Deck 2: Theories of Personality

Question 1

The first psychodynamic theory of personality was developed by

A)Sigmund Freud.
B)John Watson.
C)Abraham Maslow.
D)Carl Jung.

Answer 1

Sigmund Freud.

Question 2

Theorists within the psychodynamic tradition would agree that

A)psychological theories should only be developed by studying large groups of subjects.
B)the first five years are critical in the development of adult personalities.
C)psychologists need to rely on objective rather than subjective methods.
D)personality development is smooth and continuous.

Answer 2

the first five years are critical in the development of adult personalities.

Question 3

Cecil is sexually attracted to his middle-school English teacher.He doesn't act on his feelings however,because he realizes that it is unrealistic that his teacher would respond positively to his advances.According to Freud,which part of the personality would be responsible for Cecil's restraint?

A)denial
B)the id
C)the ego
D)the superego

Answer 3

the ego

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT an emphasis shared by all psychodynamic theories?

A)an emphasis on unconscious processes within the mind
B)an emphasis on the role of early childhood experiences
C)an emphasis on adult experiences as the cause of ongoing problems
D)an emphasis on unconscious thoughts and feelings from childhood that later form characteristic habits,conflicts,and often self-defeating behavior

Question 5

John dreamed that he was in a train that entered a tunnel.If a psychologist believed that the dream expressed John's unconscious sexual desires,the psychologist would likely be a

A)humanist.
B)learning theorist.
C)personologist.
D)psychoanalyst.

Question 6

In Freud's theory,the psychic energy that fuels the sexuality instinct is called

A)the libido.
B)the ego.
C)the superego.
D)the id.

Question 7

After twelve years of attending the same schools,Holly and Amy chose to attend colleges in different states.Holly remembered Amy as a shy but friendly girl who rarely took risks,and so Holly was surprised when her friend sent an e-mail describing the thrill of sky-diving.Holly's surprise occurred because Amy's behaviors don't match the _______________ that Holly had observed in high school.

A)collective unconscious
B)archetypes
C)personality traits
D)defense mechanisms

Question 8

Which aspect of the mind held the greatest fascination for Freud?

A)the preconscious mind
B)the conscious area
C)suppressions
D)the unconscious

Question 9

During a job interview,Dr.Sardonicus informs the search committee that she is a psychodynamic theorist.Given this information,the committee concludes that Dr.Sardonicus probably believes that

A)humans are rational decision makers.
B)personality development is smooth and continuous.
C)psychologists need to rely on objective rather than subjective methods.
D)adult personality is formed primarily by experiences in early childhood.

Question 10

Which component of personality is present at birth and is the reservoir of unconscious psychological energies and the motives to avoid pain and obtain pleasure?

A)the id
B)the ego
C)the libido
D)the superego

Question 11

Which component of personality is a "referee" between the needs of instinct and the demands of society?

A)the id
B)the ego
C)the libido
D)the superego

Question 12

Latasha sees a cell phone sitting on a park bench.If her superego had a voice,it would probably tell her

A)to take the phone because she really wants it and it will bring her pleasure.
B)that stealing is wrong and she should leave the phone where it is.
C)that if she wants a phone,the logical thing to do is save her money so she can buy one.
D)it's ok to take the phone because the owner clearly didn't want it anymore.

Question 13

Psychoanalysts sometimes describe personality as an iceberg,with the largest part hidden deep below the water.A person in a boat is aware of only a small part of the iceberg sticking out above the water.In this metaphor,which part of the personality would the majority of the ice showing above the water represent?

A)the unconscious
B)the id
C)the ego
D)the libido

Question 14

Which component of personality represents morality and parental authority?

A)the id
B)the ego
C)the libido
D)the superego

Question 15

A _______________ is a habitual way of behaving,thinking,and feeling.

A)personality
B)trait
C)personality type
D)temperament

Question 16

According to Freud,the major components of personality do not develop at the same time.The _______________ is present at birth,then the _______________ develops,and finally the _______________.

A)libido;superego;ego
B)id;ego;superego
C)ego;id;superego
D)superego;libido;ego

Question 17

_______________ is defined as a distinctive and relatively stable pattern of behavior,thoughts,motives,and emotions that characterizes an individual throughout life.

A)A trait
B)Personality
C)Reciprocal determinism
D)The ego

Question 18

Davey is a person who strives to be a perfectionist.When he does not meet his self-imposed goals,he is likely to feel guilt and shame.A Freudian would probably say that Davey's personality is dominated by his

A)libido.
B)id.
C)ego.
D)superego.

Question 19

In psychodynamic theory,an inner voice that says that you did something wrong would be most closely connected with the

A)libido.
B)id.
C)ego.
D)superego.

Question 20

Winnie is attracted to her best friend's boyfriend.Despite her friendship,when her friend isn't around,Winnie tries to steal him away.According to Freud,which part of the personality would be responsible for this behavior?

