Deck 13: Personality

Question 1

Which of the following personality traits exist in most species?

A) extraversion
B) neuroticism
C) agreeableness
D) all of the above

Answer 1

D

Question 2

What is significant about Gordon Allport's notion of "psychophysical systems" relating to personality?

A) It emphasizes genetic contributions.
B) It highlights the negative aspects of personality.
C) It proposes nature versus nurture as an important distinction.
D) It unites mental and biological processes.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

What factor distinguishes the degree of similarity in identical twins versus dizygotic twins over time?

A) Nothing; both types of twins become less similar over time.
B) Identical twins raised together become less similar while nonidentical twins raised together become more similar over time.
C) Identical twins become more similar over time.
D) Fraternal twins become more similar over time,whereas identical twins become less so.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Genetics accounts for about ________ of the difference in individuals' personality traits.

A) 20-40 percent
B) 5-10 percent
C) 40-60 percent
D) 70-80 percent

Question 5

How does infant temperament relate to adult personality?

A) Infant temperament correlates with the general structure of adult personality but does not predict specific behavior patterns observed in adults.
B) Temperament changes so much over early development that no consistent relationships between infant temperament and adult personality have been documented.
C) Infant temperament correlates with both the general structure of adult personality and specific behavioral patterns observed in adults.
D) Infant temperament predicts negative but not positive behavior patterns in adults.

Question 6

Recent psychological research suggests that parental influence on the personality of children is:

A) weaker than had been previously assumed.
B) stronger than psychologists had previously believed.
C) strongest during the identity development stage of adolescence.
D) strong in collectivistic cultures but weak in individualistic cultures.

Question 7

Seeking to maximize personal growth through greater self-understanding is referred to as:

A) a person-centered approach.
B) self-actualization.
C) a cognitive-social approach.
D) none of the above.

Question 8

According to Gordon Allport,personality:

A) is largely contingent on one's environment.
B) is a dynamic system arising from biological processes.
C) is largely a social construction.
D) is the outcome of how people think and behave rather than the cause of thought and behavior.

Question 9

If a trait is a single concept,then personality is:

A) a collection of concepts.
B) an element of a concept.
C) the opposite of a concept.
D) none of the possible options are correct.

Question 10

A view that personality is a coherent whole that is based on psychophysical systems yet is adaptive to the environment is most consistent with that of:

A)B.F.Skinner.
B) Sigmund Freud.
C) Gordon Allport.
D) Carl Rogers.

Question 11

Although specific genes seem to be involved in personality,the effects of these genes on behavior are small.Why?

A) Environmental factors,such as culture,typically override genetic effects.
B) Free will is more important in determining behavior.
C) Multiple genes interact,and they may act in opposite ways.
D) Genetic effects weaken over time.

Question 12

Personality consists of characteristic ________ that are relatively stable over time and circumstances.

A) thoughts
B) emotional responses
C) behaviors
D) all of the above

Question 13

A science teacher takes her class to a wildlife refuge so the students can observe monkeys in their natural habitats.The teacher states that monkeys,like humans,have different personalities.The students think it is ridiculous to say that animals have "personalities." Who is correct?

A) The students are right; humans have personalities and animals do not.
B) The students are mostly right; people may perceive that animals have personalities,but it's because they are "projecting" these characteristics onto animals.
C) The teacher is right; however,monkeys show their personality differences only with regard to basic survival behaviors.
D) The teacher is right; monkeys show differences in basic human personality dimensions,such as extraversion and agreeableness.

Question 14

Two nontwin infants are adopted by the same family.Research suggests that their personality characteristics will be:

A) quite similar.
B) similar to those of their same-sex adoptive parent.
C) highly similar to their adoptive parents but not their biological parents.
D) different from each other and different from their adoptive parents.

Question 15

Jered was adopted as an infant in 1973.Jered has an identical twin who was also adopted in 1973 but by a different family.As an adult,Jered's personality should most resemble that of:

A) a sibling in his adoptive family.
B) one or both of his adoptive parents.
C) one or both of his biological parents.
D) his identical twin.

Question 16

What are researchers' current views about human and nonhuman animal personality?

