Deck 6: Personality and Personal History

Question 1

Dr. Allison is examining whether generosity and empathy are related to marital satisfaction in a study of newlyweds. What approach to relationships is Dr. Allison using?

A) trait approach
B) attachment theory
C) Big Five approach
D) dependency regulation model

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Which of the following statements about how personality traits affect intimate relationships is accurate?

A) People with similar personality traits generally do not pair up in intimate relationships; luckily, partners with less similar personalities tend to have happier relationships.
B) People with similar personality traits generally pair up in intimate relationships; luckily, partners with similar personalities tend to have happier relationships.
C) People with similar personality traits generally do not pair up in intimate relationships, yet partners with similar personalities tend to have happier relationships.
D) People with similar personality traits generally pair up in intimate relationships, yet partners with less similar personalities tend to have happier relationships.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Despite being a single parent, Nancy enjoys spending time with her friends and attends parties whenever she can. She also runs her own business, making childrenÕs toys, which she sells through a website she maintains herself. In order to get her work done while her children are in school, Nancy must be very organized and schedule her time carefully. These behaviors reflect which personality traits?

A) high extraversion and high agreeableness
B) high extraversion and high conscientiousness
C) high conscientiousness and high agreeableness
D) high openness and high agreeableness

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Dr. Andrews is examining whether shyness and assertiveness are related to partner preferences in a study of dating couples. What approach to relationships is Dr. Andrews using?

A) trait approach
B) attachment theory
C) Big Five approach
D) dependency regulation model

Question 5

Chantey is low in agreeableness. Her husband is likely to report that she:

A) can be argumentative but is considerate of his needs.
B) is very generous toward him and their children.
C) is far too trusting of strangers.
D) treats him condescendingly.

Question 6

What prediction would follow from Sandra Murray and her colleaguesÕ dependency regulation model?

A) Individuals low in self-esteem tend to overestimate their partnersÕ regard for them.
B) Individuals low in self-esteem are biased toward looking for evidence that their partners care for them.
C) Individuals high in self-esteem see rejection even where it does not exist.
D) The rejection sensitivity of individuals low in self-esteem is associated with declines in their partnersÕ relationship satisfaction.

Question 7

Derek tends to be somewhat critical of his wife, Jane. He worries a lot about his lack of success at work and lately has been very pessimistic about the environment. According to the text, these facts indicate that Derek and Jane are likely to:

A) have a happy marriage if Derek is an extrovert.
B) have an unhappy marriage.
C) have more than three children.
D) have no children.

Question 8

In a longitudinal study spanning 50 years of marriage, how was neuroticism related to marital outcome?

A) Neuroticism was unrelated to marital satisfaction in intact marriages but related to early dissatisfaction in those who divorced.
B) Neuroticism was not related to divorce; only extraversion in husbands led to divorce.
C) Personality traits such as neuroticism were unrelated to distress; behaviors such as infidelity and drinking were.
D) Neuroticism was related to marital distress and divorce.

Question 9

What was Lewis TermanÕs view on personality and marital success?

A) A person who is unsuccessful in one relationship is likely to be unsuccessful in any relationship because of a fundamental lack of qualities that lead to compatibility with others.
B) Early childhood experiences and the views of self and other that develop as a function of the caregiving relationship lead to marital success and failure.
C) Personality traits have the potential to affect relationship satisfaction, but it is the dynamic of the couple that determines success or failure.
D) Personality does not shape and influence the intimate bonds that we form with others.

Question 10

According to the text, people who are ________ appear to be particularly vulnerable to poor intimate relationships.

A) high in anger
B) high in neuroticism
C) low in extraversion
D) high in impulse control

Question 11

Which of the following traits is NOT part of the Big Five model of personality?

A) neuroticism
B) acquiescence
C) openness
D) conscientiousness

Question 12

Personality traits are ________ with relationship satisfaction; personality traits are ________ with the types of problems and complaints that people confront in their relationships.

A) correlated; also correlated
B) correlated; not correlated
C) not correlated; correlated
D) not correlated; also not correlated

Question 13

Which of the following statements about how personality traits affect intimate relationships is NOT accurate?

