Deck 14: Eysencks Biologically Based Factor Theory

Question 1

Which of the following is NOT listed by Eysenck as a criterion for identifying a factor?

A)It must possess social relevance.
B)There must be psychometric evidence for its existence.
C)It must be identified through the inductive method.
D)It must relate to some reasonable theory of personality.
E)The factor must possess heritability.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Cattell classified traits that refer to how far or how fast one can perform a given activity as ____________ traits.

A)temperament
B)motivational
C)dynamic
D)ability

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Which trait theorist was a native of Germany, but lived and worked for much of his professional life in England and at the University of London?

A)Cattell
B)Kelly
C)Eysenck
D)Costa

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Traits generated through factor analysis may be either _____ or ______.

A)unipolar; bipolar.
B)unidimensional; multidimensional.
C)conscious; unconscious.
D)loaded; unloaded.
E)static; rotated.

Question 5

Explain briefly how factor analysis is used to measure personality traits.

Question 6

Which is the correct order of levels of behavioral organization from the simplest to the most complex, according to Eysenck?

A)habitual response, specific acts/cognitions, traits, types
B)types, traits, habitual responses, specific acts/cognitions
C)habitual responses, traits, specific responses, types
D)specific acts/cognitions, habitual responses, traits, types

Question 7

The people who most influenced Eysenck were

A)Cyril Burt and Charles Spearman.
B)R.B.Cattell and B.F.Skinner.
C)Sigmund Freud and Alfred Adler.
D)E.L.Thorndike and Julian Rotter.

Question 8

An example of a unipolar trait would be

A)extraversion/introversion.
B)dominance versus submission.
C)Eysenck's P (psychoticism).
D)height or weight.

Question 9

In factor analysis, correlations of scores with factors are called

A)factor loadings.
B)factor theories.
C)trait theories.
D)superfactors.

Question 10

The total number of primary traits, both normal and pathological, that Cattell and his associates identified is about

A)2 or 3.
B)10.
C)35.
D)240.

Question 11

Eysenck's three general types or superfactors are

A)bipolar factors.
B)unique surface traits.
C)pathological factors.
D)surface traits.

Question 12

At present, most researchers who study personality traits favor the idea that _________ dominant traits emerge from the statistical techniques used to sift through volumes of test data.

A)5
B)35
C)101
D)16

Question 13

Which of Cattell's media of observation could NOT be used with animals such as dogs or cats?

A)L data
B)Q data
C)T data
D)None of the above can be used to measure animal behavior.

Question 14

In general, the purpose of factor analysis is to

A)investigate differences between two groups of subjects.
B)reduce many variables to fewer basic factors.
C)construct inductive theories of personality.
D)construct deductive theories of personality.

Question 15

Name and describe Eysenck's three general types, or superfactors.

Question 16

Cattell extracted more traits from his data than Eysenck.This is partially explained by Cattell's

A)orthogonal (method) rotation
B)vast quantity of data collected.
C)time frame for collection of data.
D)types of subjects used to generate data.
E)use of oblique (method) rotation.

Question 17

In Cattell's inductive method of research,

A)data come from hypotheses generated from clinical research.
B)hypotheses guide the collection of relevant data.
C)no preexisting biases determine the collection of data.
D)hypotheses are generated before data are factor analyzed.

Question 18

Elaborate on the five-factor model of trait personality theory.

Question 19

Trait theorists rely mostly on which method of identifying traits?

A)intuition
B)psychoanalysis
C)factor analysis
D)twin studies

Question 20

Cattell attempted to measure human personality from three directions, using L data, Q data, and T data.Which of the following is an example of T data?

A)aptitude test scores
B)an autobiography
C)a biography
D)supervisory ratings

Question 21

According to Eysenck's findings, cold, nonconforming, and aggressive personalities tend to score high on

A)extraversion.
B)introversion.
C)neuroticism.
D)psychoticism.

Question 22

The Five-Factor Model (FFM) of personality shares origins with Eysenck's model in that

A)both emphasize individual case histories as data points.
B)both rely on taxonomies to generate research.
C)Eysenck relied heavily on the research of the FFM.
D)None of these is correct.