A) No personality traits may be observed in both human and nonhuman animals.
B) Only nonhuman animals show the trait of assertiveness,or dominance.
C) Only human animals show the trait of agreeableness.
D) A few basic personality traits may be observed in both human and nonhuman animals.

Question 17

Bruno is shy in most situations,would prefer to read than go to a party,likes working with computers,and spends minimal time worrying about the future.Bruno's many characteristics are referred to as his:

A) dispositional array.
B) personality.
C) ego.
D) existential self.

Question 18

What is the difference between personality traits and temperaments?

A) Personality traits are more mental,while temperaments are more physical.
B) Personality traits are more specific than temperaments.
C) Personality traits are more likely to be correlated among siblings than temperaments.
D) Personality traits are evident during infancy,while temperaments are evident during adulthood.

Question 19

One of the earliest pieces of evidence that personality has a genetic component was the fact that:

A) adopted children in the same family are not very similar in personality.
B) identical twins are more similar in personality than fraternal twins.
C) people in the same culture,who apparently share similar genes,are similar in personality.
D) men are more similar to men in personality,and women are more similar to women.

Question 20

Psychologists would label a tendency to act in a certain way over time and various situations as a:

A) sociability trait.
B) humanistic approach.
C) disposition.
D) defense mechanism.

Question 21

Which of the following is true about Freud's ideas about personality?

A) They are well-supported by research.
B) They emphasize the physical influences on behaviors.
C) They focus on conscious processes of which people are aware.
D) They influenced early psychological thinking about personality.

Question 22

Freud argued that defense mechanisms are:

A) strategies the id uses to satisfy the pleasure principle.
B) conscious mental strategies that we use to deal with unacceptable sexual urges.
C) unconscious strategies that the mind uses to protect itself from distress.
D) strategies that the superego employs to satisfy the reality principle.

Question 23

Temperamental differences in humans are primarily a function of:

A) different early environments.
B) different parenting styles.
C) underlying differences in biological processes.
D) gender differences.

Question 24

Your roommate is an extremely shy person.Research suggests that she:

A) probably acquired this disposition during a difficult time in her adolescence.
B) displayed signs of inhibition and social distress even as a very young child.
C) was raised by parents who provided supportive and calm environments that fostered her quiet character.
D) may have suffered some trauma as an infant.

Question 25

How are the id,superego,and ego related,according to Freud?

A) The ego is responsive to demands of both the id and the superego.
B) The superego controls the id and the ego.
C) The id,superego,and ego all operate independently.
D) The ego caters to the id but ignores the superego.

Question 26

According to the work of Buss and Plomin,temperament in infancy is based upon:

A) activity level.
B) emotionality.
C) sociability.
D) all of the above.

Question 27

What is the difference between temperaments and personality traits?

A) Traits are broader than temperaments.
B) Temperaments are broader than traits.
C) There is no difference; traits and temperaments are essentially identical.
D) It depends on the groups one is investigating.

Question 28

Kara,a 2-year-old,is a participant in a research study on infant temperament.Which of the following characteristics will likely NOT be assessed in this study?

A) Kara's activity level
B) Kara's emotional reactions
C) Kara's social behaviors
D) Kara's alertness on mental tasks

Question 29

According to Freud's topography of mind,information from the unconscious must reach the ________ mind before it reaches the ________ mind.

A) anteconscious; preconscious
B) preconscious; postconscious
C) conscious; anteconscious
D) preconscious; conscious

Question 30

Reaction formation and displacement are similar in that they are both:

A) identified by Freud as being harmful for mental health.
B) products of a conflict between the ego and the superego.
C) personality traits.
D) defense mechanisms.

Question 31

Which of the following statements is NOT a view that evolutionary psychologists would hold about human personality?

A) Some traits evolved because of the advantages associated with having those traits.
B) Human personality is based on both free will and biological processes.
C) Having several different personality traits present in a community ensures that many different tasks are accomplished.
D) Traits provide information about desirable and undesirable qualities in potential mates.

Question 32

Studies of the relationship between infant temperament and adult personalities show:

A) lack of a reliable and valid relationship between the two.
B) that infant temperament can predict aspects of adult personality.
C) that positive but not negative social behaviors can be predicted by early temperament.
D) that children classified as inhibited at age 3 were likely to be outgoing by young adulthood.

Question 33

Freud viewed the libido as ________.In contrast,today,we think of the libido as ________.

