imagination and curiosity.

  • Agreeableness: Compassion and cooperativeness.

  • Conscientiousness: Organization and dependability.

Flashcard 13:

• Term: Projective Tests

• Definition: Tests that require individuals to respond to ambiguous stimuli, revealing hidden aspects of personality.

Flashcard 14:

• Term: Rorschach Inkblot Test

• Definition: A projective test where participants interpret inkblot images.

Flashcard 15:

• Term: Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)

• Definition: A projective test where individuals create stories based on ambiguous pictures.

Flashcard 16:

• Term: Self-Report Inventories

• Definition: Questionnaires where individuals assess their own behaviors and traits.

Flashcard 17:

• Term: Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)

• Definition: A self-report inventory that assesses personality traits and psychopathology.

Flashcard 18:

• Term: Strengths of Personality Theories

• Definition: Provide frameworks for understanding individual differences and have practical applications in therapy and employment.

Flashcard 19:

• Term: Critiques of Personality Theories

• Definition: Some theories lack empirical support, and personality assessments can be influenced by social desirability biases.