Deck 1: What Is Personality Psychology

Question 1

One reason people use the term personality is to convey:

A) that no other person will behave in the same manner as another.
B) that a person's actions in a situation are determined by genetics.
C) that a causal force within a person is influencing their behavior.
D) none of the above

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Which of the following did Allport say about personality?

A) It's simply an accumulation of bits and pieces.
B) It is not inextricably tied to the physical body.
C) It is a causal force that determines behavior.
D) It is generally displayed in just one way.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

A theory is a:

A) scientifically proven set of facts.
B) set of ideas that are not supported by scientific data.
C) summary statement about events.
D) layperson's speculation about a phenomenon.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

No two personalities are exactly alike. This is captured by the notion of:

A) genetic differences.
B) differences in socialization.
C) individual differences.
D) none of the above

Question 5

Which of the following criteria should a good theory fit?

A) It should be parsimonious.
B) It should "feel" right.
C) It should be testable.
D) all of the above

Question 6

The term personality describes a sense of:

A) personal distinctiveness.
B) internal conflict.
C) morality.
D) all of the above

Question 7

The broader a theory is:

A) the more likely it is to be ambiguous.
B) the more likely it is to be correct.
C) the more likely it is to make clear predictions.
D) the more likely it is to deny scientific facts.

Question 8

The idea that our behavior at a given time stems from the motives we hold at that time emphasizes the concept of:

A) individual differences.
B) internal consistency.
C) intrapersonal functioning.
D) personal distinctiveness.

Question 9

The best theories are characterized by:

A) parsimony.
B) substantial research support.
C) intuitive appeal.
D) all of the above

Question 10

In the study of personality, consistency involves looking for continuity across:

A) time.
B) similar situations.
C) situations that are relatively different from each other.
D) all of the above

Question 11

In characterizing Freud's ideas about testability, it is most accurate to say that he:

A) insisted that his theoretical ideas be supported by research.
B) preferred that his theoretical ideas be supported by research but recognized that some of them were untestable.
C) was not interested in whether or not his theoretical ideas were supported by research.
D) none of the above

Question 12

The term personality conveys a sense of__________ about an individual's qualities.

A) diversity
B) consistency
C) complexity
D) inevitability

Question 13

A good personality theory should be:

A) abstract.
B) testable.
C) correct.
D) all of the above

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT a legitimate criticism of a psychological theory?

A) It is too parsimonious.
B) It is based on laboratory animals in artificial settings.
C) It is based on the theorists' experiences conducting therapy.
D) It does not stimulate enthusiasm.

Question 15

When laypersons use the term personality, they generally refer to __________, whereas when personality psychologists use the term, they generally refer to ___________.

A) generic ideas about things everyone has in common; specific traits of particular people
B) specific traits of particular people; concrete concepts about personality
C) concrete concepts about personality; specific traits of particular people
D) specific traits of particular people; abstract concepts about personality

Question 16

Intrapersonal functioning describes:

A) the dynamic organization of systems within the person.
B) the interactions between individuals within society.
C) individual differences in behavior.
D) the degree of consistency of an individual's behavior across settings.

Question 17

The personality concept helps us to:

A) understand the behavior of others.
B) predict how people will behave in certain situations.
C) understand our own behavior.
D) all of the above

Question 18

A theory is parsimonious if it:

A) can predict behavior accurately.
B) contains few assumptions.
C) is testable.
D) is able to stimulate research.

Question 19

The two basic functions of theories are to:

A) explain and modify behavior.
B) describe and modify behavior.
C) describe and explain behavior.
D) explain and predict behavior.

Question 20

Allport's definition of personality includes all of the following points EXCEPT the idea that personality:

A) has organization.
B) is a causal force.
C) shows up in patterns.
D) is a purely psychological concept.

Question 21

One reason to use the term personality is to suggest that a person's behavior is caused by internal forces.

Question 22

The term personality suggests that a few characteristics can summarize what a person is like.

Question 23

The social learning perspective emphasizes:

A) constancy in personality.
B) change in personality.
C) school and peer influences on personality, but not family influences.
D) parental influences but not peer influences.

Question 24

Which of the following is an assumption of the self-regulation perspective?

A) People are complex.
B) Personality is organized.
C) People synthesize and move toward goals.
D) all of the above

Question 25

When we describe personality, we reduce a large amount of information to a smaller set.

Question 26

The motive perspective on personality suggests that:

A) motives are the sole determinant of behavior.
B) motives wax and wane in different contexts.
C) motives are not deeply embedded in the person.
D) motives are exclusively genetic.

Question 27

Newer theories in personality psychology tend to __________than older theories.

A) explain more aspects of personality
B) explain fewer aspects of personality
C) rely more on case studies
D) be less parsimonious

Question 28

The cognitive perspective suggests that:

A) mental organization influences how people think but not how they behave.
B) human nature involves deriving meaning from experiences.
C) personality does not exist.
D) all of the above

Question 29

According to the biological process perspective:

A) personality is purely genetic.
B) all nervous systems function the same way.
C) nervous system processes, but not hormonal processes, influence personality.
D) both nervous system and hormonal processes influence personality.