Question 23

Costa and McCrae first solidified their long research collaboration as colleagues

A)at Columbia University under the direction of theorist Walter Mischel.
B)at the National Institutes on Aging's Gerontology Research Center.
C)and graduate students together at the University of Chicago.
D)under the direction of Raymond Cattell.

Question 24

Eysenck claimed that introverted neurotics are characterized by all of the following EXCEPT

A)anxiety.
B)depression.
C)phobias.
D)hysteria.
E)obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

Question 25

In Eysenck's theory of personality, the three basic factors of P, E, and N are

A)independent of each other.
B)primary traits.
C)negatively related to each other.
D)a single unified factor.

Question 26

Eysenck claimed that extraverted types are characterized by all the following traits EXCEPT

A)sociable.
B)impulsive.
C)lively.
D)playful.
E)thoughtful.

Question 27

In Eysenck's theory of personality, individuals who tend to be empathetic, caring, cooperative, and highly socialized score

A)low on neuroticism.
B)high on introversion.
C)low on psychoticism.
D)high on extraversion.

Question 28

Eysenck argued that many experimental studies on the same topic yield inconclusive or inconsistent results because the experimenters failed to

A)match participants on gender and age.
B)take personality factors into account.
C)use the proper statistical procedures.
D)consider the motivation of participants.

Question 29

According to Eysenck, an individual characterized by hysteria, suggestibility, and somatic symptoms would score high on the ____________ scale.

A)extraversion
B)neuroticism
C)psychoticism
D)superego

Question 30

According to Eysenck, high P scorers are

A)punctual and precise.
B)caring and cooperative.
C)social and agreeable.
D)impulsive and hostile.

Question 31

Eysenck's P type is a bipolar factor consisting of

A)psychoticism and neuroticism.
B)psychoticism and superego.
C)proactivity and passivity.
D)punctuality and procrastination.

Question 32

Eysenck believed that the primary difference between extraverts and introverts is one of

A)mother-infant relationships.
B)objectivity/subjectivity.
C)neuroticism/stability.
D)cortical arousal level.
E)gender.

Question 33

Some people are vulnerable to organic and psychiatric illness because they have a genetic or acquired weakness that predisposes them to the illness.This explanation for an illness is what Eysenck called the

A)psychoticism factor.
B)hardiness model.
C)biological imperative.
D)diathesis-stress model.

Question 34

According to Eysenck, introverted types are characterized by all the following traits EXCEPT

A)quiet.
B)passive.
C)optimistic.
D)sober.
E)thoughtful.

Question 35

According to Eysenck, low levels of cortical arousal and high sensory thresholds characterize individuals who score high on the __________ scale.

A)extraversion.
B)introversion.
C)psychoticism.
D)neuroticism.

Question 36

Eysenck and Grossarth-Maticek found that

A)people with a helpless, hopeless attitude tended to die more from cancer than from heart disease.
B)people who reacted to frustration with anger and emotional arousal tended to die more from cancer than from heart disease.
C)people who regarded their own autonomy as important had high death rates from both cancer and heart disease.
D)no relationship existed between personality factors and disease.

Question 37

Eysenck believed that introverts are characterized by

A)lower levels of cortical arousal.
B)higher levels of cortical arousal.
C)high sensory threshold.
D)all of these.
E)none of these.

Question 38

What evidence did Eysenck present on the biological bases of personality?

A)People in different parts of the world have different types of personality.
B)People tend to change their personality patterns as they age.
C)Identical twins have more similar personalities than fraternal twins reared together.
D)Identical twins and fraternal twins reared together are equally similar in their personalities.

Question 39

A _________ is a classification of things according to their natural relationships while a _______ can both predict and explain behavior.

A)theory; taxonomy
B)taxonomy; theory
C)factor analysis; theory
D)paradigm; hypothesis

Question 40

Eysenck's psychoticism factor (P) is characteristic of

A)normal personalities only.
B)abnormal personalities only.
C)normal and abnormal personalities.
D)neither normal nor abnormal personalities.