A)projection
B)the id
C)the ego
D)the superego

Question 21

The process of toilet training occurs during the _______ stage.

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

Question 22

When boys are in the Oedipal stage,according to Freud,

A)they are distressed because when they grow up they won't be able to have babies.
B)they are horrified by naked girls,because girls have had their penises cut off.
C)they are distressed to learn that they can never nurse a baby like Mommy can.
D)they do not have a powerful motivation to give up their Oedipal feelings for their mothers.

Question 23

Diego hears from the doctor that he has a serious disease.Diego's response is "This can't be true! There's been a mistake.It cannot be me." What Freudian defense mechanism is Diego using?

A)denial
B)projection
C)repression
D)displacement

Question 24

Which of the following statements most closely reflects the current view of Freudian theory?

A)Freud's works have been thoroughly and completely rejected by virtually all respectable psychologists.
B)Most psychologists agree that careful scientific study has confirmed most of Freud's ideas.
C)While some of Freud's ideas have been proven wrong,almost all psychologists agree that he used good scientific methodology.
D)Freud's basic ideas are accepted by many psychologists,while others reject them as unscientific.

Question 25

The junior class at a local high school was stunned when an alcohol-impaired driver missed a turn and caused a fatal accident involving a classmate.The school crisis team noted that many classmates responded in ways that seemed to indicate that they were invulnerable to this kind of tragedy because "They were careful drivers who always wore seatbelts." The crisis team concluded that these students were using the defense mechanism called

A)regression.
B)projection.
C)displacement.
D)denial.

Question 26

Lou has very little regard for other people's feelings or property when he steals from them.A Freudian is likely to consider which part of Lou's personality to be underdeveloped?

A)superego
B)id
C)mandala
D)Oedipus complex

Question 27

Anna is a morally rigorous person who demands that her daughter remain a virgin until she is married.Anna cannot remember her own premarital sexual encounters.Which defense mechanism would likely account for this memory lapse?

A)rationalization
B)denial
C)repression
D)projection

Question 28

Which defense mechanism involves reversion to an earlier phase of psychological development?

A)repression
B)regression
C)denial
D)projection

Question 29

According to Freud,personality develops through a series of psychosexual stages.The stage that occurs during the first year of life is called the __________ stage.

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

Question 30

Which psychosexual stage is most crucial for the formation of personality,according to Freud?

A)the oral stage
B)the anal stage
C)the phallic stage
D)the genital stage

Question 31

What are the stages of psychosexual development in order,beginning from birth?

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

Question 32

Luke is obsessive about cleanliness.He can't stand it when someone creates a mess in his house or puts something back in the wrong place.A Freudian psychoanalyst would likely say that Luke is fixated in the _________ stage.

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

Question 33

If the frustration,conflict,and anxiety associated with a particular psychosexual stage are not properly resolved,Freud believed children may

A)jump forward to the genital stage.
B)regress back to the anal stage.
C)remain fixated,or stuck,at that stage.
D)fail to develop a superego.

Question 34

An orally fixated person would most likely

A)be an only child.
B)dislike his or her father.
C)be a sloppy dresser.
D)eat and smoke a great deal.

Question 35

Making a vow of celibacy was difficult for Andrew when he became a priest,but he remained true to his vow.On his 25th anniversary,the congregation held a reception and displayed several pieces of liturgical art that Andrew had created over the past two decades.According to Freud,Andrew's artistic creations might be the result of

A)sublimation.
B)reaction formation.
C)denial.
D)projection.

Question 36

The stage of personality development which lasts from about age 6 until puberty is known as the _______ stage.

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

Question 37

According to Freud,if a person's id is in conflict with social rules,one strategy the ego can use is

A)a defense mechanism.
B)fixation.
C)a mandala.
D)the Oedipus complex.

Question 38

Four-year-old Lindsey squeezes between her Mommy and Daddy as they sit together on the couch.She cuddles her Daddy but refuses to kiss her Mommy.This illustrates which Freudian concept?

A)the genital stage
B)the Oedipus complex
C)fixation
D)the collective unconscious

Question 39

During a grade school field trip,Ryan and his friends were running down a hill when he stepped on a snake.He was unharmed but shaken by the experience.When one of his friends mentioned the incident months later,Ryan could not remember running down the hill that day.Freud would say that this is an example of

A)sublimation.
B)displacement.
C)repression.
D)reaction formation.

Question 40

Vito is angry when the school bus driver blames Vito for misbehaving when it actually was the child behind him who had been acting up.As he gets off the bus,he kicks the bus tire.Freud would say that Vito is unconsciously using the defense mechanism of

A)displacement.
B)repression.
C)projection.
D)denial.