A) People with similar personality traits generally do not pair up in intimate relationships.
B) People with similar personality traits generally pair up in intimate relationships.
C) Partners with less similar personalities tend to have happier relationships.
D) None of the above statements are accurate.

Question 14

According to the text, ________ refer(s) to Òthose distinctive qualities that characterize an individual, that are relatively stable over time and across situations, that have some internal organization to them, and that influence how the individual behaves in and adapts to the world around them.Ó

A) conflict management style
B) attachment style
C) motives
D) personality

Question 15

Chantey tends to be somewhat critical of her husband, John. She worries a lot about her inability to market herself as a successful painter and lately has been very pessimistic about how media advertising is affecting her daughterÕs body image. These behaviors reflect which personality trait?

A) low extraversion
B) high attachment anxiety
C) high neuroticism
D) low agreeableness

Question 16

How can we summarize the research on personality and relationships?

A) Personality affects relationships more than relationships affect personality.
B) Relationships affect personality more than personality affects relationships.
C) Personality affects relationships to the same degree that relationships affect personality.
D) We cannot determine at this time how personality affects relationships or how relationships affect personality.

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT a component of how psychologists define personality?

A) qualities that characterize all individuals
B) qualities that are relatively stable over time and across situations
C) qualities that have some internal organization
D) qualities that influence how individuals behave in and adapt to the world around them

Question 18

Derek tends to be very critical of his wife, Jane. He worries a lot about his lack of success at work and lately has been very pessimistic about the environment. These behaviors reflect which personality trait?

A) low extraversion
B) high attachment anxiety
C) high neuroticism
D) low agreeableness

Question 19

Kadija has never thought much of herself, and she does not think that her partner, Mac, does either. Mac has been preoccupied at work lately, and Kadija thinks that he is drifting away from her. Because of her dissatisfaction, Kadija has been quick to anger, and she and Mac have been arguing a lot. What best describes the cycle that Kadija is experiencing?

A) dismissing attachment
B) dependency regulation model
C) trait theory
D) fearful attachment

Question 20

People with similar personality traits generally ________ in intimate relationships, yet partners who have ________ personalities tend to have happier relationships.

A) do not pair up; more similar
B) pair up; less similar
C) do not pair up; less similar
D) pair up; more similar

Question 21

What is the primary idea of attachment theory?

A) Relationships between adults are better when the attachment between partners is similar to the parentsÕ attachment.
B) Early experiences lead some individuals to form attachments, while other individuals learn relationship skills from their caregivers.
C) The nature of the early childhood bond with caregivers influences the bonds created in adult relationships.
D) Love is a biological drive shaped by powerful evolutionary forces.

Question 22

Sociologist Paul Amato has studied how the well-being of adults is related to the state of their parentsÕ marriages when the participants were children. What best represents the findings of that study?

A) If the parentsÕ marriage ended in divorce, the level of discord had no additional effect on well-being.
B) If the parents had a lot of discord, divorce had no additional effect on well-being.
C) If the parents had little discord and divorced, or if the parentsÕ marriage had a lot of discord but the couple remained married, the children had the poorest well-being as adults.
D) If the parentsÕ marriage had a lot of discord and then ended in divorce, the children had the lowest well-being as adults.

Question 23

After two kids and 10 years of marriage, James and Sarah divorce. According to research on divorced families, which of the following statements is most accurate?

A) James and SarahÕs grandchildren will be at greater risk for divorce.
B) James and Sarah will be better parents following their divorce because they can focus on their children rather than fighting with each other.
C) James and SarahÕs children will be less well adjusted if their parentsÕ marriage was characterized by high conflict versus low conflict.
D) James and SarahÕs children are more likely to succeed in their future careers because they value work more than intimate relationships.

Question 24

Relatively secure women who are experiencing anxiety about an impending nonrelationship stressor seek contact with their partners, and the resulting support (physical proximity) reduces the womenÕs distress. From an attachment perspective, what conclusion can you draw from this?

