Deck 11: The Self, Identity, and Personality

Question 1

The extent to which a young adult recognizes his or her personal psychological makeup, including strengths and weaknesses, is that person's

A) fluctuating self.
B) possible self.
C) ideal self.
D) level of self-awareness.

Answer 1

level of self-awareness.

Question 2

Leigh understands that she upset her brother when she lost his favorite ball and wants to replace it to make him happy. Leigh is displaying

A) self-understanding.
B) perspective taking.
C) social comparison.
D) contradictions within the self.

Answer 2

perspective taking.

Question 3

Todd explains that he is different from Davion because he is tall and has blonde hair and Davion is short and has brown hair. Todd is likely a(n)

A) toddler.
B) preschooler.
C) elementary school-aged child.
D) adolescent.

Answer 3

preschooler.

Question 4

Which of the following explains why young children have unrealistically positive self-descriptions?

A) They don't yet distinguish between their desired and actual competence.
B) They don't compare their own abilities with others.
C) They don't distinguish their real self from their ideal self.
D) All of these answers are correct.

Question 5

When describing herself, Cali says that she is the oldest child in her family, is president of the honor society at school, has a few close friends, and is on the student council. These aspects of Cali's self-understanding are based on

A) roles and membership categories.
B) representations of the self.
C) personal memories.
D) self-concepts.

Question 6

Kelsy dreams of becoming a singing star one day because she considers herself to be highly talented. Kelsy is considering her

A) fluctuating self.
B) real self.
C) contradictions within the self.
D) possible self.

Question 7

Being attentive and positive toward one's image in a mirror appears as early as _____ month(s) old.

A) 1
B) 3
C) 6
D) 12

Question 8

Which of the following is an example of how a 5-year-old child might perceive a friend in terms of psychological traits?

A) My friend lives over there.
B) My friend has brown hair.
C) My friend is funny.
D) My friend is short.

Question 9

What individuals might become, what they would like to become, and what they dread they will become constitutes their

A) possible selves.
B) fluctuating selves.
C) self-consciousness.
D) self-integration.

Question 10

Twenty-month-old Michael is placed in front of a mirror with a spot of rouge on his nose. Based on research into the development of self-recognition, Michael will MOST likely

A) touch his nose in an attempt to wipe off the spot.
B) touch the mirror in an attempt to wipe the spot off of his nose.
C) wave and point to the child in the mirror.
D) look to his mother for assurance that the child in the mirror is okay.

Question 11

How has recent research helped to reshape the dominant Piaget view of infants' and young children's understanding of others?

A) "It has shown that they are not as egocentric and are more socially perceptive than Piaget thought.
B) It has shown that children have less of a sense of self and others than Piaget gave them credit for.
C) It suggests that children have less of a grasp of social states than Piaget thought.
D) It has shown that children's understanding of internal states cannot be improved through direct communication about them.

Question 12

Which of the following is the central aspect of an individual's personality?

A) self
B) identity
C) perception
D) self-assessment

Question 13

Ted is very good at understanding his friends' needs and thoughts. He is adept at

A) social comparison.
B) self-consciousness.
C) perspective taking.
D) self-understanding.

Question 14

Dewey comprehends that he is a 10-year-old boy who is: on the chess team, a member of a family, loves computer games, and hates peanut butter. This is Dewey's

A) self-esteem.
B) personality.
C) self-understanding.
D) character.

Question 15

For most children, the ability to recognize oneself in the mirror occurs

A) at about six months of age.
B) sometime in the second year of life.
C) at about three years of age.
D) usually around nine to ten months of age.

Question 16

Mariah identifies herself as a kind person, a girl scout, and the best soccer player on her team, something which will never change. Mariah is in

A) adulthood.
B) adolescence.
C) early childhood.
D) middle to late childhood.

Question 17

Jana has considered herself differently across a short period of time, as a tomboy, dancer, honor student, and so on. This is an example of Jana's

A) ideal self.
B) real self.
C) possible self
D) fluctuating self.

Question 18

Preschool children often describe themselves in terms of what dimension of the self or self-understanding?

A) physical or active
B) abstract
C) symbolic
D) transitory

Question 19

Which of the following is an example of how a young child might make a self-evaluation using an unrealistically positive overestimation?

A) I am sometimes scared of the dark.
B) I know most of my ABCs.
C) I can sing part of that song.
D) I am never scared.

Question 20

In late adolescence or early adulthood, one typically puts all the disparate parts of the self together in a systematical way and construct a general theory of self-understanding. We refer to this as

A) the possible self.
B) self-integration.
C) the ideal self.
D) self-consciousness.

Question 21

As individuals get older, they describe _____ possible selves and portray them in more _____ ways.