Question 41

Individuals who score high on ____________ tend to be anxious, temperamental, emotional and vulnerable to stress-related problems.

A)neuroticism
B)psychoticism
C)conscientiousness
D)openness to experience

Question 42

The principal difference between basic tendencies and characteristic adaptations is

A)their resistance to change.
B)their separateness.
C)their flexibility.
D)their inflexibility.

Question 43

McCrae and Costa agree with Eysenck that personality traits are ______ and follow the bell shaped distribution.

A)unipolar
B)dichotomous
C)unpredictable
D)bipolar

Question 44

The Five-Factor Theory rests on a single causal influence on personality traits.What is it?

A)culture
B)biology
C)early childhood
D)unconscious dynamism

Question 45

In the Five-Factor theory, behavior, in part, is predicted by three core components.Which of the following is NOT a core component?

A)self-concept
B)external influences
C)characteristic adaptations
D)basic tendencies

Question 46

personality inventory, Costa and McCrae revealed two additional trait dimensions.They are

A)openness to experience and neuroticism.
B)neuroticism and extraversion.
C)extraversion and conscientiousness.
D)agreeableness and conscientiousness.

Question 47

Which term best describes the "acquired personality structures that develop as people adapt to their environments"?

A)peripheral components
B)basic tendencies
C)characteristic adaptations
D)objective biography

Question 48

The essence of basic tendencies is their basis in biology and their ______ over time and situation.

A)stability
B)unpredictability
C)variability
D)inconsistency

Question 49

McCrae and Costa used the concept of personal myths to equate to which concept(s)?

A)distorted ego perceptions
B)self-actualization
C)self-efficacy
D)proprium

Question 50

People who score in the direction of agreeableness tend to be

A)ordered, controlled, and achievement-focused.
B)good-natured, yielding, generous, and trusting.
C)anxious, temperamental, and emotionally vulnerable.
D)even-tempered, self-satisfied, and emotionally hardy.

Question 51

The trait ______ refers to people who are hard-working, self-disciplined, ambitious and organized.

A)conscientiousness
B)extraversion
C)agreeableness
D)neuroticism

Question 52

Which of the following is NOT one of the five trait factors in the Five-Factor model?

A)psychoticism
B)conscientiousness
C)agreeableness
D)openness to experience

Question 53

objected to earlier personality theories as over-relying on

A)experimental evidence from laboratories.
B)factor analysis.
C)theoretical orientations.
D)clinical events and armchair speculation.

Question 54

People who score low on openness to experience tend to

A)be conventional, down-to-earth, and prefer the familiar.
B)support traditional values, and prefer a fixed lifestyle.
C)be conservative, lacking in curiosity, and need closure.
D)show all of these characteristics in their personalities.

Question 55

Most of Costa and McCrae's early research was focused on 3 main trait factors that included neuroticism, extraversion, and _________.

A)psychoticism
B)introversion
C)openness to experience
D)social interest

Question 56

People who consistently seek out different and varied experiences would score high on

A)openness to experience.
B)extraversion.
C)neuroticism.
D)conscientiousness.

Question 57

The key, ideal factor that has allowed Costa and McCrae to investigate the trait-structure of personality has been

A)the re-emergence in the 1970s of traits as the most viable explanation for personality.
B)the mentoring of Walter Mischel for both researchers.
C)serendipity and good fortune.
D)the large, well-established datasets of adults at the NIH in Baltimore,
E)Maryland.

Question 58

Characteristic adaptations differ from culture to culture because

A)they fluctuate over time and context, unlike basic tendencies, which are stable and enduring.
B)external influences such as acquired skills, habits, attitudes, and relationships from interaction with the environment are more likely to cause adaptation.
C)Both of these are correct.
D)Neither of these is correct.

Question 59

"A theory organizes findings to tell a coherent story, to bring into focus those issues and phenomena that can and should be explained." This quote can be attributed to

A)Eysenck.
B)Cattell.
C)Allport.
D)Costa and McCrae.