A) unrestrained sexual behavior; sexual desire
B) one's unconscious motives; lust
C) the motive to punish or harm others; attraction
D) an energy that promotes pleasure-seeking; sexual drive

Question 34

Jaleesa's dad often said,"Do what you want,Jaleesa; I don't care." As a result,Jaleesa felt she lacked direction and never had any clear rules.According to Freudian theory,Jaleesa's dad had very little impact on the development of Jaleesa's:

A) id.
B) aggression instinct.
C) superego.
D) pleasure principle.

Question 35

In Freud's model,mental activity:

A) is divided into three zones or levels.
B) is less important than physical activity.
C) is entirely unconscious.
D) originates in the libido.

Question 36

Which of the following is NOT an aspect of temperament identified by Buss and Plomin?

A) activity level
B) emotionality
C) sociability
D) agreeableness

Question 37

Which of the following have Buss and Plomin identified as basic traits or temperaments in infants?

A) novelty seeking,shyness,and activation
B) inhibition,extraversion,and sociability
C) activity level,emotionality,and sociability
D) shyness,sensation seeking,and agreeableness

Question 38

The current view of defense mechanisms suggests that they:

A) encourage moral decisions.
B) increase psychopathology.
C) support self-esteem.
D) decrease social interactions.

Question 39

If the id is a dominant force in one's personality,he is likely to:

A) feel embarrassed even if he has done nothing wrong.
B) be painfully shy.
C) do things he later regrets.
D) resolve conflicts in a peaceful way.

Question 40

In Freud's structural model of personality:

A) the superego dominates other structures in determining behavior.
B) the ego operates according to the reality principle.
C) the ego develops before the id.
D) the superego is the realistic,rational portion of the mind.

Question 41

Which of the following statements is NOT a specific view taken by humanistic psychologists such as Carl Rogers?

A) People who satisfy their unconscious urges have healthier personalities.
B) Parental love and acceptance are related to healthy personality.
C) Personal growth depends on the freedom to express one's values and beliefs.
D) Kids whose parents provide unconditional positive regard develop healthy self-esteem.

Question 42

During the phallic stage,children develop hostility toward the same-sex parent because they desire an exclusive relationship with the opposite-sex parent.Freud argued that this conflict is typically resolved by the:

A) child's adopting many of the same-sex parent's values and ideals.
B) parents' confronting the child's inappropriate behavior.
C) id,which attempts to rein in the sexual urges.
D) time the child is 3 years old.

Question 43

In this psychosexual stage,the erogenous zone centers on the genitals.

A) oral
B) anal
C) phallic
D) latency

Question 44

Based on Freud's theory of psychosexual stages,which of the following would you most expect to hear a 5-year-old boy say to his mother?

A) "How come none of the girls at school like me?"
B) "You are soooo beautiful!"
C) "I wish you would go away so I could spend more time with Dad!"
D) "You are mean.I don't like you!"

Question 45

The correct order for the development of Freud's psychosexual stages is:

A) phallic,oral,latency,anal,genital.
B) oedipal,oral,anal,phallic,genital.
C) oral,anal,phallic,latency,genital.
D) anal,oral,latency,genital,phallic.

Question 46

If working through unconscious conflicts is central to healthy personality in Freud's psychodynamic theory,then ________ is central to healthy personality in Roger's person-centered theory.

A) recognizing one's value expectancies
B) accepting oneself unconditionally
C) developing a healthy level of extraversion
D) reducing one's level of psychoticism

Question 47

Freud thought that during the latency stage of psychosexual development:

A) sexual urges are suppressed or channeled into various acceptable activities.
B) children deal with sexual urges by identifying with the same-sex parent.
C) libidinal urges are much reduced because of hormonal changes.
D) children develop more mature attitudes toward their sexuality.

Question 48

Which of the following statements describes the current status of Freud's psychodynamic theory in psychological science?

A) It has been largely abandoned because most of Freud's ideas cannot be tested empirically.
B) It has been modified by the neo-Freudians and is now viewed as a scientifically valid theory of personality.
C) It is more widely endorsed by personality psychologists now than when it was first proposed.
D) It has been abandoned by therapists but not research psychologists.