A) more; abstract
B) fewer; concrete
C) fewer; abstract
D) more; concrete

Question 22

Those who engage in self-regulation are more likely to have

A) high achievement but low life satisfaction.
B) lower achievement but high life satisfaction.
C) high achievement and high life satisfaction.
D) low self-esteem.

Question 23

Self-esteem is linked to many different factors. It is important to remember that the research on self-esteem is not _____, but is largely _____.

A) experimental; correlational
B) correlational; experimental
C) stable; fluctuating
D) global; domain-specific

Question 24

Which of the following statements is NOT supported by research findings? Low self-esteem is

A) correlated with perceived negative physical appearance.
B) correlated with depression and lack of happiness.
C) strongly correlated with adult job performance.
D) correlated with poor mental and physical health in later life.

Question 25

Of the following, self-esteem is correlated most strongly with

A) athletic competence.
B) behavioral conduct.
C) scholastic competence.
D) physical appearance.

Question 26

Letti allows her young son to try many different activities-sports, chess, music, and so on. She wants him to discover his natural abilities and interests in order to

A) help him realize his limitations.
B) decrease his self-consciousness.
C) increase his self-esteem.
D) increase his multiple selves.

Question 27

Self-esteem refers to _____, while self-concept refers to _____.

A) self-worth; self-image
B) global self-evaluation; domain-specific evaluations
C) global self-evaluation; self-worth
D) domain-specific evaluations; global self-evaluation

Question 28

Compared to a seven-year-old child, a nine-year-old child is likely to

A) give a less realistic self-evaluation.
B) give a more realistic self-evaluation.
C) have much lower self-esteem.
D) have an unhealthy self-image.

Question 29

Joann is an older adult who attends a group that shares its past experiences, familiar objects, and photographs with each other. This kind of therapy is known as _____ therapy.

A) life review
B) reminiscence
C) regression
D) narcissism

Question 30

Cross-cultural research shows which of the following about adolescents around the world?

A) Almost three-fourths of the adolescents had a healthy self-image.
B) Almost three-fourths of the adolescents had an unhealthy self-image.
C) Less than half of the adolescents had a healthy self-image.
D) Almost three-fourths of the adolescents had unrealistically positive self-images.

Question 31

Which of the following might interfere with the development of self-regulation in adolescence?

A) advances in cognitive skills
B) greater independence
C) an increased ability to delay immediate gratification
D) feelings of invincibility and social comparison

Question 32

The ability to control one's behavior without help from others is known as

A) perspective taking.
B) self-regulation.
C) self-esteem.
D) self-awareness.

Question 33

Which of the following is likely to improve a child's self-esteem?

A) Find out what a child values and help develop skills and competence in this area.
B) Provide encouragement from both adults and peers.
C) Help a child confront a problem and try to cope with it.
D) All of these answers are correct.

Question 34

Which of the following is NOT a strategy for increasing self-esteem?

A) Avoid problems to prevent failure or disappointment.
B) Develop competence in areas of personal interest.
C) Cultivate friendships and sources of emotional support.
D) Using learned skills to work toward and reach goals.

Question 35

At what age do infants, relying on others for signals about acceptable behavior, begin to show compliance to caregivers' demands?

A) 1-6 months
B) 6-12 months
C) 12-18 months
D) 18-24 months

Question 36

Compared to in childhood, most adolescents have _____ self-esteem.

A) higher
B) lower
C) fluctuating
D) inflated

Question 37

Judy reminisces about when her children were young. She reveals to her daughter that she often felt tired and discouraged during those times. Seeing her children as parents helps Judy realize that she was and is a good mother. This is an example of

A) life review.
B) the fluctuating self.
C) possible selves.
D) self-esteem.

Question 38

Leslie recalls her painful divorce. At the time, she felt like a failure but now realizes that many aspects of her life improved as a result of this challenge. This process is an example of

A) the fluctuating self.
B) the ideal self.
C) possible selves.
D) life review.

Question 39

All of the following are possible reasons why older adults don't have lower self-esteem than young or middle-aged adults EXCEPT

A) they don't interpret their "losses" as negatively as younger adults would.
B) they are able to reach their emotion-related goals.
C) their knowledge-related goals have increased.
D) they compare themselves with other older adults rather than younger adults.

Question 40

In most age periods, self-esteem is higher in _____ than in _______.

A) males; females
B) females; males
C) adolescence; middle childhood
D) adolescence; middle adulthood

Question 41

According to Erik Erikson, a key aspect of adolescent development is the need to

A) form an identity.
B) develop trusting relationships.
C) be independent.
D) explore his or her sexuality.

Question 42

Maria is experiencing identity confusion. Which of the following statements describes Maria?