A) Secure women tend to experience more anxiety than their partners experience.
B) Experiencing a nonrelationship stressor elicits more anxiety than a relationship stressor.
C) Attachment behaviors such as seeking closeness serve to regulate distressing emotions.
D) Insecure women are more likely to seek support than are secure women.

Question 25

After two kids and 10 years of marriage, James and Sarah divorce. According to research on divorced families, which of the following statements is most accurate?

A) James and SarahÕs children, but not grandchildren, will be at greater risk for divorce.
B) James and Sarah will be better parents following their divorce because they can focus on their children rather than on fighting with each other.
C) James and SarahÕs children will be better adjusted if their parentsÕ marriage was characterized by high conflict versus low conflict.
D) James and SarahÕs children are more likely to succeed in their future careers because they value work more than intimate relationships.

Question 26

Sociologist Paul Amato has studied how the well-being of adults is related to the state of their parentsÕ marriages when the participants were children. Based on his findings, which of the following individuals would you expect to have the LOWEST well-being as adults?

A) Melanie, whose parents frequently argued when she was young and divorced when she was 12 years old
B) Phaelan, whose parentsÕ marriage had a lot of discord when he was young but they never divorced
C) Bront', whose parents had little discord and never argued but divorced when she was 7 years old
D) Beckett, whose parents occasionally argued when he was young but they never divorced

Question 27

After being married 6 years, Sarah doesnÕt get Amanda a gift for her birthday. Your textbook points out that internal working models of attachment affect how we view interpersonal events. Which of the following interpretations about SarahÕs behavior might we expect Amanda to make if she is high in both anxiety and avoidance?

A) ÒSarah has been under so much stress at work lately, itÕs no wonder she didnÕt have time to get a gift.Ó
B) ÒSarah must still be mad at me because I forgot to pick up her dry cleaning last week.Ó
C) ÒSarah knows how much rampant consumerism bothers me; it was really considerate of her not to buy anything for me.Ó
D) ÒOh well, itÕs not a big deal.Ó

Question 28

The percentage of children who have an adverse outcome following parental divorce is ________.

A) 1 to 5 percent
B) 20 to 30 percent
C) 40 to 60 percent
D) 60 to 80 percent

Question 29

The effects that the family of origin has on who people are as individuals are referred to as:

A) intergenerational transmission effects.
B) family of origin experiences.
C) trait theory.
D) interfamilial effects.

Question 30

What factor promotes resiliency after parental divorce?

A) discontinuing contact with one parent
B) living in a single-parent household rather than creating a stepfamily
C) marrying someone whose parents also divorced so that partners can provide support for one another
D) the presence of other stable adult couples, such as grandparents

Question 31

What is the main premise of the dependency regulation model?

A) Enduring personality characteristics can affect how partners perceive and communicate with one another.
B) Early experiences with caregivers have a lasting impact on security.
C) Physical proximity to a caregiver regulates dependency needs in close relationships.
D) When dependency needs are poorly regulated in close relationships, relationships are destined to dissolve.

Question 32

XieÕs parents have been married 27 years. Growing up, Xie and his parents played board games every Friday night and made each other laugh by making up jokes. Xie, now 23 years old, is in his first serious romantic relationship: he has finally found a woman who shares his quirky sense of humor and love of board games. What phenomenon does XieÕs behavior reflect?

A) selection effects
B) protection effects
C) interdependence effects
D) intergenerational transmission effects

Question 33

Sociologist Paul Amato has studied how the well-being of adults is related to the state of their parentsÕ marriages when the participants were children. Based on his findings, which of the following individuals would you expect to have the highest well-being as adults?

A) Melanie, whose parents frequently argued when she was young and divorced when she was 12 years old
B) Phaelan, whose parentsÕ marriage had a lot of discord when he was young but they never divorced
C) Bront', whose parents had little discord and never argued but divorced when she was 7 years old
D) Beckett, whose parents occasionally argued when he was young but they never divorced

Question 34

In longitudinal studies of outcomes for children of divorced families, one result is that:

A) divorce is much worse for children than exposure to conflict in intact but troubled families.
B) experiences in the family prior to divorce affect the well-being of children.
C) although divorce doubles the risk of adverse outcomes for children of divorce, most children of divorce eventually do quite well.
D) most children do quite well while in intact families, but that always changes when their parents divorce.