Question 60

Like Eysenck's model, the Five-Factor model rates _______ as a trait that reflects an affectionate, active, fun-loving and passionate person.

A)neuroticism
B)extraversion
C)conscientiousness
D)openness to experience

Question 61

According to Costa and McCrae, maladjustment occurs when

A)characteristic adaptations become too loose, relaxed, and/or disorganized.
B)basic traits change over time in response to biological maturation.
C)adaptive responses are inconsistent with personal goals or cultural values.
D)all of these are true.

Question 62

The concept of humanity embodied by the Factor and Trait theories is best described as

A)pessimistic.
B)teleological.
C)cultural.
D)biological.

Question 63

Which of the following statements best reflects our understanding of the stability of personality traits according to the Five-Factor model?

A)Age-related declines in agreeableness and conscientiousness become increasingly evident.
B)Basic personality traits change considerably after the age of forty.
C)Basic personality traits change very little beyond the age of thirty.
D)Adults score higher on neuroticism, extraversion, and openness to experience than college students.

Question 64

Which biological mechanisms are rated as most influential on the basic tendencies?

A)reproductive success and mutations
B)genes, hormones, and brain structures
C)natural selection and extinction
D)social Darwinism and reproductive success

Question 65

Although factor and trait theories are difficult to rate on several dimensions for a concept of humanity, they clearly rate very high on

A)the teleological dimension.
B)the relative degrees of their pessimism.
C)genetic factors and generating research.
D)free will and guidance of practitioners.
E)unconscious influences.

Question 66

In general, research testing the Five-Factor model across cultures has revealed

A)that language differences make it too difficult to measure trait similarities.
B)that trait factor approaches are best applied to Western cultures.
C)translation problems with the tools used as insurmountable in research.
D)that traits appear to be consistent in most countries of the world.

Question 67

Eysenck and the Five-factor theorists:

A)agree on the number of personality factors, but disagree on their names.
B)both place a heavy emphasis on biological components of personality.
C)both rely primarily on hypothetical-deductive reasoning.
D)both began with the same test data, but they arrived at different factors through different statistical methods.

Question 68

The question of how we respond to opportunities and demands of the social situation or context is called

A)characteristic adaptations.
B)external influences.
C)peripheral adaptations.
D)basic tendencies.

Question 69

Which of the following statements would NOT be generally acceptable to factor and trait theorists?

A)Personality traits can be identified by using correlational studies.
B)Personality traits are mostly determined by environmental factors.
C)Personality traits and states can be measured by questionnaires.
D)Traits and states can be used to explain individual differences in behavior.

Question 70

______ is defined as "everything the person does, thinks or feels across the whole life span."

A)Self-concept
B)Basic tendency
C)Objective biography
D)Personal narrative

Question 71

summarize their trait model using a schematic drawing whereby peripheral components, comprised of causal, secondary influences on personality, are represented as

A)ellipses.
B)rectangles.
C)interconnecting lines.
D)None of these is correct.

Question 72

A major thrust of Eysenck's theory is that personality results from the basic genetic and neurophysiological makeup of humans.Which biological research findings support this assertion?

A)Cortical arousal and sensory stimulation levels match certain personality traits.
B)Identical twins are much more likely to have the same basic trait orientations.
C)Extraverts tend to think faster than introverts.
D)Introverts were found to outperform extraverts on tasks involving motoric response rates.

Question 73

The major strength of the Factor and Trait approaches

A)is found in their ability to organize knowledge.
B)lies in the high level of internal consistency between the two main theories.
C)lies in the parsimony of the theory, or the fewest number of explanatory factors possible.
D)is found in all of these.

Question 74

Which of the following is NOT an example of the four postulates for basic tendencies?

A)individuality
B)plasticity
C)structure
D)origin
E)development

Question 75

Research on traits and emotion tends to support the hypothesis that

A)extraversion is related to more negative moods in the face of stressors.
B)neuroticism is related to more positive, but also more unstable, moods.
C)people's actions can subvert their predispositions to certain behaviors.
D)acting extraverted does not raise positive moods in the less extraverted.