Question 41

Howard's psychologist asks him to take a personality test.The test consists of a series of standardized multiple choice items.The test also includes a section where Howard is asked to rate himself on a series of scales.It is likely that this is a(n)

A)factor analysis.
B)objective test.
C)heredity test .
D)humanist analysis.

Question 42

Carl Jung would agree that

A)Darth Vader represents the shadow archetype.
B)the collective unconscious differs for each person.
C)human personality is mostly driven by "dark" forces.
D)past conflicts provide the only motivation for current behaviors.

Question 43

Which of the following is NOT one of the Big Five personality traits?

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

Question 44

In the object-relations view of development

A)boys identify first with the mother and girls identify with the father.
B)boys identify first with the father and girls identify with the mother.
C)children of both sexes identify first with the father.
D)children of both sexes identify first with the mother.

Question 45

Which psychoanalyst is known for arguing that the concept of "penis envy" was insulting and misguided?

A)Carl Jung
B)Sigmund Freud
C)Karen Horney
D)Raymond Cattell

Question 46

What does the empirical evidence show about the Myers-Briggs test's ability to predict a person's behavior on the job or in relationships?

A)The measure has never been applied to this task.
B)The evidence does not support it.
C)There are mixed results.
D)The test has been clearly established as strong and reliable.

Question 47

The "objects" in the object-relations school of thought refers to

A)both real and mental representations of other people.
B)the toys an infant plays with.
C)the parts of a person's personality.
D)a person's most basic needs and desires.

Question 48

Raymond Cattell advanced the study of personality by

A)developing case-study analysis.
B)disproving Early Greek theories of personality.
C)devising the Myers-Briggs inventory.
D)using factor analysis.

Question 49

Suppose a student in your class asked the professor,"Why is it important to study the psychodynamic view of personality?" Which of the following would be a valid response?

A)Most psychologists agree that it is still valid today.
B)It is based on rigorous scientific study.
C)It has had a huge impact on the way psychologists and nonpsychologists think about personality.
D)It is the only theory that accurately explains personality.

Question 50

Penny is a folklorist who studies myths and stories from different cultures around the world.She notices that there are some character types that appear frequently,despite the fact that the cultures she studies have had little to no contact with each other.Whose work would Penny likely cite to explain this observation?

A)Karen Horney
B)Sigmund Freud
C)Clara Thompson
D)Carl Jung

Question 51

For Gordon Allport,our personalities reflect

A)a few central traits and a greater number of secondary traits.
B)the ways we cope with the struggle to find meaning in existence.
C)whether or not a person received unconditional positive regard throughout childhood.
D)a gradual progression toward self-actualization.

Question 52

Which type of research is likely to create an illusion of causality?

A)longitudinal studies
B)retrospective analysis
C)experiments
D)cross-sectional studies

Question 53

Which is the scientific failing of psychodynamic theories when a researcher concludes from a few cases that something is true for all?

A)falsifiability
B)generalizing from small sample sizes
C)relying on emotional reactions rather than sound reasoning
D)basing theories on retrospective accounts

Question 54

Early philosophers suggested that human personality is based on

A)the sense of being able to achieve goals.
B)early relationships with the mother.
C)four different mixes of basic body fluids.
D)a person's subjective sense of self and free will.

Question 55

Carl Jung believed that the visual archetype called a _____________ in Eastern religions symbolizes the unity of life and "the totality of the self."

A)Earth Mother
B)shadow
C)mandala
D)Oedipus

Question 56

According to _______________,there is a collective unconscious shared by all human beings,containing universal memories,symbols,and images that are the legacy of human history.

A)Carl Jung
B)Sigmund Freud
C)Karen Horney
D)Raymond Cattell

Question 57

Dr.Simmons is a psychologist who believes that the central problem in life is to find a balance between the need for independence and the need for others.She is most likely to be interested in the writings of

A)Melanie Klein and D.W.Winnicott.
B)Karen Horney.
C)Carl Jung.
D)Anna Freud

Question 58

Some psychologists critique psychodynamic theories because they are largely based on the retrospective accounts of adults.One reason this is a problem is that

A)adult memories for childhood experiences may be flawed.
B)random samples are biased.
C)childhood experiences can affect adult personalities.
D)retrospective studies only focus on atypical adults.

Question 59

Asked about a recently published study showing that little girls do not have penis envy,a psychodynamic theorist immediately says that the little girls are all in denial and do not want to admit to the feelings that they have.This response is an example of

A)basing theories on the retrospective accounts of adults.
B)overgeneralization.
C)the illusion of causality.
D)violating the principle of falsifiability.

Question 60

Which of the following statements summarizes a key principle of the object-relations school of thought?

A)Infants develop their personality based upon which objects they encounter.
B)All human beings share a vast collection of universal memories and beliefs.
C)Individuals need to find a balance between the need for independence and the need for others.
D)Infants only care about adults who fulfill their basic needs and desires.