Question 35

After being married 6 years, Sarah doesnÕt get Amanda a gift for her birthday. Your textbook points out that internal working models of attachment affect how we view interpersonal events. Which of the following interpretations about SarahÕs behavior might we expect Amanda to make if she is low in both anxiety and avoidance?

A) ÒSarah has been under so much stress at work lately, itÕs no wonder she didnÕt have time to get a gift.Ó
B) ÒSarah must still be mad at me because I forgot to pick up her dry cleaning last week.Ó
C) ÒSarah knows how much rampant consumerism bothers me; she was trying to be considerate when not buying anything for me.Ó
D) ÒOh well, itÕs not a big deal.Ó

Question 36

Compared to individuals from intact homes, offspring whose parents divorced:

A) show more commitment to future relationships and have a lower divorce rate.
B) are more likely to focus on school and work, and therefore are more socioeconomically successful.
C) are less likely to live with a romantic partner without marrying.
D) have poorer relationships with their parents when they are adults.

Question 37

MelanieÕs parents frequently argued when she was young and divorced when she was 12 years old. Now that Melanie is in her early 20s, she finds that her romantic relationships are often tense and conflict-ridden. What phenomenon does this reflect?

A) protection effects
B) intergenerational transmission effects
C) interdependence effects
D) selection effects

Question 38

Approximately what percentage of children in the United States will experience the divorce of their parents before becoming adults?

A) 60 percent
B) 50 percent
C) 40 percent
D) 30 percent

Question 39

Compared to individuals whose parents divorced, offspring from intact homes:

A) show less commitment to future relationships and have a higher divorce rate.
B) are more likely to focus on school and work, and therefore are more socioeconomically successful.
C) are more likely to live with a romantic partner without marrying.
D) have poorer relationships with their parents when they are adults.

Question 40

How does the experience of divorce in the family of origin relate to the adult childrenÕs communication in intimate relationships?

A) Women with divorced parents express about the same level of disagreement as women from intact families.
B) Men with divorced parents express more disagreement, invalidation, and less negative listening than men from intact families.
C) Women with divorced parents express less disagreement and invalidation than negative listening.
D) Men with divorced parents express more disagreement and invalidation than men from intact families.

Question 41

3.Does personality affect relationship quality, or does relationship quality affect personality?

Question 42

8.Explain how the magnitude of the effects of divorce on children can be interpreted in different ways.

Question 43

6.You are asked to go on a daily show at a local radio station to discuss the effects of divorce on children. One of the presenters claim that children of divorce have considerably worse outcomes as adults compared to the adult children of intact marriages. How will you address this point on the show?

Question 44

Which of the following is associated with attachment insecurity?

A) poor conflict resolution skills
B) high relationship satisfaction
C) positive model of self and others
D) more positive perceptions of partners

Question 45

7.You are asked to go on a daily show at a local radio station to discuss the effects of divorce on children. One of the presenters claim that when a parentsÕ marriage is filled with conflict children have considerably worse outcomes as adults if the parents stay together than if they divorce. How will you address this point on the show?

Question 46

9.Briefly describe the five key conclusions that have emerged from research into the ways parental conflict and divorce affect individuals as they develop through childhood to adolescence and into adulthood.

Question 47

How would attachment theorists classify adults who are high on the self-relevant dimension of anxiety and high on the other-relevant dimension of avoidance?

A) secure
B) preoccupied
C) dismissive
D) fearful

Question 48

10.The parents of 9-year-old Wolfgang have just divorced. From your textbook, you know that a number of factors can undermine WolfgangÕs adjustment (e.g., parental conflict, economic difficulties). How can Wolfgang minimize the impact of these adverse effects (although he may not consciously be aware of doing so)?

Question 49

Berndt enjoys spending time with his romantic partner, but he seldom talks with her about relationship issues or concerns. He prefers that his partner talk with her friends when she is upset about something, because he is not comfortable discussing relationship issues and does not think that it is useful for her to talk with him. Which of the following best fits BerndtÕs approach to relationships?