A) She is withdrawn and isolated from her family.
B) She is immersed in her friends and equates her identity with the crowd.
C) She is withdrawn and isolated from her friends.
D) All of these are possible descriptions of Maria.

Question 43

Curtis loves to garden, but his arthritis makes it difficult. Now he limits the plants he tends to those that do not require much maintenance. This is an example of

A) a contradiction within the self.
B) optimization.
C) compensation.
D) selection.

Question 44

According to Marcia, _____ is defined as a period of identity development during which the individual is exploring alternatives.

A) commitment
B) crisis
C) foreclosure
D) diffusion

Question 45

Sal is 75 years old. He is most likely to personally invest in his

A) health.
B) family.
C) friends.
D) work.

Question 46

Thora loves to paint but realizes her fine-motor movement is not what it used to be. She now paints in the morning when she experiences fewer tremors and makes sure to go slowly when working on her projects. This is an example of

A) selection.
B) optimization.
C) compensation.
D) assimilation.

Question 47

Older adults are more likely to link their well-being to ______, while younger adults are more likely to assess their well-being in terms of _____.

A) their accomplishments; physical attraction
B) their accomplishments; their careers
C) their accomplishments and good health; their ability to accept change
D) good health and their ability to accept change; their careers

Question 48

Sometimes Kianna wants to become a lawyer and focuses her attention on school work. Other times she finds playing with children so fun and spends most of her time as a volunteer at a preschool. Kianna's change of interests is an example of Erikson's

A) identity withdrawal.
B) identity confusion.
C) psychosocial confusion.
D) psychosocial moratorium.

Question 49

As articulated by James Marcia, an adolescent who is in one of his four stages of identity development but has not yet experienced a crisis could be experiencing

A) identity diffusion or identity foreclosure.
B) identity foreclosure or identity moratorium.
C) identity moratorium or identity achievement.
D) identity achievement or identity diffusion.

Question 50

Erikson termed the gap between childhood security and adult autonomy

A) psychosexual commitment.
B) psychosocial crisis.
C) identity confusion.
D) psychosocial moratorium.

Question 51

Wayne has not explored different life options. His parents want him to become a lawyer, and he is planning to attend the law school that they have chosen for him. Marcia would say that Wayne is in a state of identity

A) diffusion.
B) foreclosure.
C) moratorium.
D) achievement.

Question 52

According to Marcia, adolescents who have not explored meaningful alternatives or made any commitments or show no interest in such matters are in a state of identity

A) diffusion.
B) foreclosure.
C) moratorium.
D) achievement.

Question 53

Paul Baltes and colleagues believe that successful aging by older adults involves

A) a significant reduction in self-control and regulation.
B) producing new resources beyond their existing ones across all domains.
C) selection, optimization, and compensation.
D) attempts to regain ability losses and attain all life goals.

Question 54

In contrast to Erikson's belief about identity formation, contemporary theorists believe that identity is formed

A) in a gradual process of discovery that occurs across the lifespan.
B) after an individual leaves home.
C) by resolving a series of crises that emerge during adolescent development.
D) long before adolescence.

Question 55

Thirteen-year-old Cody does not understand or care about how his strengths and weaknesses will guide him into different roles in the future. According to Marcia, Cody is in a state of identity

A) achievement.
B) diffusion.
C) commitment.
D) moratorium.

Question 56

Yves had a tumultuous adolescence. As a young adult, he isolates himself from his peers and family. According to Erikson, Yves emerged from his adolescent crisis with

A) identity confusion.
B) identity formation.
C) identity crisis.
D) identity isolation.

Question 57

According to Marcia, the part of identity development in which individuals show personal investment in an identity is known as

A) diffusion.
B) crisis.
C) commitment.
D) moratorium.

Question 58

Scott realizes that his memory is not what it used to be. He carries a small notebook with him to write down important information that he will need to recall later. This is an example of

A) compensation.
B) accommodation.
C) a contradiction within the self.
D) optimization.

Question 59

According to Marcia, the existence of an individual's crisis or commitment in the process of developing a self determines their

A) identity diffusion.
B) identity status.
C) identity foreclosure.
D) identity moratorium.

Question 60

The selective optimization with compensation model is based on the idea that older adults fare better when they

A) ignore their increasing limitations.
B) use technology to broaden and increase their daily activities and efforts.
C) effectively and creatively allocate new skills to tasks they want to master.
D) reduce their self-control and regulation.

Question 61

According to Marcia, adolescents who have explored alternatives and have made a commitment are in a state of identity

A) diffusion.
B) foreclosure.
C) moratorium.
D) achievement.

Question 62

What type of personality theories are based on the notion that people can be described in terms of the basic ways they behave?