Question 61

_______________ describes the extent to which people are anxious and impulsive.

A)Agreeableness vs.antagonism
B)Extroversion vs.introversion
C)Neuroticism vs.emotional stability
D)Openness to experience vs.resistance to new experience

Question 62

Of our total DNA,98.8 percent is

A)protein.
B)genes.
C)noncoding DNA.
D)chromosomes.

Question 63

Which of these research methods would a psychologist be likely to employ to study the influence of genetics on personality?

A)examining heritability in twins and adopted individuals
B)interviewing people who have known others who were particularly odd or unique
C)administering paper and pencil or computerized questionnaires to hundreds of people
D)documenting the patterns of development and difficulties of psychiatric patients

Question 64

_______________ describes whether people are cooperative and secure,or irritable and abrasive.

A)Agreeableness vs.antagonism
B)Extroversion vs.introversion
C)Neuroticism vs.emotional stability
D)Openness to experience vs.resistance to new experience

Question 65

Research on animal personality suggests that

A)many different species demonstrate most of the Big Five factors.
B)only humans have true personalities.
C)only primates (humans,apes,monkeys)have distinctive,characteristic ways of behaving that make them different from their follows.
D)pet owners make poor observers of their pet's personality.

Question 66

Sonia owns a small dog.Both she and a close friend agree that the dog is very extroverted,but a little neurotic.What is probably true about their opinion?

A)It is incorrect because pet owners have very biased views of their pets' personality.
B)It is incorrect because extroversion and neuroticism are not personality traits seen in dogs.
C)It is correct because dog owners and friends are fairly good at rating the personality traits of their dogs.
D)It is correct because almost all dogs are extroverted but a little neurotic.

Question 67

The nature-nurture debate can be summarized by asking:

A)are differences between people caused by genes or the environment?
B)are people naturally nurturing?
C)can all people be divided into "nature" or "nurture" personality types?
D)do animals have personalities?

Question 68

Which trait among the Big Five typically decreases by age 30?

A)extroversion
B)neuroticism
C)agreeableness
D)openness to experience

Question 69

Rene is 85 years old.It is most likely that he has become __________ open to new experiences and _________ extroverted over the last few decades.

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

Question 70

The functional units of heredity that are composed of DNA and specify the structure of proteins are called

A)heritability.
B)genes.
C)traits.
D)chromosomes.

Question 71

According to many clinical psychologists,an important trait,_______________,is not included among the Big Five.

A)carelessness
B)suspicion
C)self-absorption
D)neuroticism

Question 72

Most of Candice's relationships with other people are hostile.She frequently gets in fights with strangers and even close friends.Candice is highly

A)introverted .
B)antagonistic.
C)extroverted.
D)neurotic.

Question 73

Amir is constantly worrying about things,even though he really doesn't have anything to worry about.He constantly complains about his coursework,and gives up on difficult projects easily.Amir is best described as highly

A)antagonistic.
B)extroverted.
C)impulsive.
D)neurotic.

Question 74

_______________ describes the extent to which people are outgoing or shy.

A)Agreeableness vs.antagonism
B)Extroversion vs.introversion
C)Neuroticism vs.emotional stability
D)Openness to experience vs.resistance to new experience

Question 75

_______________ describes whether people are steadfast and persevering,or fickle and careless.

A)Agreeableness vs.antagonism
B)Extroversion vs.introversion
C)Conscientiousness vs.impulsiveness
D)Openness to experience vs.resistance to new experience

Question 76

In the study of dogs and their owners,Samuel Gosling and his colleagues found

A)dogs do not have personalities.
B)the owners and neutral observers could not agree on the dogs' personalities.
C)all of the dogs had similar personality traits.
D)the dog owners and the neutral observers all agreed strongly in their ratings of the dogs' personalities along four of the Big Five dimensions.

Question 77

Physiological dispositions to respond to the environment in certain ways are present in infancy.These dispositions,called _______________,are assumed to be innate.

A)personalities
B)aptitudes
C)temperaments
D)traits

Question 78

Walter prefers to stay home on a Friday night and read a good book to hanging out with other people.In fact,he tends to be fairly reclusive in general.Walter would be best described as

A)introverted .
B)extroverted.
C)neurotic.
D)antagonist.

Question 79

Regarding the Big Five,most psychologists would probably agree with the statement that

A)an individual's core traits change a lot throughout his or her lifetime.
B)important traits involved in mental disorders are included in the Big Five.
C)they only apply to people in Western cultures,such as the United States and Great Britain.
D)they lie at the core of key personality variations among individuals throughout the world.

Question 80

_______________ describes the extent to which people are imaginative and questioning,or conforming and predictable.

A)Agreeableness vs.antagonism
B)Extroversion vs.introversion
C)Conscientiousness vs.impulsiveness
D)Openness to experience vs.resistance to new experience