Question 49

In a study described in your text,men with higher levels of homophobia who were shown videos of homosexual sex responded with more physiological arousal than did men with lower levels of homophobia.This finding provides evidence in support of:

A) fixation at the oral stage.
B) an underdeveloped id.
C) reaction formation.
D) rationalization.

Question 50

Bandura's cognitive-social theory of personality sees ________ as an important determinant of behavior.

A) self-efficacy
B) stereotypes
C) attributional style
D) biological predispositions

Question 51

What is the most significant aspect of Carl Rogers's approach to understanding personality?

A) the emphasis on unconscious motives
B) the intensity and rigidity of treatment
C) the focus on the subjective experiences that make up a person's life
D) the examination of forces outside of a person's control

Question 52

Bandura's concept of self-efficacy:

A) refers to our belief that we can achieve specific outcomes.
B) denies the role of observational learning on human behavior.
C) has not been supported by empirical research.
D) implies that the environment has little impact on behavior.

Question 53

Sierra,an 8-year-old,is primarily interested in developing friendships with girls her own age.In the next phase of her psychosexual development,what will become her primary interest,according to Freud?

A) pleasing authority figures,such as teachers
B) developing romantic relationships with boys
C) finding one or more role models in her group of female peers
D) overcoming the Oedipal relationship with her father

Question 54

If you were a therapist who endorsed Carl Rogers's person-centered approach to therapy,how would you treat your client?

A) You would observe the client's behavior and then give him critical feedback.
B) You would discuss the client's problems and concerns as he understands them.
C) You would have the client complete a questionnaire of the five-factor model of personality.
D) You would have the client take a battery of projective personality tests.

Question 55

Martha knows she can succeed at getting into medical school.She says,"All I have to do is figure out how other people got in,select the strategies I can successfully use,and then implement my plan." Martha is showing high levels of:

A) unconditional positive regard.
B) external locus of control.
C) internal locus of control.
D) openness to experience.

Question 56

Rotter argues that people differ in their locus of control,by which he means:

A) the degree to which they understand their circumstances.
B) their relative responsiveness to reinforcement versus punishment.
C) the extent to which they believe their fate is determined by their own actions.
D) the extent to which they value their personal expectancies.

Question 57

Cognitive-social theories of personality emphasize:

A) the effect of past patterns of reinforcement on behavior.
B) biological factors as determinants of personality.
C) the role of expectancies in guiding our behavior.
D) the unconscious processes that dictate our actions in social situations.

Question 58

Freud's theory about people fixated at the anal stage becoming stubborn and regulating:

A) is related to Freud's theory that those fixated at the oral stage become strict and inflexible.
B) has a lot of backing by current personality research.
C) is unsupported by current research in personality theory.
D) was an important factor in the humanistic movement.

Question 59

Oren is a very rigid person and must have things his own way.Other people find his attitude annoying,but Oren refuses to change.In Freud's view,Oren is fixated at which stage of development?

A) the Oedipal stage
B) the latency stage
C) the anal stage
D) the phallic stage

Question 60

The psychodynamic theorists who came after Freud and are referred to as the neo-Freudians modified his theory in a number of ways.Adler and Horney,for example,criticized Freud for:

A) underestimating the role of parents in child development.
B) giving too much weight to cultural factors.
C) his overemphasis on unconscious processes.
D) his largely negative view of women.

Question 61

In regard to trait models of personality,psychologists now generally agree that:

A) no one set of traits has yet been proposed that captures the complexity of personality.
B) there is little agreement among perceivers as to which traits go with which behaviors.
C) personality can be quite accurately described using five basic traits.
D) Cattell's 16-factor theory was probably correct.

Question 62

The BAS ________ behavior,whereas the BIS ________ behavior.

A) activates; inhibits
B) suppresses; facilitates
C) controls; modulates the intensity of
D) selects the appropriate; activates the selected

Question 63

Two of your fellow students have conflicting views about the principal determinant of personality.John takes the view that personality is determined by unconscious conflicts.Joan asserts that personality is the outcome of learning processes.What famous psychologists would John and Joan likely bring into their arguments?

A) Rogers and Seligman
B) Freud and Skinner
C) Maslow and Rogers
D) Jung and Adler

Question 64

James is very low in Eysenck's personality trait of psychoticism.Thus,you would expect him also to be:

A) somewhat cynical.
B) moderately impulsive.
C) fairly empathic.
D) very outgoing.