Question 30

The inheritance and evolution perspective:

A) is the only biological perspective on personality.
B) could suggest that aspects of personality exist because they were adaptive millennia ago.
C) emphasizes how a parent's social experiences will influence his or her child's personality.
D) all of the above

Question 31

The view that human nature incorporates a set of internal pressures that compete and conflict with each other reflects the:

A) trait perspective.
B) dispositional perspective.
C) psychosocial perspective.
D) learning perspective.

Question 32

Which of the following perspectives is most closely aligned with the psychoanalytic perspective?

A) the meta-theoretical perspective
B) the dispositional perspective
C) the phenomenological perspective
D) the psychosocial perspective

Question 33

Accurate assessment of personality is necessary:

A) to conduct valid research on personality.
B) for making smart hiring decisions.
C) for treating mental illness.
D) all of the above
True and False

Question 34

According to the trait perspective,__________ is a major focus.

A) what traits are most important
B) how many traits are important
C) how trait differences are expressed in behavior
D) all of the above

Question 35

When psychologists use the term personality they are likely referring to an abstraction.

Question 36

According to William James, people prefer theories that fit their:

A) aesthetic needs.
B) emotional needs.
C) active needs.
D) all of the above

Question 37

Psychologists typically use the term personality to refer to specific characteristics of specific persons.

Question 38

Personality psychologists generally agree on a single definition of personality

Question 39

According to the organismic perspective on personality:

A) sex drive has a primary influence on personality.
B) people do not have free will.
C) every person has the potential to grow into a person of value.
D) environment is less important than biology.

Question 40

Personality refers to consistency across similar situations but not consistency across very different situations.

Question 41

A good theory needs to generate novel predictions.

Question 42

The motive perspective on personality argues that motivations are constant across contexts.

Question 43

Results from psychological research often fail to fully support predictions

Question 44

Because personality is a broad construct, personality theories must be broad and complex.

Question 45

The explanatory aspect of personality theories is more subtle than the predictive aspect

Question 46

Sigmund Freud is most closely associated with the biological process perspective

Question 47

Most personality theories have some ambiguity, making it unclear exactly what their predictions should be.

Question 48

Theories must explain complex phenomena more complex than, for example, the behavior of individual nerve cells.

Question 49

The concept of intrapersonal functioning describes the dynamic processes that occur within the individual.

Question 50

A theory is sufficient if it provides an explanation for known facts; it need not allow you to make new predictions.

Question 51

Although they differ in other ways, all personality theories give equal emphasis to individual differences and intrapersonal functioning.

Question 52

The belief that people tend naturally toward self-perfection is one of the roots of the self-actualization perspective.

Question 53

According to the biological processes perspective, nervous-system functioning is important in determining personality, but hormonal functioning is not, because hormone levels fluctuate so rapidly.

Question 54

According to Allport, personality has little to do with the physical body

Question 55

The trait perspective suggests human nature is a set of relatively permanent qualities embedded in a person.

Question 56

Theories should be open to the possibility of being disconfirmed as well as to the possibility of being supported.

Question 57

Two core themes in personality psychology are individual differences and social functioning.

Question 58

The cognitive perspective on personality focuses on the notion that self-actualization is a fundamental part of human nature.

Question 59

The inheritance and evolution perspective argues that many aspects of personality exist because they were adaptive for humans that existed millennia ago.

Question 60

Personality psychologists only use objective information when evaluating theories.

Question 61

Each perspective on personality generally begins with a different conception of human nature.

Question 62

Recent research indicates the BAS may be based in the right frontal cortex.

Question 63

Allport's definition of personality emphasizes several elements. Identify three of the Ideas it contains.

Question 64

If a particular theory does not cover the entire domain of personality, it is not a valuable contribution to the field.

Question 65

The BAS is an avoidance-based system, responsive to cues of punishment.

Question 66

Identify and briefly discuss the characteristics of a good theory.

Question 67

Name four of the broad perspectives and describe the fundamental assumption of each.

Question 68

The BAS is thought to be responsible for many kinds of positive emotions.

Question 69

Each theoretical perspective suggests different ways to promote behavior change.

Question 70

Higher BAS sensitivity relates to higher resting levels in the left prefrontal cortex.

Question 71

Each theoretical perspective suggests different things about normal behavior, but similar things about abnormal behavior.

Question 72

Newer personality theories tend to be aimed at all aspects of personality whereas older theories tended to focus on more specific aspects of personality.

Question 73

Identify three ways in which personality psychologists use assessment.

Question 74

Assessment techniques often differ from one theoretical approach to another

Question 75

Define the term theory and identify a theory's two basic purposes or functions.