A) Berndt has a secure attachment style: he is realistic in knowing that it would be more useful for his partner to talk to her friends rather than to him when something is bothering her.
B) Berndt has a fearful (insecure) attachment style: he is worried that if he talks with his partner about her relationship concerns, she will end up breaking up with him.
C) Berndt has an anxious (insecure) attachment style: he would like to be closer to his partner, so he avoids talking about her relationship concerns to focus on the positive aspects of their relationship.
D) Berndt has an avoidant (insecure) attachment style: he is happy not being too emotionally close to his partner and expresses less emotion in response to events in their relationship.

Question 50

1.What is the Big Five model of personality?

Question 51

Regarding attachment theory, which of the following is true?

A) Anxiety reflects the degree to which we view others as approachable or rejecting.
B) Avoidance reflects a dislike of other people.
C) Anxiety stems from inconsistent and unavailable caregiving.
D) Avoidance of others stems from a lack of self-confidence and a fear about othersÕ regard for the self.

Question 52

2.How are the Big Five personality traits related to relationship quality?

Question 53

5.Kadija has never thought much of herself, and she does not think that her partner, Mac, does either. Mac has been preoccupied at work lately, and Kadija thinks that he is drifting away from her. Because of her dissatisfaction, Kadija has been quick to anger, and she and Mac have been arguing a lot. Use the four key phases of the dependency regulation model to explain what is happening in Kadija and MacÕs relationship.

Question 54

What are the two distinct ways of thinking about attachment theory?

A) a trait model; an interpersonal motives model
B) need for power; need for intimacy
C) rewards; costs
D) as a universal system; individual differences

Question 55

How would attachment theorists classify adults who are low on the self-relevant dimension of anxiety and low on the other-relevant dimension of avoidance?

A) secure
B) preoccupied
C) dismissive
D) fearful

Question 56

In attachment theory, adults differ along the two main dimensions of:

A) anxiety and avoidance.
B) warmth and rejection.
C) pain and responsiveness.
D) comfort and closeness.

Question 57

4.Describe the dependency regulation model and the four key phases.

Question 58

Compared to secure individuals, insecure individuals (high anxiety and/or high avoidance) tend to:

A) maximize the impact of negative relationship events.
B) minimize the impact of negative relationship events.
C) experience more positive emotion in their relationships.
D) display less negative emotion when communicating with their partners.

Question 59

According to attachment theory, experiences in early relationships are internalized as ________. Research has shown that these early experiences ________ later attachment relationships.

A) working models; systematically affect
B) the attachment behavioral system; systematically affect
C) working models; determine satisfaction in
D) the attachment behavioral system; determine satisfaction in

Question 60

Which of the following is NOT associated with attachment insecurity?

A) high relationship satisfaction
B) positive model of self and others
C) more positive perceptions of partners
D) None of the above are associated with attachment insecurity.

Question 61

14.Describe the dimensions of attachment anxiety and avoidance.

Question 62

12.Barbara and Sean have been married 5 years; BarbaraÕs parents divorced when she was 14, and SeanÕs parents are still married. Their friends, Ksenia and Eke, have been married 2 years; KseniaÕs parents are still married, and EkeÕs parents divorced when he was 11. Both couples participate in a study about couple communication, where they are observed in the laboratory discussing relationship difficulties with their spouses. Based on the material in the textbook about communication patterns in couples with intact or divorced parents, how would you expect BarbaraÕs, SeanÕs, KseniaÕs, and EkeÕs communication patterns to differ?

Question 63

15.After being married 6 years, Sarah forgets the birthday of her wife, Amanda. Your textbook points out that internal working models of attachment affect how we view interpersonal events. Discuss how AmandaÕs interpretations about SarahÕs behavior might differ depending on whether she is high or low in anxiety and avoidance.

Question 64

11.Describe how attitudes toward relationships and marriage differ between individuals whose parents divorced compared to individuals from intact families.

Question 65

13.Explain how early caregiver interactions impact individual differences in attachment.