Question 65

In Eysenck's view,people who score low on the emotional stability scale tend to:

A) be aggressive and impulsive.
B) experience little variation in mood.
C) experience highly changeable moods.
D) be self-centered.

Question 66

________ in Eysenck's hierarchical model measures a trait that is called ________ in the five-factor theory.

A) Conscientiousness; openness
B) Psychoticism; agreeableness
C) Openness to experience; extraversion
D) Emotional stability; neuroticism

Question 67

In Eysenck's hierarchical model of personality,the most general or superordinate traits are:

A) introversion/extraversion,emotional stability,and psychoticism.
B) sociability,dominance,and assertiveness.
C) conscientiousness,agreeableness,and neuroticism.
D) emotionality,sociability,and activity level.

Question 68

A primary advantage of a trait approach to personality is that it provides a method for:

A) comparing individuals with regard to various personality dispositions.
B) explaining rather than describing personality.
C) identifying psychopathology.
D) assessing changes in one's personality over time.

Question 69

In extraverts,the ________ is more active.In introverts,the ________ is more active.

A) BIS; BAS
B) BAS; BIS
C) prefrontal cortex; amygdala
D) amygdala; prefrontal cortex

Question 70

Your professor believes that behavior is strongly affected by expectations about what might happen in the future.In addition,events in the environment affect one's current expectations.From a theory of personality perspective,your professor is acting most like a ________ theorist.

A) psychodynamic
B) cognitive-social
C) humanist
D) trait

Question 71

Recent evidence indicates that the basic personality traits associated with the five-factor theory:

A) are specific to Western cultures.
B) have genetic components.
C) are mostly environmentally determined.
D) do not replicate across different measures.

Question 72

Evidence from cross-cultural research shows that there is ________ support for the five-factor theory and that ________.

A) little; researchers are trying to come up with new ways to measure personality
B) much; some cultural differences also emerge
C) little; there is much greater support for a three-factor theory
D) much; the traits are even more predictive of behavior elsewhere in the world

Question 73

The five-factor theory has ________ factors and is ________ widely accepted than Eysenck's theory.

A) more; more
B) fewer; less
C) more; less
D) fewer; more

Question 74

According to the cognitive-affective personality system,who is likely to do better on an exam,an optimist or a pessimist,and why?

A) Both will perform equally.Their different personality styles cause them to prepare for the exam differently but equally effectively.
B) Optimists will perform better because they believe they will do well.
C) Both will perform equally.Optimism and pessimism are not related to test performance.
D) Pessimists will perform better because they believe they will fail and thus study harder.

Question 75

According to Kagan and Snidman,when do we see the first evidence of a shy temperament in children?

A) 6 weeks
B) 10 months
C) 2 years
D) 5 years

Question 76

Factor analysis is useful to psychologists because it allows them to:

A) separate real traits from imaginary traits.
B) group traits together based on their similarities.
C) identify the causal factor behind each trait.
D) predict behavior on the basis of traits.

Question 77

JoAnn describes herself as a modest and rational person.She does not usually spend time daydreaming or seeking out new experiences.Instead,she enjoys completing familiar tasks and having a structured daily routine.If JoAnn is measured on the five factors of the five-factor theory,she will probably score very low in:

A) empathy.
B) introversion.
C) conscientiousness.
D) openness.

Question 78

In Eysenck's theory,psychoticism means:

A) being criminally insane.
B) showing empathy in inappropriate situations.
C) showing dramatic mood swings.
D) being impulsive and self-centered.

Question 79

According to Gray's model of personality,extraverts are likely to ________ new situations and people and introverts are likely to ________ new situations and people.

A) approach; approach
B) avoid; avoid
C) avoid; approach
D) approach; avoid

Question 80

For Eysenck,the important difference between extraverts and introverts is that:

A) extraverts are chronically overaroused,whereas introverts are chronically underaroused.
B) extraverts desire more arousal,whereas introverts try to avoid it.
C) introverts seek environments that increase their level of arousal,whereas extraverts seek environments that decrease it.
D) the ascending reticular activating system is found primarily in extraverts and rarely in introverts.