A) behaviorist
B) environmental
C) psychosocial
D) trait

Question 63

According to Marcia, adolescents who are in the midst of a crisis and whose commitment levels are either absent or only vaguely defined are in a state of identity

A) diffusion.
B) foreclosure.
C) achievement.
D) moratorium.

Question 64

After considerable identity exploration, Drew finally became committed to becoming a lawyer after college. After happily working as a lawyer for a few years, he felt he was not interested in law anymore. After some soul searching, he found that his heart was in art and he decided to become an artist. Drew's experience is an example of

A) identity diffusion.
B) identity foreclosure.
C) the "MAMA" cycle.
D) identity moratorium.

Question 65

One way researchers examine identity changes in depth is by using a technique where you ask the individual to tell their life story and evaluate how meaningful and integrated that story is. This approach is known as

A) the narrative approach.
B) the MAMA cycle.
C) identity statuses.
D) identity crisis.

Question 66

When minority youth identify in some ways with their ethnic culture and in other ways with the majority culture, they are developing a(n)

A) identity moratorium.
B) ethnic individuality.
C) identity diffusion.
D) bicultural identity.

Question 67

Emily tried several different majors at school for a long time. Now, at graduation, she feels strongly interested in business and looks forward to a long career in this area. According to Marcia, Emily is in a state of identity

A) achievement.
B) moratorium.
C) foreclosure.
D) diffusion.

Question 68

According to Cooper, self-assertion and separateness are two dimensions of

A) mutuality.
B) permeability.
C) individuality.
D) connectedness.

Question 69

Juan is a college student who is reflecting on his ethnic identity and how he fits into mainstream culture. He has a diverse group of friends, loves American cinema, and is active in the campus Latino Club. Juan likely

A) suffers from low self-esteem and identity confusion.
B) has identity diffusion.
C) has a bicultural identity.
D) has an identity moratorium.

Question 70

Which of the following is an enduring aspect of the self that includes a sense of membership in an ethnic group, along with the attitudes and feelings related to that membership?

A) bicultural identity
B) identity diffusion
C) ethnic identity
D) identity foreclosure

Question 71

Stephanie has finished college and happily begun a career as a chemist. But her mother explains that few decisions are permanent, and that Stephanie may continue to reevaluate her choices and change careers several times during the course of her life. Stephanie's mother is describing

A) identity foreclosure.
B) the "MAMA" cycle.
C) identity moratorium.
D) identity diffusion.

Question 72

The Big Five factors theory of personality is the view that personality is made up of

A) drama, humor, fear, intelligence, and friendship.
B) biological predisposition, environmental influences, personal preferences, cognitive abilities, and social likeability.
C) openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.
D) experiences, innate qualities, learned behaviors, reactions/actions, and expectations.

Question 73

Maria is a family therapist. She encourages her clients to recognize and respect other's points of view and be open to different ideas. Maria is fostering a sense of

A) self-assertion.
B) connectedness.
C) individuality.
D) separateness.

Question 74

An assignment in Chad's career development course has reopened the issue of choosing a major, inspiring him to let go of his long-held plan to be a biologist. He is interested in several possibilities, but has not made any decision. According to Marcia, Chad is in a state of identity

A) diffusion.
B) foreclosure.
C) achievement.
D) moratorium.

Question 75

The "MAMA" cycle is

A) the phenomenon in which young adults look to their parents to make difficult decisions for them in various areas of identity.
B) a pattern of identity formation in which those with positive identities cycle through the moratorium and achievement stages multiple times.
C) direct coercion or subtle pressure from parents for an individual to make a particular identity choice.
D) the phenomenon in which young adults do not feel pressure to make identity choices and remain in a state of identity diffusion for long periods of time.

Question 76

According to Cooper, mutuality and permeability are two dimensions of

A) self-assertion.
B) separateness.
C) individuality.
D) connectedness.

Question 77

For positive identity development, a family atmosphere should promote

A) individuality and reduce connectedness.
B) connectedness and reduce individuality.
C) both individuality and connectedness.
D) neither connectedness nor individuality.

Question 78

The Big Five factors have shown in research to be related to

A) better health and less stress.
B) superior problem-focused coping.
C) better-quality relationships.
D) All of these answers are correct.

Question 79

Kristina is looking forward to participating in the mock election debate at school. She has strong opinions on school issues and feels confident that she can communicate her stance to others. Kristina is strong in what characteristic?

A) mutuality
B) permeability
C) connectedness
D) individuality

Question 80

According to Marcia, adolescents who have made a commitment without exploring meaningful alternatives are in a state of identity

A) diffusion.
B) foreclosure.
C) moratorium.
D) achievement.