Question 1

People who describe themselves as outgoing may also say they like excitement and practical jokes. This cluster of behavior tendencies that occur together reflects a basic

Accepted Answer

A)  factor. 
B)  complex. 
C)  hierarchy of needs. 
D)  reciprocal determinism.

Question 2

Animals who are able to escape shocks in one laboratory situation learn ________ and easily escape shocks in a new laboratory situation.

Accepted Answer

A)  unconditional positive regard 
B)  free association 
C)  personal control 
D)  factor analysis

Question 3

Martin Seligman advocates a positive psychology, which focuses on topics such as

Accepted Answer

A)  optimism. 
B)  projection. 
C)  the Barnum effect. 
D)  free association.

Question 4

Evidence of the impact of biology on personality traits includes the fact that

Accepted Answer

A)  extraverts seek stimulation because their normal brain arousal is relatively low. 
B)  extraverts seek stimulation because their normal brain arousal is relatively high. 
C)  introverts seek stimulation because their normal brain arousal is relatively low. 
D)  introverts seek stimulation because their normal brain arousal is relatively high.

Question 5

The stability of personality traits over time is greatest among

Accepted Answer

A)  children. 
B)  college students. 
C)  30-year-olds. 
D)  60-year-olds.

Question 6

Impressions of just a few seconds of a teacher's expressive style are consistent with impressions of the teacher's expressive style over an entire semester. This best illustrates the importance of

Accepted Answer

A)  self-esteem. 
B)  traits. 
C)  projective tests. 
D)  self-transcendence.

Question 7

A behavior trait refers to a pattern of behavior that is

Accepted Answer

A)  unconsciously motivated. 
B)  difficult to observe. 
C)  stable over time. 
D)  unlearned.

Question 8

Compared with those who perceive an internal locus of control, individuals with an external locus of control are

Accepted Answer

A)  more likely to feel depressed and more likely to delay gratification. 
B)  less likely to feel depressed and less likely to delay gratification. 
C)  more likely to feel depressed and less likely to delay gratification. 
D)  less likely to feel depressed and more likely to delay gratification.

Question 9

The tendency to accept more personal responsibility for one's successes than for one's failures best illustrates

Accepted Answer

A)  an external locus of control. 
B)  self-serving bias. 
C)  unconditional positive regard. 
D)  the spotlight effect.

Question 10

Which perspective most clearly emphasizes the interactive influences of traits and situations on human behavior?

Accepted Answer

A)  trait perspective 
B)  psychoanalytic perspective 
C)  social-cognitive perspective 
D)  humanistic perspective

Question 11

The Big Five is the term currently used to refer to basic

Accepted Answer

A)  psychosexual stages. 
B)  defense mechanisms. 
C)  trait dimensions. 
D)  sensory modalities.

Question 12

According to social-cognitive theories, the best predictor of students' academic success in college would be their

Accepted Answer

A)  college entrance test scores. 
B)  high school grade-point average. 
C)  personal optimism about the future. 
D)  performance on the MMPI.

Question 13

Excessive self-confidence is especially likely to be facilitated by the difficulty in recognizing

Accepted Answer

A)  personal control. 
B)  free association. 
C)  one's own incompetence. 
D)  unconditional positive regard.

Question 14

After picking one of 28 flavors of ice cream, people may regret bypassing some of the remaining flavors. Their regret best illustrates a consequence of

Accepted Answer

A)  an external locus of control. 
B)  the tyranny of choice. 
C)  the false consensus effect. 
D)  unconditional positive regard.

Question 15

Because she is often rejected by her parents, Sally mistrusts other people and treats them with hostility, which leads to their rejection of her. This cycle of rejection, mistrust, hostility, and further rejection illustrates what is meant by

Accepted Answer

A)  self-transcendence. 
B)  the spotlight effect. 
C)  reaction formation. 
D)  reciprocal determinism.

Question 16

Brenda has never cheated on a psychology test, but she often does so on chemistry tests. She recently stole some merchandise from a local store, but she also returned a lost billfold along with $28 to its rightful owner. This pattern of behavior should make psychologists more cautious about emphasizing the consistent impact of ________ on behavior.

Accepted Answer

A)  personality traits 
B)  unconditional positive regard 
C)  repression 
D)  reciprocal determinism

Question 17

Over the last few years, Mr. Helmus has been obsessed with bizarre thoughts and has become increasingly agitated and socially withdrawn. Which personality inventory would be most helpful for assessing the nature and severity of his symptoms?

Accepted Answer

A)  the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator 
B)  the Self-Concept Scale 
C)  the Rorschach inkblot test 
D)  the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory

Question 18

Positive psychology is an umbrella term for the study of positive

Accepted Answer

A)  self-control, self-esteem, and self-actualization. 
B)  projective tests, personality inventories, and factor analyses. 
C)  emotions, character traits, and social institutions. 
D)  erogenous zones, psychosexual stages, and defense mechanisms.

Question 19

Julio believes that no matter how hard he works, the "system" is so biased against his ethnic group that he will be unable to achieve economic success. Julio's thinking most clearly demonstrates

Accepted Answer

A)  reaction formation. 
B)  the false consensus effect. 
C)  an external locus of control. 
D)  the spotlight effect.

Question 20

Professor Halasa perceives shy, inhibited styles of behavior to be the interactive outcome of cultural expectations, autonomic nervous system reactivity, and unconscious thought processes. The professor's views best illustrate a(n) ________ approach.

Accepted Answer

A)  trait 
B)  evolutionary 
C)  biopsychosocial 
D)  humanistic

Exam 42: A: Trait Theories, Social A:cognitive Theories, and the Self